FOR THE BIRDS

January 1996

By

Helen O'Shea

The bitterly cold weather of January was a dramatic change from the mild temperatures of December. The birds increase their intake of seeds and suet as the weather becomes colder. They appear much larger than normal as they loft their feathers in an effort to stay warm. 

There are several very large flocks of Starlings, Evening Grosbeaks, Sparrows, and American Goldfinch in town. Watch the flocks of Goldfinch for the Pine Warbler, Purple Finch, and Pine Siskins which travel together. 

I was speaking with Park Warden Gordon MacLean on the subject of the Partridge.  It was interesting for me to discover that both the Spruce Grouse and the Ruffed Grouse are referred to as Partridge. The Spruce Grouse is a protected bird and has dark meat. The Ruffed Grouse can be hunted and has white meat. Another name for the Spruce Grouse is the "fool hen". 

Annie MacNevin reported a huge flock of Evening Grosbeaks in Catalone on December 13.  Florence Miron has been observing a large flock locally. Pearl Magee has counted almost 200 in a flock. This flock appears to break up into smaller flocks of 50--80 birds. 

Ian Harte reported 4 Black Guillemots and a Thick-Billed Murre covered with oil at Wild Cove and Gooseberry Cove on December 18. He also saw 4 Cormorants and 12--15 Black Guillemots. They are very plentiful at this location compared to other years. 

Diane MacLean saw a Pine Grosbeak and a female Northern Cardinal at her feeder on December 13. She now has a male and female Downy Woodpecker.

Harvey MacLeod was telling me about the three Partridge that come to eat the rose hips and berries from the bushes beside the back porch. They are not bothered by observers. 

Linda Kennedy from Catalone reports an albino Junco travelling with other Juncos.  

Cathy Mailman of Mainadieu had a Lark Sparrow and a Dicksissel on December 16. 

Joseph Burke of Catalone and his brother Terry saw two birds on the front lawn and in the trees that they identified as Eastern Screech Owls on Christmas night. Their father Sylvester Burke has been feeding up to 19 Mourning Doves.

On December 30 a Common Redpoll was at the disselfink feeder in my yard. That same day the Pine Warbler returned and has become a daily feeder user. 

If you walk along the waterfront or go out on the Government Wharf you should see up to 8 Black Guillemots. Usually there is at least one Common Loon and up to 10 American Black Ducks by the sewer outfall. It is a popular spot for crows and Gulls - Herring, Great Black-Backed and Icelandic. 

Phillip Magee of Catalone had a flock of approximately 100 Bohemian Waxwings.  Were they the same flock reported by Kay Skinner? 

Pearl Magee has observed huge flocks of Evening Grosbeaks, Siskins and Goldfinch feeding in the surrounding trees. She has several Boreal and Black-Capped Chickadees feeding at the suet feeder. She also has a pair of Golden-Crowned Kinglets

Susann Myers still has the Yellow-Breasted Chat at her feeder.  Will it survive the minus double-digit temperatures? 

7 Mourning Doves have been feeding at Sandy McLain's, Diane MacLean's and our feeders daily.  They have discovered that if they stay under my rear porch steps and stretch out their necks they can feed on finch food dropped from the disselfink without exposing themselves to possible predators. 

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK -  This pigeon-sized bird of prey is the smallest and most common North American accipiter, widespread in woodland habitats. It has rounded wings and a long tail. Its flight is a series of quick flaps interspersed with glides. It feeds primarily on birds. It can be found in eastern deciduous forest, boreal forest, open country and coastal dunes (An Audubon Handbook of Eastern Birds). Robie Tufts has more to say about this bird in Birds of Nova Scotia. "Not infrequently, complaints are received from persons who maintain winter feeding stations for birds during these lean months. They report that a small hawk of sorts is hanging about the garden premises; the birds are terrified, leave the feeder, and duck into thick shrubbery the moment the hawk arrives. More than likely this will be a 'Sharp-shin'." A small bird of this description has been seen near Peck's Hill in Catalone. 

I saw a Red-Tailed Hawk on January 6 flying over the Marconi Picnic Area. The same afternoon there was a flock of at least 100 White-winged Crossbills on the Fortress compound road eating seeds from the cones on the fir trees. 

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT 

We had some great sightings during the Christmas Bird Count and I would like to extend a personal thankyou to all those from Louisbourg who participated: Joe & Jean Bagnell, Cliff & Josephine Peck, Diane MacLean, Carol Corbin & Wallace Barter, Evelyn MacKenzie & Sam Dolimount, Pearl Magee, Joey Magee, Neil Magee, Tom & Sheila Fudge, Gwen Lunn, Carlton & Nicholas Lunn and Bill O'Shea. You sighted 40 species and 1658 individual birds. 

Susann Myers will be tabulating the overall count for the area from Mira Gut through the Park and will, no doubt, let us know the results and the other participants. 

OF PARTICULAR INTEREST IN LOUISBOURG: Carlton and Nicholas Lunn spotted a Downy Woodpecker and a mature Bald Eagle.  Sheila and Tom Fudge spotted a Glaucous Gull and two Common Mergansers.  Carol Corbin and Wallace Barter spotted a Fox Sparrow and a Cormorant.  Evelyn MacKenzie and Sam Dollimount spotted a Ruffed Grouse and 15 Mourning Doves.  Gwen Lunn spotted a Northern Shrike and Pearl Magee spotted a Black-Backed Woodpecker.  Diane MacLean spotted a female Northern Cardinal, 12 Snow Buntings, 33 White-Winged Crossbills and a Brown Creeper.  Bill and Helen O'Shea spotted a Pine Warbler, Rock Doves, and a flock of 50 Purple Finch.  

BIRD FEEDERS 

I've been counting bird feeders on my walks through Louisbourg over the holidays. To date I've discovered 75 homes with feeders. A number of homes have 2 or more. There are also a surprising number of bird houses around town. 

Remember to give me a call with your sightings at 733-2873.  

Helen O’Shea

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

Return to the Previous page

Retour à la  page précédente