I would love to see one of these here!

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2011/01/24/nl-annas-hummingbird-124.html

Pacific hummingbird found in eastern Nfld.
The Anna's hummingbird usually lives west of the Rocky Mountains

Last Updated: Monday, January 24, 2011 | 3:53 PM NT CBC News

A bird that is not normally seen east of the Rocky Mountains has been spotted repeatedly at a birdfeeder in eastern Newfoundland.

The Anna's hummingbird normally lives on the Pacific coast from California to southern British Columbia. Last week, one was spotted at a hummingbird feeder in Brownsdale, Trinity Bay.

"It's sort of mind-boggling that it is here in the wintertime and is surviving," said Bruce MacTavish, a Newfoundland and Labrador birdwatching enthusiast and newspaper birding columnist.

On Thursday, MacTavish drove two hours west of St. John's to see the tiny, thumb-sized bird that has been visiting Betty March's feeder in Brownsdale since last week.

His trip was successful.

"It's a miracle really that [the hummingbird] did find this type of feeder because they are so rare in this province."

MacTavish said Anna's hummingbirds have been known to show up in Eastern Canada.

"This fall, places in Ontario and Quebec reported their first Anna's hummingbird sightings," he said. "So there were a handful going east and at least one went the whole distance and made it to Newfoundland."

The ruby-throated hummingbird is common in Newfoundland but is normally seen during the summer.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2011/01/24/nl-annas-hummingbird-124.html#ixzz1CMq0NU5l

Feeding and Breeding

Does feeding birds affect breeding? Yes, says one scientist

Published On Thu Jan 27 2011

The study, published last spring in the journal Oecologia, found “if you supplementary feed birds they breed earlier by a few days,” Dr. Jim Reynolds told the Star.

The study, published last spring in the journal Oecologia, found “if you supplementary feed birds they breed earlier by a few days,” Dr. Jim Reynolds told the Star.

A British study into the effect of extended feedings of birds has found that feeding interferes with a bird’s breeding cycle.

The study was conducted by Dr. Jim Reynolds and a team of researchers at the University of Birmingham.

The study, published last spring in the journal Oecologia, found “if you supplementary feed birds they breed earlier by a few days,” Reynolds told the Star.

The team of researchers also found a reduction in the number of eggs being laid and in the percentage of eggs that actually hatched and produced a baby bird, the ornithologist said.

“As a result of those two (things) when you count little heads in each nest there are less chicks in the brood size of the birds,” Reynolds said.

The team fed blue tits and great tits — similar to chickadees — from March to July in a woodland area near the university over a three year period.

They set up three spots within the area and fed some of the birds a mixture of food made of beef tallow and ground peanuts. Other birds got nothing while another group got peanut cake and meal worms.

The team followed the fledgling birds after they left the nest to see how well they have survived.

“Scientific literature is full of papers which feed over the course of a few weeks. No one has tried to reflect what Mr. and Mrs. Smith do in their backyard (feed for a long time),” Reynolds said.

The long-term implications of their study are still being determined, he said.

So what does this mean for people who love to feed their birds in their backyards?

“We’re not suggesting stopping feeding, not for the minute,” Reynolds said.

“I am suggesting we feed them (the birds) in a more directed way. The only way to do that is to carry on research on how they feed and plot a path from there.”

Some updates!

Some exciting news around here!!

For the first time EVER we have observed two species of owl in the same day! The last two days we've had sightings of both the Great Horned Owl and the Eastern Screech Owl. The ESO seems to have become a regular resident. We've been observing him around 5:30 or so most nights, although Dave was up early shoveling snow the other day and thought he saw the ESO out of the corner of his eye. The GHO has been very vocal! Two nights ago he/she woke me up shortly after midnight with loud and repeated hooting. He/she was back at it again this morning. Love may be in the air- it's almost mating time for them!!

And, probably the news that brings me some real relief and hope is that finally someone from a gov't agency got back to me about the Bobolinks!! YIPPEE!!! I have a contact now at the MNR and was given this link to also provide information about our sightings. I'm posting the link here in case anyone else has a run in with a threatened/at-risk/endangered species and this should help save you the months of legwork I've had to go through!! The town of Milton/Region of Halton has imminent plans to pave and build subdivisions and widen roads etc through the fields used by these birds, so we'll see if time is on our side.

CSI

On Sunday, we noticed there were some interesting tracks in the field next to the house. Dave decided to take a walk over to investigate. There were plenty of deer and coyote prints, but in addition to those, he found these:







Looks like a large bird (owl? hawk? any guesses?) swooped down into the snow to grab a meal. There were a few feathers at the scene. We're not sure if they came from the hunter or the hunted.





There were no other clues (tufts of fur, feathers, blood or anything). I think these are really interesting pictures and show us that so much goes on that we don't even notice!

Eastern Screech Owl

A very exciting addition to the life list today- an Eastern Screech Owl!!! He/She was in the nesting box, peeking his head out and looking around. We took quite a few pics of him checking things out. This was about 5 pm and just getting dark out. We wonder if he had spent the entire day in the box, snoozing and hanging out. After awhile, he flew out of the box and went into the lower branches of the dead elm tree. He sat there for quite a bit, doing some preening and hanging out. Shortly after 5:30, he flew off, maybe after some dinner? He went quickly and was low to the ground, but went out of sight. We're thrilled to finally see another owl and to have one so close. We hope he'll stick around and call this place home!!

