Thy-colored Heron on Brier Island.

I had the great fortune to watch a try-colored heron, a green heron, and a slew of others last weekend, May 23-24 on Brier Island. This Island is a must for birders in Nova Scotia.

Zoe Lucas looking for Sable Island birds.

Shannon and Joyce, the Wilderbeats, hanging with a falcon.

An osprey lighting down on top of a tall spruce tree. -Ben Stone, The Zuppa Circus Theatre Co

Prize winners!

Getting the Point(s) Prize: Heather MacLeod, (17.5 points.)

“I think I'm a diehard birder now!” –Heather MacLeod.
*This prize is for the birder who gets the most points based on the points system in the bird list.
Prize-Eton wind up radio/ charger/ flashlight from MEC

Not Getting the Point(s) Prize: Allen Richardson, NS Power. (Thanks for being such a great sport, your efforts are greatly appreciated.)
*This prize is for the birder who gets the least points based on the point system in the bird list. (Hint: Not a sought after prize)
Prize-Audubon bird call from FTB Nature shop

The Birder with the Most Prize: Joanne Bernard, Alice Housing. (11 species from the list.)

“I must say that for a city girl who hates anything to do with outside and nature, I really enjoyed this and I am glad I tried something outside of my comfort zone. I even bought a couple of birdfeeders and now enjoy them on my deck…” –Joanne Bernard
*This prize is for the birder who tallies the most species on the list, but not necessarily the most points.
Prize-Thayer birding software from FTB Nature Store

The Birder with the Least Prize: Costas Halavrezos, Mar. Noon, CBC. (It was a tight race, thanks for all the support.)

“I know there are loons in Lake Micmac… but perversely, they've stayed out of sight when I've been there. And after all these years of lovingly caring for their likenesses on the one dollar coin...some gratitude.” –Costas Halavrezos
* This prize is for the birder who tallies the fewest species on the list, but not necessarily the least points. (Hint: Not a sought after prize)
Prize-Winged migration DVD from FTB Nature Shop

The Longest Spring List Prize: Sandy Greenburg, Razzmatazz. (41 species in total.)
*This prize is for the birder who sees the most species. We encourage birders to keep a list of all the birds they see, not just the 20 on the list.
Prize-$25 Gift certificate FTB Nature Shop

CO2 not for U Prize: Nick Wilkinson, Gypsophelia. (Biked over 300 Km douring the challenge; saw most of his birds on his biking ventures.)
*The birder with the smallest carbon footprint.
Prize-Eton wind up radio/ charger/ flashlight from MEC

The Dubious Twitcher Prize: Phlis McGregor, Arts reporter, CBC. (Phlis had some tough competition from John Dunsworth, but counting birds at the Museum takes the cake.)
*The birder with the most dubious sightings.
Prize-Binocular flask from Sweet Janes

The Extreme Birder Prize: John Allen, Propeller brewery.

“It was a fantastic trip and made all the more interesting by my new found pastime (though since I did my best work sitting on a raft with a beer in hand, I think it was still technically “bird watching” as opposed to birding).” John Allen talking about his rafting trip down the Colorado River.
*The birder who went to the most extreme lengths without ruffling any feathers.

Prize-Pelican waterproof case from MEC

The Photography Prize: Andrew Younger, Counselor & Zoe Lucas, Sable Island
*The birder who takes the best picture of a bird during the Challenge.
Prize-Hair cut from the Foxey Moon Hair Gallery. (A. Younger's Plovers, & Z. Lucas' Ipswich Sparrow.)

The For Our Birds Prize: Susan Leblanc-Crawford, Zuppa Circus.
1. talking all the time about the challenge (not difficult for me...)
2. I became a member of the EAC (finally!)
3. I sent a Facebook message about the challenge with links to the EAC's website and the list of things people can do to help the birds to the Zuppa Circus group - 723 members!
4. I posted info on the Zuppa Circus Facebook group, and on our website
5. I am about to write to Howard Epstein, my MLA....
“Thanks so much for asking me to be a part of the challenge! It has been really great, and I am totally excited to continue birding and to learning more about birds in Nova Scotia... I had a great time watching and marveling at the diversity of the species.” –Susan Leblanc Crawford.
*The birder who does something for the birds during the Challenge.
Prize-Acupuncture treatment, Frank Taussig

Mr. Lahey Goes Birding

Hi
See link for article on Challenge:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/ArtsLife/1122242.html

Also came across a raven's nest in Point Pleasant Park--in the white pines just at the bend in the road at the bottom of the hill. You can hear the raucous young.

