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Fledgling Anna's

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I¡¯m attaching two photos of what appears to be a very newly fledged Anna¡¯s, which came to my feeder at about 8:30 am when the temperature was zero to minus one, and just sat there shivering with its eyes mostly closed.? When the sun started shining on the feeder it clearly perked up and started feeding occasionally, but it stayed there for about four hours and finally disappeared about 12:30 pm.? Its back was the usual iridescent green, and its bill was very small and thin (not immediately obvious in these telephoto shots).

?

I know that Anna¡¯s nest very early, but this is January 17!? I would not have been surprised if it had been late February or early March.

?

Comments?

?

Bob Dyer


FW: ?HUMMINGBIRDS NEED YOUR HELP??

 

From: Coleen Doucette, Wildlife Rescue Association of BC [mailto:c.doucette@...]
Sent: January-15-20 11:49 AM
To: Colin
Subject: ?HUMMINGBIRDS NEED YOUR HELP??

?

?

PLEASE SHARE WITH FRIENDS



Hummingbirds Need Your?Help!

?

Dear Colin,

Severely cold temperatures?are?hard on all wildlife, some more than others.?Hummingbirds across lower BC?are in distress!?

The freezing weather is creating?a lack of food, making winter survival less likely for many of these beautiful gems.?

?

?

Wildlife Rescue's Support Centre?is handling?an influx of community calls for?distressed, freezing and starving,?hummingbirds.

Approximately 75 calls in the last 24 hours!

WE EXPECT MANY MORE IN COMING DAYS

?

?

?

It may surprise?you that this?small animal?has such a frequent need for food?to maintain?their high metabolism.

Hummingbirds need to eat almost continuously?to replenish their energy.


Winter becomes a survival crisis?as insects and nectar from flowering plants are depleted during freezing weather.

?

?

DISTRESSED HUMMINGBIRDS NEED YOUR HELP!

Without proper care and nutrition, cold temperatures can?lead to the starvation and death for many hummingbirds.

Together, we can do our part to help?these jewels survive.

10?Hummers have been admitted in just a few short hours!

?

?

THESE DELICATE BIRDS WILL BE WITH US FOR MONTHS THIS WINTER.

Some of the?BIG COSTS for these LITTLE BIRDS are:

  • Nutritional supplements
  • Electricity for additional heat?
  • Ensuring?around-the-clock food
  • Experts to support your caring calls

?

YOUR SUPPORT WILL PROVIDE WARMTH, SAFETY AND?FOOD?FOR?HUMMINGBIRDS IN DISTRESS!

?

?

?

PLEASE help us save these?lives TODAY!


We'll provide you with?updates on their progress!

?

With sincere appreciation,?




Coleen Doucette, Co-Executive Director

?

?

Email

?

?

?

?

?

Copyright ? 2020 Wildlife Rescue Association of BC, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.

Our mailing address is:

Wildlife Rescue Association of BC

5216 Glencarin Drive

Burnaby, BC V5B3C1

Canada




Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can or .


Re: FW: [CALBIRDS] Alternatives to the Perpetual Big Year

 

This is a good question Wayne and one we definitely struggle with. On the one hand we try to do everything at home in an environmentally friendly way whether it¡¯s the electric car or the way in which we shop and try to put back with the educational work we do at VARC but on the other hand we continue to travel the world to see birds ¨C it¡¯s definitely a conflict!

We all draw the line where it best suits us but the one thing we can all do I suppose, is to at least be aware that all of our actions have consequences for the environment and try to mitigate them wherever we can.

I was advised to pick something you care about. It can be local or global, reducing racism or fighting climate change. Educate yourself, make close friends with others who are different from you, volunteer at the hospital, work for a political cause, or help plant a garden. Lower your carbon footprint. Add your voice and energy. Plant seeds for a more compassionate future. You can¡¯t change it all, but your freedom empowers you to contribute to the world. I thought this was good advice.

Thanks for posting!

Derek Matthews (VARC)
?


Re: [CALBIRDS] Alternatives to the Perpetual Big Year

 

Thanks for sharing that Wayne. Very good food for thought. Listing and twitching can be such fun¡­. I know because I have done enough of it¡­. but I have always felt that, from a larger viewpoint, it is a bit meaningless. I guess you could say that about anything in life, but we need stuff to keep us occupied. And if we enjoy that stuff, so much the better. :)

Justin didn¡¯t reference one other environmental impact. The extra emissions from all that flying and driving that you would not otherwise do if you weren¡¯t doing a Big Year or twitching all the rarities. It may not seem like much for one individual, but if you multiply that by the hundreds of thousands of hardcore birders the world over, and over many years, it is not an insignificant amount.

He talks about something that for me has always been my peak birding experience. Going some place where nobody goes and finding an unexpected super rarity that nobody knew was there. For me this beats all other birding experiences hands down!

D

Daniel Bastaja
danielbastaja@...

On Jan 13, 2020, at 8:21 AM, Wayne Weber <contopus@...> wrote:

Vancouver birders,

I am forwarding, with permission, this message from Justyn Stahl of San Diego, sent to several California birding groups. It suggests a different approach to birding from the never-ending cycle of ¡°Big Years¡± that some of us seem to be trapped in. Although written for a Southern California audience, it is quite relevant for many of us in BC as well.

Food for thought!

Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus@...


From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Justyn Stahl
Sent: Monday, December 30, 2019 11:16 AM
To: SanDiegoRegionBirding; [email protected]; LACoBirding; [email protected]
Subject: [CALBIRDS] Alternatives to the Perpetual Big Year

Birders,

As the final days of 2019 pass, and January 1st looms, many organizations (eBird, BirdsEye, etc.) are promoting more and bigger birding in 2020, often with a ¡°How to Do a Big Year¡± theme. Meanwhile, I had been contemplating writing an email proposing a different strategy: one discouraging the seemingly perpetual county year listing habit that has developed in San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, and elsewhere. Granted, we all bird for different reasons, with different styles. However, while some think of Big Years as primarily exploratory (and perhaps they are in less populated areas), long year lists are usually comprised of large numbers of species found by other observers that required chasing, often with few rarities or unexpected birds actually found by the owner of the list. Big Years on any scale have increasingly become a product of how successful a person is at chasing birds found by other people, with little time devoted to exploration and a great deal of time earmarked for running after reported rarities. Clearly birding with this approach is satisfactory for many, but there are other, potentially more gratifying ways to bird than just being caught in an empty, unending cycle of chasing year birds.

Admittedly, year listing has a long tradition. However, since the inception of the Top 100 in eBird, the ephemeral year list has taken on a life of its own. Chasing rarities has always been a part of birding, but chasing the rarity du jour is now repeated every year by everyone scrambling up the Top 100 until falling back to zero on January 1st. (Clearly Sisyphus kept a year list.) A major downside to this is increased visitation to sensitive or restricted areas, with many eBird users not plugged into local listservs simply setting their maps app to direct them to the coordinates of the rarity, with no understanding of access restrictions. Behind the scenes, eBird reviewers are cringing, dreading the onslaught of all of the known winter rarities being reported again and again the first week of January by dozens of birders anxious to get all the known rarities out of the way. So, as January 1st approaches, I¡¯d ask that people reflect on how much Needs Alerts from eBird drive your behavior? Are they set to Hourly for Year Needs? How much time do you spend going to look for birds found by other people for your year list? Does that bring you the same satisfaction as unexpected discoveries or birding in new areas? Are public data displays like Top 100 your primary motivation?

Late last year, after learning about the 5-mile radius (5MR - ) approach to birding, I encouraged many birders to try it out, and several did. (Missed out? It¡¯s not too late! Draw your circle with this tool: ) This has been a very successful style of birding for a lot of people, a new way for folks with limited time or money to stay active and engaged, and a number of new local hotspots have been found. Many folks have told me it has rejuvenated their interest in birding! The main point of this challenge was (and is) to encourage exploring the local nooks and crannies around your neighborhood. (I, for one, largely ignored Point Loma this fall as it fell outside my circle.) Not all circles are equal, and the competition was really just intended to be with yourself ¨C how many can you find, regardless of what others (in perhaps better locations) are finding? Where to get shorebirds if you¡¯re land-locked? Checking that golf course pond repeatedly in hopes of a snipe or Spotted Sandpiper. Scouring small parks or residential streets for a rare warbler or vireo versus visiting the same famous hotspots every day. And so on. Exploration and discovery is major part of learning the status and distribution of birds in your neighborhood, your county, or your state. What is expected and not expected, when and where. Let¡¯s do it again next year. It need not be a year listing approach, but simply adding to your cumulative patch total. Or ¨C just throw the list out the window and bird with a sense of discovery and contribute to the ever-changing status and distribution of our local or state species. Yes, one is allowed to travel outside your circle, and visit famous sites, and chase rare birds, but I encourage you to spend more of your time exploring under-visited areas of the county or state.

Will you consider making a detour to check a park on your return from a (un)successful chase across the county? Large gaps in coverage are evident from looking at eBird maps ¨C how much of this is being driven through without checking?

Take a look at this map of House Finch observations in San Diego, for example:

This species likely occurs across nearly all of empty space on this map, but they¡¯ve not yet been recorded there by eBird users, almost certainly due to poor coverage.

If the eBird coverage of something as ubiquitous as House Finches is incomplete, just think of what the situation is for species of local and conservation interest like California Gnatcatcher or Cactus Wren. And how many rarities are hiding out there awaiting discovery? I get it, many people have stated that they don¡¯t want to bird in residential areas or business parks. (However, many of these areas are certainly visited by folks when rarities are reported from there!) But what about the large swath of rural and undeveloped habitat in east San Diego County? Or any number of the more aesthetic state and county parks?

Not all of these unexplored areas are public, and most of them will not turn up anything ¡°rare¡± on the first visit. But they may after multiple visits at different times of year. More importantly, however, by simply birding these hinterlands, you are updating and expanding our combined knowledge of status and distribution. By submitting eBird checklists from these areas, we fill in gaps on the maps.

We all, well most of us at least, enjoy listing. I¡¯ll be on my way as soon as possible to see a new county bird, and given the distance, a state or life bird, but in the mean time I¡¯ll try to focus on finding one on my own, or trying to familiarize myself with some new part of our vast county and state. Hopefully, by foregoing a list driven by Year Needs Alerts from eBird (Unsubscribe! As noted 5MR birder Karl Marx said, ¡°You have nothing to lose but your chains!¡±), you¡¯ll reduce stress in your life, explore parts of the county or state you¡¯ve never heard of or been to, and, with luck, build a more satisfying list of ¡°self-found¡± species of your own discovery. And, yes, reduce the workload of your poor eBird reviewers! By all means, bird more in 2020, but bird differently!



Best birding in 2020, regardless of your approach.

Justyn Stahl

San Clemente Island


FW: [CALBIRDS] Alternatives to the Perpetual Big Year

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Vancouver birders,

?

I am forwarding, with permission, this message from Justyn Stahl of San Diego, sent to several California birding groups. It suggests a different approach to birding from the never-ending cycle of ¡°Big Years¡± that some of us seem to be trapped in. Although written for a Southern California audience, it is quite relevant for many of us in BC as well.

?

Food for thought!

?

Wayne C. Weber

Delta, BC

contopus@...

?

?

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Justyn Stahl
Sent: Monday, December 30, 2019 11:16 AM
To: SanDiegoRegionBirding; [email protected]; LACoBirding; [email protected]
Subject: [CALBIRDS] Alternatives to the Perpetual Big Year

?

Birders,

As the final days of 2019 pass, and January 1st looms, many organizations (eBird, BirdsEye, etc.) are promoting more and bigger birding in 2020, often with a ¡°How to Do a Big Year¡± theme. Meanwhile, I had been contemplating writing an email proposing a different strategy: ?one discouraging the seemingly perpetual county year listing habit that has developed in San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, and elsewhere. Granted, we all bird for different reasons, with different styles. However, while some think of Big Years as primarily exploratory (and perhaps they are in less populated areas), long year lists are usually comprised of large numbers of species found by other observers that required chasing, often with few rarities or unexpected birds actually found by the owner of the list. Big Years on any scale have increasingly become? a product of how successful a person is at chasing birds found by other people, with little time devoted to exploration and a great deal of time earmarked for running after reported rarities. Clearly birding with this approach is satisfactory for many, but there are other, potentially more gratifying ways to bird than just being caught in an empty, unending cycle of chasing year birds.

