Are Mute Swan feathers special?

                                                                    Photos by BarrytheBirder

Mute Swan featers are special due to their immense quantity (approximately 25,000), incredible insulating density, and waterproofing capabilities that protect them in cold, aquatic environments.   The pure white plumage is actually quite thin compared to others, but they are ptrotected by a thick, soft down layer underneath.   They are alsohistorically significant  as the source of "pen quills".

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BarrytheBirder

3 New Species on Christmas Bird Count...

 The Winter 2026 Edition of BIRDWATCH CANADA has recently published the results of the 125th Christmas Bird Count, which tallied 284 species.

Three species were new to the all-time 'CBC' list, including...

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird in Ontario

Photo: Brian Kulvete/ Macauley Library

Sage Thrasher in Saskatchewan

Photo: Bolsa Chica Land Trust

Steller's Sea Eagle in Newfoundland

Photo Source: Birdfoot

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BarrytheBirder

Snowy Owls on the Ravenshoe Sideroad......

Wikipedia photo

 I have tried all winter to get photos of Snowy Owls on the Ravenshoe Sideroad, south of Keswick, Ontario, with no success.   It is a perennial favourite spot with many birders in York Region to see "Snowies".   I recently net another birder on the Ravenshoe Sideroad who said he had not seen a Snowy there this winter also.

Below are photos of 'Snowies' I havwe photographed there in previous years...

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BarrytheBirder

Overall favourite birds of mine...

                                                                    Photos by Barry the Birder

Trumpeter Swan

I happened to be going through one of my field guides (National Geographic Society- Second Edition) recently and casually noted how many birds were my personal favorites.   I went back to the start of the guide and thumbed through the entire 464-page book.   I found myself picking 12 personal favourites:

1. Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)

2. Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensus)

3. Common Loon (Gavia immer)

4. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

5. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

6. Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)

7. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

8. Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus)

9. Belted Kingfisher (Mega cerylealcyon)

10. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

11. Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia)

12. Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)

Great Horned Owl

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BarrytheBirder

Old Farmer's Almanac - birds of the month...

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

The Old Farmer's Almanac stated that certain bird species with their unique characteristics, were chosen to represent the 12 birth months of the year.  In colder northern regions, some associate December, my birth month, with hardy winter visitors like the Snow Buntings (one of my personal favourites), a species celebrated for its resilience and ability to thrive in extreme conditions.  But with its vivid red plumage standing out against bare branches and winter snow, the Northern Cardinal is a powerful symbol of vitality, warmth and loyalty.

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BarrytheBirder

Nature Canada - March, 2026 - Gadwall

Photo by Daniel Petterson / Macauley Library

Gadwall (Anas Strepera)

Gadwalls are found in southern Canada, across the U.S. and Mexico.   They are fairly common in the west, less common in the east.   Their widespread breeding range appears to be expanding eastward.   Males are mostly gray, with white belly, black tail coverts, pale chestnut on wings.

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BarrytheBirder

Common Loon (Gavia immer) should be Canada's officially designated bird

Photo by Christian Hagenlocher / Macauley Library

The Common Loon was adopted as the Official Bird of the Canadian Province of Ontario in 1994.   It was also designated the State Bird of Minnesota in 1961.   In my humble opinion, it should also be the 'Official Bird' of Canada.

It is found across Canada from British to Columbia to Newfoundland and north to parts of some the arctic islands in the breeding season.   It is found across the U.S.A in migration.   It is also found along the western North American coastlines from Alaska to Mexico and on the eastern North American coastlines from Labrador  to Mexico.

It is an extremely attractive and large bird - length 32' (81 cm).

If for no other reason, however, it is the call of the Common Loon that makes it my choice as Canada's national bird.   There is no other wild bird call like the Common Loon's inimitable loud yodel; the call that has mesmerized me, and countless others, on so many canoe trips in Ontario's Algonquin Park and elsewhere.

Their is no current national bird in Canada.   

In 2015, Canadian Geographic magazine announced a project to select a national bird for Canada.   Readers voted in an online poll for their favourite bird.   The top five selections were  the Common Loon and the Canada Jay, Snowy Owl, Canada Goose and Black-capped Chickadee.

The project's announced winner was the small, plain looking Canada Jay, a bird whose territory does not cover as much of Canada as the Common Loon.   Its organizers hoped for the Canadian government to formally recognize the choice, but the Department of Canadian Heritage said no new official symbol proposals were being considered at the time.   Eleven years later, there is still no officially designated Canadian national bird.

Hope springs in my heart eternally for the Common Loon!

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder