The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Report
April 27, 2022
“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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Townsend’s Solitaire (C. Bartlett)
Tuesday April 26, 2022:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary. Weather started out cloudy, then on and off rain showers and ended with some sun. Winds were calm and temperature was 6 degrees. It was a great bird walk and one of the highest species counts we have had on a walk. A few highlights of the bird walk were, great views of more than one Townsend’s Solitaire, Hermit Thrush, Kestrel, and great views of many Chipping Sparrows.
15 birders saw and heard the following 71 species:
Brant
Canada Goose
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Green-winged Teal
Harlequin Duck
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
California Quail
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Coopers Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Merlin
American Kestrel
Virginia Rail
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Dunlin
Bonaparte’s Gull
Short-billed Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Eurasian Collared Dove
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Pileated Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Hammond’s Flycatcher
American Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick’s Wren
Pacific Wren
Bushtit
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Dipper
Townsend’s Solitaire
American Robin
Hermit Thrush
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Savanah Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Brewer’s Blackbird
House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Tuesday April 26, 2022:
Yellow-rumped Warbler, male and female, continues visiting a backyard suet feeder in the hospital area.
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Common Yellowthroat (M. Glover)
Sunday April 24, 2022:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Legacy Marsh in upper Lantzville. Weather was sun and cloud with a cool breeze. Bird activity was good but should get better in the next week or so with more flycatchers and warblers arriving. A few highlights from the bird walk were, hearing the Hammond’s and Pacific-slope Flycatchers, great views of the Common Yellowthroat and Orange-crowned Warblers.
14 birders saw and heard the following 42 species:
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Band-tailed Pigeon
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Cassin’s Vireo
Common Raven
American Crow
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Orange-crowned Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Townsend’s Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
Saturday April 23, 2022:
White-throated Sparrow was seen in a backyard in Eagle Crest, Qualicum Beach.
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White-Throated Sparrow (V. Taylor)
Avian Flu
We have received many inquires about the
Avian Influenza that has been in the news of late, and what to do. So far we know
it does not seem to effect songbirds and it is not know what part songbirds may
or may not play in the spread. It is known to affect waterfowl, shorebirds,
raptors, ravens, crows, magpies. Most reports in Canada are out east but there
have been reports in Washington State.
To keep the feeders birds healthy regular weekly
cleaning of your bird feeders is recommended, bird baths and areas around the
feeders is always recommended. Use a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water
to clean your bird feeders and bird baths. Remove old seed from under the
feeders and toss in the garbage.
The Wild Bird Feeding Institute has
released an announcment with what to do with avian flu and your bird feeders;
WBFI encourages any bird feeding
hobbyists that have waterfowl frequenting their bird feeders, or poultry
nearby, to remove feeders temporarily. The United States Department of
Agriculture reports that “Removing backyard feeders is not something the USDA
specifically recommends preventing avian influenza unless you also take care of
poultry.”
Here is a link to another article on the
Avian Flu, https://www.wbfi.org/2022/02/18/2022birdfluupdate/
Here is a link for Bird Studies Canada information, https://www.birdscanada.org/help-respond-to-the-avian-influenza-outbreak-in-atlantic-canada/
Also, with the return of the Pine Siskins to the backyard feeders it is important to clean the bird feeders and the area under the feeders more frequently, especially with the wet weather. Use a solution of 1 part bleach or industrial white vinegar to 9 parts water for the cleaning, rinse and let dry. Remove any old seed under the feeders and garbage. If possible, move the feeders a few feet every couple of weeks so there is a clean area under the bird feeders for the birds.
The Backyard Bird Walks
Our bird walks go out Sunday mornings in Nanaimo and Tuesday mornings in
Parksville and Qualicum Beach area, are easy walks that go for two to three
hours (back for lunch is the plan). Bring binoculars and a field guide. The
walks are weather pending.
Please check our
blog (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) for any
cancelations.
Covid-19 Precautions
·
Do not attend if you feel ill.
·
Please respect social distancing, 2 meters or 6
feet.
·
Wear your mask when unable to maintain social
distancing.
Thank you.
The Tuesday Bird Walk, May 3, 2022
The
Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Lot 10 Qualicum Beach.
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 on Hwy 19A at the north end of Qualicum beach (between Crescent Road W and Beach Terrace) at 9:15am. Weather Cooperating.
The Sunday Bird Walk, May 1, 2022
The Sunday Bird walk will be going to Maki
Road Trail, in
south Nanaimo.
Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the end of Maki Road by the Living Forest Campground at 9:10 am. Weather cooperating.
Good birding! Colin Bartlett
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