Think Food. Feeders in the winter provide an extra energy source for birds that stay in the area during winter. Provide a number of feeder styles and types of feed (sunflower, thistle, unsalted peanuts, sliced fruit, seed scattered on stamped down snow) to attract many different birds to your yard. Feeders can also be easily attached to windows using suction cups. Place feeders where they are sheltered from predators and weather, and clean feeders regularly.
Small space? No problem! Some feeders are available with a suction cup attachment that can be stuck right to the window!
Don’t remove dead flower heads in the autumn. Don’t cut back old annual or perennial plants. The seed heads that are left in place on plants such as coneflowers, sunflowers and thistle will provide a lasting source of seed for finches and sparrows.
Don’t rake too much. Dead leaves left under trees and shrubs are ideal spots for sparrows to forage for insects throughout the colder months.
Provide cover. Birds need shelter from harsh conditions, and vegetation in your yard will help to furnish it. Don’t prune back dead vegetation like vines and stalks – these provide both valuable winter cover and nesting material for birds in the spring. Balconies have a special opportunity to attract nesting birds as they provide great shelter.
Add habitat in your backyard in the form of a brush pile, which may attract foraging birds and mammals, and even over-wintering reptiles, amphibians and insects.
Think ahead to next winter by planning for spring planting. Choose species that are native to your area. Good sources of winter food for birds include rosehips of wild roses, the berries of sumac and dogberry, the seeds of maples and birches, and perennials like black-eyed susans.
In our last post, we heard from Important Bird Area Caretakers in British Columbia. In this post we follow Ted, Nature Canada's manager of bird conservation, to Alberta where he speaks with two Caretakers about the value of the IBA Caretaker Network.
For Judy Boyd, caring for Bearhills Important Bird Area was a good fit with her volunteer work with a young naturalist club in Red Deer, Alberta. Part of what she does as a Caretaker is monitor birds at the IBA – and counting birds is something young naturalists are more than ready to help out with!
In this video Greg Wagner, IBA Caretaker for Frank Lake Important Bird Area, talks about the special features of this IBA, which lies just 50km south of Calgary, Alberta. Greg also explains why he thinks IBA Caretakers can effectively promote bird conservation by talking to local stakeholders.
As IBA Caretakers, Greg and Judy channel their passion for nature and protecting birds by monitoring birds, assessing habitats, and conducting conservation activities at Important Bird Areas. They are part of a larger network of volunteers that participate in the IBA Caretakers program. Their work promotes effective bird conservation in Canada.
Do you want to protect your local birds and habitat? Consider becoming an Important Bird Area Caretaker!
Chuck Priestly, Natalia Labatiuk and Bill Labatiuk at Beaverhill Lake IBA
In celebration of National Philanthropy day in Canada, Jodi Joy, Nature Canada’s manager of legacy giving, shares a story about the legacy of the late Charles Labatiuk.
“I still remember the day of his birth,” said Natalia Labatiuk, “Today would have been his 55th birthday.”
Instead his parents, Bill and Natalia, and myself celebrated Charles’ life and spirit by visiting Beaverhill Lake Important Bird Area (IBA), a place that was so dear and close to his heart.
On our drive to Beaverhill Lake Important Bird Area, located just outside Tofield, Alberta, I laid eyes on the prairie landscape for the first time, being a Northern Ontario girl myself. I saw widespread rolling hills and grasslands galore.
Bill, Natalia and I met Chuck Priestly, the Executive Director of the Beaverhill Bird Observatory, at the gate. We passed by cattle that share this space with shorebirds that migrate through and stop over at the site. Chuck then toured us through the IBA visiting the “Herrier Highway” where we viewed some juvenile harriers in flight.
Walking past the fence, he remarked on the importance of the fence to ensure protection from the local cow herd that was trampling on nest sites and knocking over nestboxes, thus negatively impacting the success of the nesting birds, and thanked Nature Canada for the funds to erect it. And we passed by the 200 or so songbird boxes that are maintained and repaired each year. Next we visited the bird banding station where he updated us on recent monitoring trends. The lab is over twenty years old and this year's Labatiuk Endowment funds helped repair the roof and upgrade facilities and cabins.
Sitting over lunch we reminisced about Charles' many memories and accolades. His legacy continues on in the great work being achieved by the volunteers at Beaverhill Bird Observatory. We wondered about Jeff Howard, the first recipient of the scholarship in Charles' name and Annie Buckton, the 9 year old whose exceptional initiative and volunteerism was also recently awarded, and pondered how this recognition will nurture their own dreams. Bill and Natalia reflected that Charles would be happiest to know that this special space and the birds that depend on it will be protected for others to enjoy for years to come.
What a fitting birthday tribute to Charles. We all hope to be remembered so fondly.
Through a generous legacy gift, the Charles Labatiuk Nature Endowment Fund supports bird conservation work at Beaverhill Lake Important Bird Area, provides an entrance scholarship for a young naturalist for their post-secondary studies in the natural sciences and rewards volunteer excellence.
Across Canada, Canadians are engaging their communities to protect birds and their habitats by becoming Important Bird Area Caretakers.
As a Caretaker, they are part of the Important Bird Areas Caretaker Network, a nationwide initiative involving volunteers who watch over and protect natural spaces that are vitally important for breeding, migrating, staging and wintering birds.
Ted Cheskey, Nature Canada’s manager of bird conservation, recently met with Caretakers from British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
In this blog series, we follow Ted as he makes his way back east and discovers the many ways Important Bird Area Caretakers are making a difference on the ground to protect our birds.
