Breeding habitat loss linked to declines in Rufous Hummingbirds
Hello,
Thought this about rufous hummingbird declines would be of interest to some on this list.
Best, Greg Richmond
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Re: cormorants V formation
Thanks Neill!
Have a great day,
On Tue, Jul 23, 2024 at 9:22?AM Neill Vanhinsberg via <neillist= [email protected]> wrote: I know some roost under the Ironworkers' bridge and under Lionsgate as well. I'm sure there are other spots but those are 2 I know of.
Neill
On Tue, Jul 23, 2024, 5:45?a.m. Veronique Martinaud via <Vmartinaud04= [email protected]> wrote: Thank you so much for this Neill! I really appreciate it! It makes total sense.
Do you have any idea where these flocks flying eastbound over the Burrard Inlet at the Lost Lagoon level would roost?
Cheers,
On Mon, Jul 22, 2024 at 9:42?PM Neill Vanhinsberg via <neillist= [email protected]> wrote: Hi ³Õ¨¦°ù´Çnique,
For years, I've noticed Double-crested Cormorants flying south over my house in the Mount Pleasant area in the morning, and back north in the evening. From one to a flock of 40 or so birds. I don't see them everyday but often enough that I assume it is an almost daily occurrence. I assume they are flying from their roost to a favoured foraging area in the morning and back in the evening. So flocks of cormorants flying by doesn't necessarily mean they are migrating. In fact, I saw 3 flocks of DCCOs of 20-30 birds flying in V formation over the Iona north jetty this morning.? Being heavy birds with not particularly large wings, flying in V formation cuts down on the work of flying for the birds behind the leader. I've seen non-migrating geese, ducks and pelicans do this when flying any distance also, so it's not an unusual sight, just an energy saving strategy.
Neill Vancouver
On Mon, Jul 22, 2024 at 3:20?PM Veronique Martinaud via <Vmartinaud04= [email protected]> wrote: Sending this again. Thanks!
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: ³Õ¨¦°ù´Çnique Martinaud <vmartinaud04@...>Date: Fri, Jul 19, 2024 at 10:25?PM Subject: cormorants V formation To: < [email protected]> Hi everyone,
This evening, I saw quite a big flock of cormorants in V formation flying over the Burrard Inlet eastbound. I was surprise to see such a thing as I thought V formations occured only during long flights/migration. But cormorants wouldn¡¯t be migrating now, right? I would love to have your input on this.
--
" And so, I did what I've always done in difficult situations like this:? I went birding"
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? - Neil Hayward? Lost Among the Birds
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Re: cormorants V formation
I know some roost under the Ironworkers' bridge and under Lionsgate as well. I'm sure there are other spots but those are 2 I know of.
Neill
On Tue, Jul 23, 2024, 5:45?a.m. Veronique Martinaud via <Vmartinaud04= [email protected]> wrote:
Thank you so much for this Neill! I really appreciate it! It makes total sense.
Do you have any idea where these flocks flying eastbound over the Burrard Inlet at the Lost Lagoon level would roost?
Cheers,
On Mon, Jul 22, 2024 at 9:42?PM Neill Vanhinsberg via <neillist= [email protected]> wrote: Hi ³Õ¨¦°ù´Çnique,
For years, I've noticed Double-crested Cormorants flying south over my house in the Mount Pleasant area in the morning, and back north in the evening. From one to a flock of 40 or so birds. I don't see them everyday but often enough that I assume it is an almost daily occurrence. I assume they are flying from their roost to a favoured foraging area in the morning and back in the evening. So flocks of cormorants flying by doesn't necessarily mean they are migrating. In fact, I saw 3 flocks of DCCOs of 20-30 birds flying in V formation over the Iona north jetty this morning.? Being heavy birds with not particularly large wings, flying in V formation cuts down on the work of flying for the birds behind the leader. I've seen non-migrating geese, ducks and pelicans do this when flying any distance also, so it's not an unusual sight, just an energy saving strategy.
Neill Vancouver
On Mon, Jul 22, 2024 at 3:20?PM Veronique Martinaud via <Vmartinaud04= [email protected]> wrote: Sending this again. Thanks!
