The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

January 15, 2020

“EXPLORE NATURE”---GO BIRDING:

To report your sightings phone the Store at 250-390-3669 or e-mail us at thebackyard@shaw.ca. Please remember, when reporting a sighting to leave your name and phone number along with the date the species was seen and location of your sighting.
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Photo: Bufflehead (R. Hocken)

Sunday January 12, 2020:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park. Temperatures were low, wind and waves were high, but the rain and snow held off until we finished. Most birds were hunkered out of the weather, but we managed a decent list of the usual suspects.

Fifteen determined birders saw or heard the following 33 species:

Canada Goose

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Brandt's Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Black-bellied Plover

Black Oystercatcher

Black Turnstone

Mew Gull

Iceland (Thayer's) Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Ancient Murrelet

Rhinoceros Auklet

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick's Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Dark-eyed Junco

Pine Siskin

Photo: Downy Woodpecker (R. Hocken)

Tuesday January 14, 2020:



The Tuesday Bird Walk was cancelled this week due to weather.

Backyard Feeder Notes:

Winter is for the birds or all about the birds. With the latest weather the birds have been busy about the backyards and at the feeders since natural foods sources are covered by the snow. There are a few things you can do to help the birds during this snowy weather. Of course you can provide seed for the birds but not all birds feed on seeds so start by opening up your compost or shovel the snow off the garden and turn the soil to dig up insects for the robins and thrushes. Grate some suet and place in an area away from other feeder activity but near the robins. Add quarters of apple or blueberries for them as well. If the hummingbird feeder is freezing bundle up an old string of incandescent Christmas lights or trouble light and hang under the feeder to provide some heat. Place a wool sock over the bottle of the hummingbird feeder to help insulate the solution and even place a hand warmer under the sock to add some warmth. These are just a few ideas to help out our feathered friends during the winter.

Photo: Varied Thrush (J. Morrison)

The Sunday Bird Walk January 19, 2020:

This Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Bowen Park in Nanaimo.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or meet at the upper parking lot by the outdoor pool at 9:15am.

 

The Tuesday Bird Walk January 21, 2020:

This Tuesday Bird Walk will try again to go to the

 Little Qualicum River Estuary.

Meet at the Parksville Tourist Information Center parking lot, located by Hwy 19A, Northwest Bay road and Franklin’s Gull road in Parksville, at 9:00 am or meet at the Brant Viewing Stand at the end of Qualicum Beach at 9:15 or at the end of Surfside Drive off of Kinkade Road at 9:40.

Please Note:
Check this site (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) early Tuesday and Sunday on stormy mornings to see if the walks have been cancelled!

Good birding!

Colin Bartlett