Official bird of King Township?

Photos by Barry Wallace

EASTERN KINGBIRD

(Tyrannus tyrannus)

King Township does not have an official bird, as far as I know.   However it's time we did have one and I'd like to propose the Eastern Kingbird.   Apart from the extreme appropriateness of its official name 'Kingbird', this bird reminds me of the collective traits of many King Township residents.  Famed birder Roger Tory Peterson, in his acclaimed field guide of the Birds of Eastern and Central North America has the following to say about this tyrant flycatcher: "White band across tip of tail identifies this species.   Red crown mark is concealed and rarely seen.  Often seems to fly quiveringly on 'tips of wings'.   Harasses crows, hawks.  Voice; a rapid sputter of high bickering notes.   Habitat: Wood edges, river groves,  farms, shelterbelts, orchards, roadsides, wires and fence posts".  The general behaviour of this fiesty, tyrant flycatcher reminds me of many King residents who welcome a fight (above their weight in many cases) to protect their territory.

Please comment if you wish. 

BarrytheBirder

No wild birds at Lake Wilcox...

                                                                                              Photo by Barry Wallace

I was looking for birds to photograph at nearby Lake Wilcox this past Saturday, but couldn't find any flying birds of interest.   The fellow pictured above did however catch my eye.   Google says kiteboarding, also known as kite surfing, is an action sport combining aspects of wake boarding, snowboarding, wind surfing, surfing, paragliding and skateboarding into one extreme sport.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Might we have an early spring?

 Photos by BarrytheBirder

These Muscovy Ducks at the nearby Pine Farms Apple Orchard are not wild birds but they certainly appreciate getting out of their pen for a taste of early spring weather. 

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BarrytheBirder

10th anniversary of Varied Thrush sighting...

Photo by Barry Wallace

VARIED THRUSH

(Ixoreus naevius)

It's been ten years this month since I took the photo above of a Varied Thrush at Cold Creek Conservation Area, a few miles from my home.   I'd never seen one before and haven't seen another one since then.   I was very impressed with its markings and colours and even more so with its amazing friendliness.  Many people got to see and photograph this cooperative bird.   I've wondered a few times over the years if it ever made it all the way back to its native British Columbia shores.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder  

More official provincial and territories birds...

Raven photo by Bob/Nancy Wallace

     Yukon Territory: Common Raven
     Ontario: Common Loon
     Saskatchewan: Sharp-tailed Grouse
     Northwest Territories: Gyrfalcon
     Nunavut: Rock Ptarmigan

As of yet, there is no official national bird of Canada, but a recent, unauthorized survey and subsequent selection process declared the Gray Jay as the bird that should be Canada's national bird.   The Gray Jay was not the top pick of participants in the survey portion of the process.   The Canadian government has not commented on the unauthorized selection.   Stay tuned.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry the Birder 

British Columbia's official bird is also a jay...

Photo by Dave Kemp

STELLAR'S JAY

The official bird of British Columbia

Found from southern B.C. to northern B.C. and in the Queen Charlotte Islands.  It was declared the official provicial bird on December 17, 1987.   It was voted most popular bird by citizens of British Columbia.
Please comment if you wish.
BarrytheBirder

More official birds from Canada's provinces...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Nova Scotia ~ Osprey

New Brunswick ~ Black-capped Chickadee

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Other official Canadian provincial birds...

Having mentioned the official bird of one of Canada's provinces yesterday, I feel obliged to mention Canada's other official provincial and territorial birds.

                                                                           Snowy Owl photo by BarrytheBirder

Owls are official birds in three

Canadian provinces.

     1. Alberta - Great Horned Owl

     2. Manitoba - Great Gray Owl 

     3. Quebec - Snowy Owl

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Is a Blue Jay really blue?

                                                                                    Photo by BarrytheBirder

BLUE JAY

(Cyanocitta cristata)

The pigment in Blue Jay feathers is melanin, which is brown.  The blue colour is caused by scattering light through modified cells on the surface of the feather barbs.   Yes, but why?  Oh, and by the way, the Blue Jay is the official bird of the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Hawk Owl persists in Schomberg...

Photos

by

Barry

the

Birder

The Hawk Owl at Dufferin Marsh in Schomberg continues to draw birders from near and far.   The mother and daughter duo above were from Toronto and were getting great photos on Friday of this week.   The Hawk Owl is well into its third month at the marsh in the centre of the village.

Please comment if you wish.
BarrytheBirder

It likely happens more often than you think...

 Photo: Audubon / Jocelyn Anderson

The photos shown here are recent pictures from the Audubon website which feature young adoptive birds that have been taken in by other species parents.   The photo above and below show a young Canada Goose with its adoptive Sandhill Crane family.