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: ³Õ¨¦°ù´Çnique Martinaud <vmartinaud04@...>Date: Fri, Jul 19, 2024 at 10:25?PM Subject: cormorants V formation To: < [email protected]> Hi everyone,
This evening, I saw quite a big flock of cormorants in V formation flying over the Burrard Inlet eastbound. I was surprise to see such a thing as I thought V formations occured only during long flights/migration. But cormorants wouldn¡¯t be migrating now, right? I would love to have your input on this.
--
" And so, I did what I've always done in difficult situations like this:? I went birding"
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? - Neil Hayward? Lost Among the Birds
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Re: cormorants V formation
Thank you so much for this Neill! I really appreciate it! It makes total sense.
Do you have any idea where these flocks flying eastbound over the Burrard Inlet at the Lost Lagoon level would roost?
Cheers,
On Mon, Jul 22, 2024 at 9:42?PM Neill Vanhinsberg via <neillist= [email protected]> wrote: Hi ³Õ¨¦°ù´Çnique,
For years, I've noticed Double-crested Cormorants flying south over my house in the Mount Pleasant area in the morning, and back north in the evening. From one to a flock of 40 or so birds. I don't see them everyday but often enough that I assume it is an almost daily occurrence. I assume they are flying from their roost to a favoured foraging area in the morning and back in the evening. So flocks of cormorants flying by doesn't necessarily mean they are migrating. In fact, I saw 3 flocks of DCCOs of 20-30 birds flying in V formation over the Iona north jetty this morning.? Being heavy birds with not particularly large wings, flying in V formation cuts down on the work of flying for the birds behind the leader. I've seen non-migrating geese, ducks and pelicans do this when flying any distance also, so it's not an unusual sight, just an energy saving strategy.
Neill Vancouver
On Mon, Jul 22, 2024 at 3:20?PM Veronique Martinaud via <Vmartinaud04= [email protected]> wrote: Sending this again. Thanks!
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: ³Õ¨¦°ù´Çnique Martinaud <vmartinaud04@...>Date: Fri, Jul 19, 2024 at 10:25?PM Subject: cormorants V formation To: < [email protected]> Hi everyone,
This evening, I saw quite a big flock of cormorants in V formation flying over the Burrard Inlet eastbound. I was surprise to see such a thing as I thought V formations occured only during long flights/migration. But cormorants wouldn¡¯t be migrating now, right? I would love to have your input on this.
--
" And so, I did what I've always done in difficult situations like this:? I went birding"
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? - Neil Hayward? Lost Among the Birds
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Re: cormorants V formation
Hi ³Õ¨¦°ù´Çnique,
For years, I've noticed Double-crested Cormorants flying south over my house in the Mount Pleasant area in the morning, and back north in the evening. From one to a flock of 40 or so birds. I don't see them everyday but often enough that I assume it is an almost daily occurrence. I assume they are flying from their roost to a favoured foraging area in the morning and back in the evening. So flocks of cormorants flying by doesn't necessarily mean they are migrating. In fact, I saw 3 flocks of DCCOs of 20-30 birds flying in V formation over the Iona north jetty this morning.? Being heavy birds with not particularly large wings, flying in V formation cuts down on the work of flying for the birds behind the leader. I've seen non-migrating geese, ducks and pelicans do this when flying any distance also, so it's not an unusual sight, just an energy saving strategy.
Neill Vancouver
On Mon, Jul 22, 2024 at 3:20?PM Veronique Martinaud via <Vmartinaud04= [email protected]> wrote:
Sending this again. Thanks!
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: ³Õ¨¦°ù´Çnique Martinaud <vmartinaud04@...>Date: Fri, Jul 19, 2024 at 10:25?PM Subject: cormorants V formation To: < [email protected]> Hi everyone,
This evening, I saw quite a big flock of cormorants in V formation flying over the Burrard Inlet eastbound. I was surprise to see such a thing as I thought V formations occured only during long flights/migration. But cormorants wouldn¡¯t be migrating now, right? I would love to have your input on this.
-- " And so, I did what I've always done in difficult situations like this:? I went birding"
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? - Neil Hayward? Lost Among the Birds
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Sending this again. Thanks!
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: ³Õ¨¦°ù´Çnique Martinaud <vmartinaud04@...>Date: Fri, Jul 19, 2024 at 10:25?PM Subject: cormorants V formation To: < [email protected]> Hi everyone,
This evening, I saw quite a big flock of cormorants in V formation flying over the Burrard Inlet eastbound. I was surprise to see such a thing as I thought V formations occured only during long flights/migration. But cormorants wouldn¡¯t be migrating now, right? I would love to have your input on this.
