Can I Feed the Birds Yet?

Avian Flu Update for December 2022

As of December 2022, the avian flu is still very low risk for transmission to songbirds.

Our research from reputable sources such as Bird Studies Canada, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency concludes that there is currently still very little to no risk of songbirds catching avian flu.

It is safe to continue feeding your backyard birds as long as you do not have poultry, or waterfowl  visiting your feeders. Just be sure to keep the area clean and disinfect feeders once a week with a 10% bleach solution, or a 50% cleaning vinegar solution (industrial white vinegar found in hardware stores, different from cooking vinegar) and remove any old bird seed on the ground. If you do have backyard chickens but keep them at a distance from your wild bird feeding area, you can continue feeding but we recommend you be careful to keep your chickens and backyard birds well away from each other.

Keeping Your Hummingbird Feeder from Freezing

Hummingbird feeders are an important supplementary energy source for hummingbirds, especially in the current weather conditions. With the low temperatures, it can be hard to keep your nectar solution from freezing. 

One simple option is to install a Hummer Hearth Hummingbird Feeder Heater. The heater is an attachment for existing hummingbird feeders and consists of a red cup with a lightbulb inside, three adjustable elastic clips to hold it firmly against your feeder, and a 6ft cord to plug in to an extension cord or outlet. 

The Hummer Hearth is best suited to feeders with a flat base, to limit the potential for heat loss if it gets windy, but can be adjusted to work with almost any feeder. Check out this link to see if your feeder will work. When using the heater with any bottle style feeder, we recommend adding insulation to the bottle to help keep the heat in. If you are using a heater, you do have to change the nectar solution more often (2-3 times a week instead of 1-2) as the heat acts like the sun during summer and speeds up the fermenting process.

Other options to keep nectar from freezing include 

• Switching between two feeders as one starts to freeze. It's effective as long as someone is around to do the switching. 
  
  
• Pulling the feeder in at night and putting it out right before sunrise. Hummingbirds go into a torpor state (similar to hibernation but for much shorter periods of time) at night and wake up a little before dawn, immediately searching out nectar for the energy they need to survive the day. 
  
  
• Incandescent Christmas lights wrapped around the bottle. Incandescent lights give off heat, and can help slow down or halt freezing in bottle style feeders. To make it even more affective, wrap the light-covered feeder in a layer of insulation. 
  
  
• Insulating the feeder with bubble, wrap, woolen socks, or other insulation. Most effective at slowing down freezing, or helping to freeze at a slightly lower temperature than bottles without insulation. 
  
  
• Hanging 40watt incandescent lightbulb directly above or below. Incandescent lights give off heat, and can help slow down or halt freezing in bottle style feeders. Can also put a dome above the light to help radiate heat down. 
  
  
• Bringing it in closer to the house to soak up residual heat from your home. The closer the better, though it is a stopgap method and likely will just make the nectar take slightly longer to freeze and not stop it from freezing.

Warm but not hot nectar can be very helpful to hummingbirds when they are just waking up out of their torpor state. If the nectar is too cold, sometimes it can shock them back into the torpor, which is when you may go outside to find a hummingbird hanging by it's feet off your feeder. 

Questions? Give us a call at 250-390-3669 or email us at thebackyard@shaw.ca

Clear Skies - The Moon Covers Mars

On Wednesday evening, Dec. 7, Canada will be treated to a very interesting event – the Moon will move in front of Mars, which is technically called an occultation. 

This is a vivid example of the Moon’s movement across the sky.  Although we usually only notice the movement of the Moon from night to night, it is constantly in orbit around Earth, at an average speed of almost 3,700 km/hour!  On that evening, we can watch Mars disappear as the Moon moves in front of it, and then watch Mars re-emerge sometime later.

The Moon will be a Full Moon, and will be very bright, however Mars is also very bright so will be easily seen.

Where you are in Canada affects what you will see.  The Moon is much closer to Earth than Mars.  From very high in the arctic, the Moon will appear lower in the sky, so Mars will be above its path visually, and there won’t be an occultation.  Likewise, the American eastern seaboard will miss the occultation because visually Mars will be below the path of the Moon.

That also means that where Mars is relative to the Moon from your vantage point will affect how long Mars is hidden.  If Mars appears near the centre line of the Moon, the Moon will have to travel its entire width before Mars comes out the other side.  However, if Mars is very low (or high) relative to the path of the Moon, the narrower width of that part of the Moon will cover Mars for a shorter period.

For western Canada, Mars will be hidden the longest – close to an hour, however for eastern Canada, you will be able to watch Mars disappear and reappear in less than half an hour! 

Likewise, because Mars is a disc, visually, and not just a point in the sky like a star, it will take a wee bit of time for the Moon to fully cover it.  Interestingly, the further east your are, the longer it will take for Mars to completely disappear behind the edge of the Moon and reappear on the other side.  That is similar to how long it takes the Sun to set in winter as it disappears at a shallow angle behind the horizon, rather than quickly as some of you might have seen with a sunset near the equator.

The following are the times of Mars’ disappearance and reappearance for representative cites across Canada.  Depending on your location relative to them, the times will be very close.

Halifax:  12:15 a.m. (that is just after midnight on Wednesday) to 12:33 a.m.

Toronto:  10:29 p.m. to 11:17 p.m.

Winnipeg:  9:05 p.m. to 10:16 p.m.

Saskatoon: 9:03 p.m. to 10:10 p.m.

Edmonton:  8:04 p.m. to 9:06 p.m.

Vancouver:  6:55 p.m. to 7:52 p.m.

The very southern edge of Nova Scotia will have a real treat for anyone with binoculars or a telescope.  Because Mars will just skirt the very bottom of the Moon, some viewers will be able to see Mars blink in and out as it passes behind the mountains on the limb of the Moon – something called a grazing occultation.  That is a treat I’ve experienced with a bright star grazing the Moon.

Let us hope for…

Clear skies.

David

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

November 24, 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.
*********************************************************

American Wigeon (R. Hocken)

Tuesday November 22, 2022:

The Tuesday Bird Walk was going to go to Columbia Beach but with the weather the walk was canceled. Four birders did show up and braved the weather of strong winds, rain, but the temperatures were mild at 7C.

4 birders saw and heard the following 30 bird species between Columbia Beach, French Creek Estuary and Morningstar Ponds:

Canada Goose

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Shoveler

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Harlequin Duck

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Pacific Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Bald Eagle

American Coot

Black-bellied Plover

Black Oystercatcher

Dunlin

Short-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

California Gull

Iceland Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

American Crow

Common Raven

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Song Sparrow

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (R. Hocken)

Sunday November 20, 2022:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park. The weather was cloudy and cool at 5C, with a light cool breeze. A few highlights from our walk were, Trumpeter Swans, a Sharp-shinned Hawk that we were alerted to by group of Red-breasted Nuthatches and a few Varied Thrush.

14 birders saw and heard the following 34 bird species:

Trumpeter Swan

Mallard

American Wigeon

Harlequin Duck

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Iceland Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Saturday November 19, 2022:

A Barred Owl was seen at the Buttertubs Marsh along with 3 Northern Shovelers. 

Barred Owl (J. Morrison)

If you have any birds to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, thebackyard@shaw.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.

Winter Break

With the winter weather arriving and being that busy time of year, we are going to take a winter break from the Sunday and Tuesday Bird Walks until late January 2023.

I would like to thank everyone for coming out on the bird walks and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year! See you all in 2023.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

 November 22, 2022

 Today’s bird walk is canceled due to weather. 

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

November 16, 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.
*********************************************************

American Dipper (J. Morrison)

Tuesday November 15, 2022:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Englishman River Estuary, Shelly Road. The weather was foggy and cool at 3 C. The fog was thick on the water, and we could not see past the mouth of the river. A few highlights from the walk were, 2 White-throated Sparrows that were seen at the Mill Street entrance to the estuary, an American Dipper up close along the new river trail from the parking lot and a Kestrel perched on a stump in the open field.