The bottom photo shows a Goldeneye duckling getting a lift from its adopted Common Loon parent in British Columbia.

Accidental adoptions like these are not always successful and the unfortunate interloper often does not survive.   But those that do often go on to rejoin their own breed and live a normal existence thereafter.

 Photo: Audubon / Jocelyn Anderson 

Photo: Audubon / Doug Giles

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

A superb nightime hunter...

                                                                Photo: Peter Trimming / British Wildlife Centre

BARN OWL
(Tyto alba)

I was just flipping through my copy of Kenn Kaufman's Lives of North American Birds and came across his entry for Barn Owl.   For some reason I always thought the Barn Owl was a single species found in North America.   Thanks to Mr. Kaufmann, I now know Barn Owls are: "One of the most widespread of all 'landbirds', found on six continents and many islands".   Elsewhere I have learned there are two families of owls.   One family is the Barn Owl family, of which there are 16 species.   The second family is known as the True Owl family, of which there are nearly 220 living species.
Please comment if you wish.
BarrytheBirder     

Plump Chipping Sparrows thriving at my backyard feeders...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

2020 is turning out to be the second winter in a row when we have had Chipping Sparrows at the feeders every day, here just of north of Toronto and Lake Ontario.  They are plump and a delight to watch. I have read reports that Chipping Sparrow populations are decreasing in North America.   What a shame.   'Chippies' are charmers.   Long may they thrive here throughout the year.  

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Found in southern Canada ~ but is a winter migrant...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Eastern Towhee
(Pipilo erythrophthalmus)

After going on and on about my new towhee t-shirt yesterday, I realized I had a few Eastern Towhee photos that I could share, so here are some.   There's really no mistaking this bird with is three distinctive colours.   Its 'drink you tea' song is rather distinctive also.   And what about that name 'towhee'?  The name is echoic of one of its calls, and as far back as the 1700s listeners picked up on the imitative call of the bird.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

I finally own a Phil Chadwick artwork...

I've been an admirer of Phil Chadwick's paintings for decades.   He was a resident of King Township for many years before moving to the eastern Ontario countryside several years ago.   Phil is a highly acclaimed and well-known 'plein air' artist, or outdoor artist, particularly of landscapes, lakesides, riverscapes and waterfall subject matter.   He has created thousands of works over the decades, been very successful at selling his work and has reached a stage in his art career, that reproductions of his originals are in demand and available in many forms.   One of those forms now is high-quality t-shirts.   When I saw the Eastern Towhee t-shirt (pictured above), I had to have one...and now BarrytheBirder does have one.   I'd like to think I will still have a 'Chadwick' artwork hanging on a wall one day and maybe I will...likely a print of one of his paintings.   You can find endless images of Phil's work online, including much more subject matter  than lakes and streams and breathtaking clouds...even fine portraits of people and their pets.   Have a look online.   His work is remarkable and outstanding.
Please comment if you wish.
BarrytheBirder 

Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola)

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Photo: Leon-bojarczuk CC-BY-SA-2007

Found throughout the Caribbean and known by many names, such as Beany Bird, Sikye Bird, See See Bird, Honeycreeper, Sugar-bird, Yellow-breast.  It is known for its affinity to human environments, including my breakfast tables at many islands in the West Indies and Mexico

Please comment 
if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

The 'eyes' have it...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

If you are like me and have both Cooper's Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks swooping down upon vulnerable Mourning Doves, below the feeders in your winter backyard, you may have wondered if the particular raptors are adults or juveniles.

Generally, if either of these acciptors has orange eyes, such as the Cooper Hawk above (on the left), it is an adult.   If either of these two birds has yellow eyes, such as the Sharp-shinned Hawk above (on the right), it is a juvenile.

There is always the exception to the rule, and an occasional Cooper's Hawk may have white eyes, or a juvenile Sharp-shinned may have brown eyes.   But generally speaking...

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

White-breasted Nuthatch loves sunflower seeds...

Photo by BarrytheBirder

...but prefers the unshelled seeds.

The Wild Birds Unlimited website says White-breasted Nuthatches typically take a single sunflower seed and fly to a nearby tree, then wedge it into the bark and hack it open with repeated blows from their bill.   In a study of their seed caching behaviour, it was found that they selected unshelled sunflower seeds approximately 25 percent more often than seeds still in the shell.   It appears this preference is driven by the fact that it takes the nuthatch about half the time to transport and cache an unshelled seed than it does a shelled one.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Black-capped Chickadees are charmers...

                                                                                                           Photos by BarrytheBirder

Black and white and gray with buffy underparts,

plus they are inquisitive, tame, trusting 

and quickly learn to feed from the hand.