Admittedly, year listing has a long tradition. However, since the inception of the Top 100 in eBird, the ephemeral year list has taken on a life of its own.? Chasing rarities has always been a part of birding, but chasing the rarity du jour is now repeated every year by everyone scrambling up the Top 100 until falling back to zero on January 1st. ?(Clearly Sisyphus kept a year list.) A major downside to this is increased visitation to sensitive or restricted areas, with many eBird users not plugged into local listservs simply setting their maps app to direct them to the coordinates of the rarity, with no understanding of access restrictions.? Behind the scenes, eBird reviewers are cringing, dreading the onslaught of all of the known winter rarities being reported again and again the first week of January by dozens of birders anxious to get all the known rarities out of the way. So, as January 1st approaches, I¡¯d ask that people reflect on how much Needs Alerts from eBird drive your behavior? Are they set to Hourly for Year Needs? How much time do you spend going to look for birds found by other people for your year list? Does that bring you the same satisfaction as unexpected discoveries or birding in new areas? Are public data displays like Top 100 your primary motivation?

Late last year, after learning about the 5-mile radius (5MR - ) approach to birding, I encouraged many birders to try it out, and several did. (Missed out? It¡¯s not too late! Draw your circle with this tool: ) This has been a very successful style of birding for a lot of people, a new way for folks with limited time or money to stay active and engaged, and a number of new local hotspots have been found. Many folks have told me it has rejuvenated their interest in birding! The main point of this challenge was (and is) to encourage exploring the local nooks and crannies around your neighborhood. (I, for one, largely ignored Point Loma this fall as it fell outside my circle.) ?Not all circles are equal, and the competition was really just intended to be with yourself ¨C how many can you find, regardless of what others (in perhaps better locations) are finding? Where to get shorebirds if you¡¯re land-locked? Checking that golf course pond repeatedly in hopes of a snipe or Spotted Sandpiper. Scouring small parks or residential streets for a rare warbler or vireo versus visiting the same famous hotspots every day. And so on. Exploration and discovery is major part of learning the status and distribution of birds in your neighborhood, your county, or your state. What is expected and not expected, when and where. Let¡¯s do it again next year. It need not be a year listing approach, but simply adding to your cumulative patch total. Or ¨C just throw the list out the window and bird with a sense of discovery and contribute to the ever-changing status and distribution of our local or state species. Yes, one is allowed to travel outside your circle, and visit famous sites, and chase rare birds, but I encourage you to spend more of your time exploring under-visited areas of the county or state.

Will you consider making a detour to check a park on your return from a (un)successful chase across the county? Large gaps in coverage are evident from looking at eBird maps ¨C how much of this is being driven through without checking?

Take a look at this map of House Finch observations in San Diego, for example:

This species likely occurs across nearly all of empty space on this map, but they¡¯ve not yet been recorded there by eBird users, almost certainly due to poor coverage.

If the eBird coverage of something as ubiquitous as House Finches is incomplete, just think of what the situation is for species of local and conservation interest like California Gnatcatcher or Cactus Wren. And how many rarities are hiding out there awaiting discovery? I get it, many people have stated that they don¡¯t want to bird in residential areas or business parks. (However, many of these areas are certainly visited by folks when rarities are reported from there!) But what about the large swath of rural and undeveloped habitat in east San Diego County? Or any number of the more aesthetic state and county parks?

Not all of these unexplored areas are public, and most of them will not turn up anything ¡°rare¡± on the first visit. But they may after multiple visits at different times of year. More importantly, however, by simply birding these hinterlands, you are updating and expanding our combined knowledge of status and distribution. By submitting eBird checklists from these areas, we fill in gaps on the maps.

We all, well most of us at least, enjoy listing. I¡¯ll be on my way as soon as possible to see a new county bird, and given the distance, a state or life bird, but in the mean time I¡¯ll try to focus on finding one on my own, or trying to familiarize myself with some new part of our vast county and state. Hopefully, by foregoing a list driven by Year Needs Alerts from eBird (Unsubscribe! As noted 5MR birder Karl Marx said, ¡°You have nothing to lose but your chains!¡±), you¡¯ll reduce stress in your life, explore parts of the county or state you¡¯ve never heard of or been to, and, with luck, build a more satisfying list of ¡°self-found¡± species of your own discovery. And, yes, reduce the workload of your poor eBird reviewers! By all means, bird more in 2020, but bird differently!

?

Best birding in 2020, regardless of your approach.

Justyn Stahl

San Clemente Island

_._,_._,_


Re: White Rock fish kill

 

I saw the media down there reporting on this extraordinary sight. I've seen a similar spectacle like this around 10 years ago but nothing on this kind of scale. Counted at least a dozen sea lions herding the fish. I've attached a photo of the mounds of fish strewn along the beach.

Mike Newey?
South Surrey


Re: White Rock fish kill

 

I saw the media down there reporting on this extraordinary sight. I've seen a similar spectacle like this around 10 years ago but nothing on this kind of scale. Counted at least a dozen sea lions herding the fish. I've attached a photo of the mounds of fish strewn along the beach.

Mike Newey?
South Surrey?


Re: White Rock fish kill

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Rob and Vancouver birders,

?

The White Rock fish and bird spectacle received some coverage on the CTV television news yesterday evening.

?

There most definitely was a fish kill, as observed by me and as reported on the TV news. That said, there may still be huge numbers of live anchovies in the area. The TV station interviewed one person (I neglected to make a note of his name) who speculated on the cause of the fish kill; low oxygen levels, which could have been caused by the presence of huge numbers of fish in a small area of shallow water, was mentioned as a possibility.

?

It seems likely that this spectacle of fish and fish-eating birds may continue for several days more if not longer, and local birders may want to visit White Rock to? observe it.

?

Wayne C. Weber

Delta, BC

contopus@...

?

?

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Rob Alexander via Groups.Io
Sent: Friday, December 27, 2019 9:27 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [vanbcbirds] White Rock fish kill

?

Hi Wayne,

?

I learned the the forage fish is Northern Anchovy, and have been in large numbers at White Rock Pier for weeks now!

?

There wasn't a fish kill, but new Moon tides pushed massive amounts of the Northern Anchovy onto the beach, I've seen video where the fish were wriggling with the tide, so many forage fish!

?

?

Rob Alexander
North Vancouver
http://www.flickr.com/photos/northvanrob/

?

?

On Thursday, December 26, 2019, 3:33:23 PM PST, Wayne Weber <contopus@...> wrote:

?

?

Birders,

?

I visited the White Rock Pier this morning, and was treated to a spectacle I have never seen there before. There appears to have been a huge fish kill there, with small dead fish littering the sandy ocean bottom, and in some cases washed up on the beach.

In response, great numbers of fish-eating birds have congregated on the site. I estimated at least 4000 Glaucous-winged Gulls, which covered the water for a sizable distance just east of the pier. Also in the area were at least 1000 Pacific Loons, 300 Red-throated Loons, 300 Red-breasted Mergansers, 50 Common Mergansers, and smaller numbers of other species. Most of the loons and mergansers were in large flocks just beyond the breakwater, but about 150 mergansers were in a large group close to shore just west of the pier. Also in the area were at least 8 California Sea Lions and 15 Harbour Seals.

?

I¡¯d like to know what caused this fish kill, and whether it is likely to have serious consequences. I took photos of some of the dead fish and requested ID help (I¡¯m not a fish expert!). I hope that someone will be investigating this incident.

?

Wayne Weber

contopus@...

?


Re: White Rock fish kill

 

Hi Wayne,

I learned the the forage fish is Northern Anchovy, and have been in large numbers at White Rock Pier for weeks now!

There wasn't a fish kill, but new Moon tides pushed massive amounts of the Northern Anchovy onto the beach, I've seen video where the fish were wriggling with the tide, so many forage fish!


Rob Alexander
North Vancouver
http://www.flickr.com/photos/northvanrob/


On Thursday, December 26, 2019, 3:33:23 PM PST, Wayne Weber <contopus@...> wrote:


Birders,

?

I visited the White Rock Pier this morning, and was treated to a spectacle I have never seen there before. There appears to have been a huge fish kill there, with small dead fish littering the sandy ocean bottom, and in some cases washed up on the beach.

In response, great numbers of fish-eating birds have congregated on the site. I estimated at least 4000 Glaucous-winged Gulls, which covered the water for a sizable distance just east of the pier. Also in the area were at least 1000 Pacific Loons, 300 Red-throated Loons, 300 Red-breasted Mergansers, 50 Common Mergansers, and smaller numbers of other species. Most of the loons and mergansers were in large flocks just beyond the breakwater, but about 150 mergansers were in a large group close to shore just west of the pier. Also in the area were at least 8 California Sea Lions and 15 Harbour Seals.

