I admit it – I am a fan of the corvid family. Ravens, crows, magpies and jays are so clever and tenacious I can’t help be impressed. And yesterday evening I reached corvid fan nirvana. Each fall, American crows gather in large groups called murders, and migrate to warmer climes. …
Occasionally, when ground feeding birds like towhees, thrashers or doves emerge from the shade into direct sunlight, they undertake an astonishing behaviour. They drop onto their belly, droop their wings and spread their tail feathers like a fan. With their back to the sun and feathers fluffed, they may lean …
This is the second in a series of weekly posts highlighting birds considered to be at risk in Canada. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) lists 73 bird species or subspecies, divided into three categories: Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern. The fact that any of …
Who says pictures don’t lie? This bug looks like he’s sitting on a fence post, and is big enough to eat Saskatchewan. I’m sure he’s actually a bitty little bug, but I do love this shot. I have quite a history with grasshoppers. When I was a little girl, my …
Yes, I know this supposed to be a blog about birds, but if you feed them, you no doubt have these fluffy tailed thieves around as well. I put up a new bird feeder today. A BIG feeder that holds 6 pounds of food, so I don’t have to refill …
This week we start a new series on the blog, a weekly highlighting of birds considered to be at risk in Canada. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) lists 73 bird species or subspecies, divided into three categories: Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern. One of …
The Okanagan Valley is one of Canada’s best birding destinations, and a new guide will help visiting birders enjoy their pilgrimages there. The four naturalist clubs in the Okanagan Valley worked together to publish a 32-page full-colour guide to the Okanagan Valley Birding Trail. Bird Studies Canada’s Senior Project Biologist …
There’s been a lot of talk on my Twitter stream lately about the ubiquitous house sparrow. To feed or not to feed? I’ve had bird feeders in my yard for years, and I’ve yet to hear of any method of feeding all the birds BUT house sparrows. This time of …
Situated in the rolling prairie fields of southern Saskatchewan lies an unusual tourist attraction, highlighting a most engaging little bird. The Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre (SBOIC) is an educational facility dedicated to the conservation of burrowing owls and their prairie home. Opened to the public in 1997, the Centre …
Are you an Alberta birdwatcher? Red-tailed hawks are one of the most common buteo hawk species in the province, and if you’re a birder, you know where to find them! The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is looking for your help. They’re seeking photographs of red-tailed hawks taken in the province, …