Anyone interested in joining us for a day of banding tomorrow?-maybe we will see one of these guys!
(the weather looks good but possibly too cold!)
meet at William Coffee Pub on Victoria Street off Thickson Rd. South in Whitby! (more complete directions in post below-an invitation)
Hope to see you there-we are planning on meeting at 7:30 there-if it is too cold we might have to stop for coffee first-no hardship...hmmmm?
Monday, April 28, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Banding cancelled for the 28th we will try again on the 29th!
We are cancelling the banding for today-sorry-but the weather is not co-operating! pouring
But there is always tomorrow!
for directions check the below post-thanks!
But there is always tomorrow!
for directions check the below post-thanks!
An Invitation!
We are going to be banding in the Whitby area Monday and Tuesday and would like to invite people to join us.
You can meet us at Williams Coffee Pub on Victoria St. just off Thickson Rd South.
The time will be announced later this evening.
Richard will be wearing a Green Hat with a Canada Goose on it I will be wearing a Navy Blue hat the says MAPS Bird Banding with a Chestnut Sided Warbler on it.
Hope you can join us!
As always birdbanding is weather dependant-heavy rain, high winds, snow! will prevent this experience atm the weather is not looking good for tomorrow-keep checking back here for updates please!
You can meet us at Williams Coffee Pub on Victoria St. just off Thickson Rd South.
The time will be announced later this evening.
Richard will be wearing a Green Hat with a Canada Goose on it I will be wearing a Navy Blue hat the says MAPS Bird Banding with a Chestnut Sided Warbler on it.
Hope you can join us!
As always birdbanding is weather dependant-heavy rain, high winds, snow! will prevent this experience atm the weather is not looking good for tomorrow-keep checking back here for updates please!
Friday, April 25, 2008
First Warbler of 2008
We banded our first warbler of 2008 the other day-a Western Palm Warbler!
It was the only warbler we got that day we didn't ever hear any others-we did hear a Towhee that I was hoping we would catch-but he did not co-operate. (Oh I saw him too that's how I knew he was a he ;) An Eastern Phoebe was also hanging around but did not oblige us.
We did get a fair amount of Song Sparrows and White Throated Sparrows however including this one.
Hopefully that Palm was the first of many more to come-yay Warbler Season has started!
It was the only warbler we got that day we didn't ever hear any others-we did hear a Towhee that I was hoping we would catch-but he did not co-operate. (Oh I saw him too that's how I knew he was a he ;) An Eastern Phoebe was also hanging around but did not oblige us.
We did get a fair amount of Song Sparrows and White Throated Sparrows however including this one.
Hopefully that Palm was the first of many more to come-yay Warbler Season has started!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Earth Day is TODAY!
Oh I forgot to post this earlier!
I just wanted to say Happy Earth Day everyone-soon I will be posting a banding schedule-Spring Migrants are already arriving.
How many Warblers have you seen so far? I heard a Pine Warbler singing away-and saw some Mrytle's
I just wanted to say Happy Earth Day everyone-soon I will be posting a banding schedule-Spring Migrants are already arriving.
How many Warblers have you seen so far? I heard a Pine Warbler singing away-and saw some Mrytle's
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Bohemian-First Bird for 2008!
Did I keep you waiting long enough?-Sorry I meant to get to this sooner ;D
Sooooooooooo last Friday a birding friend phoned me up and let me know about a flock of Bohemian Waxwings mixed with Cedars demolishing some crabapple trees in the Toronto area. Bohemians!-yes a Life Bird for me-that's one of the good things about only being into birding for a few years-you can still look forward to lifers-in fact since last Friday I have added five Lifers to my list.
It was relatively warm and the Sun was shining too-perhaps we could catch a Bohemian for our first banded bird of 2008? No harm in trying. We gathered our banding, and photography equipment together and headed out.
We knew we were in the right place when we saw photographers with what we laughingly call "bazooka" lenses. (really we are just jealous of them ;D) There were also several birders with binocs watching. And sure enough after we parked and arrived at the trees Bohemians and Cedars were feasting away! Here's a few birds in one of the trees.
Since the temperature was above 0C we decided to try and catch one-it was worth a try at least right? So we set up the net (just one) and before we even had the net completely up the first Bohemian had flown in! While I finished the setting up-a small crowd of birders in tow followed the bird as she was taken away to be banded. Of course I did get there in time to photograph her as the first bird of the year.
It was a second year female. And she was beautiful! As you can see
Another female flew into the net as well and an American Robin too. Although this was excitement enough-it almost got even better-there was a Sharp Shinned Hawk keeping an eye on the flocks feasting and he was chasing an American Robin who ducked under the net-while the Sharpie went right in. He bounced off and according to witnesses fell into the snow and looked very peeved before flying off! Imagine having a Sharpie as the second bird-LOL!
The wind picked up and the birds no longer had any trouble seeing where the net was especially after the Hawk bounced off it. I saw one Bohemian fly up, see it, veer right, still see it-and soar right over it. No more captures for us but we had no complaints. We'd caught a Bohemian as the first bird of the year!
The temperature dropped, the sun was fading and it was no longer a safe temperature to band in.
This Cedar Waxwing was enjoying the fading light-I think Waxwings are such striking birds-and I don't think I'm alone in this thought. I hope reading about this makes you as happy as it made me to experience it.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
First Bird for 2008!
Can you believe it a Bohemian Waxwing!
I'll come back and tell you more about it later-this is just a tease.
Don't forget about Earth Hour tonight and turn off your lights between 8 and 9 please!
I'll come back and tell you more about it later-this is just a tease.
Don't forget about Earth Hour tonight and turn off your lights between 8 and 9 please!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Who was No. 1?
not chickadees ;D
Nope the No. 1 bird was the same as last year-The Northern Cardinal
I asked permission to copy this poem for our blog because I like it so much
Submitted by Greg Kratzig. on 15-02-2008 00:10.
My anticipation of counting this weekend
Twas the night before the Bird Count
and all through the house,
the birders were sleeping,
just dreaming of grouse.
They had mapped out their day
to find a Blue Jay,
or perhaps watching owls cathing their prey.
Their scopes were all ready,
their binos were too
don't forget your tripod, your camera, your guide,
or your coffee, a sandwhich or your favorite hot stew.
You can count from your window, our car or on foot,
and if you get lost remember stay put.
What this weekend will bring,
may remind us of spring,
Just remember have fun,
as you are watching a Hun,
and when the weekend has passed,
we will tally our birds,
in the hopes that we have massed,
more species this year than years in the past.
Also there are some wonderful photos of an Ivory Gull counted for the first time in South Dakota HERE
Please scroll down to the bottom as my personal favourite was the last one where he comes up with his catch of the day!
Nope the No. 1 bird was the same as last year-The Northern Cardinal
I asked permission to copy this poem for our blog because I like it so much
Submitted by Greg Kratzig. on 15-02-2008 00:10.
My anticipation of counting this weekend
Twas the night before the Bird Count
and all through the house,
the birders were sleeping,
just dreaming of grouse.
They had mapped out their day
to find a Blue Jay,
or perhaps watching owls cathing their prey.
Their scopes were all ready,
their binos were too
don't forget your tripod, your camera, your guide,
or your coffee, a sandwhich or your favorite hot stew.
You can count from your window, our car or on foot,
and if you get lost remember stay put.
What this weekend will bring,
may remind us of spring,
Just remember have fun,
as you are watching a Hun,
and when the weekend has passed,
we will tally our birds,
in the hopes that we have massed,
more species this year than years in the past.
Also there are some wonderful photos of an Ivory Gull counted for the first time in South Dakota HERE
Please scroll down to the bottom as my personal favourite was the last one where he comes up with his catch of the day!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
GBBC
It's the Great Backyard Bird Count this weekend-I hope everyone is counting and submitting-I am :D
Though I haven't found anything terribly exciting.
Lots of these guys
And one day I had the Female Cardinal and the next day the pair-The Northern Cardinal is the Number One bird so far in the count
There are some amazing shots in the GBBC Photo Gallery-I particularly like this one of the Pileated Woodpecker
Though I haven't found anything terribly exciting.
Lots of these guys
And one day I had the Female Cardinal and the next day the pair-The Northern Cardinal is the Number One bird so far in the count
There are some amazing shots in the GBBC Photo Gallery-I particularly like this one of the Pileated Woodpecker
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Fly on Over
To the Annual General Meeting of the
Toronto Bird Observatory
on Saturday, February 2, 2008
at 2 pm
at 588 Indian Grove
Toronto, Ontario
Google Map
Toronto Bird Observatory
on Saturday, February 2, 2008
at 2 pm
at 588 Indian Grove
Toronto, Ontario
Google Map
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Did I say the third-it's the second!
The Annual General Meeting will be held February 2, 2008
I hope I don't have to change this date again! we decided Saturday was better than a Sunday for the meeting-I hope we made the right decision!
Details to follow shortly
An email will be sent out and updates will be posted here!
