FOR THE BIRDS

April 1997

By

Helen O'Shea

To The Fox Sparrow

They come to us in countless flocks before their final northward spurt,
Alighting on the roadside wasteland, there to pause and scratch the dirt;
For friend or foe, for food or danger, bright and beady eyes alert.
The markings of their plumage blend into the background where they rest,
Yet in the sunlight other sparrows with such colours are not blessed,
From bluish grey and russet brown to streakings bold on creamy breast.
Their whistled notes, first heard at dawn, throughout the day from bush or tree
Fall on my ear to penetrate and warm the very heart of me,
Making a lively overture to Spring’s belated symphony.

Gwendolen Lunn

Havenside 1991

 A vicious storm was our April Fool’s Day gift this year. Despite the weather, Pearl Magee called me at 9:30 a.m. to report the first Fox Sparrow of the Spring on the ground under her feeder. She also had a pair of Song Sparrows, a pair of Boreal Chickadees, and is looking forward to more new arrivals. You never know what the winds will blow in.

Lots of activity under and on my feeders all day. I had to add four large containers of sunflower seeds to the platform feeder for the numerous arrivals. Two dozen American Goldfinch, Crows, Mourning Doves, Dark-Eyed Juncoes, Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Black-Capped Chickadees, a White-Throated Sparrow, a pair of Song Sparrows, and a Boreal Chickadee were there from first light until dark. Two squirrels were also there to help demolish the food. A wet and icy squirrel personifies misery.

Easter was also a day of hope for birders. Bill and I discovered three exciting arrivals as we walked the road below the Administration Buildings. In the gravel lot where the Old School House was formerly found we discovered a Killdeer and a Male Horned Lark. The Killdeer was easily spooked and always on the move. It moved to the grass parking lot on the other side of the road. The Horned Lark placidly kept eating and moved very little. (This bird walks rather than hops.) Bill walked to within ten feet of him and he did not fly away. Seven American Robins were all feeding at the side of the road near the exit gate from the Visitor Reception Centre. When I returned home I called Gwen Lunn. Gerry was visiting for the holiday and she thought he would be interested.

Gerry Gartland stopped me on Good Friday to report that he had seen a female Hooded Merganser off the Wharf earlier that week. It was within viewing range and posed long enough to identify.

Gary Peck reported a huge flock of American Black Duck and several Bufflehead all feeding at the base of Jerrat’s Brook. The water was open and they were taking advantage of it.

During our walk Good Friday we saw the first Northern Shrike of the season near the Visitor Centre. We also counted 12 Red-Breasted Mergansers, 12 Oldsquaw, and a Black-Headed Gull off the Government Wharf and at Havenside. The next day there were 2 Common Loon, Mergansers, Black Ducks, and Common Goldeneye. Before Catalone on the highway I spotted a male Northern Harrier or Goshawk. It did a quick dive into the trees before the markings could be noted.

For several weeks a Great Horned Owl has been at the Fortress Administration Compound. Bill heard it on March 21 and Joan MacKay has also heard it while she is working.

The Black-Headed Gull has been around the Harbour since March 23.

March 17 was a tragic day for several Loons off Havenside Road. The ice was on that side of the Harbour and open water was disappearing quickly. Rovie and Bruce MacDonald watched three Loons who were becoming trapped in the ice off Dougie Pearl’s Wharf and the open water continued to freeze. Later in the day, two dove and did not reappear. The assumption is they drowned since they could not find a spot of open water where they could come up for air. The third Loon became a family meal as two mature Bald Eagles and an immature Bald Eagle were seen dining on it. Everything has its place in the food chain.

That same day I saw a Ruffed Grouse scampering off the trail and through the trees below the Visitor Centre.

Pearl and Winston Magee often go for combined drives/birding expeditions on Sundays. Two weeks ago off Sand Point in Port Morien they saw 600 to 1000 Canada Geese in the water off the ice on the far shore. Later at Wadden’s Cove they saw another 100 Canada Geese and spooked a flock of 50 Common Redpoll. About three weeks earlier, driving through Irish Cove, Winston Magee saw the Turkey Vulture flying overhead.

Helen O’Shea

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

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