FOR THE BIRDS

January 1999

By

Helen O'Shea

At My Feeders

On December 14, I had a pair of Evening Grosbeaks land in my yard and desperately try to eat the sunflower seed from my tube feeders. They gave up in frustration since they did not know that they should stand on one perch and eat out of the port above the perch. The clever Blue Jays figured out that technique immediately. The next day, I was amazed to hear a chirping Blue Jay at my feeder. It was the first time that I had heard that call. On December 20, a Red-breasted Nuthatch arrived at the feeder and has appeared occasionally with a mate.

The number of Juncos under the multiflora rosebush in my yard is never more than 6. Has anyone else noticed so few Juncos this year? In The Folklore of Birds, Laura Martin writes. "Juncos usually winter in the same area year after year. At feeders, which they frequent, the birdwatcher can observe a definite hierarchy. Juncos of greater stature will chase off less important Juncos, effectively establishing a pecking order. Males are usually at the top of the order, followed first by females, then by immature birds." ©1993, The Globe Pequot Press, Old Saybrook, CT., p.95.

My first bird observation in 1999 was the American Goldfinch—one of the two dozen that come to my feeders with regularity. The next arrival was a Red-breasted Nuthatch. The first sighting of the Pine Warbler for the winter took place on Sunday, January 3. Perhaps this warbler is the same one who has visited the feeder of Susann Myers.

Doug Pearl’s interesting sightings

On December 10, Warden Doug Pearl called to report an American Coot at the pond behind the King’s Bastion at the Fortress site. We were able to observe it with binoculars and a spotting scope for 15 minutes as it paddled about diving and feeding.

"The coot’s solitary habits caused it to be referred to as a hermit and its nest a hermitage. The heart of the coot was once thought to be an effective cure for epilepsy….Popular opinion today indicates an different view of this waterbird. "Silly old coot" and "crazy as a coot" suggest that some folks believe the coot to lack intelligence. "Bald as a coot" is an expression that was used even during medieval times and is a reflection of the physical appearance of the bird rather than of its character…Coots feed both in the water (on aquatic plants) and on land (on grain, seeds, and grass). When feeding in the water, they often congregate near ducks and other waterfowl, eating aquatic plants and animals these birds have stirred up… (other names include ) marsh hen, mud hen, water chicken, pond hen, white bill, hen bill, crow-blue Peter, splatter, shuffler …." The Folklore of Birds, p.31.

December 14, Doug reported a seabird that he’d never seen before. It was feeding with Oldsquaw in a cove east of the Lighthouse. He describes it as about two thirds the size of an Oldsquaw, white on the back and sides and dark (almost reddish) on the back of the head. It dove differently than the Oldsquaw and was similar in size to a Bufflehead. Susann Myers speculates that it may have been a Smew.

Around the Harbour

Bill Bussey reported an immature male Red-winged Blackbird at his feeder with a flock of sparrows and starlings on December 12. On a sunny December 14, Pearl Magee had an Immature Yellow-rumped Warbler eating insects and drinking water in the early morning despite the minus 2 degree weather.

Ian Harte reported a female Northern Shoveller at Big Lorraine Harbour on December 15^th as well as 8 Bald Eagles during a drive along the coast and around Mira.

December 13, we counted 15 Black Guillemots off the Government Wharf and 8 Iceland Gulls at the sewer outlet below the home of Olive Shaw. There were 8 Oldsquaw off the Royal Battery and a female Northern Harrier at the back of the Compound Road.

December 26 through 31, Gary Peck observed a pair of Ruffed Grouse eating berries in his yard daily at approximately 3:30 p.m. They wandered down from the yard of George Kehoe. When Gary first saw the "partridge" in the dogwood tree, he heard that it was an omen of stormy weather from Reverend Lathigee. "In winter the ruffed grouse grows tiny horny fringes on its toes that act as snowshoes—they spread out the bird’s weight over the snow to deep it from sinking. During the cold months the bird feeds on catkins, buds, and the twigs of trees, particularly aspen and poplar." The Folklore of Birds, p.80

Pearl Magee had a Chipping Sparrow in her yard on December 31. On January 2, we counted 60 Sparrows at the feeders of Guy and Henrietta Hiltz and Olive Shaw. Approximately 40 of this flock were eating grit on Alexandra Street in front of the home of Lloyd and Doris King. Allister MacDonald often has a large part of this flock at his backyard feeders.

Pearl still has her Yellow-rumped Warbler on January 8. Since these warblers are very hardy and tend to overwinter in more northerly locations she is going to try feeding it mountain ash berries and a piece of orange. The "Myrtle Warbler" is widespread across boreal regions, being an abundant migrant and winter visitor in the East….determined by food availability (berries and insects)….Small numbers winter on the East Coast to Nova Scotia…." Jon Dunn/Kimball Garrett, Warblers, Peterson Field Guides, ©1997, p. 267—272.

Christmas Bird Count

During the Christmas Bird Count (December 19) on a sunny day with a light snow cover and minus 2 degree temperature we had a very few species at the backyard feeders. Instead of the 17 species observed last year I had only 8 including American Goldfinch, Slate-coloured Junco, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee and a Boreal Chickadee. While driving around the Harbour in the afternoon there were a pair of Red-tailed Hawks and a mature Bald Eagle on Havenside and 3 Common Goldeneye by Hopkins Fish Plant. We saw 2 Dovekies off the Government Wharf as well as 3 Iceland Gulls.

That morning we drove to Mainadieu with Carol Corbin who was observing in the area. There were a number of familiar birds including: Red-breasted Merganser, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Starling, Oldsquaw, Common Loon, Crow, Black Duck, and a Grey Jay. We also observed White-winged Scoters and Surf Scoters. A Common Murre swimming very close to the Black Guillemots provided an interesting contrast in size.

REMEMBER TO KEEP YOUR FEEDERS FILLED. WITH OUR WIND CHILL MINUS 30 TEMPERATURES THE BIRDS NEED TO EAT TO STAY WARM.

Scoters, Buffleheads, Oldsquaw, Black Guillemots, Common Loons, and Red-breasted Mergansers abound in Louisbourg Harbour. Enjoy your drives and keep an eye on the Harbour.

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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