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.