The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Report
May 12, 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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Yellow Warbler (J. Morrison)
Wednesday May 11, 2022
Black-headed Grosbeak has returned to the backyard feeders on Meridian Way in Parksville.
Tuesday May 10, 2022:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum Fish Hatchery. The weather was sunny, then clouded over near the end of the walk and 10 degrees. A few of the highlights from the walk were American Dipper seen down river from the parking lot on the end of a log, along with a Spotted Sandpiper and Common Merganser. A Warbling Vireo was heard as we began down the road and Vaux Swift was seen above with the swallows. Seven species of warblers were heard and seen with good looks at Yellow Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler and MacGillivray’s Warbler.
15 birders saw and heard the following 40 species:
Canada Goose
Common Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-tail Hawk
Spotted Sandpiper
Eurasian Collared Dove
Vaux Swift
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
American Dipper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
American Goldfinch – male/female (R. Hocken)
Sunday May 8, 2022:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Bowen Park. The weather was sunny with some cloud and 10 degrees. With all the trees beginning to fill in there was a lot more to hear than see but we were able to see some like a Hairy Woodpecker, Rufous Hummingbird, and Bald Eagle.
13 birders saw and heard the following 24 species:
Mallard
Bald Eagle
Glaucous-winged Gull
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Common Raven
American Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Bewick’s Wren
Pacific Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Pine Siskin
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.
The Tuesday Bird Walk, May 17, 2022
The
Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to the Plummer Road side of the
Englishman River Estuary.
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 corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive in Parksville about 9:10am. Weather Cooperating.
The Sunday Bird Walk, May 15, 2022
The Sunday Bird walk will be going to Morden
Colliery Park in
south Nanaimo.
Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at
9:00am or at the end of Morden Road in the parking lot by the mine head, 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
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