Saw a pair of terns fishing in the entrance to the Harbour. God, they're elegant birds.

Finally, saw a bright orange Baltimore Oriole this weekend. The birds are back.
Mark

State of the birds. (video)

Check out this inspiring and beautiful video on "the state of the birds" in the USA... http://www.stateofthebirds.org/

More birding on Facebook...

Great birding site on Facebook http://tr.im/birds Have a look.

John Allen floating down the Colorado.

"I am just back from a great trip to Arizona and a rafting trip down the Colorado River with some friends, including an experienced birder. Some of the species seen were snowy egrets, great blue herons, mallard, bufflehead, goldeneye and teal ducks, violet green swallows, yellow warblers, a peregrine falcon, and California condors (really really big). It was a fantastic trip and made all the more interesting by my new found pastime (though since I did my best work sitting on a raft with a beer in hand, I think it was still technically “bird watching” as opposed to birding). "

Nancy Vanstone, new neighbors

Here is a picture of the blue jay nest that sits safely on Nancy's back deck; you'll soon have baby b-jays to enjoy... As for the Challenge list Nancy wrote, "This morning I did get the white throated sparrow... a raven... if only a falcon would swoop down over my deck this afternoon!"

Thanks Nancy, good luck with your new neighbors and with the rest of the Challenge.

Sandy Greenburg of Razzmatazz...

"...saw a common loon ... My backyard has yielded lots of American goldfinches and two white throated sparrows."

Lindsay Jones article in the Weekly News

http://www.halifaxnewsnet.ca/index.cfm?sid=249074&sc=608

State of the birds report.. watch it!!

http://www.stateofthebirds.org/

Bird Superstitions

Chained to this desk as I am, I'm not getting to go out looking like the rest of you lucky ducks (yes,that was deliberate. There will be more bad puns, brace yourself)... so my contribution is just some fun side-interest things.

Don't pigeon-hole me, I do other stuff too!

Has anyone seen an albatross? Did you know they carry the souls of dead mariners? You'd think the pelican could carry more. Just saying.

Blackbirds nesting on your house are good luck. Starlings nesting in your vents are a nuisance... trust me, I've got experience with that one.

Bird flying in the house means a death will happen... or bad luck (I suppose death could be considered bad luck)... or a wedding is on the horizon. Depends on whose grandma you listen to.

Learn more fun bird folklore and superstitions:

http://www.shawcreekbirdsupply.com/folklore_superstitions.htm
My favourite on this page: "Valentine’s Day was thought to foretell the occupation of one’s future husband. If the first bird a girl saw were a goldfinch she would marry a wealthy man. A bluebird signified poverty. A black bird foretold marrying a clergyman. A robin told of a sailor, a woodpecker an old maid."

I would personally think a woodpecker should indicate a carpenter, but I guess that's just me.

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/bird_superstition
"Children will grow a pimply face if they touch a wren's nest." Especially if it's full of chocolate bars.

http://www.birdnature.com/may1898/birdsuperstitions.html
"Great numbers of Jay or Missel Thrushes feeding upon the berries of the hawthorn betoken the approach of a very cold winter, and their Grackle-like calls bring fear to the heart if the meal be low and the peat be scant in the little tenants cabin." Note the garrulousness of this site... the text is apparently from 1898, before the Great Internet Word Shortage of the 2000s.

Happy Birding!

Simple, very helpful birding instructions.

http://bit.ly/Nvnud

Zoe Lucas, Sable sightings...

"... I saw the first Common Terns (>30) on May 3rd, near the Sable Station south beach colony and near the East Light colony, and 3 Barn Swallows near the west ponds on May 4th."

Joanne Bernard and the osprey nest.

Joanne Bernard: "... at brunch in Bedford, the waitress noticed me reading my bird books and told me about this nest which is situated up by the new Wal-Mart in Bedford. " Yes, it is an osprey nest, and if you look closely you can see the mother osprey's head poking out of the top of the nest.

Talking with the birds.

As I walked down the hill to pick up my kids from a neighbor’s house last evening I heard a great beautiful racket… I followed the chirping to a swampy hardwood stand along the side of the road and came upon a flock of at least 50, maybe as many as 100 or more, American goldfinches. I stalled for about 15 minutes and soaked it up. There were also some very happy looking chickadees, nervous morning doves and grackles.

Amazing happenings: As I left the house I looked up to find the blue jay I was hearing, there it was and just beneath it on the same tree was a crow, both looking right at me, and the blue jay screaming for my attention. After 5 to 10 minutes of exchanging pleasantries, (in blue jay language,) I started to walk away, and looked over my shoulder to watch the two of them fly off together to another tree further back in the woods. The crows have been talking to me for months now, I talk back; we follow each other around in the woods. Do crows and blue jays hang out together? Is it possible that my friend the crow was introducing me to its friend the blue jay? It is possible that I am enjoying them and reading too much into their actions. Please send me your thoughts on this; I’ll keep you posted as this relationship develops.

Red-winged blackbird.

I saw a red-winged blackbird out around Seaforth on Sunday, that's 6 of 21. There were also quite a few great blue herons in the shallows by the side of the roads.

Megan Leslie from the House of Commons, Thurs, April 23rd

"Madam Speaker, yesterday Canadians and people around the world celebrated Earth Day. In that spirit, I would like to highlight an exciting event taking place back home that brings attention to the rich biodiversity of Nova Scotia.
The Birds are Back Celebrity Challenge pits Nova Scotian public figures against one another in a race to find and record the province's birds returning for spring.
Birds are on the front lines as our climate changes. The Ecology Action Centre in Halifax has organized Birds are Back to bring attention to the risk that these incredible creatures face with increasing pollution and a warming climate.
I am in this game to win. So far I have caught a glimpse of a grackle and a robin and I look forward to seeking out the piping plover when I head to Crystal Crescent Beach this weekend.
I wish my fellow contestants luck, and I commend the EAC for this important initiative. Happy birding."

From the Frog Pond, April 27th.

Some photos from Monday morning, April 27th at the Frog Pond. I have no photos of birds from our Challenge list so far... I've seen 5 of 21... Common loons, anosprey, ravens, robins, and American goldfinches.

I have noticed a lot more singing birds since the warm weather has arrived. Nests are being built, territory os being claimed and defended. The old saying, "make hay while the sun shines" definitly applies, the birds are wasting no time getting into the swing of things.

We had a great weekend for birding; I had much fun at the beginners bird walk, Saturday at the Frogpond. We saw american goldfinches, kinglets, (golden or ruby-crowned, I can't remember,) a noisy flicker, palm warblers, a raven, crows, grackels, song sparrows, hairy woodpecker, red-breasted nuthatches, blue jays, robins, several pairs of chickadees hollowing out their nests in dead burch trees, (see Stephen Cooke's photos,) and painted turtles out on the rocks sunning themselves. (smart turtles.) Also mallard and black ducks.

Saturday afternoon in Ketch Harbor I saw a great black-backed gull, morning doves and more song sparrows.

Monday I went back to the Frogpond to try photographing the chickadees; they were nowhere to be found. I did see the same noisy flicker, sparrows, 4 racoons cramed into a very small dead tree, all groweling and fussing at one another, and what I think was a bunch of yellow-rumped warblers... Mon afternoon I saw my first ospray hovering but not diving.

Tuesday morning my son and I saw a purple finch on the way to school.

...Photos on the way.

News from Susan and Zoe.

Susan Leblanc-Crawford reported an osprey: "...two down, 18 to go..."

Zoe Lucas reported the arrival of white-throated sparrows on Sable Island. She also spoke of some tough competition she's facing out there, "The (snowy) owl and the (peregrine) falcon might be competing with me for birds on the Birds Are Back list - if the owl and the falcon see them first, I might be out of luck. "

Frog Pond & Keji Adjunct weekend

It was a beautiful weekend to be out on the trails, and a couple of adventures in and out of town proved to be a great chance to see lots of different birds.

On Saturday morning, a Beginning Birders Trip to the Frog Pond off Herring Cove Rd. with Bonnie Carmichael and Gail Bruhm of the Nova Scotia Bird Society proved to be a couple of hours well spent in some gorgeous sunshine. Even before we left the parking lot there were grackles and sparrows, while the park's twisting paths also provided sightings of woodpeckers, palm warblers, a northern flicker, American robins, chickadees, nuthatches and a raven. Although I didn't see one, there was a kinglet sighting and I think a yellow finch or two.


Here's a song sparrow to greet us in the parking lot.



Lots of chickadees in the park building nests out of dead trees.


Nuthatches were also in nest-building mode, this dead tree was full of them!

Sunday was spent on the South Shore, travelling the loop around Port Joli Head, a.k.a. the Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct, just southwest of Port Mouton.

Getting there bright and early (ours was the only car in the parking lot), it was overcast at first, and fairly quiet, but eventually we began hearing the occasional song, and spotted a song sparrow or two as we made our way to the Harbour Rocks section of the park, where piping plovers are known to nest. A very large American Robin greeted us from a not-too-distant tree as we got to the beach, and a couple of seals lay on the rocks just offshore. I did catch a fleeting glimpse of one plover and heard a distinctive peep, just as it darted into the grass on the dune. A blue heron was also spotted, both in flight and in the water in the marshy area behind the beach. Also spotted, all over, were ticks! Luckily they were only found on the outside of our clothes, but take note that they are out there, so tuck in those pantlegs if you're out in the woods along the south shore.


Who's watching the bird watchers?

After the beach it wasn't great for spotting birds, more song sparrows and possibly some finches, although we did catch a glimpse of a yellow-rumped warbler on the southwest side of the trail, heading towards Boyd's Cove (which was funny because it was the very bird Bonnie Charmichael had been looking for the day before at the Frog Pond). Even though the sun had come out, we didn't see quite so many birds as we'd hoped, although this song sparrow serenaded us for a while as we headed back towards the entrance:

Sue Goyette, sightings and crow stories.

Quoted from Sue's email....
"I saw an osprey, a revival of robins, a northern flicker, some kind of hawk, ravens, lots of stand up comedian crows, one that did a great Mick Jagger impersonation. Another that did Tony Soprano really well. I also say a heron in flight, which always, brings my heart to its knees...
There's a huge, scraggled crows' nest being built on my street and though it seems so precariously balanced, the crows are persistent architects."

Birding when the sun comes out.

It has been a bit wet for birding over the past few days, should be a good weekend though; birding's better when the sun comes out! Don't forget your shade hat, bake, don't burn.

For all you coffee lovers...

Here's an interesting link: http://www.birdsandbeans.com/index.html There are a number of local coffee roasters/ providers with similar mandates. Just Us being my current favorite.

The eyes and ears of Costas Halavrezos...

I just got this note from Costas Halavrezos said that he, "Saw some magnificent displays of Snow Geese (a blizzard of Snow Geese ?) along the St Lawrence when I was driving back from Montreal on Sunday.
I've also been able to match the unusual disembodied call I'd been hearing near my home in Dartmouth with a red-bellied woodpecker who's been tapping around. "

John Allen...

John Allen wrote in on Munday, April 20th, "I have been hard at work “bird watching” as opposed to “birding” and until this morning had come to the conclusion that there is in fact only one type of sparrow, the brown kind. This morning in Point Pleasant I did come across a white throated sparrow however, which leads me to believe the other ones were song sparrows. I have also seen in Point Pleasant a northern flicker, bluejays, junkos, starlings, chickadees, American robins and mourning doves... at my cottage in Seaforth I saw, in addition to many of the Point Pleasant sightings, a osprey on its nest. "

Andrew Younger ...

This arrived from Andrew Younger on Sunday, april 20th. "Today I saw 5 American Robins, and 3 Northern Ravens... I also was lucky to happen upon 2 Piping Plovers. " He also saw a ring necked pheasant and a sparrow; isn't sure what kind of sparrow it is, (there seems to be a bit of confusion as to which of these very similar-looking sparrow species people are seeing.)

Great shots Andrew, much appreciated.

Salt Marsh/Shearwater Flyer Trail Bird Bonanza

Finally got out for a proper walkabout this weekend, for a morning stroll on the Shearwater Flyer and Salt Marsh Trails out in Cole Harbour (down Bisset Road, past the old Cole Harbour Rehab Centre, also known as the former set for Trailer Park Boys...perhaps the absence of Bubbles and his kitties is good news for the birds).

Turned out to be a good morning for birding, lots of different calls in the air and quite a few spotted. Heard an owl, but didn't see it, and managed to catch a glimpse of a pheasant or two and a hawk that were too quick for my camera. Also saw robins and a junco, plus an annoyed duck that had been reposing in a small brook just off the Flyer trail. Unfortunately, the Salt Marsh trail, where I hoped to see some interesting wader birds, just yielded seagulls, ducks and a lone cormorant (not that we weren't happy to see them as well).

