Author: Pat Bumstead
My Yard List: Why Stop At 100?
Here I was, all excited to get to species number one hundred on my yard list. I keep track of the birds actually in the yard, as well as those seen from the yard, as in flying over (F). This is a rather bizarre list, as we live in the …
Wednesday Wings: Belly Birding
A few weeks ago, one of my tweeps (Twitter people) posted an absolutely superb photo of a snowy egret in Florida. When I commented on the size of the bird, he told me he got that shot while laying on his stomach on the beach. With the return of my spring …
84 Burrowing Owls Released To The Wild
A team of field researchers, including Calgary Zoo Director Dr. Jake Veasey, released 84 captive-bred burrowing owls into artificial burrows in the Kamloops/Merritt region of British Columbia in mid-April. The Calgary Zoo joined the burrowing owl project in 2004, and the research team provides assistance assessing owls, pairing, determining release …
A Migratory Sit
Last Saturday was International Migratory Bird day, so a few of us decided to mark the occasion with a Big Sit at the local bird sanctuary. For those of you not familiar with this concept, bird watchers sit in a 17 ft circle with your chairs facing out. If you …
World Migratory Bird Day
World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) was initiated in 2006 and is a global awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the protection of migratory birds and their habitats. On the second weekend each May, people around the world take action and organise public events such as bird festivals, education programs and …
Wednesday Wings: Tree Tops
At the back of our yard, we have a cluster of four fully mature white spruce trees – my own little boreal forest. These trees are about 50 feet high, and not surprisingly, a favorite perch of many birds. I know I’ve got a ruby-crowned kinglet in the back yard …
Report Colour-flagged Hudsonian Godwits and Whimbrels
Hi Folks, Since 2007, we have attached uniquely numbered/lettered, red color-flags to 790 Godwits and 355 Whimbrels on Chiloé Island, Chile. Godwits or Whimbrels have also been flagged in Alaska, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Manitoba, and Virginia. If you see any of these flagged birds, please submit your observations to www.bandedbirds.org. On this site, …
A Furry Bird Walk
A friend of mine recently decided she wanted to take up bird watching a little more actively. She can identify the common species, but wants to know what is visiting her yard and campsight. Naturally, I’ve jumped all over this. Spring migration is well underway, and more returning species are …
