The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 

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.

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.

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