Hope to see you there
I hope I don't have to change this date again! we decided Saturday was better than a Sunday for the meeting-I hope we made the right decision!
Details to follow shortly
An email will be sent out and updates will be posted here!
Hope to see you there
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Thanks Tova!
Yesterday we were going to go out and look for the Pine Grosbeaks everybody keeps talking about in Bowmanville or maybe the Northern Hawk Owl in Stoney Creek, but we were running out of light so instead just decided to see what was hanging around Humber Bay East at the Lake.
We pulled into the parking lot and thought hey those people look familar-it was Tova a Toronto Bird Observatory Member and she told us that there were a pair of Harlequin Ducks immediately south of where we were standing offering good views. And she was right we found them within five minutes (that's the kind of birding I like ;D)
Both the male and the female were quite obliging-too bad I don't have a bigger zoom lens, or maybe a teleconverter but still you get the general idea of what they look like-they also hung around for more than an hour keeping relatively close to shore
By the time we left the Lakeside was feeling very cold and windy so it seems appropriate to end with the Tundra Swans we saw
It may actually be warm enough to band this week! Stay Tuned
The Annual General Meeting is to held February 3-see you there
We pulled into the parking lot and thought hey those people look familar-it was Tova a Toronto Bird Observatory Member and she told us that there were a pair of Harlequin Ducks immediately south of where we were standing offering good views. And she was right we found them within five minutes (that's the kind of birding I like ;D)
Both the male and the female were quite obliging-too bad I don't have a bigger zoom lens, or maybe a teleconverter but still you get the general idea of what they look like-they also hung around for more than an hour keeping relatively close to shore
By the time we left the Lakeside was feeling very cold and windy so it seems appropriate to end with the Tundra Swans we saw
It may actually be warm enough to band this week! Stay Tuned
The Annual General Meeting is to held February 3-see you there
Monday, December 31, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
Seasons Greetings from TBO
and this male Northern Cardinal who lives in High Park and we banded in 2005. He's usually pretty sneaky and hard to get shots of but the day of the blizzard of the 16th he was pretty amiable about showing himself in return for food!
The Christmas Bird Count was in the Toronto area yesterday and what a terrible day it was for it weather wise. We had to really search for birds-we didn't find owls despite repeated tries-no other raptors at all-only one female cardinal-no Downies, Hairy's, it even took us til 2 o'clock to find a Canada Goose! We did find 4 Tundra Swans and one Bonaparte's Gull. A Great Black Backed and a Glaucous upped our Gull species as well.
Please Note
The Annual Christmas Gathering of the Toronto Bird Observatory will be December 30, check back here or your emails for details.
and Happy Holidays!
The Christmas Bird Count was in the Toronto area yesterday and what a terrible day it was for it weather wise. We had to really search for birds-we didn't find owls despite repeated tries-no other raptors at all-only one female cardinal-no Downies, Hairy's, it even took us til 2 o'clock to find a Canada Goose! We did find 4 Tundra Swans and one Bonaparte's Gull. A Great Black Backed and a Glaucous upped our Gull species as well.
Please Note
The Annual Christmas Gathering of the Toronto Bird Observatory will be December 30, check back here or your emails for details.
and Happy Holidays!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Birding not Banding
We have been doing some banding but not so much due to travelling, etc. We've managed to get some birding in though and I thought I'd share two recent birds we have seen here.
Yesterday we saw the Yellow Breasted Chat that was reported in ONTbirds at Ashbridges Bay
It looks like a first year male and he was quite enjoying the berries on the
European euonymus-
they seem to be his
favourite!
He posed quite nicely for me too-I just got this new camera and have now quite figured it out yet-not sure why the shots aren't sharper but you get the idea!
and earlier in the Fall we got wonderful views of a Virginia Rail at Colonel Sam Smith Park-the bird came out repeatedly from the reeds and was quite tolerant. We managed to share this sighting with a birding group that was passing through.
While still
trying to identify him
I got quite the good look
at his beak as you can
see when he managed to
just stick it out
making i.d.ing just
a little bit easier :D
In news from San Francisco they have released some of the birds from the oil spill-you can again read a wonderful posting about it in How's Robb Blog How fabulous there were wonderful volunteers to help-I only wish I could have been one of them!
Yesterday we saw the Yellow Breasted Chat that was reported in ONTbirds at Ashbridges Bay
It looks like a first year male and he was quite enjoying the berries on the
European euonymus-
they seem to be his
favourite!
He posed quite nicely for me too-I just got this new camera and have now quite figured it out yet-not sure why the shots aren't sharper but you get the idea!
and earlier in the Fall we got wonderful views of a Virginia Rail at Colonel Sam Smith Park-the bird came out repeatedly from the reeds and was quite tolerant. We managed to share this sighting with a birding group that was passing through.
While still
trying to identify him
I got quite the good look
at his beak as you can
see when he managed to
just stick it out
making i.d.ing just
a little bit easier :D
In news from San Francisco they have released some of the birds from the oil spill-you can again read a wonderful posting about it in How's Robb Blog How fabulous there were wonderful volunteers to help-I only wish I could have been one of them!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Disasters and what you can do
How sad is it to read again about oil spills threatening our wildlife? Two spills this week-one in the Black Sea and one in San Francisco Bay. Both in important bird migration routes.
Here is a link with some information on the SanFran one and the Russian story here
Save our Shores -has some great info on which species are at risk and how you can help-what to do if you find an oiled bird and where you can donate!
There is a great Blog from someone who is out volunteering right now at the Wildlife Centre handling the birds in San Francisco it is full of information and some stunning photos!
It has been 18 years since The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, which occurred on March 24, 1989 and as can be seen from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Assoication's Ocean Service site "In summer 2001, roughly 10,000 pits were excavated as part of a shoreline survey of Prince William Sound. Oil was found at 58 percent of the 91 sites surveyed, which is approximately equivalent to 5.8 km of contaminated shoreline (Short et al., 2001). (Photo credit: NMFS, NOAA"
Here's a link to a petition against bunker fuel like that spilled in San Franciso.
Here is a link with some information on the SanFran one and the Russian story here
Save our Shores -has some great info on which species are at risk and how you can help-what to do if you find an oiled bird and where you can donate!
There is a great Blog from someone who is out volunteering right now at the Wildlife Centre handling the birds in San Francisco it is full of information and some stunning photos!
It has been 18 years since The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, which occurred on March 24, 1989 and as can be seen from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Assoication's Ocean Service site "In summer 2001, roughly 10,000 pits were excavated as part of a shoreline survey of Prince William Sound. Oil was found at 58 percent of the 91 sites surveyed, which is approximately equivalent to 5.8 km of contaminated shoreline (Short et al., 2001). (Photo credit: NMFS, NOAA"
Here's a link to a petition against bunker fuel like that spilled in San Franciso.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Finch Alert!
Just a quick post to show you this House Finch the first one banded by TBO in recent years that we know of I'm sure there have been others but we haven't been around for them!
The reason I'm posting this is because of the Finch Alert I just saw in ONTBIRDS-I'm going to copy and paste it here
We are experiencing the biggest winter finch irruption since the "superflight" of 1997-1998, when many boreal finches went well beyond their normal ranges. The cause is the largest tree seed crop failure in a decade across more than 3200 km (2000 mi) of boreal forest from Saskatchewan into Quebec. Today in Toronto, I had a Pine Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeaks, Common Redpolls, Pine Siskins and Purple Finches migrating along the shoreline of Lake Ontario. Boreal winter finches are being reported in many areas of southern Ontario and the United States, where some species such as Pine and Evening Grosbeaks haven't been seen in years. There is no telling how far south this "superflight" will go and how many finches will remain in Ontario this winter. Stock your feeders.
Winter Finch Forecast 2007-2008 is stored at two sites.
http://www.ofo.ca/reports%20and%20articles/winterfinches.php
http://ca.geocities.com/larry.neily@rogers.com/pittaway-new.htm
The reason I'm posting this is because of the Finch Alert I just saw in ONTBIRDS-I'm going to copy and paste it here
We are experiencing the biggest winter finch irruption since the "superflight" of 1997-1998, when many boreal finches went well beyond their normal ranges. The cause is the largest tree seed crop failure in a decade across more than 3200 km (2000 mi) of boreal forest from Saskatchewan into Quebec. Today in Toronto, I had a Pine Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeaks, Common Redpolls, Pine Siskins and Purple Finches migrating along the shoreline of Lake Ontario. Boreal winter finches are being reported in many areas of southern Ontario and the United States, where some species such as Pine and Evening Grosbeaks haven't been seen in years. There is no telling how far south this "superflight" will go and how many finches will remain in Ontario this winter. Stock your feeders.
Winter Finch Forecast 2007-2008 is stored at two sites.
http://www.ofo.ca/reports%20and%20articles/winterfinches.php
http://ca.geocities.com/larry.neily@rogers.com/pittaway-new.htm
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
What a difference a year will make
Another time we got out we managed to catch a Hatch Year Male Indigo Bunting-so hard to believe that the next time we see him (hopefully ;D) he will be all blue!
(Blogger having trouble uploading a BLUE one try clicking here)
I love Indigo Buntings they are one of my favourite birds so I was quite happy when we caught this fellow-the same net run we caught an Indigo female as well-but I don't think I got any shots of her. (I'll have to check that if I do I will post-them being one of my favourites and all) When we have gotten out we seem to either be really busy or just about to get rained on (hard to believe we so little rain this year!)
I'm hoping to have some time this week to do some catch up posts
(Blogger having trouble uploading a BLUE one try clicking here)
I love Indigo Buntings they are one of my favourite birds so I was quite happy when we caught this fellow-the same net run we caught an Indigo female as well-but I don't think I got any shots of her. (I'll have to check that if I do I will post-them being one of my favourites and all) When we have gotten out we seem to either be really busy or just about to get rained on (hard to believe we so little rain this year!)
I'm hoping to have some time this week to do some catch up posts
Saturday, October 06, 2007
The Much Delayed but Highly Anticipated
Male Mourning Warbler shots
Hope nobody minds a Spring Banding shot in the Fall-I realized I had never gotten around to posting the Male shot when I promised I would
He is a Hatch Year Male with not a lot of black on his throat as you can see :D
Hope nobody minds a Spring Banding shot in the Fall-I realized I had never gotten around to posting the Male shot when I promised I would
He is a Hatch Year Male with not a lot of black on his throat as you can see :D
Monday, September 24, 2007
Making a difference for migratory birds
Dr. Bridget Stutchbury has an excerpt from her book Silence of the Songbirds printed in the October 2007 issue of York U Magazine. It's a great piece (PDF of the issue is available here - the article is pages 24-27).
At the end is a list of things you can do to help migrating songbirds. I thought it was a great list, and hopefully she won't mind if I reproduce it here:
How You Can Make a Difference
What to do: Buy shade coffee or sustainable coffee that is organic and fairly traded.
Why: Increases tropical forest habitat for birds and other wildlife; conserves soil; provides fair profits for farmers; fewer pesticides in the environment
What to do: When buying produce from Latin America, such as bananas and pineapples, choose organic when available
Why: Reduces the amount of dangerous pesticide use in the tropics; fewer birds killed; safer for farmers and consumers
What to do: Buy organic, or avoid altogether when possible the North American crops that post the greatest risk to birds: alfalfa, Brussels sprouts, blueberries, celery, corn, cotton, cranberries, potatoes and wheat
Why: Reduces the amount of dangerous pesticide use in the tropics; fewer birds killed; safer for farmers and consumers
What to do: Buy wood and paper products that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council
Why: Increases amount of forest being logged sustainably and responsibly; better habitat for birds and a healthier forest
What to do: Buy disposable paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, tissues) that are made from recycled paper and that are not bleached with chlorine
Why: Reduces logging pressure on forests; increases habitat for birds; creates less pollution
What to do: Turn off the lights at night in city buildings and homes during peak migration periods
Why: Fewer birds killed an injured by hitting buildings; saves electricity
What to do: Keep your cat indoors
Why: Fewer birds killed; healthier and longer lives for pets
At the end is a list of things you can do to help migrating songbirds. I thought it was a great list, and hopefully she won't mind if I reproduce it here:
How You Can Make a Difference
What to do: Buy shade coffee or sustainable coffee that is organic and fairly traded.
Why: Increases tropical forest habitat for birds and other wildlife; conserves soil; provides fair profits for farmers; fewer pesticides in the environment
What to do: When buying produce from Latin America, such as bananas and pineapples, choose organic when available
Why: Reduces the amount of dangerous pesticide use in the tropics; fewer birds killed; safer for farmers and consumers
What to do: Buy organic, or avoid altogether when possible the North American crops that post the greatest risk to birds: alfalfa, Brussels sprouts, blueberries, celery, corn, cotton, cranberries, potatoes and wheat
Why: Reduces the amount of dangerous pesticide use in the tropics; fewer birds killed; safer for farmers and consumers
What to do: Buy wood and paper products that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council
Why: Increases amount of forest being logged sustainably and responsibly; better habitat for birds and a healthier forest
What to do: Buy disposable paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, tissues) that are made from recycled paper and that are not bleached with chlorine
Why: Reduces logging pressure on forests; increases habitat for birds; creates less pollution
What to do: Turn off the lights at night in city buildings and homes during peak migration periods
Why: Fewer birds killed an injured by hitting buildings; saves electricity
What to do: Keep your cat indoors
Why: Fewer birds killed; healthier and longer lives for pets
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