The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 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