CANCELED - Tuesday Bird Walk

Today February 28’s Tuesday Bird Walk has been CANCELED due to the snowy weather. Watch the this blog for next weeks Bird Walk location.

Good birding, Colin. 

CANCELED ~ Sunday Bird Walk

 February 26 2023 Sunday Bird Walk has been CANCELED due to weather. 

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

February 23, 2023

“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.
*********************************************************

Brant (R. Hocken)

Tuesday February 21, 2023:

The Tuesday Bird Walk was going to Columbia Beach but unfortunately was canceled.

Here is a list of birds seen on a past bird walk to Columbia Beach.

This bird walk was on January 29, 2019.

17 birders saw and heard the following 58 bird species:

Canada Geese

Greater-white Fronted Goose

Trumpeter Swan

Brant

Mallard

Harlequin Duck

Northern Pintail

Eurasian Wigeon

American Wigeon

Surf Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Bufflehead

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Western Grebe

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Belted Kingfisher

Great -blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Black-bellied Plover

Black Turnstone

Dunlin

Black Oystercatcher

Greater Yellowlegs

Mew Gull

California Gull

Thayer's Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Common Murre

Rhinoceros Auklet

Pigeon Guillemot

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

Northwestern Crow

Eurasian-collared Dove

American Robin

Anna’s Hummingbird

Cedar Waxwing

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

European Starling

Spotted Towhee

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

House Finch

Purple Finch

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Red-breasted Sapsucker (R. Hocken)

Sunday February 19, 2023:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Maki Road Trail. The weather was cloudy with sunny breaks and 4C. Thank you Susan for leading the walk and a few good sightings that were seen, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Hutton’s Vireo and Golden-crowned Kinglets.

18 birders saw and heard the following 34 bird species:

Canada Goose

Trumpeter Swan

Gadwall

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Anna's Hummingbird

American Coot

Short-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Great Blue Heron

Cooper's Hawk

Bald Eagle

Belted Kingfisher

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Northern Flicker

Hutton's Vireo

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Brown Creeper

Bewick's Wren

American Robin

Purple Finch

Fox Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Spotted Towhee

Red-winged Blackbird 

Fox Sparrow (J. Morrison)

Backyard TidBits

Winter has returned. With the cold temperatures and snow the feeders are really busy. Keep those feeders topped up a clean as this is a time that birds will depend on them as the snow has covered most of the natural food sources. With the winter weather I have had a few new visitors at my backyard feeders, Purple Finch, Fox Sparrow and Varied Thrush.

American Robins don’t visit the feeders but if you have some looking for food in your backyard, try placing out blueberries or apples cut in half or quarters. One customer mentioned they grate suet, and the robins love it along with many others. Also try removing the snow off an area of your garden and turn the soil for the birds to find insects.

Some Anna’s Hummingbirds are nesting so make sure the feeders are not frozen as they will be using feeder steadily for the energy.

Spring is not far off as swallows have already been seen on the island.

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, February 28, 2023

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, February 26, 2023

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

CANCELED - Tuesday Bird Walk Feb 21

 Sorry, the February 21st Tuesday Bird Walk is CANCELED. 

Watch for next weeks location on the weekly email or here on the blog. 

Sorry again Colin. 

THE GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT Feb17-20

 Today's the day! It's the first day of the Great Backyard Bird Count. "Join the world in connecting to birds" from February 17-20th. Help scientists understand and protect birds, and enjoy a relaxing hobby. It's a win-win! Sign up or get more information at https://www.birdcount.org/

#enjoyyourbirds #backyardnanaimo #thegreatbackyardbirdcount

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

February 16, 2023

“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.
*********************************************************

Bufflehead, male & female (R. Hocken)

Tuesday February 14, 2023:

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to Rathtrevor Provincial Park. Weather was sunny, windy, 3C and the tide was high. A few highlights from the walk were, Red Crossbills seen in the trees near the shore and by the marsh near the campground. Great views of Golden-crowned Kinglets low in the bushes and seeing Brant flying just offshore.

17 birders saw and heard the following 34 bird species:

Brant

Canada Goose

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Surf Scoter

Bufflehead

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Red-breasted Merganser

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Horned Grebe

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

Short-billed Gull

Iceland Gull

California Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Pigeon Guillemot

Anna’s Hummingbird

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red Crossbill

Pine Siskin

Red Crossbill (R. Hocken)

Sunday February 12, 2023:

The Sunday Bird Walk went to Neck Point Park. The weather was cloudy, windy and 4C. The walk missed Finn Beach and Neck Point because of the high winds but highlight from our walk was watching all the activity in the alders near Sunset Beach. This sheltered side of the park was busy with Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creeper, Bushtits, chickadees, juncos and Bewick’s Wren.

