The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

November 26, 2024
“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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Common Goldeneye (R. Hocken) 

Tuesday November 26, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Columbia Beach by French Creek. Weather was sunny with a few clouds, cool light breeze out of the north, tide was coming in and 1C. Birds were busy on the water with lots of Bonaparte’s Gull moving up the strait, and military exercises going on. Other highlights were Western Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Common Murre and Ancient Murrelets.

18 birders heard and saw the following 46 species:

Canada Goose

Cackling Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Rick-necked Duck

Harlequin Duck

Common Goldeneye

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Western Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Black Oystercatcher

Black Turnstone

Greater Yellowlegs

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Pigeon Guillemot

Common Murre

Ancient Murrelet

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

American Crow

Bewick’s Wren

Spotted Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Pine Siskin

White-throated Sparrow (R. Hocken)

Sunday November 24, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk was canceled due to the weather.

Saturday November 23, 2024:

A White-throated Sparrow was seen at the backyard feeders on Maxey Road and Milestone River.

Tuesday November 19, 2024:

A Western Bluebird was reported in the Hawthorne Park neighbourhood by Buttertubs Marsh. It was only seen briefly as it stopped in a backyard.

Varied Thrush and Steller’s Jay were seen on Arnhem Terrace and Metral Drive.

Birding Notes:

The Christmas side hunt was an old tradition in which participants would pick teams and compete to see who would bring back the biggest feathered bounty.

With the introduction of the Audubon Society came the Christmas Bird Count as they decided counting birds was better than shooting them. The first Christmas Bird Count was December 25th, 1900, and was organized by Frank Chapman. The count had twenty seven participants in twenty five count areas from New Brunswick to Pacific Grove, California, and they counted ninety species with 18, 500 individual birds.

The purpose of the CBC is to help understand the status and distribution of wintering birds. The data is collected from all over North America to give us clues about what birds are doing and where they are.

With urbanization and global warming, birds habits and habitats are changing. By using citizen science projects like the Christmas Bird Count, we can see what the effects are on birds and nature which can give us clues to what may still be in store.

For those unable to head into the field and enjoy the CBC, you can also submit counts for backyard feeders. You can participate by settling yourself in your favourite chair with your drink of choice and a good view of your backyard birds and enjoy the birds. Just remember to log what you see while you relax!

To participate in the Christmas Bird Count and find your count area and date, visit the CBC at www.birdscanada.org.

If you have any birds to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, birding@thebackyard.ca or 250-390-3669, toll-free 1-888-808-BIRD (2473)

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.

The Sunday Bird Walk, December 1, 2024.

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00 am or at the Second Street entrance by the Miners Shack at 9:10 am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, December 3, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to the Englishman River Estuary - Plummer Road.

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 trail entrance at the corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at 9:10am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

Sunday Bird Walk CANCELED Nov 24

 Today’s, November 24th bird walk has been CANCELED due to weather.

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

November 19, 2024
“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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Mallard (R. Hocken) 

Tuesday November 19, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk was canceled today due to the weather.

Monday November 18, 2024:

A report of a white Common Raven seen last week in the area of French Creek and highway 19A.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (R. Hocken)

Sunday November 17, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Maki Road Trail, located at the end of Maki Road in south Nanaimo. Weather was sunny with some cloud, 4C, winds calm, and the tide was high. A few highlights from the walk were the Northern Harrier that was seen flying over the estuary near the river. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet put on a show low in a small Arbutus tree and a Bewick’s Wren that perched on a branch in the sun for all to see. Pacific Tree Frogs could be heard along the trail as well.

15 Birders heard and saw the following 38 species:

Trumpeter Swan

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Northern Harrier

Bald Eagle

Short-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

Steller’s Jay

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Pacific Wren

Bewick’s Wren

Marsh Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Savanah Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Birding Notes:

Colder nights are on the way and for most of our backyard birds, keeping the bird feeders filled with good seed is a great help, but what about those bird that eat insects and berries like American Robins?

To make sure that these birds also have a supply of food, place a tarp, piece of plywood, or other object on the lawn or garden to create a warm spot, free of snow and frozen soil. To feed the birds, simply move the object and allow the birds access to the unfrozen soil and the insects within. You can also turn the garden soil, about 12" deep, to allow access to insects.

Other foods that can be placed out for robins and thrush are grated suet, apples, blueberries, and cranberries. Towhees and juncos can also enjoy these treats.

If you have any birds to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, birding@thebackyard.ca or 250-390-3669, toll-free 1-888-808-BIRD (2473)

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.

The Sunday Bird Walk, November 24, 2024.

The Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00 am or at the Second Street entrance by the Miners Shack at 9:10 am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, November 26, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Columbia Beach in French Creek.

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 sandy beach parking lot located on Admiral Tyron Blvd, located off Columbia Drive and HWY 19A, at 9:15am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

Tuesday Bird Walk CANCELED

 Today November 19th bird walk is canceled for weather.  

See you next Tuesday. 