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How wildfire mobilizes mercury, exposing riparian birds and invertebrates to a toxin.
¡°Scientists are still learning about the various pathways mercury can take as it cycles between the atmosphere, land, and water. Wildfires are an important pathway because when forests burn,
the mercury sequestered in the trees and soils can be released into the atmosphere or washed into waterways in ash and destabilized post-fire soils. Once released, the mercury may encounter conditions where it can be converted into methylmercury and pose a
hazard to wildlife and humans.¡±
?
?
Pamela Zevit RPBio | Biodiversity Conservation Planner
?
T 604.590.7254
As the second generation descendant of settlers, it is a privilege for me to work on the traditional lands (t¨¦m:¨¦xw) of the s?my¨¢m? (Semiahmoo),
sq??c?iy?a??
(Katzie), K?ik?????m
(Kwikwetlem), q??¨»:n????n?
(Kwantlen), Qiq¨¦yt (Qayqayt), Sc??wa¦È?n
(Tsawwassen) and x?m?¦Èk??y??m
(Musqueam).
?
?
*Please note my work week is Monday ¨C Friday, 7:30-3:30.
?
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Hi everyone,
This evening, I saw quite a big flock of cormorants in V formation flying over the Burrard Inlet eastbound. I was surprise to see such a thing as I thought V formations occured only during long flights/migration. But cormorants wouldn¡¯t be migrating now, right? I would love to have your input on this.
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Iona Insect and Bird Monitoring Study
Hello,
I wanted to share the interesting results of our Birds Canada study in Iona from last year (insect monitoring and bird data analyses), thanks to the group of students from UBC who analyzed the data. Please find attached their Executive Summary (3 pictures). Based on this study, students provided management recommendations to minimize disturbance of the Aerial Insectivore bird community, as the upgrades to the Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant are ongoing. We are hoping to resume insect and bird monitoring next year, as well as nest box monitoring and Tree Swallow tagging, so stay tuned!
R¨¦mi Torrenta
Birds Canada
rtorrenta@...
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Birds adapt flight mechanics using lungs Respiratory system affects light in soaring birds.
Rob Alexander
North Vancouver
http://www.flickr.com/photos/northvanrob/
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Hummingbirds have feelings too: an acute sense of touch that could help them hover
¡°New research mapping a hummingbirds¡¯ sense of touch onto specific areas of the brain shows the little creatures are sensitive to even slight puffs of air.¡±
?
Pamela Zevit RPBio | Biodiversity Conservation Planner
?
T 604.590.7254
As the second generation descendant of settlers, it is a privilege for me to work on the traditional lands (t¨¦m:¨¦xw) of the s?my¨¢m? (Semiahmoo),
sq??c?iy?a??
(Katzie), K?ik?????m
(Kwikwetlem), q??¨»:n????n?
(Kwantlen), Qiq¨¦yt (Qayqayt), Sc??wa¦È?n
(Tsawwassen) and x?m?¦Èk??y??m
(Musqueam).
?
?
?
*Please note my work week is Monday ¨C Friday, 7:30-3:30.
?
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Invitation to Apply to Bird Records Committee | British Columbia Field Ornithologists
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City Nature Challenge just over a Day away!
Just a reminder that the global City Nature Challenge starts Friday! It¡¯s looking to be a bit of a damp one this year (for Metro Vancouver anyway). I recognize many birding folks
use eBird, but if you use iNaturalist as well and happen to be in Surrey Friday-Monday feel free to add to our local count. We're also part of a Metro Vancouver Regional-wide project this year. Participating cities can also use help with ID'ing observations
on iNaturalist from April 30 - May 5.
Further info
,? and the Metro project page journal for specific events.
?
Would love to see that Oriental Turtle-dove get included this weekend, would make for a unique observation to report in the international results!
Pamela Zevit RPBio | Biodiversity Conservation Planner
?
T 604.590.7254
As a second generation settler, it is a privilege for me to work on the traditional lands (t¨¦m:¨¦xw) of the s?my¨¢m? (Semiahmoo), sq??c?iy?a??
(Katzie), K?ik?????m
(Kwikwetlem), q??¨»:n????n?
(Kwantlen), Qiq¨¦yt (Qayqayt), Sc??wa¦È?n
(Tsawwassen) and x?m?¦Èk??y??m
(Musqueam).
?
?
*Please note my work week is Monday ¨C Friday, 7:30-3:30.
?
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Some fantastic photography by a BC birder/photographer:
--
From an Island in the Pacific,
Richard James, Victoria, BC
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¡®You can¡¯t love something that isn¡¯t there¡¯: readers on how the sounds of nature have changed around them | Environment | The Guardian
The sounds of silence around the world: anecdotal yet scary. Also I¡¯ve noticed being back in southeast Vancouver Island the past 4 years after over 30 years away (as a resident) that many local bird species have declined in sheer numbers. Only a few have increased (eg vultures in summer).
Lately when I drive along the local highways for 10-30 km I hardly see any birds, except crows/ravens & sometimes starlings. I play a game with my 8 yr old son to get a prize for the 1st bird that one of us sees. We can often drive for 10 km or more before seeing anything. I wonder what it¡¯ll be like when he¡¯s a senior around here (& I¡¯m long gone).
I¡¯ve been a birder for over 50 yrs, have been involved in wildlife mgt & taught for over 15 yrs in universities, including ornithology at UBC Okanagan 2 yrs ago. I have several publications on seabirds, estuaries, sense of place & sustainability. Plus I¡¯ve been the organizer for the Ladysmith Xmas Bird Count for the past 4 yrs. So U think that I have some expertise in this area of concern.
A lot of posts on these sites involve chasing rarities. However, there¡¯s more for us all to consider than a few oddities showing up in our neighborhoods.
Bob Hay
Cassidy, BC
ps I saw the recent post about birdlife comeback around Wellington, NZ: a great initiative to have sanctuaries & control feral predators. But there¡¯s much more to do globally, such as restricting neonicotinoids in agricultural applications. Otherwise the decline in nature sounds & birds will make us all the poorer.
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Re: No birdsong, no water in the creek, no beating wings: how a haven for nature fell silent | Climate crisis | The Guardian
Something more positive from the same newspaper
Malcolm Chattwood?
Argyll, Scotland
FYI - another Silent Spring unfolds ¡ its happening here too
Bob Hay
Cassidy, BC
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Re: No birdsong, no water in the creek, no beating wings: how a haven for nature fell silent | Climate crisis | The Guardian
Here's? a more upbeat piece from the same newspaper:
Malcolm Chattwood?
Argyll, Scotland
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No birdsong, no water in the creek, no beating wings: how a haven for nature fell silent | Climate crisis | The Guardian
FYI - another Silent Spring unfolds ¡ its happening here too
Bob Hay
Cassidy, BC
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It's time to crown BC's Best Bird! | Salish Sea Gull project
Contest being adjudicated by Wildlife Rescue.
¡°British Columbia is home to some truly magnificent birds. At Wildlife Rescue, we all have our favourites, and we all know
that our favourite bird is the best one there is. However, none of us could agree on what it?meant to be the best bird, so we're putting the question to you!¡°
?
ECCC¡¯s Salish Sea Gull Project recently completed a successful fifth year of research. In the coming months. As part of this project, ECCC continued to colour-band adult and juvenile
Glaucous-winged Gulls throughout their field sites. The public is welcome to submit sightings of colour banded birds through this online form:
?
Pamela Zevit RPBio | Biodiversity Conservation Planner
?
T 604.590.7254
As a second generation settler, I am a privileged guest working on the shared traditional lands (t¨¦m:¨¦xw) of the s?my¨¢m? (Semiahmoo),
q??c?iy?a?? (Katzie), K?ik?????m (Kwikwetlem), q??¨»:n????n? (Kwantlen), Qiq¨¦yt (Qayqayt), Sc??wa¦È?n (Tsawwassen) and x?m?¦Èk??y??m (Musqueam).
?
?
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Upcoming webinar on windows and birds that may be of interest:
Cheers, Greg
On Thu, Feb 22, 2024 at 12:14?PM greg ferguson via <suncity28= [email protected]> wrote: To add to this conversation, this paper describes some of the human activities on birds that don't necessarily result in direct mortality but still cause nonlethal impacts and possible eventual mortality: Some good references cited.
If possible, it would be great to see the birding community/individuals come together as an important stakeholder group to pressure governments to take serious steps (e.g., legislation, restrictions) to significantly reduce or eliminate known, solvable, and significant threats to birds and other species such as window collisions, pollutants (e.g., pesticides, light), and free roaming cats.
Cheers, Greg Ferguson Richmond
On Thu, Feb 22, 2024 at 11:57?AM Derek Matthews < Derek@...> wrote: Thanks Krista - And we still need to work on commercial buildings. I don¡¯t know much about the Building Code here but I¡¯m sure it sets minimum requirements for new construction, renovation, and change of use of buildings. But I understand, that despite the availability of proven, affordable techniques to reduce bird collisions with buildings, there are no provisions in the Building Code to require that they¡¯re actually used! ? I was speaking with the lead architect of a major public building on the North Shore and asked if any thought was given to bird window strikes with all the glass in the building and he said ¡°it was but it got kicked back at the budget stage as being too expensive¡± ¨C it¡¯s obscene that we always put budgets ahead of biodiversity and what¡¯s best for the environment ¨C we could stop this carnage right now by changing the building code to mandate that bird friendly glass is used in all new building projects where there are window strike threats ¨C and that doesn¡¯t necessarily mean all windows. The price point is understandably higher but haven't our developers made enough money in the last couple of decades?! ? By mandating bird-friendly building construction measures in the Building Code, and educating the public about the need to protect problem windows in their homes, we could significantly reduce the number of birds that die needlessly each year from window strikes in Canada! ? Thanks again. ? Derek ? ? ? Thanks Derek - all great points, and thank you for all the great work that VARC is doing to encourage homeowners to treat windows.? The specific references for the information below are: ?
?
? And the local work conducted at UBC that found Varied Thrush were highly vulnerable to collisions (higher mortality than expected, based on their relative abundance):
? Best, Krista ? Krista De Groot (she/her) Research Coordinator, Urban Ecology and Nature-based Climate Solutions Wildlife Research Division Science and Technology Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada e-mail: krista.degroot@... ? Krista De Groot (elle) Coordonnatrice de la recherche en ¨¦cologie urbaine Division de la recherche sur la faune Direction g¨¦n¨¦rale des sciences et de la technologie Environnement et changement climatique Canada adresse de courriel: krista.degroot@... ? 
? ? ? ? Thanks for posting this Dan and as you say ¡°High time!¡± ? The estimates of fatalities from window strikes in Canada and the US are from the and are likely underestimated. ? I hear from lots of people about birds hitting their residential windows with the comment ¡°It was stunned but fortunately recovered and flew off¡± but research has shown that a collision can temporarily stun a bird and that even if it does flies off, seemingly recovered, many of these birds later die from broken bones, internal bleeding or bruising. Because of the sheer number of windows in residential homes, the toll on birds is greater than in commercial buildings which is why we¡¯ve been working to get people to take action by installing the 3M dots by Feather Friendly. ? There has been a lot of focus on window strikes and migratory birds but birds that winter in Southwestern BC are exposed to mortality due to window collisions and other human related threats such as predation by cats, for at least half of their annual life cycle and birds like Varied thrushes are particularly vulnerable. Therefore, we have an increased responsibility to ensure our homes and businesses are bird-friendly! ? Lots more info. on window strikes on the : ? Thanks again for posting! ? Derek 
| Derek J. Matthews
Chairman, ?Director Communication
NABC Certified Trainer
Vancouver?Avian Research Centre
Registered Canadian Charity #82118 2656 RR0001
4115, East Braemar Road, North Vancouver, BC, V7K 3C9
T: (604) 218-1191
E:
W: |
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? -----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Daniel Bastaja
Sent: February 21, 2024 11:25 PM
To: Vanbirds <[email protected]>
Subject: [vanbcbirds] Bird collisions ? An article about how some architects are trying to incorporate bird-friendly designs into buildings. High time! The article estimates that as many as a billion migrating birds are killed every year in North America from bulding collisions. That number seems awfully high, but the article doesn't say from whence that stat came. But whatever the number, it is a LOT! ?
? Daniel Bastaja danielbastaja@... ? ? ? ?
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Pamela Zevit