Here are a few shots (sorry about the fuzziness; digital zoom and lack of a tripod do not razor sharp images make):








Okay, that last one isn't a bird, but he was still pretty cute.

Hopefully this week I can manage to fit in a few trips to spots like the Dingle/Frog Pond and maybe Crystal Crescent; next weekend's target is the Keji Adjunct.

Here's the Hermit Thrush that we saved from the sidewalk in downtown Halifax on Wednesday morning. It apparently had collided with the TD building on the corner of Barrington and George St, and was cold and probably in a bit of shock when we first found it. After a bit of quiet time in a warm place the little fellow seemed ready to face the world again. Emma Boardman and I took it up to Needham Park and let it go, ( Emma took the photo,) The little fellow was likely a bit tired but seemingly none the worse for wear.

For more information on our pilot project on birds colliding with buildings visit our web site, http://www.ecologyaction.ca/content/birds or for more detail, http://www.flap.org/

Thanks to Lyndsay, Guan, Meaghan and our small team of volunteers for making this project go... Check our web site if you too would like to get involved.

From my inbox.

Hi folks, I thought I'd share some of the updates I've been receiving through my email...

Zoe Lucas from Sable Island has had two sightings of a Peregrine Falcon, it may have been the same bird, 4 American Robins, and 50 or more Ipswich Sparrows, (they are common out there on Sable Island.) Thanks Zoe.

Jen Powley has been watching a Grackle, busy foraging in her back yard. Great Jen.

Erica Munn sent word of American Robins and Black Guillemots. She wrote, ".....It's so much fun....and I'm discovering new places I've never even heard of in this beautiful province." Keep it up Erica.

I'm sure that many more of you are out enjoying the spring weather, keep your eyes open and your bird book handy. -Noel

Corection...

My apologies, the photo of the Indigo Bunting was sent to us by our friend Helen Lofgren, passed to me by Mark Butler... Thanks Helen, great shot.

I just got this Indigo Bunting in an email from Mark Butler, thanks Mark.

Here is a photo of a sparrow submitted by Ben Stone of Zuppa Circus. Any guesses on what kind of a sparrow it is?

Looks like a woodpecker

I caught sight of a bird that has the markings of a Red-Bellied woodpecker, but rather than being black and white, it was brown. Any ideas of what this really might have been?

Bird Calls

I have to admit that my birding skills are minimal but I'm terribly excited about the challenge. This morning I burnt a CD of  "birdsongs" (they were all purchased legally from Itunes and they will only be distributed for personal use).  They aren't merely bird calls (though I have included some of those) but songs with a bird name in the title or artists name - everything from Sheryl Crow to Albatross by Rufus Wainwright. How many points is this worth?

Early birds

On Monday I got a close up view of an eagle (on a front lawn in Pictou Co., chowing down on some unfortunate small, furry critter), and spotted a grey jay in the tree outside my house upon my return to Halifax, which I'm told is pretty rare in the city. Unfortunately, I won't be counting these since it was two days before the challenge started, but I'm taking them as healthy signs of things to come. I'm also keeping an eye out for the raven that likes to hang out in the trees around the Herald building at the Armdale Roundabout (probably keeping an eye on the local squirrel population), but he's been scarce since the challenge started, I think he knows something. Hopefully I don't see him "nevermore".

On Sunday I'm off to the Salt Marsh Trail in Cole Harbour to spot some waders/shore birds. Better get me some new binoculars...

Hawk attack!

My good friend Rose Vaughn, not able to participate in the Challenge, told me a story about a sharp-shinned hawk she watched fly down and pounce on a sparrow in her yard. It's a dog eat dog, or rather a bird eat bird world out there.

Welcome and Thanks!

Thank you to everyone who helped and participated in the launch of our Challenge on Wednesday morning. I had a great time, and was very impressed with all of our presenters, Ian, Suzanne, Mark and Shannon, thanks; all participants, too many to list here, welcome and thanks; Ned at Just Us cafe and MEC thanks; the Boulangerie; Emma and Charlene for technical support and last but not least Brenda and all the extremely helpful people at the Museum, thank you very much. If you deserve a thanks and I haven't mentioned you here, thanks a million for your support and enthusiasm, Noel Taussig: Challenge Coordinator.

Welcome to The Birds Are Back Celebrity Challenge blog.

-Noel Taussig

Launched Wednesday!

Celebrities and birdwatchers alike, please post your notes here!