Red-bellied Woodpecker (Pic à ventre roux) Breeding at Riverside Park, Cambridge, ON

     On Tuesday, 1 May 2018, during our regular Tuesday Rambles with David outing, we were very happy to find a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers (Melanerpes carolinus) busy at a nest hole. In addition to this stroke of good fortune we had Franc with us to capture the moment with his superb photography.
     The first view was of the male only, hard at work at the sizable cavity the pair has created.

     We did not realize that the female was inside until she poked her head out.

     And then we had the sheer delight of male and female together.

     Apparently the female had completed whatever tasks were necessary and she left the hole. We counted on Franc to record this action and, of course, he did not let us down.

     We hope that this pair will lay their normal clutch of four eggs in this nest and we will be able to witness their feeding trips to the nestlings that will result. And finally, if we are lucky, we will be there to see them leave the nest.
     Red-bellied Woodpecker has expanded its range significantly in recent years and is now quite common in Southern Ontario. It is a moderately large woodpecker, armed with a sharp bill, and is aggressive enough to repel Common Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) trying to take over its cavity. Sadly, this is often not the case with smaller woodpeckers in our area.
     It is safe to say that this was the highlight of the day for all of us.

Bird Banding at SpruceHaven, St. Agatha, ON

05/06 May 2018

05 May 2018

     It was with a great deal of pleasure that we opened up our nets for the third consecutive year to begin our bird banding operations at SpruceHaven. 

     My alarm clock failed to go off so I was a few minutes late arriving and Kevin and Josh had already captured the first few birds and were busy banding when I showed up. As might be expected American Robin (Turdus migratorius) was common and a few individuals found their way into the nets

     Interestingly the following two birds were retraps from last year.

                         

                            Band No.137277401 Originally banded 19 August 2017
                            Band No.137277402 Originally banded 19 August 2017   
  

     We believe that these are migrants birds which have returned to SpruceHaven, but given the proclivity of American Robins to spend the winter here in recent years, it is hard to be sure. However, no robins were observed at SpruceHaven during the winter so the possibility that they are returnees is high.
     A female Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) banded last year was also recaptured.   
                                
                             Band No. 86112844 Originally banded 29 April 2017

     It was not long before Heather arrived, without Daina unfortunately who is feeling a little under the weather and wasn't up to it. Heather was quickly engaged with Josh and Kevin.

      A second round of the nets resulted in the first White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) captured this year, followed by a male Red-winged Blackbird.

     Heather was kept busy, all the while giving Kevin the odd sidelong glance as he engaged in his usual mischief!

     The male Red-winged Blackbird was followed in short order by a beautifully marked female.

     Several people showed up to help and/or observe including our good friend, Joe Karger, who helped us so much at the second farm where we will monitor Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) again this year. Here is Joe checking his camera as Josh and Rebecca look on.

     Joe is keenly interested in birds and is anxious to know more about them. He is an avid fisherman, especially in Ontario's northern lakes, and he was first turned onto birds by seeing warblers in their breeding habitat.

     Jim and Francine came out too, and Jim, helpful as always, installed a total of twenty-four nest cups in the two barns, to see whether our Barn Swallows will rapidly adopt these structures as a base for their nests, and whether we can increase the number of nesting pairs by providing them.

     A dozen resident American Goldfinches (Spinus tristis) found their way into our nets including this male.

     Male Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) seemed to be singing from every suitable perch and a couple were banded.

     I had not seen a Grey Catbird (Dumatella carolinensis) at all this spring, so this individual was my first of the season.

    Since the end of last year's fall banding, Heather has gotten engaged to be married and she was happy to display her ring.

      It will be a lucky young man indeed who claims Heather as his bride.

     We captured both Ruby-crowned (Regulus calendula) and Golden-crowned Kinglets (Regulus satrapa) in our nets.

     Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is familiar to all, but we only caught this singleton.

      Neotropical migrants are now returning in good numbers and we have already seen several species of wood warbler, but a lone male American Yellow Warbler (Setopahaga aestiva) was our only capture of a representative of this family.

      I was a little surprised to locate this Woolly Bear Caterpillar, forerunner of the Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia isabella), which I am more accustomed to seeing in the fall. I obviously need to do a little more research into this species.

     Towards the end Kevin's wife, Grace, showed up (and very kindly brought me a coffee) with her daughter, Nicole, and granddaughter, Emmie.

     Emmie was delighted to see both the birds and Grandpa Kevin, the birds, however, evoking more squeals of excitement!

All species banded 05 May: Black-capped Chickadee (1), Golden-crowned Kinglet (1), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1), Grey Catbird (1), American Robin (3), American Goldfinch (12), Yellow Warbler (1), Red-winged Blackbird (8), Song Sparrow (2), White-crowned Sparrow (1).  Total: 10 species, 31 birds.