Picking up where the last post left off, Ted pays a visit to the southern Okanagan Valley of British Columbia where he speaks with Doreen Olsen, an Important Bird Area Caretaker for White Lake IBA.
People join the IBA Caretaker Network for a wide range of reasons. For many, a love of birds and wild spaces in their communities drew them to the network and inspired them to become Caretakers. In this video, Doug Brown, a bird bander at Vaseux Lake Bird Observatory in south Okanagan Valley, briefly explains why he was motivated to become a Caretaker for Osoyoos Oxbows IBA.
Conservation of Important Bird Areas is a cornerstone of effective bird conservation in Canada and around the world. Caretakers – the eyes, ears and feet on the ground – make this important work possible. As a Caretaker, they channel their passion for nature and protecting birds by monitoring birds, assessing habitats, and conducting conservation activities at Important Bird Areas. To date, there are Caretakers in every province in Canada.
Do you want to protect your local birds and habitat? Consider becoming an Important Bird Area Caretaker!
As the weather gets colder and some birds prepare for a long winter at home, this is a perfect time to set up a backyard bird feeder. Backyard feeders provide birds with a good source of energy for the cold winter months and create excellent bird watching opportunities. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your backyard birding experience.
Choose the right feeder: There are lots of feeder types to choose from. Depending on your region, you could be visited by dozens of different bird species. The ideal feeder is sturdy enough to withstand winter weather, easy to clean and tight enough to keep bird feed dry. Suet bird feeders can be particularly good for birds this time of year because of the high energy content in suet mix, made from hard fats and other ingredients like peanuts or cornmeal. Hopper, or “house” feeders, offer good protection from the winter weather and are attractive to a wide range of feeder birds. Want to attract as many bird species as possible? Provide several different feeder styles and types of feed to maximize the species you see in your yard.
Pick a good location: Place your feeders in a quiet area where they are easy to see and convenient to refill. If you can, offer birds a refuge by placing feeders close to trees or shrubs where they can wait their turn to feed. Another factor to consider when choosing a location is the risk of window collisions. Birds can perceive a reflection in your window as a pathway through your house, so make sure to choose a location that will reduce this risk. Monitor your feeder to assess its location and if collisions become a issue, consider consulting Cornell's Lab of Ornithology for tips on how to mitigate the problem.
Keep it clean: Birds can become ill from leftover bits of seed and bird droppings that accumulate on feeder trays. Give your feeder a thorough wash with soap and water every few weeks or more often if necessary during heavy feeding periods. If you are setting up a suet feeder, make sure to be extra vigilant about keeping it clean. Suet mix can spoil easily in warmer weather.
Get to know your visitors: Bird watching continues to be one of the most popular pastimes around. Keep an eye on the birds that frequent your feeder and spend some time observing their size, shape, colour and behavior. If you’re having trouble identifying the species, snap a quick photo and use a field guide or allaboutbirds.org to narrow the possibilities. Don’t forget that you can always share your photos with fellow nature lovers through our Flickr pool or Nature Explorers community!
Make your observations count: Once you’ve got your bird feeder up and running, consider joining Project Feederwatch. Participants in this project periodically count the birds that appear at their feeders and submit their data to Bird Studies Canada, Nature Canada's co-partner in delivering the Important Bird Areas Program. By submitting your data, you’ll be helping scientists determine how bird populations are changing across North America. It’s open to all skill levels and is a great way to contribute to an international bird conservation effort.
For over a year, I have worked with colleagues with National Resources Defence Council and Boreal Songbird Initiative on writing the Birds at Risk: The Importance of Canada’s Boreal Wetlands and Waterways.
It is good to see it out in the public forum. Though I’ve lived most of the my life in southern Canada, I have spent considerable time in the boreal region, first as a Park Naturalist on Lake Superior, and afterwards as an atlasser for the Atlas of Breeding Birds of Ontario – both in the early 1980s, and between 2001 and 2005, with the Quebec Breeding Bird Atlas in 1987, and a range of other trips both related to work and pleasure.
I’ve learned that canoeing is the only viable means of getting around in the summer, that in the Hudson Bay lowlands, even with gloves, long sleeves and a bug net over my head, 64 black flies can bite me under my watch band in one day, that there can still be ice along some of the rivers in late June, and most importantly that the vast forests and river systems are not uninhabited, but rather part of the homelands of First Nations peoples. The bugs, the rapids and the sudden changes in temperature do not scare me . . . but the red tinted water escaping from the mine tailings empoundment, the sickly smell of herbicides from aerial spraying and the distant din of machines do.
I am one of those auditory birders – though I enjoy seeing birds, I love hearing them and find great satisfaction in knowing their voices. The sound scape of the boreal wetlands is unequal for drama and beauty. The Common Loon’s song is at the top of the most emotive and haunting sounds on earth. Add to this the melodic flute-like refrains of Hermit Thrushes, a cheery chorus of White-throated Sparrow, the staccato explosiveness of a Connecticut Warbler’s song, and the emphatic “Whip-three-beers” of the threatened Olive-sided Flycatcher, and you have, in my view, the perfect symphony.
Sadly, members of the orchestra are dropping out as pressures to exploit the rich resources of the boreal accelerate destruction and change, and climate change tightens its grip on these northern biomes.
As manager of bird conservation programs for Nature Canada, I know that part of our mission is to be a voice for nature, including the species that are being silenced. We hope that the messages from this report will be discussed, debated and inform decisions related to this precious biome. This is our chance as a country to make a difference for our children, and their children with our largest ecological contribution to the earth’s health, our boreal forest.