11 birders saw and heard the following 44 bird species:

Canada Goose

Gadwall

Eurasian Wigeon

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Merlin

American Kestrel

Killdeer

Black Turnstone

Short-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Iceland Gull

California Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

American Crow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Dipper

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Spotted Towhee

White-throated Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Red-breasted Sapsucker (J. Morrison)

Sunday November 13, 2022:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh. The weather was cool at 2C and cloudy. A few highlights from our walk around Buttertubs were, 2 Red-breasted Sapsuckers we watched along with a 3-point buck, a Northern Shoveler and Cedar Waxwings.

10 birders saw and heard the following 31 bird species:

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Mallard

Northern Shoveler

Green-winged Teal

Bufflehead

Pied-billed Grebe

Hooded Merganser

Ring-necked Duck

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

American Coot

Killdeer

Glaucous-winged Gull

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bewick’s Wren

American Robin

Cedar Waxwing

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow 

Saturday November 12, 2022:

A Short-eared Owl was seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary along with 2 Northern Harriers. 

Short-eared Owl (J. Morrison)

If you have any birds to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, thebackyard@shaw.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 Tuesday Bird Walk, November 22, 2022

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Columbia 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 parking area on Admiral Tryon Blvd, off Columbia Drive and Hwy 19A, at 9:15. Weather cooperating.

The Sunday Bird Walk, November 20, 2022

This week’s Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Neck Point Park.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the parking lot at Neck Point at 9:15 am. Weather cooperating.

For cancelled bird walks due to weather, please check The Backyard blog at www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com on the day of the bird walk. A notice will be up before 8:00am if there is a cancelation.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

November 10, 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.
*********************************************************

Varied Thrush (J. Morrison)

Thursday November 10, 2022:

A Varied Thrush was visiting a backyard in the area of Rutherford Road and Uplands Drive, Nanaimo.

A report of a Long-billed Curlew flying low over a backyard in the Timberlands area in south Nanaimo.

Tuesday November 8, 2022:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Little Qualicum River Estuary with a stop at the Brant viewing stand. The weather was sunny 1C with a light breeze. A few highlights from the walk were, Trumpeter Swans flying over and at the mouth of the river, a Yellow-billed Loon in breeding plumage at the south end of Surfside Drive and a Western Meadowlark in the estuary.

11 birders saw and heard the following 42 bird species:

Trumpeter Swan

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

Northern Pintail

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Yellow-billed Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Horned Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Killdeer

Black Turnstone

Black-bellied Plover

Black Oystercatcher

Short-billed Gull

Bonaparte’s Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Thayer’s Gull

California Gull

Herring Gull

Eurasian Collared Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Western Meadowlark

White-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Brewer’s Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

House Finch

Trumpeter Swan (J. Morrison)

Sunday November 6, 2022:

The Sunday Bird Walk was supposed to go to the Nanoose Bay Estuary, but it was cancelled due to the weather.

I went to check the estuary anyway and the weather was windy, but not raining, and the tide was still out so the bird activity was quiet with a total of 14 species seen.

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Gadwall

Green-winged Teal

Bufflehead

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Black Oystercatcher

Short-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

American Crow

Common Raven

Dark-eyed Junco (R. Hocken)

If you have any birds to report or need help identifying, just email or call the store, thebackyard@shaw.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 Tuesday Bird Walk, November 15, 2022

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Englishman River Estuary – Shelly 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 end of Shelly Road off of HWY 19a at 9:10. Weather cooperating.

The Sunday Bird Walk, November 13, 2022

This week’s Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Buttertubs Marsh.

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the end of Buttertubs Drive off Bowen Road at 9:15 am. Weather cooperating.

For cancelled bird walks due to weather, please check The Backyard blog at www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com on the day of the bird walk. A notice will be up before 8:00am if there is a cancelation.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett