FOR THE BIRDS

February 2000

By

Helen O'Shea

Where have all the feeder birds gone?

Despite the occasional excitement of the Brown Creeper, and a few days in mid-January where a flock of 30 Common Redpoll dined daily, I’ve had to be contented with a pair of Red-breasted Nuthatch, 5 Black-capped Chickadees, a dozen Juncoes, and a huge flock of up to 36 Mourning Doves appearing daily at my feeders. I got excited when an American Goldfinch showed up for the first weekend in February, it had been so long since any were around. Where are the Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Orange-crowned Warbler, or Pine Warbler of other winters? Is our habitat changing, or just the weather?

Raptors ravage feeder fowl

The swoops through my backyard of a Sharp-shinned Hawk have caused all but the Mourning Doves to be very wary around the feeder. I have a great number of Blue Jay tail feathers to prove the demise of many of that species. The most I have now at the feeders is two Blue Jays. Susann Myers reports a Sharp-shinned Hawk has reduced the numbers of birds at her feeders. Bonnie Dalziel reported a possible male Sharpie being swarmed by a flock of crows.

Killdeer that came early

Sheila Fudge called me on January 27 to report a pair of Killdeer on Havenside Road. They were feeding in the yard of Cecil and Kelly Vallis. That same day Bill O’Shea saw a Killdeer at Black Rock at the Fortress site. On January 29, Sheila’s 2 Killdeer were along the beach and in the gravel on the Harbour side of Havenside Road. On the 30^th they were moving between the lawn beside the Trimm residence on Havenside, the Barachois, and the beach. There was another Killdeer on the beach west of the Government Wharf the same day. On January 31 there was one Killdeer at Black Rock around noon. February 1^st was 2 degrees and windy. My last sighting of the Killdeer was on Havenside. How did they get here? Did they get blown north by the storm of January 22^nd that did so much damage around the Harbour? Has the bad weather in the more southern states blown them into Canada? Usually our earliest sighting is in late April. Is the change in weather conditions causing their migration pattern to change? Despite the fact that "the killdeer…is one of the earliest migrant shorebirds in spring . . . (arriving) in northern states, Canada from Feb.- Apr." it still seems a trifle early. (See the Audubon Society ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS, John K. Terres, Wings Books, 1995, p 741).

The cold weather may have caused the demise of these early migrants since I haven’t seen them in about a week. PLEASE, call me with further sightings of Killdeer.

Bonnie and the Blue Jays

My question in the last issue of For the Birds about the location of Blue Jays in Louisbourg was answered by Bonnie Dalziel. She reports 7 Blue Jays have taken up residence at her bird feeder in a backyard apple tree. 

Waterfowl and other bird sightings in and around Louisbourg Harbour

The busiest day at the Government Wharf was Sunday, January 30^th. There was a run of small silver fish and we watched 9 Common Loons enjoying lunch. Five Thick-billed Murres were also having great success fishing along with a Cormorant. There were also 9 Red-breasted Mergansers and 2 Black Guillemots. Just off the end of the wharf were 8 Long-tailed Ducks (Oldsquaw). The American Ornithologists’ Union (AOU) is considering a name change for this bird. The Oldsquaw will then be called Long-tailed Duck. This is the name used in Great Britain and Europe for this breed.

There were 2 Killdeer, 1 Thick-billed Murre, a Common Loon and 4 Red-breasted Mergansers on Havenside as well as a mature Bald Eagle. More than 100 American Crows were heading to roost behind the home of Cyneth and Gordon Hutt. At the Lighthouse we met several people including Jane Harris and watched 2 dozen Long-tailed Ducks and 8 Black Guillemots through binoculars and scope. At the Fortress Barachois we watched Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Mergansers, Buffleheads, and Long-tailed Duck. The next day we were able to descend to the beach beside the Government Wharf and closely examine the body of a Thick-billed Murre. Observing its injuries and the behaviour of nearby Seagulls to another Murre, we guessed that it had been pecked to death by the Gulls. By February 6^th only one Murre remained by the Coast Guard boat.

On January 21 we saw 2 male and 2 female Snow Buntings at the Fortress Barachois. Two Scoters were on the harbour side of the Fortress Barachois on January 23^rd, more than 20 American Black Ducks between Hopkins and the Government Wharf, a Horned Grebe on Havenside on January 29^th, and a Red-necked Grebe off the Government Wharf on February 1^st. On February 6^th there was a raft of 18 Bufflehead off the Fortress. We have seen one instance of 8 Common Mergansers but the majority appear to be Red-breasted Mergansers. The question -"why are the majority of mergansers in any group female?"

Large flocks of year round "town" birds

There are large flocks of Starlings, Common Sparrows, Rock Doves, and Mourning Doves that are clearly visible as a person walks or drives around Louisbourg. February 6 there were 30 House Sparrows in the bushes at the front of the home of Carol Corbin. On many occasions we see a flock of 30 to 40 House Sparrows in the bushes beside the home of Burns MacMillan. Another popular site is the property of Julie and John Samuel MacDonald. The flock of Starlings also likes to sit on the roof and chimney of the same property. Starlings and House Sparrows are often seen in the yard of Henrietta and Guy Hiltz and sometimes move to the yard of Lloyd and Doris King. A large flock of at least a hundred Starlings was feeding on the lawn of the former Town Hall January 29^th, and on February 6^th they were feeding on the lawn of Han Beck along with 8 American Crows. Gladys and Joe Fiander usually have a mixed flock of 30 House Sparrows and at least a dozen Starlings. The Starlings also like to dine in Jane Harris’ yard.

Rumor, Rumour, Rumour

The male Northern Cardinal remains in the local area. He has been here since November. 

Who has seen a woodpecker?

Not me, is the answer. The Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers that inhabited the nearby trees and occasionally appeared at my feeders seem to have disappeared. However, Doug and Jean Pearl, out for a walk on Havenside Road, saw a male Black-backed Three-toed Woodpecker in late January. This bird is very unusual with a solid black back, heavily barred sides, and a bright yellow cap. Thank you for a great sighting Dougie and Jean.

Gary Peck Reports

A dozen Canada Geese were spotted by Gary landing near the Gazebo at Point of View on February 6. Cliff Peck saw a lone Canada Goose flying in the same direction that day. The geese were also seen feeding on the Stella Maris Church lawn. On February 6^th Bill and I watched 8 Canada Geese feed at Point of View. These Geese have also been reported by Tom and Linda Kennedy. Doug Pearl saw 2 Canada Geese off the Fortress on January 25^th between Black Rock and White Point. Bill O’Shea and Carol Whitfield also saw them, standing at the side of the road near Black Rock the same day. Cliff and Gary also feed a large flock of Herring Gulls and a large number of Crows that appear daily when scraps are thrown into their yards. Gary also had two owl sightings—the most recent was a Barred Owl that he and Emily spotted while they were out for a walk at Simon’s Point.

Pearl Magee’s Report

I received a call on January 17^th from Pearl, who reported a flock of approximately 50 Common Redpolls and 10 to 12 White-winged Crossbills. The day before, the Magees had a flock of 15 American Goldfinch. She also mentioned that Carlo Lunn and Winston Magee had seen an Osprey circling the yard on New Year’s Day. That same day she had a flock of 50 Evening Grosbeaks who stopped, fed, and never returned. She had two White-throated Sparrows for a week. Susann Myers and she saw one in Pearl’s yard on January 24. He returned on February 8 as we spoke on the telephone. She has a pair of Red-breasted Nuthatch, 5 Black-capped Chickadees, and one Boreal Chickadees that come to her feeders. The flock of White-winged Crossbills are still around as well as a dozen Juncos. Joe, Eugene, and Pearl all hear a Great Horned Owl in the nearby trees but have yet to make a sighting. She and Winston saw a flock of between 30 to 50 Red-breasted Mergansers off the Government Wharf last weekend. The majority were female. She also reported a mature Bald Eagle circling the home of Earl Wilcox.

Odds and ends

A mature Bald Eagle was seen on February 8^th at the Fortress Barachois by Anne O’Neill and Bill O’Shea. Dr. Carol Corbin reported that a juvenile Northern Shrike had flown into her window on January 22^nd and knocked itself out. It is brownish above and more heavily barred than an adult. By the time she found her bird book and came outside for a closer look it had recovered and flown away. Carol and Susann Myers went to Kennington Cove a few weeks ago to look for Red-necked Grebes. Susann has been keeping an eye on these birds since last August.

I saw a "lifer" on January 21^st off the Government Wharf. It was a Black-legged Kittiwake. I watched it fishing for at least 15 minutes. In the same area were a Glaucous Gull, an Iceland Gull, 3 Black Guillemots, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, and a Black-headed Gull. Last year Terry Burke reported a Black-legged Kittiwake off his wharf during the summer.

January 26^th Bill Baldwin reported an Iceland Gull arriving to eat some bread that he had thrown into the yard. It is unusual to see this bird so far from the shore but later in the month one was flying down Lorway over the home of Seward and Geraldine MacKeigan.

In late December Andree Crepeau and Becki Dunham saw an owl in the ruins of the Fortress, in the vicinity of the hospital. Jim Campbell and Heidi Moses have also seen this owl.

Feeding and caching

"A bird has two main activities during a normal day. It has to feed, which it does in bouts through the day, and it has to maintain its feathers in good condition by preening and bathing….During winter, a bird has to spend most of the day feeding, because food is scarce and takes longer to find. Extra rations are also needed to keep warm. Small birds may have to spend most (if not all) of their daylight hours looking for food….

Remember that birds are often adaptable….The size and shape of a bird’s bill are good clues to its diet. Starlings, jays, and gulls have general-purpose bills that enable them to exploit a variety of foods. These birds are quick to take advantage of new food sources, a characteristic that has led to their success in towns and other new habitats. Other birds, such as woodpeckers, herons, and shorebirds, have specialized bills that limit the foods they can eat. A few species use their feet when eating. Crossbills hold cones with their feet as they extract the seeds, and goldfinches hold birch catkins with a foot while pecking at them. Birds of prey, such as kestrels and sharp-shinned hawks, pounce with their talons, and hold their catch when feeding. Chickadees and crows use their feet and even learn to use feet and bill together to pull up a string with food tied to the end….

One way to guard against going hungry is to save food when there is a surplus. Nuts and sunflower seeds sometimes disappear more quickly than you would expect given the number of birds at the feeder. Some birds are carrying them away to hide them….Food may be left for weeks before the bird returns, apparently remembering the exact location by reference to nearby landmarks. Chickadees and nuthatches…wedge food in crevices in rough bark. Blue jays have been known to recover nuts from under a fall of snow. Shrikes impale prey on thorns and barbed wire, and members of the crow family bury scraps." North American BIRDFEEDER HANDBOOK, Robert Burton. MacMillan Canada, 1992 (National Audubon Society) pp. 148-153

Another Rumor

It is said that there has been a cougar sighting at the Fortress of Louisbourg, just before you get to the Marconi picnic area. There have been several such sightings over the years.  

GOOD BIRDING. Call me with your sightings at 733-2873.

Helen O’Shea

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

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