06 May 2018

     We started dark and early in an attempt to net a few Barn Swallows to try to ascertain the rate of returning birds. Kevin was there first and actually opened a net positioned for the purpose in the dark.

     Barn Swallows are a wily species and quickly learned to avoid the net but we did determine that the following birds are "homers." 

                                         Band No  259188136 Originally banded 13 August 2016

                                         Band No. 259188170 Originally banded 28 May 2017

                                         Band No. 259188161 Originally banded 28 May 2017

     The following Song Sparrow was also a bird we banded at SpruceHaven in 2016.

                                         Band No. 258187820  Originally banded 20 August 2016

     Bird banders view the capture of a Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) as a bit of a mixed blessing. If it its able to sink its bill into you it is painful! This female was quite placid and everyone emerged unscathed.

     We trapped this White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) and Kevin noticed a tick attached near the corner of its eye.

     There are those purists who would say that nature should be left to take its course, but we had no hesitation in removing it. Kevin performed the operation with the skill and finesse of a surgeon!

     We were happy to release the bird sans parasite.

     A male Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) is a handsome species and this one was not reluctant to let Heather know she would have to pay a price for handling him.

     The full flush of warbler migration is now underway and we were happy to capture our first Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) of the season.

     A male Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) was also the first individual of this species.

     Part way through the morning Rebecca made a return visit, this time accompanied by her daughter, Eden, who was so delighted to visit us at the nets last year, and she seems set for another season of enthusiasm and learning about birds.

     We had been wondering whether we would trap a Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) but were even more delighted when our first member of this family was a Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius).

     This was a moment of redemption for Heather who had the misfortune to let the only member of this species that we caught last year slip through her fingers before we processed it.

     A female Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) enabled Eden to examine the zygodactyl configuration of four-toed woodpecker species and the stiffened retrices used as props when foraging.

     The bill of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) is a formidable weapon indeed.......

     .......and both Josh and Heather experienced the pain it can cause when it sinks its bill into you and works away at your flesh as though trying to crack open a nut.

     They will survive, albeit a little bruised.

     Kevin and Heather are a fine team at the banding table and they process the birds swiftly, Heather learning all the time from Kevin the finer points of sexing and aging, with her knowledge growing exponentially from week to week.

     Our final new bird for the year was a handsomely plumaged Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis).

     Our opening weekend of the third year of bird banding at SpruceHaven was a successful venture with good weather to facilitate the operation. Let us hope that next weekend brings more of the same.

All species banded 06 May: Downy Woodpecker (1), Blue-headed Vireo (1), Black-capped Chickadee (1), Barn Swallow (3), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (12), American Robin (3), American Goldfinch (4), Common Yellowthroat (1), Palm Warbler (1), Red-winged Blackbird (6), Common Grackle (2), Song Sparrow (2), White-throated Sparrow (1), Savannah Sparrow (1), Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Northern Cardinal (1). Total: 16 species, 41 birds.

Horned Grebe (Grèbe esclavon) in Spring Migration in Waterloo Region, ON

27 April 2018

     Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) is known in many parts of the world as Slavonian Grebe, although it is interesting to note that when that name was applied in the 19th Century in England it was spelled 'Sclavonian', replacing the original - and more appropriate - English name 'Horned Dabchick'. (The Grebes (2004), Fjeldsa, J., Oxford University Press).

     

     This species migrates through southern Ontario spring and fall, regularly appearing on lakes and ponds in Waterloo Region. Its appearance is generally brief, only a few days in duration, as it makes its way north to its breeding grounds in subarctic wetlands.

     It is a very handsome species in breeding plumage, with pronounced nuptial plumes. The head is glossy black with a broad golden band passing over the eye ending in large ear tufts (horns). In fully developed breeding plumage the neck and upper breast are bright rufous. The eye is intensely red.

     Miriam and I spent a very agreeable half hour with four Horned Grebes at Laurel Creek Conservation Area, where they came quite close to shore, and were actively (and successfully) diving for minnows.

     The next time we see this species will be after the leaves have fallen from the trees, in its drabber definitive basic plumage. At any time of the year it is a very welcome visitor to southern Ontario.

No further commentary needed

A Happy David

     I had the distinct honour of being the recipient of this year's Waterloo Region Nature's Conservation Award.

    Marg and Graham Macdonald were in charge of the nominating committee and are seen here reading from their notes.

     Stephanie Sobek-Swant, Executive Director of the rare Charitable Research Reserve in Cambridge was very kind indeed with her tribute.

     And her daughter, Cordelia, was happy to say "Thank you" for the enjoyment she has had from the environmental aspects of the Westmount Sports Complex.

     This is President Jon Walgate presenting me with the award.

     And I think that the following images need no further comment from me.

     Seems to me it's a good night when you receive recognition for doing what you absolutely love to do.