8 birders saw and heard the following 29 bird species:

Canada Goose

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Loon

Pacific Loon

Horned Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Bald Eagle

Short-billed Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Common Murre

Anna’s Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Common Raven

American Crow

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Bushtit

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Pacific Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Spotted Towhee

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

American Goldfinch

Anna’s Hummingbird, male (R. Hocken)

Backyard TidBits

Anna’s Hummingbirds are nesting and have been seen taking nesting material. Hummingbirds will use the light cotton material like the Hummingbird Helper Nesting Material or a cattail in bloom with fluff and they have also been seen using pampas grass for their nest.

This is also a good time to get your nest boxes up and ready for the chickadees and wrens. Make sure they are cleaned out and dry. Try placing and ½” of shavings in the bottom for the birds to use when courting.

Starlings a problem at your suet feeder? Try hanging the suet feeder horizontally so the birds need to hang upside down to feed. Woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, Bushtits and wrens can feed upside down but starlings have a difficult time doing so. This helps to deter most starlings.

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, February 21, 2023

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, February 19, 2023

This week’s Sunday Bird Walk will be going to Maki Road Trail in south Nanaimo.

We will be meeting directly at the parking lot at the end of Maki Road by Living Forest Campground at 9:00 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

 

Bird Report February 7, 2023

 The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

Nanaimo Bird Report

February 7, 2023

“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.
*********************************************************

Green-winged Teal (R. Hocken)

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

The Tuesday Bird Walk went to the Englishman River Estuary on the Shelly Road side. The weather started out with light showers which turned to a cloudy day with sunny breaks. Winds were light and 8 degrees Celsius. A few highlights from the walk were, a Downy Woodpecker calling at the parking lot when we started and finished. There was a large flock of Brant off shore and seven Great Blue Herons feeding together in the estuary along with 4 seals resting on the logs. A Eurasian Wigeon was seen right in front of the viewing mound overlooking the field.

11 birders saw and heard the following 40 bird species:

Brant Canada Goose Gadwall American Wigeon Eurasian Wigeon Mallard Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Pacific Loon Pelagic Cormorant Great Blue Heron Bald Eagle Sharp-shinned Hawk Short-billed Gull Thayer’s Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Common Murre

Marbled Murrelet Anna’s Hummingbird Northern Flicker Downy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Common Raven Chestnut-backed Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Bushtit Bewick’s Wren Pacific Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin Varied Thrush Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Purple Finch

Ring-necked Duck (R. Hocken)

Sunday February 5, 2023: The Sunday Bird Walk went to Buttertubs Marsh. The weather was cloudy with showers and 8C. A few highlights from our walk were, Virginia Rail that was heard and seen in the NE corner near the parking lot. A Cooper’s Hawk and Red-tailed Hawk along with American Coots and Wood Duck. Also seen on the walk were two beavers, river otter and a couple raccoons. 24 birders saw and heard the following 34 bird species:

Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Ring-neck Duck Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Pied-billed Grebe Great Blue Heron Cooper’s Hawk Red-Tailed Hawk Virginia Rail American Coot Glaucous-winged Gull Anna’s Hummingbird Downy Woodpecker Common Raven American Crow Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Bewick’s Wren Marsh Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin Varied Thrush European Starling Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Fox Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird House Finch House Sparrow

Varied Thrush (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, February 14, 2023

The Tuesday Bird Walk will be going to Rathtrevor Provincial Park.

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 main parking area by the beach entrance at 9:10. Weather cooperating.

The Sunday Bird Walk, February 12, 2023

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

Meet at The Backyard Wildbird & Nature Store at 9:00am or at the parking lot by the picnic tables 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

Nesting Season is Coming

 As we anticipate Spring's arrival it's time to make sure our nest boxes are ready. Soon the chickadees and wrens will begin to search for and establish territories, then begin nesting. Before they start it's best to have your nest box clean and ready for new tenants. 

Not all birds use nest boxes. The Anna's Hummingbird, for example, builds tiny cup-shaped nests in shrubs and trees. Unlike other birds, the Anna's nest earlier, in mid-February, and their young should be out and flying around before the end of March.