It’s the movie the birding community had hotly anticipated all year.
Now, a few weeks after opening night, The Big Year is garnering praise from some groups and light disapproval from others.
Starring Hollywood’s three funny men, Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, and Jack Black, it’s about three guys vying to spot the most birds in one 12-month period.
Their quest takes them across North America, testing their bird spotting prowess while rocking the boat with their loved ones.
Based on the novel by Mark Obmascik, The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession, the movie is filmed in British Columbia and directed by David Frankel, with many Canadian bird experts serving as advisors on the film. We have collected an assortment of reviews from bird blogs, to the mainstream media, to bird enthusiasts at Nature Canada to give you a snap shot of what is being said about this comedy of birds and men.
Starting with those who gave the movie two thumbs up:
“I went to opening night in Penticton, a town in the south Okanagan of British Columbia, with about 45 other birders. Many of us wore our binoculars and used them in the movie. This added much to the ambiance. I enjoyed the movie. It was fun, the acting was pretty good, and birders were portrayed as real people. Many of the scenes were filmed in the Okanagan and Vancouver area – knowing this added to my enjoyment. Though not a great movie, I doubt anyone was expecting that, it was a good movie that is definitely worth a night out at the local theatre.”
"This film offered up life lessons learned through birding, using characters that were authentic and diverse, not the stereotypes I feared I’d see on screen: Young, old, rich, not-so-rich, men and women brought together by a shared interest. As much about male bonding as it is about birding, the film left me smiling."
- Chris Sutton, Nature Canada director of communications
“…bird watching isn’t often treated kindly (or accurately) in movies, and mistakes are so common that sometimes it seems like Hollywood actually tries to get the facts wrong. So it was with pleasure, surprise, and great admiration for the director and stars that I came away from the movie satisfied, intrigued, amused, and even touched by what I’d seen.” - Round Robin, The Cornell Blog of Ornithology
In this Youtube clip, BC birding authority Dick Cannings of Bird Studies Canada shares his first impressions of the movie after seeing it with 35 members of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network in a small theatre in Penticton BC. Cannings was an advisor to some of the scenes in the Okanagan, and one of his books appeared in the film.
“We were all in agreement—it gets two thumbs up! The movie is pretty upfront with their intentions from the very first screen: The Big Year is based on a true story…just the facts have been changed… in its simplest form, it was also a great story that made us admire birds, embrace nature and appreciate the little things in life. It also made all of us proud to be associated with such a great group of people—birders.”
- By the Editors of Birds &Blooms
For many of us, Nature works like a bank; it's where we go to get 'that special feeling' when we have the time. For birders, however, Nature works a little differently. Yes, The Big Year is a bird movie about birders birding - but it's also a thoroughly entertaining portrayal of our manic, tragic, funny and obsessive relationship with the Nature. Go see it!
- Peter Cummings, Clearance & Production Resources for The Big Year & Director of BC Ecological Agricultural Trust Society
And from Twitter, these tweets caught my attention
@AKbirder Got2 see #TheBigYear :) What a sweet movie. I giggled 2think of past group-birdathons & feverish excitement 2sight the most birds
- deephil11 12:21am via Twitter for iPhone
The Big Year was a great little movie, really fun to watch and terrific scenery and music. #TheBigYear
- coopiemom Oct 24, 7:39pm via Twitter for iPad
And from the Nature Canada Facebook page:
“I really liked it and think it will be great publicity for birding...especially to see the passion people can have for it. I imagine people were expecting mayhem with the 3 stars and they were funny without being over the top.”
- Helene Van Doninck
Lastly, there were a few who thought the movie was neither funny, nor accurate:
“The Big Year was alright. It was neither horrible nor outstanding, neither fully factual nor completely made-up, neither completely engaging nor totally alienating. I would give it a solid “B-” as a birder…What didn’t I like? I didn’t like all the things the movie got wrong. Who can focus entirely on a movie and suspend their disbelief when what they are watching is riddled with errors? Sure, some are done in an attempt to get laughs or for plot purposes but the movie would have been much better if it were more accurate.”
- By Corey on 10,000 Birds
"As a non-birder, my initial interest in this film came from the promise of comedic relief from some of the greats. I also thought that I maybe able to educate myself in the world of bird watching, at least understand a little better the allure for so many. While I did learn (about a bird size amount) about the wild world of birding and a few new bird names, I left feeling cheated on both the comedic humor side and the informative side of the film. However, if I were to take one message away from this film, it would be that the world of competitive birding is not for the weak hearted nor is it a laughing matter. This is serious business and I would not want to get in their way. In all I would have to say that if you are a real life birder – you may spend most of your time pointing out the inaccuracies of this film, if you are a fan of the many talented actors in the film, this night not be one to add to your own ‘Big Year’ of funny films.
- Cheri Dawn, development officer, corporate and foundation gifts
“[the Big Year] is more interested in warm and fuzzy life lessons than exploiting the slapstick opportunities inherent in chasing small creatures through inhospitable terrains. The result is an offence-free, mild entertainment in which everyone from cast to scriptwriter seems to be winging it.”
- Liam Lacey, the Globe and Mail
What did you think of the Big Year? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This is a great time to take a hike in nature. The summer crowds are gone, the scenery is stunning and there are still a few weeks before you have to break out your winter jacket. Here are a few ways to make the most of your trek through the freshly fallen leaves.