What more could you ask of a feathered friend?

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

In a field nearby...

Photo and haiku by BarrytheBirder

gleaning geese heads bowed

searching throughout the stubble

light snow dusting them

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Prettiest bird in the winter garden...

                                                                                                       Photo by BarrytheBirder

Thank goodness Northern Cardinals

don't go south for the winter.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Forgive my photo fascination with the feathers of the Starling...

                                                                                         Photos by BarrytheBirder

...but their colouration arouses the artist in me.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Bird carvings by Liza Chiu and Ron Sadler...

                                                                                                    Photos by BarrytheBirder

Pictured here are a couple of photos of my favourite carvings that I purchased over 30 years ago, when I first started birdwatching.   The one above is of a Western Grebe, created by Liza Chiu in 1987.   It is also seen in the photo below, on the left.   The one on the right, in the photo below, is of a loon and was carved by Ron Sadler in 1983.

Please comment if you wish.
BarrytheBirder

A blog entry from 12 years ago...

2008: 374 species  ~  2020: 450 species

Below is a BarrytheBirder blog entry, and a photo, from 12 years ago.   It serves only to show how slow it is for some birders, like me, to add to their list of total species seen.

Photo by BarrytheBirder

"I have a couple of Tilley hats.   One of them is covered with lapel pins that I picked up on my travels.   At last count there are 74 pins and the hat is a bit heavy.  Most of them are related to birdwatching or other nature things.   There are, however, a number that are mementos of other interests and pastimes.  There are pins that have to do with major league sports, canoeing, volunteering, museums, vacations, etc.  There are even pins for the FBI and CIA (don't ask).

There are also two American Birding Association pins with numbers 200 and 300 on them (they're on the photo of my hat, above, at the top, in the centre).   I bought these pins for myself when I reached those plateaus on my bird species life list.   At one time, not so long ago, I was sure I would reach 500 and then 1,000, and on and on, as I chased world champion birder, Phoebe Snetsinger and her record of 8,450 species.   It's now a few years on into my birdwatching career and I'm just 8,076 bird species behind Phoebe.   Not that Phoebe has to worry about me.   She is dead.   She died accidentally, binoculars in hand, on a birding tour in Madagascar in 1999.   Moments before her death, Phoebe had added a very rare Red-shoulder Vanga to her life list.

I've done an about-face now.   I no longer think about adding birds to my life list in terms of quantity.   Apart from the practical considerations of finding the money to travel to almost every country in the world to see as many species as Phoebe did, now I wake up each day thrilled at the prospect that there are still 8,000 bird species for me to discover.   At 66 years of age, I am confident that I will not out-live my hobby.   This pleases me."

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

A.K.A. (also known as)

 Photos by BarrytheBirder

In my backyard garden I know them as American Goldfinches.   In other places and at other times, this pretty little bird was known by other names.   

Here are just a few: Eastern Goldfinch, Thistle-bird, Yellow Goldfinch, Willow Goldfinch, Pale Goldfinch, Western Goldfinch, North-western Goldfinch, and California Goldfinch.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Richmond Hill Naturalists January sightings...

Northern Harrier photo by Dave Kemp

Among the bird sightings by Richmond Hill Naturalists in January were a Northern Harrier by Stan Phippen, a Great Blue Heron By Patti Somerville, a Golden-crown Kinglet by Robert Spaul, a Horned Lark and an Eastern Bluebird by Steve Kinsley, and a Carolina Wren by Elias Takacs.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder 

Cackling Goose spotted by Richmond Hill Naturalist Club member...

Photo: audubon.org

CACKLING GOOSE (in foreground of photo above)
Canada Goose in background

Allison Zhang of the Richmond Hill Naturalists has reported observing a Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) on January 15th of this year.   The photo above was taken by Blake Matheson/FlickerCC(BYNC2.0) and appears on audubon.org .   The Cackling Goose is now recognized as a smaller version of the Canada Goose.  Formerly considered the smallest sub-species, there are now four small forms of the Canada Goose to be recognized as a full species that breeds further north and west of the full-sized Canada Goose (Branta canadensis).   The new species should be spotted however, in the winter, along the north shores of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder

Last sparrow blog for a while...

 Photos by BarrytheBirder

FOX SPARROW

(Passerella iliaca)

Easily recognized by its 'foxy' red-brown colour and larger size, for a sparrow.   In summer its northern habitat stretches from Alaska right across Canada to Newfoundland.   In winter, it is found ranging from Texas to Massachusetts.   Its red colour is very attractive and takes some of the ennui out of identifying sparrow species that often look alike.

Please comment if you like.

BarrytheBirder