Anna's Hummingbird in Nest - K. MacDonald

Common cavity nesters in backyards are the Bewick's Wren, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Tree and Violet-green Swallows, and all species of woodpeckers. Equally common but less welcome are the European Starling and House Sparrow. These birds naturally build their nests in cavities that have been excavated by woodpeckers or through other means, but will also use nest boxes that we provide, especially if natural cavities are scarce or have been removed. 

Northern Flicker in Cavity Nest - S. Petersen

Nest boxes have a few requirements that should be considered in order to make sure it's beneficial for the birds. The entrance hole size determines who can get in and making it too big can allow predators or unwelcome birds inside. If you are wanting to attract smaller birds like chickadees and wrens, having the entrance hole be 1" keeps other birds out while still allowing them inside. Enlarging the hole from 1" to 1 1/8" lets nuthatches use it as well. Entrance holes of 1 3/8" are useful for these smaller birds as well as swallows and House Sparrows. To keep the sparrows and starlings out, swallow boxes can be made with an oval hole. The oval should be 7/8" high and 3 1/2" wide. Swallows can rotate their shoulders and make themselves flat while the starlings and sparrows cannot. The smallest woodpecker in our area, the Downy Woodpecker, uses an entrance hole of 1 1/4", while the larger Hairy Woodpecker can use a 1 1/2" hole. Northern Flickers need a hole size of 2 1/2" in their nest boxes. Once difference between woodpecker nest boxes and other nest boxes is that woodpeckers excavate cavities and we need to emulate this in their boxes. Filling woodpecker nest boxes with wood chips allows them to imitate the excavation and makes them more likely to use your box.

Oval Hole Swallow Box

The size of the floor determines how much energy the birds will have to use and how much work they do to build their nests, so bigger isn't always better. The height of the box is also important, as well as the distance from the bottom of the box to the entrance hole. Having a deeper box helps keep the eggs and young out of the hands of predators, and the birds will build their nests inside to the height they want from the hole. Nest boxes for chickadees, wrens, and Downy Woodpeckers are best made with a floor of 4"x4", or 5x5" max with the hole around 6" above. Adding something to the back of the door such as grooves or strips of wood can help act as a ladder and help young birds climb out when they are ready. Swallow or Downy Woodpecker boxes should also have the entrance hole around 6" above the floor, though the ideal floor for these boxes is 5"x5". The box for a Northern Flicker should have a floor size of 8"x8" with the entrance hole 10-12" up. 

Ladder on nest box door

Ventilation is a must, whether it's holes drilled in the sides or other ways to allow airflow. Birds have difficulty cooling down so making sure there's decent airflow to keep heat down is vital. Placing the box somewhere shadier or where it gets limited sunlight during the day can help keep it cool as well. If you decide to paint your box, go with light colours to reflect some heat. 

You also need to consider cleaning. Being able to clean out the nest box when nesting season is over is an important part of having a nest box you want to use more than once. Make sure whatever box you have has an easy way to get inside to clean it out. Cleaning your box can help keep small bugs and parasites from infesting the box. Remove the nest each year and give the box a quick brush out. If you notice mold or rotting, it may be time to replace the box. A solution of 9 parts water to 1 part bleach can be used to kill mold, just make sure the box is given time to completely airdry to avoid encouraging more mold or bugs. Sometimes bees may attempt to build their hives in your box. Use a bar of soap and rub the inside walls of your box to leave a thin layer that the bees nest will be unable to adhere to. Check your nest boxes even if you don't think they were nested in, as some birds will leave debris in boxes to keep other birds from using them. 

Often we see nest boxes with little perches, but we do not recommend adding one. Perches allow predators to sit and attack the adults and young in the nest box. The birds in the box can easily get in and out without the use of a perch. 

When placing your nest box, try and put it somewhere where wind and rain do not blow directly into the box. Also consider the type of bird you are wanting to use the box and make sure you place it in a location that appeals to them. For example, chickadee boxes should be near trees or shrubs they can dart in and out of, while swallow boxes should have open space around them to allow the birds to swoop in and out. The boxes don't need to be mounted very high, 6-12ft. off the ground works just fine for anything except a bat box. Try and keep nest boxes at least 20ft. from bird feeders with the entrance hole turned away to avoid interference between the two. 

The most important thing when placing a nest box is to make sure you put it somewhere you can see it. Adding a nest box to your backyard can be very entertaining, and watching the young fledge cannot be missed.

Good birding!