Here are some links to more info about the Eastern Screech Owl:

http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/772/_/Eastern_Screech-Owl.aspx

http://ibc.lynxeds.com/species/eastern-screech-owl-otus-asio

http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/165/articles/introduction

Irruptive Finches

We have noticed very high numbers of House Finches this year, but only one Common Redpoll so far and we haven't seen him/her in over a week. We'd love to see Siskins, Redpolls (the first year we were here, there were hundreds of Redpolls and quite a few Siskins). We've only observed Crossbills at my parents house, so I should mention they keep an eye out for any return visitors. We seethe Purple Finch once or twice a year, so it would be wonderful to see some on a more frequent basis. We have yet to ID the Hoary Redpoll here or in any of our travels.

Here's the latest from the Project FeederWatch newsletter:

Learn more about irruptive finches

In response to anticipated winter finch invasions this winter season, the editors of Birds of North America Online have focused on five species that are typically involved in these winter finch irruptions: Purple Finch, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, and Hoary Redpoll and updated these accounts with new photos, audio and videos, as well as new identification information (located in the Distinguishing Characteristics article). As you may know, winter finches are a group of birds that periodically migrate southward when seed crops crash in the North. During "invasion years" flocks can be found well south of typical wintering areas, and backyard feeders can become inundated with hungry finches.

So if you are having a winter finch invasion in your backyard, you may wish to check out the Birds of North America Online articles about these species to learn more about these periodic winter visitors and their irruptive movements. Project FeederWatch participants have free access to BNA Online through the end of January. Simply sign into the BNA Online home page using your Project FeederWatch login name and password (you have to log into data entry once before you can log into BNA).

Some interesting notes just from the last few days. We had more than 20 House Finch on the back deck. They are really enjoying the new window feeder that we fill with sunflower seeds. Various birds are also enjoying our heated birdbath. We had it setup on the back railing last year and hardly any birds were using it. We moved it out front and it's now used on a regular basis.
On Monday, we observed more than 20 Crows in the fields and trees across the road. We also saw 15-20 American Robins in the tree and creek bed next to the house. There seems to be an abundance of woodpeckers as well- Red-bellied has been eating peanuts from the tray feeder, there has been at least 2 male Hairy Woodpeckers and 3 Male and 3 Female Downy Woodpeckers. I love the woodpeckers, so it's nice to have so many out there to watch.

Bird Counts- December 18/19 and January 1/2

Here's our submitted lists for Project FeederWatch for these weeks (we missed Christmas weekend due to travel). Some interesting notes:

Our first Common Redpoll has made an appearance! Just one, but hopefully more are on the way.

We also had our first ever in our lifetime CONFIRMED sighting of a Red-Shouldered Hawk! The crows drew our attention to it. They were making so much noise outside and then we saw them dive-bombing a hawk. We were able to make out the distinct markings on the chest and wings to determine it's a Red-Shouldered Hawk. Very exciting for us, especially at this time of year!

Here's a description from http://www.rom.on.ca/ontario/risk.php?doc_type=fact&id=105

Red-shouldered Hawk

Features: Red-shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus) have the characteristic broad, rounded wings of all soaring hawks (Buteos). Crescent-shaped "windows" in the wings and reddish shoulder patches are characteristic of this species. In early spring, birds arrive back at woodlots and forested areas throughout southeastern Canada and perform noisy courtship flights consisting of diving and loud calling above the territories. Generally a shy species which lives in forest interiors, they can be seen perched in a tree hunting for frogs, snakes, rodents and small birds.

Status: Downlisted

Range: The Red-shouldered Hawk lives primarily in eastern North America, ranging from southern Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick west to Nebraska and Texas and south to Florida. In Ontario, the species is restricted to southern, forested parts of the province, particularly forests on the southern edge of the Canadian Shield from Kingston to Parry Sound. Range Maps

Threats: Note: This species was delisted in March 2007. Once considered common in Ontario, the Red-shouldered Hawk declined this century as forests were cleared for farmland. This species requires relatively large, undisturbed areas of forest.

Protection: This species is protected under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. Forest management plans maintain an uncut buffer zone around known active nest sites.


And some "Cool Facts" from http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/lifehistory

Cool Facts

* The Red-shouldered Hawk is divided into five subspecies. The four eastern forms contact each other, but the West Coast form is separated from the eastern forms by 1600 km (1000 mi). The northern form is the largest. The form in very southern Florida is the palest, having a gray head and very faint barring on the chest.
* Although the American Crow often mobs the Red-shouldered Hawk, sometimes the relationship is not so one-sided. They may chase each other and try to steal food from each other. They may also both attack a Great Horned Owl and join forces to chase the owl out of the hawk's territory.
* By the time they are five days old, nestling Red-shouldered Hawks can shoot their feces over the edge of their nest. Bird poop on the ground is a sign of an active nest.
* The Great Horned Owl often takes nestling Red-shouldered Hawks, but the hawk occasionally turns the tables. While a Red-shouldered Hawk was observed chasing a Great Horned Owl, its mate took a young owl out of its nest and ate it.


Count Lists:

Weather and Effort: December 18, 2010
Checklist for FeederWatch Ontario Birds
Canada Goose 100
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Rock Pigeon 4
Mourning Dove 30
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Blue Jay 12
American Crow 3
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
European Starling 18
American Tree Sparrow 6
Dark-eyed Junco 35
Snow Bunting 200 Confirmed
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 5
House Finch 18
American Goldfinch 20
House Sparrow 5


January 1, 2011
Checklist for FeederWatch Ontario Birds
Canada Goose 22
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Confirmed
Rock Pigeon 4
Mourning Dove 30
Great Horned Owl 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 6
Hairy Woodpecker 3
Blue Jay 10
American Crow 3
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
American Robin 5
European Starling 20
American Tree Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 33
Northern Cardinal 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
House Finch 7
Common Redpoll 1
American Goldfinch 12
House Sparrow 4