Participate in Surrey's City Nature Challenge April 24-28
Calling all birders (spoiler alert, this isn’t just about birds). The City Nature Challenge is coming up April 24-28 and the City of Surrey
is one of two BC cities participating (Richmond is the other). How to participate: Given our biodiversity focus we are using
(Canada) as our platform. This event will be the
to launch
, with further projects to be added over time.
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We recognize connecting to nature is important therapy for the challenging times we face, and we want participants to collect observations
in a safe and comfortable way. Whether you contribute from your backyard, front yard, deck, balcony or local park, come April 24 join us in sharing with the world the incredible natural values found in Surrey! And if you choose to visit one of our local parks,
reserves or greenbelts please ensure you are following .
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The contributions of the birding community are an important part of our citizen science efforts to
. Please visit our City Nature Challenge webpage to learn more
Pamela Zevit RPBio | Biodiversity Conservation Planner
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CITY OF SURREY
Parks, Recreation & Culture - Parks Division, Urban Forestry Section
6651 148 St.,, Surrey, BC, Canada V3S 3C7
T 604.590.7254 |
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Connect, Share and Engage with your City
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Re: Blue jay in marsh next to Pitt River bridge?
In that neighbourhood, no problem at all Chris. As Colin said, the locals are used to seeing birders. :)
DB
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On Apr 7, 2020, at 3:43 AM, chris.thomas3@... wrote:
Thanks Colin, I drove through there but was a little nervous about walking around with binoculars in case someone thought I was a weirdo!
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Re: Blue jay in marsh next to Pitt River bridge?
Thanks Colin, I drove through there but was a little nervous about walking around with binoculars in case someone thought I was a weirdo!
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Re: Safe birding guidelines from eBird
Hi there,?
I seen a Rufous out here in Port Moody. He was chasing a ruby crowned kinglet off the paved “Great Trail”?off Murray Street, just before the first little bridge. I saw this on Friday, then saw one there again yesterday - possibly the same one. Didn’t have my camera handy...darn! Also saw a sweet little Downy Woodpecker :)
On Monday, April 6, 2020, 1:33 PM, David Hoar <dave5hoar@...> wrote: Yes. Yesterday at Brunswick Point.?
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
-------- Original message -------- From: chris.thomas3@... Date: 2020-04-06 13:04 (GMT-08:00) Subject: Re: [vanbcbirds] Safe birding guidelines from eBird
On Sun, Apr 5, 2020 at 09:13 AM, Colin Clasen wrote:
I haven't seen any Rufous Hummingbirds yet this year. Has anyone else?
Blaney Bog and Kanaka Creek have got their Rufous' back. Also, managed to get Amercican Bittern in the same spot a couple of times at Blaney Bog
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Re: Blue jay in marsh next to Pitt River bridge?
That offspring dispersal question is a good one Chris. Although the jays are always in that neighborhood, ?they don’t really seem to be increasing in population that much from year to year. Yet in 2018 I watched two adults feeding four fledglings. That’s a decent brood. Presuming they are breeding every year they must have produced a lot of kids. Where did all these kids go? They don’t seem to be hanging around.?
Daniel Bastaja
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On 2020. Apr 6., at 22:44, Colin Clasen <colinclasen@...> wrote:
? P.S. Birders often find that if they just start walking around that neighbourhood wearing their binoculars, one of the locals will inevitably ask if you’re looking for the Scrub-jays, since they’ve gotten used to so many birders looking for them. Cheers, Colin Clasen Coquitlam, BC ? ? Hi Chris, Over the past 5 or 6 years since they were first found in Maple Ridge, they’ve been typically seen in the center part of the Google map below. Cheers, Colin Clasen Coquitlam, BC ? <image001.jpg> ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of chris.thomas3@...
Sent: April 6, 2020 1:13 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [vanbcbirds] Blue jay in marsh next to Pitt River bridge? ? On Thu, Mar 19, 2020 at 10:55 AM, Colin Clasen wrote: I’m wondering if it’s at all possible that the bird she saw might have been one of the California Scrub-jays that are seen regularly in Maple Ridge? I'm in Maple Ridge and haven't managed to see these birds yet. How far do they range? Also, I guess they've been breeding for a few years now so where would their offspring disperse too?
Cheers
Chris
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Re: Blue jay in marsh next to Pitt River bridge?
There was also one frequenting area NE of Trout Lake in east Vancouver a couple of years ago.
Perry Edwards
North Vancouver
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On Apr 6, 2020, at 1:57 PM, John Gordon via groups.io <inaphoto@...> wrote:
? Hi Chris, I have seen a yellow variant at the Tsawwassen ferry terminal behind the blue porta potty loo.. There is a decent sized flock there in the brambles and one of the birds is yellowish.
