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 Canaan ~ Bird Watching
( Close to 100 species identified in our local neighbourhood...
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Read our latest headlines and stories
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 Environment News  Frog News  Turtle News
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Bird headlines from here and there
Here are some interesting bird-related stories we found on the Net...
( We invite you to share your stories and/or pictures with us.)
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 Where are
all the Blue Jays?
The Great Grey Owl invasion
A Passion for Birding - Ottawa birder Bruce
Di Labio - a lifetime passion
Study: 1 in 4 U.S. bird species at risk
Workshop on Peregrine Falcons - Webcam and Falcon page |
| Where are all the Blue Jays? (Update) |
 A couple of days ago, my neighbour Morlen asked me if I had seen any blue jays around our house? He
wasn't talking about the Toronto baseball team.
No I hadn't, was my reply, in fact come to think of it I haven't seen any blue jays at our feeders for some weeks
at least. Lots of chickadees, nuthatches, hairy and downey woodpeckers, mourning doves, starlings, gold finches,
the occasional crow, but no blue jays
Tony Beck is a freelance naturalist based in Ottawa. He is a birding
expert. We asked him for his take on the missing birds.
"Food availability" was his first answer but there can be a number of factors why there are no blue jays
at our local feeders. This has been a slower year for bird numbers generally. The annual Christmas bird count was
down significantly; it was the third lowest number from a variety of counts.  (Tony's article in the Ottawa Citizen.)
It may be a "normal fluctuation" in a 10 or 11 year cycle, says Tony. Also, while frozen berries may
offer some nourishment, the pine cone crops are down, and there simply may be more food available in other areas.
He opined that it would not be the West Nile virus, because that would also affect the other species, like the
chickadees.
Wait until the (spring) breeding season arrives, he suggests, the numbers will come back up.
Tony knows the Rockland area well, having spent some time commuting to here a few years back. He says that our
area is rich in nature, especially with the wetlands around the Ottawa River and the Alfred Bog close by. It is
also on the migratory path of a great many bird species, especially the Canada Goose.
Click here to to learn more about Tony Beck and his many achievements,
including birdwatching, nature photography, tour guiding and courses. And watch for his latest picture gallery.
Tony just returned from a sojourn in Antarctica wher there was "an abundance of ice, glaciers, penguins and
albatross... no shortage of life" there.
Since
running this story, we have contacted two other sources.
 Elizabeth Le
Geyt is well-known for her columns in the Ottawa
Citizen. She told the Canaan Connexion that she has a couple of Blue Jays coming to her feeder in Manotick,
however their visits afre more infrequent as well. She suggested that the mild winter may have a lot to do with
it. The Blue Jays may be finding food elsewhere, and didn't need the feeders.
Elizabeth also referred to a story that ran in the Ottawa Citizen in January in which Tony Beck and another
Ottawa birding expert Bruce Di Labio where quoted concerning "a drop in the number of birds in the
region, according to recent local bird counts". Click
here.
Cornell University in Ithaca, NY is well known for its World Series of Birding as well as for its studies of birds
in South America, the Western Hemisphere, North America and Hawaii. Pat Leonard is a spokeswoman for the
Cornell Lab of Ornithology. From her knowledge there
was no information to indicate that there was a shortage of Blue Jays. She suggested that it may be "short
migrations" from the area, food availability, even "predators in the area" (couldn't be the increase
in coyotes?). You "would need a scientific
study to determine" what was happening to the Blue Jays.
The experts all agree that it will only take time to see if the Blue Jays return in the numbers we are used to
seeing. See our list of experts below.
Do you have any thoughts, ideas or comments? E-mail us at: 
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| The Great Grey Owl invasion - Winter 2005 |
The great gray owl was the topic of several local sightings and stories during the winter of 2004/05, coming from
their more northern habitats around Lake Superior in search of food. One Rockland family was featured in a front
page story when their tiny pup was picked up and almost carried away had it not been for the father’s quick thinking.
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These photos were submitted
by our local friends and fellow
bird watchers, Luc Leger from
Blue Jay and Francine Carriere
from Hammond. Click on the
pic to see a larger shot. -pwm
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Francine Carriere
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Luc Leger
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Francine Carriere
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| A Passion for Birding |
Ottawa birder Bruce Di Labio turns his childhood hobby into vocation and lifetime passion
To say Bruce, 43, is enthusiastic about birds would be an understatement. Next to his family, birds
are his life, his passion, his raison d'etre.
Today he's one of Canada's most respected birders. When he's not giving lectures to schools, seniors and other
groups, he's leading birding tours to countries around the Americas or running local birding courses. He also undertakes
short-term birding contracts for consulting firms. More...
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| Study: 1 in 4 U.S. bird species at risk |
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Urban expansion and loss of open space have put some 25 per cent of bird species in the
United States in trouble — more than double the number at risk five years ago — according to a new study by the
National Audubon Society.
Found in the eastern United States, cerulean warblers like these have declined
by more than 70 per cent since the 1970s, the Audubon Society reports.
The WatchList, and state-by-state background, is online at: www.audubon.org/bird/watchlist.
Click here
for full story.
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| 17 Jul 2002 - Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection(DEP):
Educators attend workshop on Peregrine Falcons; Attendees learn how to use Internet to teach about, track Falcons |
Thirty-five educators attended a workshop on peregrine falcons sponsored by DEP and the Pennsylvania
Game Commission. Last month, officials attached small satellite telemetry units to two of the falcons. The telemetry
units are linked to a satellite that will allow researchers to locate the birds anywhere on Earth for up to three
years. The use of telemetry is part of a Game Commission research project in cooperation with DEP and the Canadian
Peregrine Foundation.
In addition to learning about the satellite telemetry, educators also learned about the challenges facing an endangered
species and examined the importance of urban habitats. They also participated in curricular activities that are
designed to help their students learn about endangered species.
Click here
to visit Pennsylvania's Peregrine Falcon page and Web camera.
Back to top
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Local birding experts
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 For weekly sightings in the Ottawa area, read Elizabeth Le Geyt's
"Bird" column in the Ottawa Citizen, and click
here.
Please send birding reports and specify location to:
613-821-9880 or e-mail elegeyt@rogers.com.
The Wild Bird Care Centre for orphaned and injured birds is at 613-828-2849.
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 Tony Beck is a freelance naturalist based in Ottawa. You can learn more about Tony and his many
achievements, including birdwatching, nature photography, tour guiding and courses. And watch for his latest picture
gallery. His field trips and programs include: birding, Photography and Nature Field Trips Exploring Ottawa, Eastern
Ontario and Western Quebec. You can reach him at: (613) 828-5936 or via E-mail at:
beck.tony@sympatico.ca. For more information, click
here.
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 Bruce Di Labio is a native of
Ottawa, Ontario. His obsession with birds and birding began at the young age of 8, when he hand-tamed Black-capped
Chickadees at the family cottage at Constance Bay, Ontario. From these simple beginnings emerged both a life-long
passion and career in the field of birding. You can contact
Bruce at: Office: (613) 839-4395 | Mobile: (613) 715-2571 or by E-mail: bruce.dilabio@sympatico.ca.
For more information, click here.
Back to top
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 All About Birds is created by the staff of the Cornell
Lab of Ornithology. "It’s our aim to make this site the Web’s best and most comprehensive resource for North
American birds, bird watching, and bird conservation—accessible to everyone for free." Click
here.
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Local bird sightings - chronological
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We are entering our bird (and nature) sightings in chronological order...
join in if you like.
(Please note that the links to the sound clips are either the clip itself,
or links to other websites that have the actual bird calls.
And... some of the sound clips may take time to load.)
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Winter of 2005
These great and
graceful birds
were spotted in
great numbers
in the Ottawa
area when they
came down from
their regular
haunts around
Lake Superior
foraging for
voles and mice.
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The Great Gray Owl
(sound)
(more information)
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June 18, 2002, 1:30 p.m.
Cardinal Crescent
Flying over onto the Reynolds Blueberry Farm.
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Northern Harrier
(sound)
(more information)
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June 11, 2002, 5:40 p.m.
Highway 174
just east of Canaan Road
Sitting on a fence post.
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Common Snipe
(sound)
(more information)
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June 4, 2002, 8:40 a.m.
172 Cardinal Crescent
(tree lot)
2350 Canaan Road
(Adjacent to the ravine)
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Common Yellowthroat
(sound)
(more information)
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June 3, 2002, 8:40 a.m.
Ontario's provincial bird
is the Common Loon
and I heard one from
my back deck this morning
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Read about the legend
of the Loon
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Common Loon
(sound)
(sound2)
(more information)
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June 2, 2002, 7:40 a.m.
Canaan Road, near 2070
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American Redstart
(sound)
(more information)
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June 2, 2002, 7:25 a.m.
Canaan Road @ Blue Jay
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Great Crested Flycatcher
(sound)
(more information)
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June 1, 2002, 6:30 p.m.
Wilhaven near Sarsfield Rd.
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Brown Thrasher
(sound)
(more information)
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May 2002
Marc M. reports sightings on Cardinal Crescent.
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Scarlet Tanager
(sound)
(more information)
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May 2002
Leslie and Joe H. find a nesting bird in their back yard.
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American Woodcock
(sounds)
(more information)
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May 2002
Thanks to Jim Provost on Oakwood for providing this great shot! Just wish I could have put the original on line
but it came in at over 600 kb.
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Cardinal
(sounds)
(more information)
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Summer 2001
On one of my many walks south on Canaan Road, off the pavement, past the llama farm and up to Beckett Creek...
a nesting pair.
