Avian Flu Outbreak
Avian Flu Outbreak
There has been a lot of concern shared around the avian flu outbreak. Click here for a simple, handy flowchart to help you decide if you should take your feeders down, or visit Bird Studies Canada and Environment & Natural Resources Canada for more information and to keep up to date.
Saturday, 25 June 2022
Thursday, 23 June 2022
The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Report
June 23, 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.
*********************************************************
Common Loon (R. Hocken)
Tuesday June 21, 2022:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Shelly Road entrance of the Englishman River Estuary. Weather was cloudy, light winds and a few showers, 14 degrees. A few highlights from the walk were, seeing four Caspian Terns out on the gravel bar with the gulls. Hearing a flock of Red Crossbills fly over and a small flock of Cedar Waxwings perched in bare tree in the estuary.
17 birders saw and heard the following 55 species:
Canada Goose
Harlequin Duck
Common Merganser
Pelagic Cormorant
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Black Oystercatcher
Spotted Sandpiper
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Caspian Tern
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Black Swift
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Pileated Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Common Raven
American Crow
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Pacific Wren
American Robin
Swainson’s Thrush
Cedar Waxwing
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Grey Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crown Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Brown-headed Cowbird
Red Crossbills
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Monday June 20, 2022:
An Eastern Kingbird was seen perched at the top of a snag in Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. It was seen just up the hill from the parking lot.
Sunday June 19, 2022:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park in Nanaimo. Weather was cloudy with sunny breaks, winds were calm and 14 degrees. A few highlights from the walk were, seeing a female Anna’s Hummingbird sitting on the nest. Good views of a Pigeon Guillemot right in Hammond Bay and a Great Blue Heron that look to be hunting in the grass beside the trail.
15 birders saw and heard the following 29 species:
Canada Goose
Surf Scoter
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Pigeon Guillemot
Marbled Murrelet
Common Murre
Anna’s Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Northern Flicker
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
American Robin
Swainson’s Thrush
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Goldfinch
Friday June 17, 2022:
At least 28 Caspian Terns were seen on the shore off Mariner Way in Parksville.
Thursday June 16, 2022:
An Eastern Kingbird was seen at the Englishman River Estuary. The bird was observed from the Plummer Road trail, just across the river as near the beginning of the trail.
Caspian Terns (F. Holtslander)
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, June 29, 2022
The
Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Englishman River Estuary, Plummer
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 corner of Plummer Road and Shorewood Drive at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.
The Sunday Bird Walk
The Sunday Bird Walks will be taking a break for the summer and will resume at a later date.
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
Monday, 20 June 2022
Sightings from Parksville
Eastern Kingbird was seen at the Englishman River Estuary June 17, 2022 from the Plummer Road side of the estuary, near the beginning of the trail . It was seen just on the other side of the river.
28 plus Caspian Terns were seen on June 17, 2022 on the shore near the beach entrance at the end of Mariner Way in Parksville.
photo by F. HoltslanderSunday, 19 June 2022
Bird Walk Update
Today's Sunday June 19th bird walk was the last Sunday walk until mid-August. Our last Tuesday bird walk for the season will be June 28th, after which they will also pause until mid-August.
For any updates on walk cancellations or information on the exact date the walks will resume, check back here or subscribe to our mailing list.
The Tuesday Bird Walk, June 22, 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 parking area at the end of Shelly Road at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.
Good birding!
Wednesday, 15 June 2022
The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Report
June 15, 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.
*********************************************************
Violet-green Swallow (R. Hocken)
Tuesday June 14, 2022:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Top Bridge Trail in Parksville. We started from the entrance on Industrial Way. The weather was sunny with a light breeze and 15 degrees. A few highlights from the walk were, a Cedar Waxwing at the start of the walk, a couple of good views of Willow Flycatchers, one at the end of the walk feeding on a large fly and a male Anna’s Hummingbird perched in a tree being confronted by a female Rufous Hummingbird along with a juvenile Rufous Hummingbird for the territory. Also had good views of the American Goldfinch.
15 birders saw and heard the following 31 species:
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Black Swift
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bewick’s Wren
American Robin
Swainson’s Thrush
Cedar Waxwing
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Black-throated Grey Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crown Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Monday June 13, 2022:
Two Virginia Rail juveniles and an adult were seen and heard at Fielding Marsh by the Maki Road trail.
Twelve California Quail chicks were reported from a hanging out in a backyard in the hospital area for Nanaimo.
Sunday June 12, 2022:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Legacy Marsh in Lantzville. Weather was good with a mixture of sun and cloud, and 14 degrees. A few highlights from the walk were, a Red-breasted Sapsucker that was drumming on the transmission tower at the end of the walk for all to see, a Cooper’s Hawk that perched perfectly for us to view and a Bald Eagle that flew low over the trees and us but bothering the Great Blue Herons in the area.
15 birders saw and heard the following 49 species:
Wood Duck
Mallard
Great Blue Heron
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Bald Eagle
Merlin
Turkey Vulture
Black Swift
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Hairy Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Common Raven
Steller’s Jay
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bushtit
Bewick’s Wren
Marsh Wren
Pacific Wren
American Robin
Swainson’s Thrush
Cedar Waxwing
Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Brown-headed Cowbird
Spotted Towhee
White-crowned Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
Backyard Bird Notes:
Birds are busy at the backyard feeders, with first
broods emerging. At the store we have been enjoying the juvenile Spotted
Towhees, White-crowned Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos at the feeders and
foraging through the flower bed, as well as their daily baths in our bird bath.