?Also at the end of 72 st by the golf course entrance
John from Newport thecanadianwarbler.blogspot.ca? On Apr 6, 2020, at 1:24 PM, chris.thomas3@... wrote:
?Hi Everyone
vanbcbirds noob here! I'm a relatively new to Canada migrant from England and just getting to grips birding over here - wonderful, a whole new adventure!! How frequently do people see the yellow variant House Finch around here? I saw one on Thompson Road, Pitt Meadows and it was really nice.
Cheers
Chris
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Hi Chris, I have seen a yellow variant at the Tsawwassen ferry terminal behind the blue porta potty loo.. There is a decent sized flock there in the brambles and one of the birds is yellowish.
?Also at the end of 72 st by the golf course entrance
John from Newport thecanadianwarbler.blogspot.ca?
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On Apr 6, 2020, at 1:24 PM, chris.thomas3@... wrote:
?Hi Everyone
vanbcbirds noob here! I'm a relatively new to Canada migrant from England and just getting to grips birding over here - wonderful, a whole new adventure!! How frequently do people see the yellow variant House Finch around here? I saw one on Thompson Road, Pitt Meadows and it was really nice.
Cheers
Chris
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Hi Chris, I am in Tsawwassen and I have finches varying from yellow, through orange to bright red, but more are red, and few are yellow. Their colour comes from carotenoids in their food, so their colour depends on what they eat.?
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On Apr 6, 2020, at 1:24 PM, chris.thomas3@... wrote:
?Hi Everyone
vanbcbirds noob here! I'm a relatively new to Canada migrant from England and just getting to grips birding over here - wonderful, a whole new adventure!! How frequently do people see the yellow variant House Finch around here? I saw one on Thompson Road, Pitt Meadows and it was really nice.
Cheers
Chris
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Re: Blue jay in marsh next to Pitt River bridge?
P.S. Birders often find that if they just start walking around that neighbourhood wearing their binoculars, one of the locals will inevitably ask if you’re looking for the Scrub-jays, since they’ve gotten used to so many birders looking for them. Cheers, Colin Clasen Coquitlam, BC ?
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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Colin Clasen
Sent: April 6, 2020 1:39 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [vanbcbirds] Blue jay in marsh next to Pitt River bridge?? Hi Chris, Over the past 5 or 6 years since they were first found in Maple Ridge, they’ve been typically seen in the center part of the Google map below. Cheers, Colin Clasen Coquitlam, BC ? 
? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of chris.thomas3@...
Sent: April 6, 2020 1:13 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [vanbcbirds] Blue jay in marsh next to Pitt River bridge? ? On Thu, Mar 19, 2020 at 10:55 AM, Colin Clasen wrote: I’m wondering if it’s at all possible that the bird she saw might have been one of the California Scrub-jays that are seen regularly in Maple Ridge? I'm in Maple Ridge and haven't managed to see these birds yet. How far do they range? Also, I guess they've been breeding for a few years now so where would their offspring disperse too?
Cheers
Chris
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Re: Blue jay in marsh next to Pitt River bridge?
Hi Chris, Over the past 5 or 6 years since they were first found in Maple Ridge, they’ve been typically seen in the center part of the Google map below. Cheers, Colin Clasen Coquitlam, BC ? 
?
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Show quoted text
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of chris.thomas3@...
Sent: April 6, 2020 1:13 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [vanbcbirds] Blue jay in marsh next to Pitt River bridge? ? On Thu, Mar 19, 2020 at 10:55 AM, Colin Clasen wrote: I’m wondering if it’s at all possible that the bird she saw might have been one of the California Scrub-jays that are seen regularly in Maple Ridge? I'm in Maple Ridge and haven't managed to see these birds yet. How far do they range? Also, I guess they've been breeding for a few years now so where would their offspring disperse too?
Cheers
Chris
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Re: Safe birding guidelines from eBird
Yes. Yesterday at Brunswick Point.?
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
-------- Original message -------- From: chris.thomas3@... Date: 2020-04-06 13:04 (GMT-08:00) Subject: Re: [vanbcbirds] Safe birding guidelines from eBird
On Sun, Apr 5, 2020 at 09:13 AM, Colin Clasen wrote:
I haven't seen any Rufous Hummingbirds yet this year. Has anyone else?
Blaney Bog and Kanaka Creek have got their Rufous' back. Also, managed to get Amercican Bittern in the same spot a couple of times at Blaney Bog
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Hi,Chris,
I live in Ladner and seldom see the yellow variant, probably about once a year.? Sometimes, I see an orange coloured one, which I assume has one red and one yellow parent.? Have fun!
Cheers, Valerie Fuller.
On 04/06/20 01:24 PM, chris.thomas3@... wrote:Hi Everyone
vanbcbirds noob here! I'm a relatively new to Canada migrant from England and just getting to grips birding over here - wonderful, a whole new adventure!! How frequently do people see the yellow variant House Finch around here? I saw one on Thompson Road, Pitt Meadows and it was really nice.
