FOR THE BIRDS

April 1997
(Some More For the Birds) 

By

Helen O'Shea

50 Years Ago: 

Melvin Huntington was a bird watcher and recorded, in his diary, sightings in his yard on Main Street. He lived in the house now owned by Tim Bagnell. On April 1, he reports seeing a Grackle. On April 2, he saw the first Song Sparrow of the season and on April 7 the first Fox Sparrow. On Thursday, April 17, there was a snow storm dumping 7 inches of snow on Louisbourg. What will it be like this Thursday, April 17?50 Years Ago: Melvin Huntington was a bird watcher and recorded, in his diary, sightings in his yard on Main Street. He lived in the house now owned by Tim Bagnell. On April 1, he reports seeing a Grackle. On April 2, he saw the first Song Sparrow of the season and on April 7 the first Fox Sparrow. On Thursday, April 17, there was a snow storm dumping 7 inches of snow on Louisbourg. What will it be like this Thursday, April 17?

Robins: 

Carol Swander called on Saturday, April 12 to report seeing robins. It must be spring, in spite of the weather. I’ve had a flock of 20 robins in my back yard and saw a larger flock of 30 or more on Billy Baldwin’s lawn on Verrier Crescent. Carol Swander called on Saturday, April 12 to report seeing robins. It must be spring, in spite of the weather. I’ve had a flock of 20 robins in my back yard and saw a larger flock of 30 or more on Billy Baldwin’s lawn on Verrier Crescent. Carol Swander called on Saturday, April 12 to report seeing robins. It must be spring, in spite of the weather. I’ve had a flock of 20 robins in my back yard and saw a larger flock of 30 or more on Billy Baldwin’s lawn on Verrier Crescent. Carol Swander called on Saturday, April 12 to report seeing robins. It must be spring, in spite of the weather. I’ve had a flock of 20 robins in my back yard and saw a larger flock of 30 or more on Billy Baldwin’s lawn on Verrier Crescent.

Keep Your Eyes Peeled: 

Carlo Lunn reports seeing what he believes to be a Wood Duck in the Havenside Barachois, on April 5.Keep Your Eyes Peeled: Carlo Lunn reports seeing what he believes to be a Wood Duck in the Havenside Barachois, on April 5.

Other Sightings: 

On March 29, at 6:15 AM, Jon Lawrence, attracted by honking noises overhead, looked up to see a V of approximately 40 Canada Geese flying northward.Other Sightings: On March 29, at 6:15 AM, Jon Lawrence, attracted by honking noises overhead, looked up to see a V of approximately 40 Canada Geese flying northward.

Sunday, April 6 was sunny and 9 degrees and so I went for a drive. At Port Morien, I saw 3 Great Blue Herons and 2 Black Headed Gulls. Just outside Port Morien there was flock of 50 White Winged Scoters and 40 Red-Breasted Mergansers. In the distance was another flock of 150 Scoters. There were also Bufflehead, Goldeneye and American Black Ducks. At the Port Morien sandbar there were 40 Canada Geese. On the Sydney-Louisbourg Highway there were 3 Common Ravens and 15 Crows. Arriving home, I found a female Purple Finch at my feeder - the first in a long while.

We had rain on April 7. Driving back from Sydney the car was dive bombed by a low-flying Red Tailed Hawk. Talk of being surprised. The same day I saw a Grackle, White-Throated Sparrow and 4 Fox Sparrows at my feeder.

Gordon and Cyneth Hutt reported a Great Blue Heron on the shore by Enoch’s Pond on April 10. The same day Carlo Lunn saw one in flight over Havenside Road.

On April 13 it snowed. My back-yard population had risen to 10 Fox Sparrows, three pairs of Song Sparrows, a pair of White-Throated Sparrows, a small flock of American Goldfinch along with one lone Siskin, a pair of Red-Breasted Nuthatch, and 50 Juncoes. A flock of 5 Grackles was flying over Bill Bussey’s house. There was a small Savannah Sparrow on Betty and Millan Beaver’s lawn on Lorway Street.

Donald Cross and the Glossy Ibis: Donald Cross told me this story. Several years ago while he was fishing in the harbour on a foggy day, a strange looking bird landed in the water near the boat. It floated like a gull. Eventually it flew up onto the prow of the boat and balanced itself using its curved bill and Donald recognized it as a Glossy Ibis. Donald steered from Battery Island towards the lighthouse with the Ibis as a living figurehead. As soon as Lighthouse Point could be seen through the fog the Ibis flew to the shore and perched on the rocks.Donald Cross and the Glossy Ibis: Donald Cross told me this story. Several years ago while he was fishing in the harbour on a foggy day, a strange looking bird landed in the water near the boat. It floated like a gull. Eventually it flew up onto the prow of the boat and balanced itself using its curved bill and Donald recognized it as a Glossy Ibis. Donald steered from Battery Island towards the lighthouse with the Ibis as a living figurehead. As soon as Lighthouse Point could be seen through the fog the Ibis flew to the shore and perched on the rocks.

Helen O’Shea

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

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