FOR THE BIRDS

April 1995

By

Helen O'Shea

Barbara Kelly and her mother Susanne saw a Snow Bunting in their yard near Catalone on February 8.  The same day Eileen Anderson called to report a Black-Headed Gull drinking from a puddle and eating bread in her yard.  He is probably the same fellow seen last month near the sewer outfall. 

Driving toward Sydney on March 14 we saw a male and female Gyrfalcon and a snow bunting in flight. 

Spring arrived on March 22.  The First Fox Sparrow arrived at my backyard feeder.  Pearl Magee reported her Fox Sparrow arrived on March 25.  She also has a dozen Juncoes and two Song Sparrows. 

Ian Harte saw 10 Canada Geese flying in V-formation at Mira on March 23.  The Northern Shrike is still hunting in the area.  He was spotted at the Visitor Centre on March 24 and near the Royal Battery on April 3 carrying prey in his talons. 

10 Common Grackles were eating bread and sunflower seed at our backyard feeders on March 26 and a Male and Female Pine Warbler were there also.  On a super windy March 28 we had 5 Blue Jays, 50 Goldfinch, 5 Juncoes, two American Robins, both Pine Warblers and the 10 Grackles. 

By March 31 we had 5 Fox Sparrows and 12 Juncoes.  They were joined by 12 Purple Finches.  The crest on the males is a much brighter cranberry colour and birdsong fills the air. 

Catherine Cann called on April 3 to report 3 American Robins in her yard. 

Susann Myers was at Main a Dieu a week the weekend of the 25th of March and saw several White-Winged Scoters, 4 Red-Breasted Mergansers and 4 Loons in the inner harbour. 

She also has at least 8 American Robins on the ground and usually 4 at her feeders where she is feeding them berries from her freezer.  She also confirms sighting the Northern Shrike on several occasions. 

Pearl Magee had 10 to 12 Fox Sparrows by April 7.  She also had 4 Robins on March 31.  We have all noticed that the Fox Sparrows and many of the other birds prefer to stay near the undergrowth and just dart out to the feeders for a quick bite to eat.  For some reason even the crows don't seem as self-assured as other years. 

We saw 5 Grey Jays at the Visitor Centre on April 8 and our two Red-Breasted Nuthatches are busily moving through the trees.  We have a part-albino Goldfinch.  It has colour around the head and neck area, black and white wing patches and tail and the rest of the bird is white.  He seems to get along well with the large flock of American Goldfinch. 

Gwen Lunn called to report her first sighting of the Killdeer on April 7.  We are always glad to know that they are back in the area for another year. 

A small flock of Evening Grosbeaks have arrived at the feeders. 

By the end of this month it will be time to hang out the Hummingbird Feeders for another season.  In the Friday edition of the Chronicle Herald Barbara Hinds gave an address to which observers can report the date of arrival of the first male and first female Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds to arrive at your feeder.  It is to be sent to:  Hummertime, Queen's University Biology Station, Box 31, RR 1, Elgin, Ontario.  K0G 1E0 

Make a note of the last day that you see a Fox Sparrow.  Give me a call at 733-2873 and I will include it in the May edition of the Seagull. 

Gary Peck reported that a pheasant came up from the embankment and crossed the road near Jerrat's Brook the morning of April 7.  Perhaps it is the bird that left tracks in the snow at the Visitor Reception Centre. 

The Globe and Mail reported that the House Finch disease that includes infected eyes may be passed from bird to bird rather than from feeder to bird.

Helen O'Shea

Extracted from © The Seagull, Helen O'Shea, For the Birds

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