1) Bird watching: There is lots of bird watching to be done as our feathered friends head south for the winter. Before you head out on your hike, visit allaboutbirds.org to read up on bird watching techniques. Pack a nature guide to help identify different species and take a journal to record your findings.
2) Join a guided nature walk: Many communities across Canada have clubs that engage local experts to lead public hikes. This is a great way to meet fellow nature lovers and learn more about the natural geography of your area. Keep an eye on local publications or perform a quick internet search to find a guided hike in your area.
3) Bring your camera: There are few times of the year when nature is more beautiful than it is now. Pack your camera and capture some of the beautiful fall scenery you encounter along the way. While you’re at it, why not take a photo for our Hug-a-Tree photo contest or Flickr pool? Your photos are sure to bring back happy memories during the long winter.
4) Take a snack (or two): Before you head out, prepare some nutritious snacks that will keep you fueled along the way. Cheese and crackers, apple slices and trail mix are a few easy-to-pack snacks that offer valuable nutrients for your hike. For a more seasonal treat, save the seeds from the inside of your pumpkin and roast them the night before you head out.
5) Do a leaf rubbing: Want to create a souvenir of your adventure? Bring a large hardbound book and a roll of wax or parchment paper. Collect a few leaves of different shapes and sizes, press them between two sheets of paper and tuck them in the book to keep them safe. When you get home, place the leaves between two pieces of white paper, rub with a crayon and you’re done!
As always, don’t forget to dress appropriately, stay on trail and share your itinerary with a family member or friend before heading out. Happy trails!
Ted Cheskey, our manager of bird conservation, is out on Canada’s west coast meeting volunteer Caretakers who are part of the Important Bird Areas Program. On a visit to the Sidney Channel IBA in North Sidney B.C., Ted had a chance to speak with James Finley, IBA Caretaker, about marine IBAs, being a Caretaker, and his love for the beautiful Bufflehead:
Sidney Channel is a 4 km wide body of water that lies along the extreme southeast shore of Vancouver Island between James Island (and the larger Saanich Peninsula) and Sidney Island.
The Sidney Channel IBA is a terrific place to birdwatch. In one short boat excursion, Ted saw Marbled Murrelet, Rhinoceros Auklet, Herrmann's Gull, Bald Eagle, Brant Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, and Harlequin Duck, as well as Harbour Seals and Harbour Porpoises. Of particular significance at this site are the large concentrations of Brandts Cormorants during fall migration (just over 1% of the worlds estimated population), and Mew Gulls and Brant during spring migration.
As a Caretaker, James is the eyes, ears and feet on the ground at his IBA. Like other Caretakers, James has been matched to his specific IBA to monitor birds, assess habitats, and conduct conservation activities. He works with local communities, scientists, governments and nature groups to promote Important Bird Areas and to ensure that local conservation ideas are put into action. Hands-on volunteer work from people like James helps build healthier bird communities and more sustainable environments for future generations.
BC Nature, with financial assistance from Nature Canada's Communities in Action Fund, launched the first Caretaker Network in Canada. In 2009, TransCanada Corporation committed $1 million over five years as a national sponsor of the Canadian IBA Caretakers Network, so that today, volunteer Caretakers are in all ten provinces.
BirdLife International began the IBA program in Europe in the 1980s in order to identify, conserve and monitor a network of sites that provides essential habitat for bird populations. Since that time, BirdLife partners in more than 178 countries and territories have joined together to build the global IBA network. Nature Canada and Bird Studies Canada co-deliver BirdLife's IBA Program in this country.
Bufflehead, photo by Vladmir Morozov
This weekend, James and many of his neighbours in Sidney will be celebrating the return of that community’s adoptive bird, the Bufflehead. According to James, who has been observing these birds at Sidney Channel Important Bird Area (IBA) for many years, Buffleheads arrive there and at Shoal Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary on Vancouver Island on the 298th solar day of the year, every year. This timing equates to the 15th day of October (except in Leap Years), and October 15 has come to be known as All Buffleheads Day in recognition of the annual migratory event.
So this weekend, take a moment to consider the Bufflehead and the special place it holds in Canada's natural history. If you happen to be in Sidney, British Columbia, join the celebrations for All Bufflehead Day and the 80th anniversary of the Shoal Migratory Bird Sanctuary at Lillian Hoffar Park.
Once again autumn has arrived in Canada and for billions of birds this signals the ancient event of migration. No matter where you reside, you will see the populations of birds in your local area fluctuate as some birds leave for more southern climates, and some birds arrive from northern latitudes. There are of course many year-round residents that will hold tight to their territories, but they will soon be hosting some new visitors.
Migration itself is a fascinating biannual movement that has ignited countless theories and driven many people, scientists and non-scientists alike, to wonder about the exact mechanisms and routes taken by individual species. The intricacies of migration will be fodder for a future blog post, so stay tuned! For now, we’ll concentrate on tips that may help migrating birds get to their destination, or at least provide them with some fuel and energy for the voyage.
Photo: Murdo Messer
1. Leave Out Your Hummingbird Feeders Contrary to popular belief, leaving your hummingbird feeders out will not cause delayed migration in hummingbirds. Migration is a powerful instinct and leaving the feeders out until all birds have left may well provide some extra nutrition for young birds that may need an extra boost, or for some that are merely passing through. As always, clean and change all feeders regularly to prevent the spread of disease.
2. Re-Stock Your Regular Bird Feeders As with the hummingbird feeders, the availability of extra food in regular bird feeders may help passing migrants fuel up on the way to their destination. Every little bit helps!
3. Do Not Disturb Shorebird Fueling Stations
Photo: Kate Messer
Each autumn billions of shorebirds gather in huge flocks to eat as much as they can over a short period of time. At the CWRC we live near one of these very important areas: the Bay of Fundy. Getting enough food during these stopovers is absolutely critical to allow these birds to fly for long distances to reach their southern destinations.
Please respect these areas and keep disturbance to a minimum. Limit walking on the beach when this is happening and do not let dogs off leash to flush or scare these birds off. They are often only in the area for brief periods. Tide intervals already limit foraging times so unnecessary interruptions are costly. Please refrain from leaving garbage on beaches too, as the scent will attract predators which will further disturb the birds.
Cuckoos. Photo: Murdo Messer
4. Look for Hurricane and Weather Refugees Extreme weather can interrupt migration, send birds on errant paths, and damage food supplies and habitat. Watch for unusual birds in your area after weather events and if it seems that a bird is in the wrong place, let wildlife officials know or contact a rehabilitation centre. Often birds in the wrong place can re-direct themselves, but sometimes they need a helping hand.
Post Hurricane Katrina, we had 6 calls in 30 min about yellow billed cuckoos seemingly dropping from the sky. Oddly enough these calls all came from the same neighbourhood. They were certainly in the wrong place at the wrong time and were in poor condition.
5. Turn off the Lights
Photo: Murdo Messer
Millions of migrating birds are killed every year by something we never even think about: office towers that leave lights on overnight. This is particularly an issue when downtown cores are in the middle of migration corridors. One of the most problematic areas in Canada is downtown Toronto. Become educated about this problem in your local area and if it’s an issue, try to convince building managers to shut lights off at night. It’s good for the environment too. For more information on this issue, please visit www.flap.org , a group dedicated to addressing this issue in Toronto and other areas. Other migration hazards include power lines, windows, wind turbines and other sources of light at night (including industrial flares). Become educated on these issues and let your government officials know you want policies that reflect your concerns. 6. Provide Natural Food Supplies Items like apples, rosehips, berries, snags and fruit trees provide important nutrition for birds. Plant native species that provide food sources for migrating birds and don’t be too quick to pick up things like fallen apples.
7. Cut Out Pesticides It is encouraging to see more and more municipalities banning the use of pesticides. Insect eating birds are on the decline throughout North America with habitat loss, climate change and loss of food supplies being among the cited reasons for the declines. Please avoid the use of pesticides. Insect eating birds rely on an abundance of different species of insects, and do a great job of keeping their numbers under control in an environmentally friendly way.
Most importantly this migration season, enjoy being a spectator for what is arguably the most remarkable natural phenomenon. Consider recording first and last seen dates for different species and make it an annual tradition. Spend time outside and enjoy the spectacle in your own backyard, you never know what you might see!
In 2011, just 13 male greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) were recorded on “leks” in Alberta. Next door, in Saskatchewan, there were only 35. These numbers represent a greater than 95 percent decline since 1968 -- a decline that has continued unchecked despite official designations on provincial and federal species at risk lists.
The reasons for the collapse of greater sage‐grouse populations are well known by scientists and governments, as is what's needed to reverse the declines. Yet, as an iconic bird species is poised to disappear forever from Canada, two things are quite clear:
1) current efforts are failing to prevent the extirpation of the greater sage‐grouse and protect its habitat 2) there is an urgent need for immediate action and substantive measures if the imminent extirpation of the greater sage‐grouse from Canada is to be prevented.
A panel of scientists and conservation organizations, including Nature Canada, held an emergency summit on the future of greater sage‐grouse in Canada on September 7 and 8, in Calgary. The sense of urgency was palpable, and the desire to spark action was strong.
A public communiqué was issued at the end of the summit, signed by more than a dozen scientists and conservation groups from Canada and the United States. You can read the whole thing on our web site. Here, though, is a partial list of the actions that must occur to save the sage grouse:
Designate additional critical habitat as identified on proposed critical habitat maps produced in 2010.
No new developments in critical greater sage‐grouse habitat. Major concerns are regarding prolonged or expanded industrial development and associated activities in and around critical habitat.
Restore existing critical habitat, including removal of industrial infrastructure.
To allow for future recovery, previously occupied range outside current critical habitat must be restored to functionality suitable for greater sage‐grouse.
Any new development outside of critical habitat but within the identified zone of influence (15 kilometres)must not contribute to the disturbance of the species or destruction of critical habitat.
To be effective, bird conservation for migratory species should address issues throughout a species' flyway that impact the species survival. In Canada, this should be an imperative to conserving our birds, as about 90% migrate south each year, only to return the following spring.
One initiative to put this flyway concept to the conservation test links the Great Salt Lake in Utah, the most important inland stopover for many species of shorebird, waterbird and waterfowl in continental North America, and an area of global significance for many breeding bird species, with Chaplin Lake in Saskatchewan, and the Marismas nacionales along the Pacific coast of Mexico. These areas share many of the same species, including American Avocet, Wilson's Phalarope, American White Pelican and Franklin's Gull among other species.
The Canadian anchor in this north-south chain, is centred on Chaplin Lake Important Bird Area, but includes a series of alkaline lakes in southern Saskatchewan, including Old Wives, Reed, and Quill Lakes. All sites are recognized as Important Bird Areas and Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) sites.
Last week, I attended meetings in Salt Lake City Utah, on behalf of Nature Canada and the Canadian partners in the Linking Communities Initiative at Chaplin Lake and Nature Saskatchewan. National Audubon and ProNatura, the BirdLife International Partners from the USA and Mexico respectively, as well as staff from BirdLife and from Rio Tinto - Kennecot, the mining company that supports some elements of this project, were also there.
Our focus was looking ahead to where this partnership might go. One of the most inspiring moments happened during a conversation with Wayne Martinson, Important Bird Area Coordinator for National Audubon for the State of Utah. He mentioned how the whole idea of linking communities came to be and who is the visionary behind it. I was so inspired by his story that I asked him to repeat it on video. Here it is:
The White-headed Woodpecker (Picoides albolarvatus) is a small woodpecker that relies on coniferous forests throughout its range. In Canada, they are found exclusively in old growth Ponderosa Pine stands in southern British Columbia. White-headed Woodpeckers use these trees for nesting and feed on their cones.
The White-headed Woodpecker is listed as ‘Endangered’ under the Species at Risk Act. This law obligates the Environment Minister to prepare a Recovery Strategy for species listed as Endangered or Threatened and identify critical habitat, to the extent possible based on available information.
There is relatively little knowledge about this species in Canada. The population of White-headed Woodpecker is thought to be no larger than 100 individuals and was recently estimated at only 10 individuals. There have been very few observations in the past ten years.
One thing that is known, however, is that habitat loss is a major threat to the survival and recovery of this species in Canada. The draft Recovery Strategy sets out the studies needed to understand and protect the species and its habitat and also describes measures to address the effects of past habitat loss. Pending these studies no critical habitat is identified, but plans to do so in an action plan are proposed for 2016.
Nature Canada, in collaboration with the David Suzuki Foundation, recently commented on the government’s draft Recovery Strategy. We have encouraged the government to be more precautionary in their approach by:
1. Protecting remaining ponderosa pine stands while the research is completed and critical habitat is formally identified;
2. Addressing ongoing habitat loss and degradation so that the remaining critical habitat doesn’t disappear before it can be identified and protected under the law; and
3. Adjusting the proposed timelines so that the identification of critical habitat and the completion of an action plan occur no later than a year after the final recovery strategy is published, which should happen soon, once the government has reviewed the comments received during this public consultation on the draft strategy.
It's only been a few months since we started the Nature Canada Flickr Group, but in that time, hundreds of fantastic nature photos have been added to our pool! From those photos, we have selected some of the best bird photography and created an online gallery that’s worth a visit.
Can you identify the bird species in these photos? Have you come into close encounters with them in nature? Add your comments and observations to each photo and share your knowledge! To join the conversation, you must have a Flickr account.
If you have photos of nature that you would like to share, add them to the Nature Canada Flickr Group and it could be selected as the Photo of the Month. Make sure to tag it with “POM”!
A new draft report on the status of the Red Knot has been released -- and the news isn't good.
Except for a slight increase seen in 2009, the number of rufa knots (an imperiled subspecies) wintering in Tierra del Fuego has been in decline for the last decade. This year's update reports one of the sharpest declines yet, from 16,260 birds in 2010 to now 9,850 – a nearly 40% loss. There's also apparently no evidence that horseshoe crab numbers are recovering; their eggs provide critical nutrition for knots as they refuel on the U.S. mid-Atlantic Coast en route to Arctic breeding grounds.
The Red Knot is one of many bird species that stop over along the coasts of Hudson and James Bays before migrating south to destinations in the Caribbean, Central and South America. Protecting birds along their flyway – the route between breeding and wintering areas – is the cornerstone of global bird conservation. The health and integrity of these sites are important in maintaining stable and thriving populations of migratory birds. Engaging these northern communities is an important step toward protecting these birds.
That's why Nature Canada's manager of bird conservation, Ted Cheskey, has travelled repeatedly in the past year to the region, where we're working with First Nations communities to find ways of protecting migratory birds that nest, breed and feed in Important Bird Areas in Cree homelands.
We were all transfixed by the environmental destruction of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill last year. Yet, however bad the spill in the Gulf of Mexico was, almost everyone agrees a major spill in the Arctic sea would be worse. How much worse? Last November a report commissioned by the Pew Environment Group examined that question, and concluded a cleanup could take years – if it’s even possible at all. Efforts would be hampered by wintertime temperatures that can drop below minus 50 degrees Celsius, fierce Arctic storms, endless darkness and fog that shrouds the region for more than half the days of the year.
Yes, drilling in the Arctic is reckless, and dangerous – and something big oil companies are quite eager to do.
Case in point: Edinburgh-based oil and gas company Cairn Energy has plans to drill off the coast of Greenland – without making its oil spill response plan public. This is a document that an oil company has to draw up explaining how it would clean up a spill. They are nearly always made public, but Cairn is keeping its one secret.
On Thursday, Nature Canada joined 53 other international organizations – including Greenpeace, the David Suzuki Foundation, and Council of Canadians – in sending a letter to Greenland’s Prime Minister, Kuupik Kleist, expressing serious concern over the lack of transparency regarding Cairn’s operations in this unique and fragile region.
Cairn is gambling with the pristine wilderness of the Arctic. Walrus, seal, bowhead whale and polar bear habitats could be disrupted and entire remote communities wiped out if a toxic spill eliminates their means of subsistence living.
A spill in this region could be devastating to arctic seabird colonies feeding on the ice floes at Important Bird Areas along Nunavut’s northern coast, Baffin Island or as far south as Labrador. Ivory Gulls, Northern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Thick-billed Murres and many other seabird or water bird species would be at risk.
Our changing climate –due in large part to the burning of fossil fuels -- is melting the Arctic sea ice, changing the nature of one of the most remote, and vulnerable places on earth. It is time to place a moratorium on new offshore drilling, including the Arctic, and to end our reliance on dirty, polluting fossil fuels in favour of responsible development of clean, renewable energy.
Here in Canada, the Government should delay new off-shore drilling projects until a consistent, strictly enforced set of regulations is in place that protects the environment, oil and gas workers and coastal communities.
Even with preventive measures in place, accidents are certain to occur, so it is important to identify places of great ecological significance and permanently protect them. Establishing a comprehensive system of marine and coastal protected areas is essential before development begins, so that irreplaceable natural habitats aren't lost forever to unsustainable development projects and unforeseen accidents. Important Bird Areas and existing Migratory Bird Sanctuaries are good starting points to better protect habitats for birds that, in many cases, Canada shares with the rest of the hemisphere.
Birds know no boundaries – that was the theme last week at our annual general meeting in Winnipeg. After humans, birds are the most studied living things on this planet, and we have much to learn from them. Through international collaboration – sharing ideas, uniting our efforts – we can achieve so much more than any one group or nation can alone. With that in mind, here are two news items to come out of a special reception we held, prior to our annual meeting, to celebrate international bird conservation efforts:
First, we added our signature to a birding and guiding memorandum originally signed by the Province of Manitoba and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) in October. Manitoba Minister of Water Stewardship Christine Melnick and Nature Canada Board Chair Richard Yank did the signing honours, before the agreement was sent to Israel for their signatures too.
Nature Canada Board Chair Richard Yank and Manitoba Minister of Water Stewardship Christine Melnick sign international birding memorandum.
SPNI and Nature Canada are partners in BirdLife International, a global alliance of conservation organizations working together for the world's birds and people. The agreement represents a commitment between BirdLife International partners and the Government of Manitoba to find ways of jointly promoting birding, ecotourism, and the protection of birds and their habitat.
Partnerships are central to our organization’s work in nature conservation and education, so we’re pretty excited to participate in this unique collaboration. Something else we’re really looking forward to: taking part in a 2012 nationwide tour of our country by Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian nature officials.
For the past 15 years there has been co-operation between Israelis, Palestinians and Jordanians on the environment in general – and migrating birds in particular – in an effort to show that the land of the Middle East can be shared and that positive interactions between the people and especially the students of the three nations is possible. Next June, the three project leaders will conduct a national tour to share their experience with Canadians.
This collaboration – a joint effort to set aside differences and just focus on a common love for birds – has already succeeded in building a bridge between people in this war-torn region and it has helped to bring together teachers, pupils, conservationists, birdwatchers, academic researchers, and farmers. Now they are bringing their message of peace to Canada while helping to raise awareness about birding and bird conservation. We’re excited to accompany them on part of their visit.
When the nature delegation comes to Canada, they’ll be sure to stop in Manitoba, which brings me to the second news item – Minister Melnick also launched the Manitoba section of a new Pine to Prairie International Birding Trail established between Manitoba and Minnesota. The minister unveiled the route map and highway signage for the Manitoba portion of the 800-kilometre trail that features 68 prime wildlife viewing sites between Detroit Lakes, Minn., and Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park in Manitoba.
It was a wonderful reception filled with good news and inspiring stories – including those of our 2011 Conservation Award winners – thanks to our members and friends for a great time in Manitoba!
Framed against a bright blue sky, this stunning photo reminds us of the elegant beauty of our migratory birds.
With its long black legs contrasting sharply with an all-white plumage, the Great Egret is a stunning large heron that inhabits parts of Ontario, the southern praries, south-western Quebec, the United States and wetlands throughout Central and South America. It can be identified from other herons by its long, straight yellow beak, and by the way its neck forms an s-shaped curve during flight.
The Great Egret nests in colonies with other herons and Egrets – its nest can be found in trees or shrubs and is built of sticks covered in green vegetation. Wetlands – such as marshes, rivers and tidal flats – provide the ideal habitat for nesting and feeding. The Great Egret is also the symbol of the National Audubon Society, one of the oldest environmental organizations in North America.
Cool fact: The longest living Great Egret was lived to be 23-years-old.
Want to support nature conservation and win an eco-adventure?
We've talked about Keith's Green Initiative in April posts, but for those who might have missed it, the initiative is a way for you to help nature and win great prizes. Alexander Keith's is helping Canadians go green by giving them the chance to win up to $1,000 each to donate to one of four deserving eco-charities.
How can you help?
SHARE the initiative on Facebook and Keith’s will donate $1 to Nature Canada, Waterkeepers Canada, Trees Ontario or NSLC Adopt-a-Stream.
PURCHASE specially-marked 24 IPA packs - and 15 -bottle mixer packs of Alexander Keith’s beer and receive a PIN that unlocks a donation amount between $0 and $1,000. Keith’s will donate this amount on your behalf to Nature Canada or one of three great causes. Enter your PIN on Keith’s Facebook page to reveal your donation and enter to win a Keith’s Eco-Adventure!
In her third guest blog post, Helene Van Doninck, wildlife veterinarian at the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Truro, Nova Scotia, deconstructs common myths about injured baby birds and shares her tips on what you can do if you come across a nestling or fledgling in distress.
Spring has finally arrived in Canada and with it comes the busiest season of all for wildlife rehabilitators. It’s baby bird season! We all start to stock up on supplies and prepare for an exponential growth in phone calls. The first priority is to help injured, sick or orphaned wildlife; however, we often spend a considerable amount of time talking to people to help us decide if an animal is really orphaned or in distress. Many times people just aren’t familiar with the natural history of that species and many situations that look like an animal in peril, really are just an animal exhibiting normal behaviour.
Myth #1: Baby birds found outside the nest have been orphaned
It’s not common knowledge that most baby birds (especially songbirds) spend a lot of time alone once they fledge from the nest. People often see a young bird alone and assume it is an orphan– this is usually not true. Songbirds will hatch from their egg in a nest and are called nestlings at this point. When they make that first leap out of the nest (and are now called fledglings), they often either fall or flutter to the ground and spend several days on the ground under the watchful eye of the parents.
The parents likely have up to five or six fledglings that have left the nest over a period of a few days. Both parents are working at top speed to find food from dawn till dusk. They not only have to feed these young birds (one bug at a time!), but they need to keep track of where the babies are (they are often guided in by the calls of their babies) before racing off to find the next morsel of food. They also protect them from predators, try to lead them to areas where there is cover, and eventually teach them to forage and fly on their own.
These behaviours are often learned by observing the parent, though flight is instinctual for most birds. Young birds are at a high risk of predation. Other wild birds and mammals can prey on them, and in most parts of the world, the domestic cat is also the cause of millions of songbird deaths. We regularly ask people to keep cats as indoor pets, or at the very least limit their outdoor time during baby season.
There are some types of birds that will spend most of their time with the parents, again due to their natural history. Birds like ducks, geese, and pheasants keep their young with them and many people have observed these species with the hatchlings following in a tight cluster. These species don’t manually feed their young; instead the young observe the foraging and pecking behaviour of the parents and learn to feed themselves in this manner. For this reason, anytime a down-covered young of any of these species is found alone it requires intervention, especially if it is calling loudly with no response from a parent. Myth #2: Baby birds handled by humans are rejected by their parents
A common myth we hear is that if a young bird is touched and has human scent on it, the parents will reject it. This is untrue as birds have an extremely poor sense of smell (though we don’t recommend handling wild birds unless it is absolutely necessary). We have successfully returned young birds back to their parents up to 4 days after they were taken. However, keep in mind that parents may abandon a nest that is repeatedly disturbed so try to avoid this, especially when the young are very new. At this age they require high volumes of food and warmth and the parents need to be very vigilant to ward off predators. Excessive disturbance by curious humans may disturb normal activities, resulting in the loss of the nest.
Video: Young Osprey at the CWRC waits to be fed
What can you do if you find a baby bird?
First, you need to determine if it is a baby bird. If it has no feathers or very few feathers, that makes it more obvious. Fledglings however are usually mostly feathered but have some obvious differences in comparison to adults:
1- Fledglings have wispy or fluffy down feathers poking through the regular feathers, which are most commonly seen on the head.
Red-eyed Vireo Fledgling. Down feathers on head and short/absent tail feathers
2 - They have shorter tail feathers and often have gape flanges which look like large yellow/beige/orange “lips” protruding from the sides of the beak.
European Starling Fledgling. Yellow gape flanges on mouth and VERY obvious down on the head
3- They may also have only feather shafts, which look like a drinking straw with a feather growing from it, where one would expect to see flight or tail feathers.
Sparrow Fledgling. Pin feathers/feather shafts on wings and around eyes, down feathers on the head, and the remnants of yellow gape flanges on the beak, and short/absent tail feathers
Naked nestlings found on the ground from a destroyed nest always need help. The best option is to re-nest the birds if possible. If that can’t happen, an artificial nest can be constructed from a hanging plant basket or other basket, making sure there are drainage holes in the bottom. The best placement for this basket is as near as possible to the original nest and hopefully shielded somewhat from direct sunlight and rain. You can then back away and watch from a distance with binoculars.
Once the nestlings are hungry and call, the parents will usually feed them in an artificial nest. They may be suspicious at first, but instinct often overrides that and the parents should accept this situation. If not, please contact a wildlife rehabilitator or your wildlife officials for more advice as these birds may need to be taken into care. We ALWAYS try to reunite the parents and young as the parents are much better at raising the offspring than any human.
Fledglings by definition have left the nest. Sometimes well-meaning people who have been monitoring a nest will put them back, only to have them jump out again. This is normal! If you are unsure if a fledgling has parents tending to it, the best option is to watch from a distance with binoculars. The parents will stay away if you stand too close. If all is well you will likely see a parent bird land next to the fledgling, poke a piece of food into its mouth and take off again to find more food.
If you are unsure about this, another thing you can do is check for feces. Young birds will poop frequently when they are being fed regularly. If the parent is tending to them they usually produce poop after every feeding, often every 20 minutes to one hour. You can even place a shallow lid under the bird to look for this. If the parent bird is not showing up and the fledgling is calling repeatedly for hours with no response, this may be an orphan and you should call a rehabilitator.
There are several other situations that warrant rescue of a bird, including obvious blood or injury, being handled by a dog or cat and knowing for certain that the bird is an orphan. Keep in mind however, that most young birds on the ground are normal fledglings with parents. If you find one in a perilous situation, you can try to coax it to an area with cover or put it on a low branch, realizing that it may jump down again immediately.
People often ask us what they can do to help baby birds. Reasons for songbird population declines are complex, but from our perspective we have three key pieces of advice:
1- Preserve habitat: leave brush piles for cover and preserve large trees and snags for cavity nesters 2- Do not use pesticides– birds need insects to feed their young 3- Keep your cats indoors.
These steps will lead to more young surviving the fledgling stage which will lead to more breeding adults for the future.
Watch more videos of baby birds under the care of the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