The Chestnut-backed Chickadee family is busy at the suet and with the peanut
halves. We also received a report of 12 California chicks running around with
mom and dad in a backyard by the hospital. Other reports have seen Pileated Woodpeckers
feeding young and a juvenile Virginia Rail was seen at Fielding Marsh from the
Maki Road Trail.
Identifying young can be educational as not all
juveniles have the same plumage as the adults. Spotted Towhees and Dark-eyed Juncos
are the same size but a sooty brown plumage, with a streaky chest. You can
identify them by their habits and certain markings such as the red eye of the towhee,
and the white outer tail feathers of the junco.
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).
Spotted Towhee juvenile (R. Hocken)
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, June 22, 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 parking area at the end of Shelly Road at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.
The Sunday Bird Walk, June 19, 2022
This week’s Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Neck
Point Park in
Nanaimo.
Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the picnic tables by the parking lot 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
Saturday, 11 June 2022
Summer Home Delivery Update
Tuesday, 7 June 2022
The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Report
June 7, 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.
*********************************************************
Spotted Sandpiper (R. Hocken)
Tuesday June 7, 2022:
Two Cinnamon Teal were seen in Fielding Marsh on the Maki Road Trail.
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Little Qualicum River Fish Hatchery. The weather was sunny and 15 degrees. It was a great walk to work on identifying bird songs and we did see some of them. A few highlights from the walk were, a Spotted Sandpiper that landed across the river from the parking lot and provided great views. The American Dipper was also seen in the river feeding. A Willow Flycatcher and Cedar Waxwing perched perfectly for us to see, and a Red-breasted Sapsucker was busy working its sap wells.
13 birders saw and heard the following 34 species:
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Spotted Sandpiper
Black Swift
Anna’s Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Pacific Wren
American Dipper
American Robin
Swainson’s Thrush
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Black-throated Grey Warbler
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
Sunday June 5, 2022:
The Sunday Bird Walk was canceled due to the weather in the morning.
Backyard Bird Notes:
In the past week and a bit, we have received reports
of Evening Grosbeaks visiting backyard feeders. Although these birds are common
here it is not that common to have them visit your backyard feeders. A couple
of sightings were in the Cinnabar Valley area and up by Malibu Terrace area of
north Nanaimo.
The backyard suet feeders are busy these days with chickadees,
and woodpeckers but also Bewick’s Wrens and even a Yellow-rumped Warbler that
has been making regular visit to my suet feeder. Part of this extra activity
may be that the insect’s birds would feed on are late due to the cool wet weather
and are using the suet as a supplementary food source. Yes, I do have starlings
constantly at the suet feeder and could deter them by placing the suet upside
down or in a cage, but I enjoy the wren and warbler visiting that I do not want
to deter them.
Seed feeders are steady with House Finch, juncos,
chickadee, Pine Siskin and the odd American Goldfinch. Just remember to keep
the feeders clean along with removing old seed off the ground.
If you have any exciting 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).
Bewick’s Wren feeding upside down on suet feeder (source unknown)
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, June 15, 2022
The
Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Top Bridge Trail 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 parking area on Industrial Way and Tuan Road at 9:10am. Weather cooperating.
The Sunday Bird Walk, June 12, 2022
This week’s Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Legacy
Marsh in upper Lantzville.
Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the corner of Normarel Drive and Sywash Ridge Road at 9:10 am (by the power lines). 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
Sunday, 5 June 2022
BIRD WALK CANCELED
Today’s Sunday bird walk, June 5, is canceled due to weather.
Next Sunday’s Bird Walk will be going to Legacy Marsh in Lantzville.
Thursday, 2 June 2022
The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
Nanaimo Bird Report
June 2, 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.
*********************************************************
Brown Creeper (J. Morrison)
Tuesday May 31, 2022:
The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Springwood Park in Parksville. The weather was overcast with a short rain shower and 14 degrees. A few highlights from the walk were, three species of flycatchers Olive-sided, Willow’s, and Pacific Slope. Lots of Yellow Warblers were singing by the marsh and Black Swifts were overhead feeding. We also were entertained by the juvenile Pacific Wrens being fed by the parents.
18 birders saw and heard the following 34 species:
Canada Goose
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Black Swift
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Common Raven
American Crow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick’s Wren
Pacific Wren
American Robin
Swainson’s Thrush
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
MacGillivray’s Warbler (J. Morrison)
Sunday May 29, 2022:
The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo. The weather was cloudy and 14 degrees. A few highlights from the walk were, Blue-wing Teal seen by the Osprey stand, along with Purple Martins checking out the nest boxes. Female Wood Duck and ducklings were seen near the stand as well. A Virginia Rail was heard, and a Pied-billed Grebe was seen in the marsh near the parking lot.
18 birders saw and heard the following 41 species:
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Mallard
Pied-billed Grebe
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Virginia Rail
Glaucous-winged Gull
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian Collared Dove
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Warbling Vireo
Common Raven
American Crow
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Purple Martin
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bushtit
Bewick’s Wren
Marsh Wren
American Robin
Swainson’s Thrush
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
House Sparrow
Orange-crowned Warbler (R. Hocken)
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, June 7, 2022
The
Tuesday Bird Walk will be Going to Little Qualicum Fish Hatchery in
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 hatchery parking lot on Claymore Road which is off Laburnum Road at 9:15am. Weather cooperating.
The Sunday Bird Walk, June 5, 2022
This week’s Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Linley Valley in Nanaimo. Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the end of Burma Road, which is off of Lost Lake Road at 9:10 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