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

November 12, 2024
“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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Northern Shrike (J. Morrison) 

Tuesday November 12, 2024:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road side of the Englishman River Estuary. Weather was cloudy with sunny breaks, tide was going out, no wind, and 6C. The birds were a little quiet to start the walk and not to much on the river, which was high, except for a few Common Mergansers. A few high lights from the walk were Northern Shrike that perched nicely for everyone to get a good look. Hutton’s Vireo gave everyone a show near the viewing area on the field and two Bald Eagles were busy working on the nest along the river. Also, four orcas put on a nice show out front at the mouth of the river.

13 birders saw and heard the following 44 species:

Canada Goose

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Harlequin Duck

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

killdeer

Short-bill Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Shrike

Hutton’s Vireo

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bushtit

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

Steller’s Jay, Varied Thrush and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet were seen in a backyard on Aulds Road and Arbutus Crescent area.

Evening Grosbeak (L. Stevens)

Sunday November 10, 2024:

There was no Sunday Bird Walk this weekend.

Friday November 7, 2024:

Approximately 20 Evening Grosbeaks were seen along the Maki Trail (Fielding marsh) in south Nanaimo. They were also seen on November 5^th and 6^th.

Birding Notes:

Fall has arrived and so has the wet weather. Cleaning bird feeders is as much a part of bird feeding as filling them with seed. Keeping feeders clean will make bird watching more enjoyable for both you and your

feathered friends.

We recommend using 1 part bleach to 9 parts water or a 1 to one ratio of cleaning vinegar and water to clean your feeders. Make sure to use industrial cleaning vinegar not cooking vinegar as it lacks the disinfectant properties.

Either solution can be kept in a spray bottle to simplify the

process even further.

First, remove any old bird seed from your feeders and throw it into the trash.

Use a small brush or whiskbroom to clean out any

stubborn seed remains and then give it a good spray with your cleaning solution.

Scrub the feeder down with the cleaning solution and rinse with fresh water then let it dry.

Wooden feeders can be scrubbed to knock off any seed remains and then sprayed liberally with the cleaning

solution. If using bleach water, give it a good spray and let it air dry overnight. The bleach will sanitize your feeder and evaporate off, leaving it safe for use.

If you have any birds to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, birding@thebackyard.ca or 250-390-3669, toll-free 1-888-808-BIRD (2473)

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.

The Sunday Bird Walk, November 17, 2024.

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 meet at the end of Maki Road, by Living Forest Campground, at 9:15 am. Weather cooperating.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, November 19, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Columbia Beach in French Creek.

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 sandy beach parking lot located on Admiral Tyron Blvd, located off Columbia Drive and HWY 19A, at 9:15am. Weather Cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

November 5, 2024
“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.
********************************************************* 

Harlequin Duck (R. Hocken) 

Tuesday November 5, 2024:

First of the fall, a Varied Thrush was seen visiting a backyard feeder in Ladysmith.

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park in Parksville. Weather was sunny with a few clouds, no wind, high tide and 6C. A few highlights from the walk were Ring-billed Gull, Black Turnstones with Black-bellied Plovers, and Red Crossbills.

16 birders saw and heard the following 48 species:

Brant

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Red- necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Western Grebe

Pied-billed Grebe

Bald Eagle

Merlin

Black Oystercatcher

Black-bellied Plover

Black Turnstone

Bonaparte’s Gull

Short-bill Gull

California Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

Bewick’s Wren (J. Morrison)

Sunday November 3, 2024:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to the Nanaimo River Estuary, starting at the end of Raines Road. Weather was sunny with some cloud, tide was going out and 9C. A few highlights from the walk was a flyby from the Northern Harrier, a Lincoln Sparrow seen near the oak tree, Short-eared Owl near the mouth of the river and Yellow-rumped Warblers.

14 birders saw and heard the following 36 species:

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Greater Scaup

Bufflehead

Common Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier

Dunlin

Short-billed Gull

California Gull

Thayer’s Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Short-eared Owl

Belted Kingfisher

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Hutton’s Vireo

American Crow

Common Raven

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Western Meadowlark

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Lincoln Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Saturday November 2, 2024:

A late Turkey Vulture was seen flying over Grove Hill Road in Qualicum.

Birding Notes:

If you haven't gotten around to cleaning up your garden this fall, now you don’t have to! Any flowers that have gone to seed are a great source of food for your backyard birds this winter. Ground birds like Dark-eyed Juncos, Spotted Towhees, Song Sparrows, and others will greatly enjoy this easy access energy source. If you rake up the leaves use them as ground cover on your garden, as insects will hibernate in them, seed will get caught up in them proving another food source for the birds.

Have you done some pruning recently or perhaps had some branches fall from a windstorm? Build a brush pile! Loosely pile small branches to give birds a place to perch and use larger limbs to make a teepee shape that can be covered in evergreens with a single entrance hole. This is a simple and effective way to give backyard birds temporary shelter from weather or predators.

If you have any birds to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, birding@thebackyard.ca or 250-390-3669, toll-free 1-888-808-BIRD (2473)

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.

The Sunday Bird Walk, November 10, 2024.

The Sunday Bird Walk is CANCELED this week.

The Tuesday Bird Walk, November 12, 2024.

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Englishman River Estuary – Shelly Road in Parksville.

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 end of Shelly Road off hwy 19A at 9:10 am. Weather cooperating.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett