The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store

 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.
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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