FOR THE BIRDS

SEPTEMBER 2000

By

Helen O'Shea

Special Tourists visit - SNOW GEESE

Four adult Snow Geese visited the Fortress from September 1 through 6. They toured most of the reconstruction from the Dauphin Gate, the parade square and Black Rock. The geese were first reported by Sheila Fudge and Minnie MacLeod. They were also seen by Myles MacDonald, Louise Johnston most of the guiding staff and many visitors. I saw them in Haldemand’s Pond, just outside the Dauphin Gate. On Labour Day, Rannie Butts spotted them at the Havenside barachois. Ann Coleman was the last to sight them at the Fortress early on Wednesday morning.

The Snow Goose is smaller than a Canada Goose. The adult is white with black primary feathers. It breeds from Siberia, across the Arctic to Greenland and winters from British Columbia and New York state south to Mexico.

Long-Tailed Duck- A Name Change

What used to be called the Oldsquaw Duck is now the Long-tailed Duck. This name change was made official in the American Ornothologists’ Union, Checklist of North American Birds, Seventh Edition, 1998, 42^nd Supplement.

Around the Harbour

There were 3 Great Blue Herons at the Havenside Barachois on September 3.

Ian Harte reported seeing a mature Black-bellied Plover at the Havenside Barachois on Labour Day. That same day there was a Black-bellied Plover at the Fortress Barachois.

Changes brought about since last January’s storm have meant fewer opportunities to see birds. At Havenside the barrier of large rocks installed to protect the road and residents there has done away with the small gravel beach. Fewer birds have been sighted at the Fortress Barachois.

Bill got a digital picture of a male Ring-necked Pheasant on Chad Magee’s lawn on Labour Day. Juanita Paige reports seeing 3 of them at here home on Havenside.

Colleen and Joe Rosta observed a flock of Canada Geese flying over the Motorhome Park on the waterfront on September 7.

There has been a pair of Northern Harriers, formerly known as Marsh Hawks, in the Black Rock area of the Fortress for most of the summer. You can’t miss the patch of white at the base of the tail as they glide across the marsh looking for small animals for lunch. The male is pale gray and the female streaked brown. You can also these birds flying along the north shore of the harbour.

At the Feeders

It was a good summer for Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds. I had a pair of mature birds and 3 young ones coming regularly to the feeders. There was obviously a nest nearby, probably in the rose bushes, but I never could find it. when I would go out to the composter the hummers would dive bomb me. And the pair sat on the clothes line and would only move when I started to put clothes out and move the line. Pearl Magee also had a family of Hummingbirds at her house this summer.

I had a Black and White Warbler and a Chestnut-sided Warbler in the yard regularly during August.

Over the Summer

In June, Gary Peck told me about a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird that flew into his cottage and couldn’t get out. He stretched out his hand and the little bird landed on his finger. Gary said that it stayed there for over ½ hour before flying away.

A Blue Jay was nesting in the trees between my house and Philip Burke’s. One June morning there was a commotion which caused us to rush outside where we saw a crow attempting to raid the nest.

There was a pair of Northern Flickers for most of the summer along Verrier Crescent from Calvin Pitcher’s house to the top of the hill and around to Jody Harpell’s house. Once I watched one of them drinking from a puddle in front of Calvin’s.

More than ever the Starlings are moving into the Housing Area. There have been a few at the feeders over the past winter and one or two nesting pairs in the lights on the power poles. But by the end of the summer it is not uncommon to see a flock of 75-100 of these birds on the power lines or on the lawns chasing crane flies.

In July there was a Gannet in the field beside Doug Covey’s house on Havenside. It was seen by Sheila Fudge, John Lunn, Bill, Pat and me.

In addition to young Hummingbirds, we had young Blue Jays and Juncoes in abundance during the summer. One day a young Black -capped Chickadee landed in a lilac tree at Bill’s eye level. They stared at each other for about 5 minutes before both decided to leave.

Well folks, that’s all for now. Start thinking about getting feeders ready for the fall. The Co-op at Sydney River is good for black oil sunflower seeds and millet. To get there drive across the bridge towards Riverview High School, go straight past the school for about 2 kilometers and the Co-op is on the right.

Helen O'Shea

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

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