?

I¡¯d like to know what caused this fish kill, and whether it is likely to have serious consequences. I took photos of some of the dead fish and requested ID help (I¡¯m not a fish expert!). I hope that someone will be investigating this incident.

?

Wayne Weber

contopus@...

?


White Rock fish kill

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Birders,

?

I visited the White Rock Pier this morning, and was treated to a spectacle I have never seen there before. There appears to have been a huge fish kill there, with small dead fish littering the sandy ocean bottom, and in some cases washed up on the beach.

In response, great numbers of fish-eating birds have congregated on the site. I estimated at least 4000 Glaucous-winged Gulls, which covered the water for a sizable distance just east of the pier. Also in the area were at least 1000 Pacific Loons, 300 Red-throated Loons, 300 Red-breasted Mergansers, 50 Common Mergansers, and smaller numbers of other species. Most of the loons and mergansers were in large flocks just beyond the breakwater, but about 150 mergansers were in a large group close to shore just west of the pier. Also in the area were at least 8 California Sea Lions and 15 Harbour Seals.

?

I¡¯d like to know what caused this fish kill, and whether it is likely to have serious consequences. I took photos of some of the dead fish and requested ID help (I¡¯m not a fish expert!). I hope that someone will be investigating this incident.

?

Wayne Weber

contopus@...

?


Re: MERRY CHRISTMAS !!

Tsuru
 

Merry Christmas to BC, from southern California!

Monte Taylor
Tustin Ranch, CA


On Tue, Dec 24, 2019, 8:59 PM Colin Clasen <colinclasen@...> wrote:

Wishing all vanbcbirds members a very

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!


MERRY CHRISTMAS !!

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Wishing all vanbcbirds members a very

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!


BC Bird of the Year

 

I vote for the Yellow-browed Warbler. A first not just for B.C. but for the entire country! That¡¯s huge! Runner-up¡­. Brown Shrike.

Daniel Bastaja
danielbastaja@...


BC Bird of the Year 2019

 

It never ceases to amaze me what shows up in our province from one year to the next, and that someone not only finds them, but usually manages to get skookum photos of them as well. Here is a shortened list of some of the goodies that showed in BC in 2019. As always, if a bird that you feel is "your" bird of the year, and it is not on this list feel free to vote for it anyway.?

Fieldfare?- Jan to Feb - Salmon Arm?
Dusky Thrush?- Jan to Feb - Nanaimo -? 3rd BC Record
Short-tailed Albatross?- Mar - Off Tofino
Rustic Bunting?- Jan to Mar - Bull River?
Great Black-backed Gull?- Kelowna - 2nd BC Record
Sedge Wren?- June - the Peace?
Common Ringed Plover?- July - Vancouver?
Guadalupe Murrelet?- Aug - Off Tofino?
Hawaiian Petrel?- Aug - Off Haida Gwaii
Garganey?- Sept - Kelowna?
Brown Shrike?- Oct - Victoria? **** 1st BC Record
Common Crane?- Oct - the Peace - 2nd BC Record
Yellow-browed Warbler?- Oct - Victoria **** 1st BC Record?
Ivory Gull?- Nov - Wardner?
White Wagtail?- Nov - Prince Rupert?

Please vote by sending me a note at? g o s h a w k 6 7? at? s h a w? dot? c a.?

As past participants can attest I always send this out with a week or two to go in the year, in order to tempt fate, with the idea being that hopefully a mega shows up in the dying days of 2019 to make us all rethink our choice that we were so certain was the most exciting bird of the year.?

Kevin Neill
Victoria, BC? ??


Euro Teal

 

After long last, a (the) Eurasian Teal has shown up at the MacDonald beach Marsh this winter. I think this is 5 years running now I¡¯ve seen one at this location. Best view is from the dyke trail at high tide hanging out with other Green Wings.
Dean Smith
Richmond


FW: [vanbcbirds] bird-window collision carcasses needed

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Hi all vanbcbirds members,

?

I¡¯m forwarding below the email from Krista De Groot from Environment Canada.

?

Cheers,

Colin Clasen

Coquitlam, BC

?