Cheers
Chris
--
Cheers,
Val Fuller,
Ladner, B. C.
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Hi Everyone
vanbcbirds noob here! I'm a relatively new to Canada migrant from England and just getting to grips birding over here - wonderful, a whole new adventure!! How frequently do people see the yellow variant House Finch around here? I saw one on Thompson Road, Pitt Meadows and it was really nice.
Cheers
Chris
|
Re: Blue jay in marsh next to Pitt River bridge?
On Thu, Mar 19, 2020 at 10:55 AM, Colin Clasen wrote:
I’m wondering if it’s at all possible that the bird she saw might have been one of the California Scrub-jays that are seen regularly in Maple Ridge?
I'm in Maple Ridge and haven't managed to see these birds yet. How far do they range? Also, I guess they've been breeding for a few years now so where would their offspring disperse too? Cheers Chris
|
Re: Safe birding guidelines from eBird
On Sun, Apr 5, 2020 at 09:13 AM, Colin Clasen wrote:
I haven't seen any Rufous Hummingbirds yet this year. Has anyone else?
Blaney Bog and Kanaka Creek have got their Rufous' back. Also, managed to get Amercican Bittern in the same spot a couple of times at Blaney Bog
|
Re: Safe birding guidelines from eBird
Thanks Keith.? Trying to yes!
Monte
Monte
I had bronchitis a year ago at 74 and recovered in a few weeks. Hang on. You must be taking inhalers so make sure you wash your mouth with water afterward to avoid thrush.
Keith
On Apr 6, 2020, at 12:48 AM, Tsuru < tsuru88@...> wrote: Thank you.? BTW,? you had stated about "everyone already knows about this" and of course that is true.? Just can't figure out that of all the tons of emails I've received from stores to banks to airlines to any and every business and organization out there that eBird has never sent something similar out.? That was all I was trying to say.
In my 70's now with chronic bronchitis I'm scared to death and how easy it is to get this and not even know where or how one got it like my little Brother.
Anyway, thanks for your concerns.
Monte Taylor
Monte… I am truly sorry to hear about your brother. My deepest condolences. A stark reminder that this virus is deadly serious and we should all do our best to prevent it spreading further.
Stay safe!
Daniel Bastaja
danielbastaja@...
> On Apr 5, 2020, at 10:12 PM, Tsuru <tsuru88@...> wrote:
>
> Daniel,
>
> First and foremost, this was not a 'hit' at you at all.? In FACT you DID actually mention something about the Virus and being safe!!? THAT'S GREAT!!!!
>
> I subscribe to a gazillion birding email subscriptions, many from eBird, and in the last month, I've read NONE that says Anything to birders about being safe while you're out there birding with others.
>
> So, was refreshing to see your post, BUT, I truly believe that eBird, yes (), should have had the responsibility and consideration to make this issue something to make a point with birders - to show their backing along with nearly every organization and business out there.? I've received tons of these type emails, and I'm almost always just deleting them because they flow in each and every day.
>
> Yet eBird, NOTHING, not even a slight mention.
>
> So my point, eBird as an organization (), and one that receives a ton of money from donations from companies and people all over the world should have stepped up and made this an issue while birding.
>
> Totally irresponsible and with so many things I've seen out of Cornell for so long, this email actually was like the last straw - again, nothing to do with you but really drove my point home.? It's April 5th.? Not March 5th!
>
> Anyway, Daniel, thank you for posting What you did.? At least one eBirder in the entire world, Daniel Bastaja, actually Noticed there is a WHOLE PLANET EARTH PANDEMIC out there Right Now Killing people, including my Brother as well.
>
> Monte Taylor
> tsuru88@...
>
>
>
> On Sun, Apr 5, 2020 at 11:34 AM Daniel Bastaja <danielbastaja@...> wrote:
> I don’t really view this as a valid criticism. What is e-Bird going to tell you that you don’t already know (or should know) by now? Like many sites, they publish this stuff as a reminder to be mindful, but it’s just a reminder. I would think just about everybody knows or can figure out what they should and should not be doing to prevent the spread of the virus in any circumstance or activity. How can we not know, with the media onslaught of the last two months? Anyway, just my opinion. :)
>
> Daniel Bastaja
> danielbastaja@...
>
> > On Apr 5, 2020, at 6:34 PM, Tsuru <tsuru88@...> wrote:
> >
> >? A whole freaking + month into this and for the first time, something from eBird about being Safe!!? So typical of eBird.
> >
> > On Sun, Apr 5, 2020 at 9:13 AM Colin Clasen <colinclasen@...> wrote:
> > Good morning everyone,
> >
> > I hope you are all able to at least get out solo to enjoy some birding.
