Guided Bird Walks to Resume Tuesday September 7 2021

 

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store 

Nanaimo Bird Report

September 4, 2021

“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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 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.

Please check our blog (www.thebirdstore.blogspot.com) for any cancelations.

Covid-19 Precautions

·         Please do not attend if you have traveled outside of Canada in the last 14 days.

·         Do not attend if you have been sick or in contact with someone possibly sick in the last 14 days.

·         Please respect social distancing, 2 meters or 6 feet.

·         Wear your mask when unable to maintain social distancing.

Thank you.

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The Tuesday Bird Walk

Englishman River Estuary- Plummer 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 at the Plummer road site, at the corner just by the start of the subdivision at 9:20am.

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The Sunday Bird Walk

Location to be determined.

Good birding! Colin Bartlett

Lapland Longspur at Plummer Rd. Side of Englishman River Estuary

 We have just received reports of a Lapland Longspur at the Plummer Rd. side of the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville. It was spotted today at the mudflats below the observation platform among a group of American Pipits.

The ruff was also still visible at the estuary.

Photo: Google.

 Perseid Meteor Shower 2021

From midnight on August 11th to August 13th, we have the chance to watch the Perseid meteor shower, which is one of the biggest showers of the year. Luckily, because Vancouver Island is in the Northern Hemisphere, we'll be getting a great view of it! 

If you get to an area with very little light pollution, there's the possibility of spotting up to 40 meteors per hour. And because of how early the crescent moon will be setting, the sky will be extra dark, making the meteors appear even brighter. 

You can get the best view of the meteors before dawn, a good time to start looking would be around 4am. Give your eyes 20-30 minutes beforehand to adjust to the darkness of the night sky, and enjoy the show!

CNN article: https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/11/world/perseid-meteor-shower-2021-scn/index.html

Victoria News Article: https://www.vicnews.com/news/weather-poised-to-present-ideal-perseid-meteor-shower-for-viewers-in-greater-victoria/

Our next FREE DELIVERY to Gabriola Island

Wednesday August 11.

if you are in need of seed suet or other, give us a call.

phone 250-390-3669

email thebackyard@shaw.ca

website thebackyard.ca

Next delivery to Gabriola Island will be September 16, 2021 

 Bird Feeding in Summer

With the summer heating up, you may be wondering about your bird's behavior in the new season. With such hot temperatures, you may even be concerned about their health and how they can stay cool. 

Typically, the amount of birds coming to your feeders will lessen during the warmer months. This is because there is a lot more natural seeds and insects for them to eat, and they will gravitate to this over seeds we provide. Whether or not you'd like to continue putting out seed is completely up to you, and there's absolutely no harm in providing seed over the summer. If you put out suet, be sure to use a higher quality suet over the summer. Low quality suet will often melt when it gets too hot, which can cause quite a mess! High quality suet will hold it's shape all summer. If you're storing suet, just be sure to keep it stored in a cool place. 

As for your hummingbirds, it's important to change the nectar more frequently when temperatures are high. The nectar will go bad a lot more quickly in the heat, so be sure to keep a close eye on it and clean your feeder! Don't be too concerned if you're not getting as many hummingbirds around as usual, as there is a lot more natural food for them in the summer. They'll be back at your feeders in swarms for the fall and winter. 

In your backyard, there are steps you can take to reduce the heat for the birds. You can move your feeders to a shady area, create spots for dust baths, and place out birdbaths or shallow dishes of water! Your birds will definitely appreciate it. 

Happy summer and happy birding!