From: vanbcbirds@... [mailto:vanbcbirds@...]
Sent: December-19-19 6:02 AM
To: vanbcbirds@...
Subject: [vanbcbirds] bird-window collision carcasses needed

?

I am collaborating with Dr. Tara Imlay (a new landbird biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Service) to determine approximate breeding origins of birds that collide with glass in SW BC during migration and winter.? For this study, we are soliciting donations of dead birds that were killed by collisions with windows.? We request that donors freeze carcasses, label the bag with date and location (address or nearest intersection), and get in touch with Tara Imlay (tara.imlay@...) or myself (krista.degroot@...).?? We will be coordinating with Ildiko Szabo to ensure that any species/subspecies needed for museum collections are sent to Beaty.

Participants may also wish to add their collision mortality data to the Global Bird Collision Mapper:?

Thank you for any assistance,

Krista De Groot

Krista De Groot

Landbird Biologist

Canadian Wildlife Service/ Service canadien de la faune

Environment and Climate Change Canada / Environnement ?et Changement climatique Canada

krista.degroot@...

Tel: 604-350-1984

?

__._,_.___


Posted by: "De Groot, Krista (EC)" <krista.degroot@...>


?

Reply to sender

?

Reply to group

?

?

(1)



.


__,_._,___


Free rare bird calendar 2020

 


A free 2020 calendar is available at the above link. Merry Christmas Everyone
keith taylor
victoria bc

Lesser Goldfinch may not be rarest bird of December with 2 weeks left


Birds of Paradise

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

There are still tickets available for this presentation by renowned NatGeo researchers & photographers Tim Laman & Ed Scholes.?

February 4th at the Orpheum:

?

Perry Edwards
North Vancouver


FW: eNews: Feeding Birds This Winter? We Wrote This Email for You

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Hi all vanbcbirds members,

?

I thought this latest eNewsletter from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology might be of interest, since it features tips on feeding winter birds.

?

Colin Clasen

Coquitlam, BC

?

From: Cornell Lab of Ornithology [mailto:cornellbirds@...]
Sent: December-10-19 4:09 AM
To: colinclasen@...
Subject: eNews: Feeding Birds This Winter? We Wrote This Email for You

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In this issue: All your feeder questions answered; plus live feeder cams around the U.S.; our holiday gift guide; a quiz bird, and more.

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Cornell Lab eNews

December 2019

Tutfted Titmouse by.

Feeding Birds This Winter? We've Got You Covered?

With the right feeder setup, winter can be one of the best¡ªand coziest¡ªseasons for bird watching. Here's a starter pack of our most popular articles on the how, why, and what to do:?

  • Best feeder??Here's .
  • Which foods?? of many common?species.
  • Bird food basics. A guide to .
  • Water.?It's easy to , even?in winter.
  • Sanitation. How and how often to?.
  • Survival. How do birds ?
  • Squirrels. Our readers' .
  • Who's the boss? When 136 species show up at a feeder, ?
  • Why do we feed birds anyway? .

Make Sure Your Backyard Birds Count! Join ?this winter. You'll have more fun with your feeders¡ªand help our scientists keep track of changes in bird populations.

Evening Grosbeaks Fill the Screen on Ontario FeederWatch Cam

A black, white, and gold explosion hit our feeder cam in Manitouwadge, Ontario, recently. We saved the video as a highlight¡ª.

Slow Day in Your Backyard??Enjoy the birds on our live feeder cams:?, eastern birds in Ithaca, New York;??in West Texas; or in Panama.

Can you identify these gentle creatures? Photo by .

Which Species Is This?

These graceful birds often come to backyard feeders or sit and coo from nearby trees or fencetops. There are several similar species across North America, so if you need a hint, check out Project FeederWatch's . Then .

A gift membership gets your loved one the?stunning photography and great stories of Living Bird,?our award-winning magazine.

Is There a Bird Lover on Your Holiday List??

We can't help you with partridges or pear trees, but this list of holiday gift ideas is the next best thing. From Cornell Lab apparel to in-depth Bird Academy courses, we've got the bird watcher in your life covered. .

Save on Books, Puzzles, Clothing, and More.?The more you give the more you save! Take 15%, 20%, or 25% off when you spend $75, $150, or $250, respectively. Visit the ?and use codes Holiday75, Holiday150,?and Holiday250. Offer valid through December 20.

Red-shouldered Macaw by .

Can Caged Birds Tell Us Where They're From???

Every year millions of birds are illegally captured and sold as pets. A lucky few get rescued by wildlife officials¡ªbut then how do they get home again? Researchers are beginning to narrow down where some birds come from, by analyzing song "dialects" using our Macaulay Library archive as a reference. More on .

Bipartisan Call for Conservation: Citing on bird population declines, two Democratic and two Republican members of congress are calling for action to bring birds back. .?

Magnificent Milestone:?On Nov. 5, a photo of a thirsty Rivoli's Hummingbird became . Thanks to photographer Steve Boyack and all who contribute to this massive scientific resource!?

December eBirder of the Month Challenge: Submit 20 checklists containing at least one rated photo or sound recording this month, and you could win ZEISS binoculars. . New to eBird? .

Nesting in December? Why not?¡ªIt's always nesting season at ?Help us transcribe historic nest observations in this fascinating project at Zooniverse. Coming up: owls, nightjars, and cardinals.

Win a Bird Academy Course:?Every eligible eBird checklist you submit in December gives you a chance to get a $60 gift certificate to our Bird Academy.?.

Job Openings: Come work with us at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology! .

Bird Events, Near and Far: Take flight to one of the many coming up each season.

Your Tax-Deductible Gift Can Help Bring Birds Back


Evening Grosbeak by .

This year, we learned the shocking news that we've lost nearly 1 in 4 North American birds since 1970. But birds are resilient if given the chance, and your generosity can make a real difference.

We need YOU to achieve real change: Your gift powers the vital work¡ªin conservation, research, and education¡ªthat we do each day to bring birds back.

Black-capped Vireo by .

Female?Birds Often Invisible in Conservation Plans

It's common for male and female birds to split up after breeding and spend the winter in different places. But many conservation plans overlook the wintering habitats of females¡ªleaving a gap in protection. .

Barn Owl by Andy Chilton.

Easy Gifting From Bird Academy

Bird Academy courses are online, self-paced, and there is no deadline to complete them. Plus, you can return to them for reference any time.

A digital?gift certificate can be used for any Bird Academy course. !

American Golden-Plover by .

Free Access to Birds of North America Account

The American Golden-Plover makes one of the longest migratory journeys of any shorebird¡ªfrom arctic tundra to the grasslands of South America. Revealing the science and secrets of birds is what Birds of North America is all about¡ªsee for yourself with species account.

Save $15 on access to in Birds of North America. Use code IHeartBirds at checkout.

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The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a membership institution dedicated to interpreting and conserving the earth¡¯s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. Visit the Cornell Lab¡¯s website at .

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Re: Birding NZ

 

You¡¯re welcome Derek. Your website is what I thought of immediately when I saw his original post,. :)

D

On Dec 7, 2019, at 7:27 PM, Derek Matthews <Derek@...> wrote:

Ha! Thanks Dan - didn't see your email before I sent the message! :o)

Derek


-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Daniel
Bastaja
Sent: December 7, 2019 9:57 AM
To: Vanbirds <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [vanbcbirds] Birding NZ

James. There is also a trip report from New Zealand on World Bird Traveller
website. Here is a link..



Daniel Bastaja
danielbastaja@...

On Dec 7, 2019, at 5:22 PM, pat.mary.taylor <pat.mary.taylor@...>
wrote:

Hi James

Here's my trip report from NZ



Keith Taylor
Victoria BC


On Dec 7, 2019, at 12:27 AM, James Palmer <james.palmer.ubc@...>
wrote:

Hi everyone,

I've booked some travel for a few weeks in NZ with my wife (mid-Feb to
mid-March). It's not a "birding trip," per se. But, well, you know what
happens. We'll spend around a week and a half on each island with a car.
If any of you have been and have specific birding (or hiking, cultural)
recommendations, I'm all ears!

Thanks in advance!

Also, I've been doing some blogging for a while now about my birding
in Vancouver, Minnesota, and some travel in the past few years. I've
aimed to make it informative, fun, and media-rich. I hope it's not too
presumptuous to post a link to it here: WeeklyBirder.com I'd love to hear
comments/suggestions from this community!

Good birding,
Jim

James Palmer, PhD
Lecturer, Music Theory | University of British Columbia Director of
Content | PicardyLearning