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Belted Kingfishers
(sounds)
(more information)
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Summer 2001
This graceful flyer is very common to our area and can be seen flying overhead up to three or four at a time. One
surprised me last year when it flew up from the ravine on Canaan Road just north of Blue Jay Drive.
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Great Blue Heron
(sound)
(more information)
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Internet resources to help you
identify birds:
( Bird sounds are in blue links
below )
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Link:
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Comments:
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| "All About Birds is created
by the staff of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It’s our aim to make this site the Web’s best and most comprehensive
resource for North American birds, bird watching, and bird conservation—accessible to everyone for free."
Click here. |
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Animal Pictures Archive's
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Most of the images are from the Internet newsgroups. |
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Birding links and
resources
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From Peterson Online: "Looking for the best the web has to offer? Check out these links
or browse through our other recommended resources." |
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Birds at Coe Park
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Henry W. Coe State Park:
Coe Park is the largest state park in northern California, with over 87,000 acres of wild open spaces. |
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Birds of Big Lake
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Compiled by the Big Lake Environment Support Society, Big Lake, Alberta, Canada |
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Birds of the World on Stamps
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Compiled by Chris Gibbins, this fine site does just what the title suggests, compiles just
about everything you want to know about birds on stamps. |
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BirdSource
Birding with a purpose
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BirdSource is a revolutionary partnership between citizens and scientists, designed and managed
by the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. |
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Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.
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The lab is a membership institution interpreting and conserving the earth's biological diversity
through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. |
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Deep Portage Conservation area -
Minnesota
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A small list of bird pics that you can access
here. |
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Ellis Bird Farm
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This site describes a location dedicated to demonstrating harmony between industry, agriculture
and the environment. You can enjoy a tea house and observe Mountain Bluebirds, Tree Swallows and many other species. |
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eNature.com
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A terrific page for all types of wildlife... photos, sounds, etc. |
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Fermi
National
Accelerator Laboratory
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The diversity of habitats to be found on the 6,800 acre site of the Fermi National Accelerator
Laboratory (Fermilab) make it a favorite location for birdwatchers in Chicago's western suburbs. |
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Florida
Museum
of Natural History
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Offers a great photo gallery as well as sound clips of bird calls. |
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i-Bird.com
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Location of uncommon, common and abundant birds
of this species in the US and Canada. |
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Important Bird Areas
of Canada
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This site contains information about the IBA program and details about other IBA sites in
Canada. |
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Mugg's island
Birdbanding Station
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Mugg's Island Birdbanding Station, Toronto. |
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National Audubon Society
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Audubon's mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds and other
wildlife for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity. |
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Naturescape Alberta
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This site invites you to learn more about how to transform your backyard into a setting for
many wonderful elements of nature. |
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Naturesounds.com
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This page offers the "Complete List of Species" offered on the Naturesounds website.
Their link to their main page is found below under sounds. |
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New York State Birds
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Illustrations of some of New York state's birds. |
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Ontario Field Ornithologists
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Are you interested in birds in Ontario? Then OFO is for you. |
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Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
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The Patuxent Wildlife Research Center has been a national and international leader in wildlife
research since its creation by the U.S. Congress in 1936 as an integral part of the Patuxent Research Refuge, under
the direction of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). |
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Pennsylvania's Peregrine
Falcon page and Webcam
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Sponsored by the Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvannia Game Commision,
this excellent site offers a huge amount of information on the Peregrine Falcon including several videos and a
live Webcam focused on a nest. (The picture changes automatically every two minutes.) |
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Peterson Online - field guides
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Learn the basics of birdwatching from the master, Roger Tory Peterson. (Here is a site dedicated to the memory of the master.) |
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Wildscape
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A Birding and Nature Column by Carl Grosfield. |
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Back to top |
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Sound sources to help you identify
animal and birds:
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Animal Pictures
Archive's
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Here is their "Animal Sound Clips" page. |
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Birds at Coe Park
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Henry W. Coe State Park:
Coe Park is the largest state park in northern California, with over 87,000 acres of wild open spaces. |
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Guide
to Animal Sounds
on the Net
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Just about any sound you want! |
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Naturesounds.com
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These pages provide samples of various natural sounds, promote nature recording and archiving,
and provide a library of sounds that people can refer to when they hear something new. |
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New York State Birds
(Thanks to Tony Phillips)
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Songs and calls of some New York State birds.
Click here
for an index of 100's of sounds (.au and .aiff). |
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Stokes
Field Guide
to Bird Songs
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Sample soundprints of ten species from their guide, along with descriptive text from the
accompanying booklet. |
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Back to top |
Flocks
of Red-winged Blackbirds have been in the area for about a week. They are a little more hardy and are often the
first to arrive.
February 3, 2002
