NANAIMO BIRD REPORT -----” GO BIRDING--EXPLORE NATURE”
To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at
thebackyard@shaw.ca
Please remember, when reporting a sighting, to leave your name and phone
number along with the date, the species and location of your sighting.
Sunday, May 19, 2013:
The Sunday bird walk went to the Linley Valley in Nanaimo. The morning was
sunny but windy. We heard and then had great views of a Wilson’s Warbler and a
Cassin’s Vireo very close to the trail. A MacGillivray’s Warbler was singing as
he perched high in a tree giving us great views from the trail. Two Warbling
Vireos showed up in the parking area at the end of the walk.
Wilson’s Warbler: Ralph Hocken Photo.
Twelve birders saw and heard the following thirty-nine species:
Mallard, Wood Duck, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Bald Eagle, Turkey
Vulture, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Rufous
Hummingbird, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Cassin’s Vireo,
Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Purple Martin, Violet-green Swallow,
Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Pacific Wren, Bushtit, Swainson's
Thrush, American Robin, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler,
Wilson's Warbler, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Western Tanager, Black-headed
Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeak, Red-wing Blackbird, Brown-headed Blackbird, Spotted
Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch and Pine
Siskin.
Friday, May 17:
Swainson’s Thrush were calling at dawn near Colbourne Drive in north
Nanaimo.
Thursday, May 16:
A Merlin, an American Dipper and a Great Horned Owl were seen at Lot Ten in
Qualicum Beach.
An Olive-sided Flycatcher was spotted feeding from a tall snag behind
Colbourne Drive in north Nanaimo.
Wednesday, May 15:
Eight Western Tanagers were seen along Marlborough Drive in the Departure
Bay area of Nanaimo.
One greater White-fronted Goose was seen on Departure Bay in Nanaimo.
Tuesday, May 14:
The Tuesday bird walk went to Lot Ten in Qualicum Beach. The morning was
clear and sunny with calm winds. A Black-headed Grosbeak was singing loudly when
we arrived at Lot Ten. We spotted the Grosbeak high in a tree and shortly after
another Grosbeak started singing to give us a very musical start to the
morning. American Robins were everywhere this morning. We heard Pacific-sloped
Flycatchers, Orange-crowned Warblers, Black-throated Gray Warblers, Wilson's
Warblers and Townsend’s Warblers singing all morning. We watched a Belted
Kingfisher chase a Varied Thrush up the river flying just above the water. A
Pacific-slope Flycatcher and Vaux’s Swifts gave us quick looks as they flew
over. We spotted a Pine Marten looking down at us from a small tree to add a
little more nature to our walks!
Fourteen birders saw and heard the following thirty-three species:
Common Merganser, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Spotted
Sandpiper, Belted Kingfisher, Pileated Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker,
Northern Flicker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Vaux’s Swift, Warbling Vireo,
Northwestern Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Chestnut-backed
Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pacific Wren, Swainson's Thrush, American
Robin, Varied Thrush, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated
Gray Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Townsend’s Warbler, Western Tanager, Spotted
Towhee, Song Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Brown-headed Cowbird, Purple Finch
and Pine Siskin.
Pine Marten
The pine marten is a carnivorous member of the weasel family. The marten's
coat is characterized by soft, dense fur which varies in color from tan to dark
brown and mostly black on the feet and legs. Lighter colored martens tend to
have grayish brown tails, while darker animals have dark brown to almost black
tail fur. The fur around the muzzle varies from gray to light brown with a short
dark line running up the forehead from the corner of each eye. The marten's
throat and upper chest are a tan color.
The ears give the pine martens a cat like look.. Martens vary in body
length from 48 to 65 cm, not including the tail which can be a third of the
overall body length. They may weigh up to nearly 2 kilos. Males are larger than
females. Martens have sharp claws which they use for climbing as well as for
holding their prey.
Martens depend on voles and mice, which are their primary food source over
much of Southern Vancouver Island The second important food source is berries,
especially blueberries, followed by small birds, eggs, and vegetation. Marten
will also eat squirrels and if food is scarce enough will occasionally exhibit
cannibalism.
The Marten is a an opportunistic feeder. Carrion such as the remains of
wolf kills, dead spawning salmon remains or winter killed deer and elk are all
eaten. Although martens are suited for nocturnal foraging, they are also active
during mornings and evenings, especially during the long days of summer.
The Pine Martens of Vancouver Island are rare to see and they only inhabit
the south Island.
Monday, May 13:
A Yellow-headed Blackbird was seen along the Nanoose Estuary just off
Northwest Bay Road in Nanoose Bay.
A Sooty Grouse was spotted walking just off Chemainus Road not far from the
railway tracks in Ladysmith.
A pair of American Kestrels was seen in the 3400 block of Harris Crescent
in Whisky Creek.
Eurasian-collared Doves are visiting Cowichan Bay.
Sunday, May 12:
A female Black-headed Grosbeak, an American Goldfinch, male and female
Red-wing Blackbirds were seen along Dunster Road in north Nanaimo.
Saturday, May 11:
A Ring-necked Pheasant was seen in the Divers Lake area of Nanaimo.
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Monday, May 17:
Arrowsmith Naturalists meet at Knox United Church on Pym Road in
Parksville. Don Doyle will give a talk about Vancouver Island Marmots. All
are welcome. For more info-phone 250-752-7588.
*************************************************************
Everyone is welcome to join us for a 2-3 hour bird walk on the Sunday and
Tuesday mornings. We leave from the Store at 9 a.m. Sunday Mornings and go to a
different location in and around Nanaimo and from the Parksville Beach Community
Park at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and go to different areas in and around the Oceanside
area.
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The Tuesday bird walk on May 21 will be going to the Shelly Road side of
the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. We will meet at Parksville Bay next
to the Lions Playground at 9:00 a.m. or at end of Shelly Road on the ocean side
of Highway 19a at about 9:10 a.m.
*******************************************************************************
The Sunday Bird Walk on May 26, 2013, will be going to Morden Colliery
Historic Park. We will meet at the bird store at 9:00 a.m. or at the end of
Morden Road off Highway One south of Nanaimo about 9:25 a.m.
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WildResearch
WildResearch is pleased to announce that WildResearch's Fall Pelagic Trip
Fundraiser will run on Sunday September 15, 2013!
Itinerary:
The upcoming pelagic trip will follow the same itinerary as WildResearch's
previous pelagic trips; the ship we charter (M.V. Frances Barkley) will leave
from the dock in Ucluelet BC at 7am on Sunday Sept 15, travel to La Perouse
Bank, and return to Ucluelet at 2:30pm (on the same day). WildResearch's pelagic
trips are a fantastic opportunity to view pelagic seabird species rarely seen
from shore click here for previous trip details and photos.
Cost:
WildResearch will offer an early bird booking rate of $200 from April 1 -
July 31 2013, after which the price will increase to $250. In addition to
purchasing a ticket, all trip participants will be required to hold a current
WildResearch membership at the time of the pelagic trip. For more details, see
membership information. Proceeds generated from the pelagic trip fundraiser will
go towards running WildResearch’s research programs.
How to book:
Space on the boat is limited! We are providing this information to our
current members in good standings, with a one-month advanced notification about
the trip's date and an early opportunity to book the trip. WildResearch will
begin advertising the pelagic trip trip beyond its membership by the end of
April.
If you would like to guarantee your spot on the ship prior to public
advertisement, please follow these instructions:
If your membership is active until Sept 15th, 2013:
· purchase your early bird ticket ($200) using the below PayPal button
OR by mailing a cheque made payable to WildResearch.
If your membership expires before Sept 15th, 2013:
· purchase your early bird ticket ($200) using the below PayPal
button OR by mailing a cheque made payable to WildResearch.
· renew your WildResearch membership ($25 for students, $30 for
non-students, active for 1 full year after purchase) using the PayPal button on
our website click here to renew membership OR by mailing a cheque payable to
WildResearch.
· complete the required membership forms indicated on our website
and email OR mail to WildResearch.
We are very excited about the fall pelagic trip! Looking forward to the
great birding and an opportunity to meet with old friends, and make new ones. If
you have any questions or inquires about the pelagic trip email us at: info [at]
wildresearch [dot] ca.
Sincerely,
Christine Rock
Vice President
WildResearch
Note: If you do not see the paypal button immediately above this line of
text it is likely that you do not have image viewing activated. The following
link may be used instead: https://www . paypal .
com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=YMBBRLHZSRFUL
Good birding
Neil Robins
THE BACKYARD WILDBIRD & NATURE STORE
6314 Metral Drive
Nanaimo B.C.
V9T-2L8
Phone: 250-390-3669
Fax: 250-390-1633
Email: thebackyard@shaw.ca
Blog: www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com
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