> >
> > Here's a link to some good tips from eBird about how to bird safely during the virus crisis:
> >
> >
> > It was nice to see my first-of-year YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER at Blakeburn Lagoons Park in Port Coquitlam on March 29th, as well as a EURASIAN WIGEON. And on April 2nd there were 2 EURASIAN WIGEON there, mixed in with over 300 American Wigeon.
> >
> > I haven't seen any Rufous Hummingbirds yet this year. Has anyone else?
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Colin Clasen
> > Coquitlam, BC
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
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Re: Safe birding guidelines from eBird
Thank you for your kind words. This virus is horrid.? Stay safe please. Monte Taylor
Monte, my sincere condolences about your brother.
?
Per the Rufous, one female and one male at Burnaby Lake yesterday.
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Re: Safe birding guidelines from eBird
Monte
I had bronchitis a year ago at 74 and recovered in a few weeks. Hang on. You must be taking inhalers so make sure you wash your mouth with water afterward to avoid thrush.
Keith
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Apr 6, 2020, at 12:48 AM, Tsuru < tsuru88@...> wrote: Thank you.? BTW,? you had stated about "everyone already knows about this" and of course that is true.? Just can't figure out that of all the tons of emails I've received from stores to banks to airlines to any and every business and organization out there that eBird has never sent something similar out.? That was all I was trying to say.
In my 70's now with chronic bronchitis I'm scared to death and how easy it is to get this and not even know where or how one got it like my little Brother.
Anyway, thanks for your concerns.
Monte Taylor
Monte… I am truly sorry to hear about your brother. My deepest condolences. A stark reminder that this virus is deadly serious and we should all do our best to prevent it spreading further.
Stay safe!
Daniel Bastaja
danielbastaja@...
> On Apr 5, 2020, at 10:12 PM, Tsuru <tsuru88@...> wrote:
>
> Daniel,
>
> First and foremost, this was not a 'hit' at you at all.? In FACT you DID actually mention something about the Virus and being safe!!? THAT'S GREAT!!!!
>
> I subscribe to a gazillion birding email subscriptions, many from eBird, and in the last month, I've read NONE that says Anything to birders about being safe while you're out there birding with others.
>
> So, was refreshing to see your post, BUT, I truly believe that eBird, yes (), should have had the responsibility and consideration to make this issue something to make a point with birders - to show their backing along with nearly every organization and business out there.? I've received tons of these type emails, and I'm almost always just deleting them because they flow in each and every day.
>
> Yet eBird, NOTHING, not even a slight mention.
>
> So my point, eBird as an organization (), and one that receives a ton of money from donations from companies and people all over the world should have stepped up and made this an issue while birding.
>
> Totally irresponsible and with so many things I've seen out of Cornell for so long, this email actually was like the last straw - again, nothing to do with you but really drove my point home.? It's April 5th.? Not March 5th!
>
> Anyway, Daniel, thank you for posting What you did.? At least one eBirder in the entire world, Daniel Bastaja, actually Noticed there is a WHOLE PLANET EARTH PANDEMIC out there Right Now Killing people, including my Brother as well.
>
> Monte Taylor
> tsuru88@...
>
>
>
> On Sun, Apr 5, 2020 at 11:34 AM Daniel Bastaja <danielbastaja@...> wrote:
> I don’t really view this as a valid criticism. What is e-Bird going to tell you that you don’t already know (or should know) by now? Like many sites, they publish this stuff as a reminder to be mindful, but it’s just a reminder. I would think just about everybody knows or can figure out what they should and should not be doing to prevent the spread of the virus in any circumstance or activity. How can we not know, with the media onslaught of the last two months? Anyway, just my opinion. :)
>
> Daniel Bastaja
> danielbastaja@...
>
> > On Apr 5, 2020, at 6:34 PM, Tsuru <tsuru88@...> wrote:
> >
> >? A whole freaking + month into this and for the first time, something from eBird about being Safe!!? So typical of eBird.
> >
> > On Sun, Apr 5, 2020 at 9:13 AM Colin Clasen <colinclasen@...> wrote:
> > Good morning everyone,
> >
> > I hope you are all able to at least get out solo to enjoy some birding.
> >
> > Here's a link to some good tips from eBird about how to bird safely during the virus crisis:
> >
> >
> > It was nice to see my first-of-year YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER at Blakeburn Lagoons Park in Port Coquitlam on March 29th, as well as a EURASIAN WIGEON. And on April 2nd there were 2 EURASIAN WIGEON there, mixed in with over 300 American Wigeon.
> >
> > I haven't seen any Rufous Hummingbirds yet this year. Has anyone else?
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Colin Clasen
> > Coquitlam, BC
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
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Re: Safe birding guidelines from eBird
Monte, my sincere condolences about your brother.
?
Per the Rufous, one female and one male at Burnaby Lake yesterday.
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Pamela Zevit
John Gordon
pat.mary.taylor