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> This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. --Boundary_(ID_bIaFB/UExHcer/Yph9roQg) Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Subject: Red phalaropes cause a stir -- Daily News, May 27, 2007 Daily News, May 27, 2007 COLUMNS Last updated at 7:30 AM on 27/05/07 Red phalaropes cause a stir CLARENCE STEVENS The Daily News Miserable weather during the recent long weekend destroyed bird trip plans for many birders, and slowed the arrival of new species into the province to a trickle. Reported arrivals once the rain finally stopped included: northern waterthrushes, Nashville warblers, chipping sparrows, bobolinks, common yellowthroats, ovenbirds, Wilson's warblers, yellow warblers, Blackburnian warblers, blackpoll warblers, and American kestrels. Good weather should see a whole slew of new species pour into the province this week. However, the rainy weather, combined with consistent south- east winds, did produce some excitement for Halifax-area birders. Specifically, the weather createdconditions that caused birds that normally stay off our coast to be driven into the protective cover of Halifax Harbour. The first discovery was of two laughing gulls at Tufts Cove. Soon, a third was sighted near the Nova Scotia hospital. Laughing gulls are very easy to see in Florida, where they lounge around white sand beaches. However in our province, it is a different story. Only a few of these southern gulls show up in Nova Scotia each spring, and they are notoriously difficult to see. In addition to their low numbers, most laughing gulls spend the majority of their time in our province feeding along the coast just out of sight of land. While the laughing gulls piqued the interest of metro birders, the real excitement came with sightings of red phalaropes. Red phalaropes migrate past Nova Scotia every spring, but stay well out to sea as they do so. It has been a very long time since any have been observed in the Halifax Harbour. Just as the rain was ending Sunday morning, a distant flock of about 100 phalaropes was seen flying out of the harbour. Soon, two red phalaropes were discovered close to the peace pavilion adjacent to the Dartmouth Ferry Terminal, providing thrills for a number of lucky birders. This was followed by the discovery of nearly 50 red phalaropes feeding off Seaveiw Park in Halifax and one near Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth. Unfortunately, a security guard at BIO was quick to discourage any birders from looking at the habour waters near the institute, even from a distance. I believe that security is important, but at the same time it should be carried out in a manner that ordinary citizens are not made to feel like criminals. In this day and age, security issues need to be addressed, but let's hope they can be dealt with in a professional, courteous manner. dnbirder@yahoo.ca. Clarence Stevens is the author of Birding Metro Halifax and operates Natural Wonders, a company specializing in nature walks and workshops. --Boundary_(ID_bIaFB/UExHcer/Yph9roQg) Content-type: text/html; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT <HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Red phalaropes cause a stir -- Daily News, May 27, 2007</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> <BR> <B>Subject: </B>Red phalaropes cause a stir -- Daily News, May 27, 2007<BR> <BR> <FONT SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="Arial">Daily News, May 27, 2007<BR> </FONT></FONT> <BR> <FONT COLOR="#BB0000"><B>COLUMNS</B></FONT> <FONT COLOR="#A0A0A0"><I>Last updated at 7:30 AM on 27/05/07</I> </FONT> <BR> <FONT COLOR="#BB0000"><B>Red phalaropes cause a stir</B></FONT> <BR> <BR> <BR> <FONT COLOR="#BB0000"><B>CLARENCE STEVENS</B></FONT><B> <BR> The Daily News<BR> </B><BR> Miserable weather during the recent long weekend destroyed bird trip plans for many birders, and slowed the arrival of new species into the province to a trickle.<BR> <BR> Reported arrivals once the rain finally stopped included: northern waterthrushes, Nashville warblers, chipping sparrows, bobolinks, common yellowthroats, ovenbirds, Wilson's warblers, yellow warblers, Blackburnian warblers, blackpoll warblers, and American kestrels. Good weather should see a whole slew of new species pour into the province this week.<BR> <BR> However, the rainy weather, combined with consistent south- east winds, did produce some excitement for Halifax-area birders. Specifically, the weather createdconditions that caused birds that normally stay off our coast to be driven into the protective cover of Halifax Harbour. The first discovery was of two laughing gulls at Tufts Cove. Soon, a third was sighted near the Nova Scotia hospital. Laughing gulls are very easy to see in Florida, where they lounge around white sand beaches. However in our province, it is a different story. Only a few of these southern gulls show up in Nova Scotia each spring, and they are notoriously difficult to see. In addition to their low numbers, most laughing gulls spend the majority of their time in our province feeding along the coast just out of sight of land.<BR> <BR> While the laughing gulls piqued the interest of metro birders, the real excitement came with sightings of red phalaropes. Red phalaropes migrate past Nova Scotia every spring, but stay well out to sea as they do so.<BR> <BR> It has been a very long time since any have been observed in the Halifax Harbour. Just as the rain was ending Sunday morning, a distant flock of about 100 phalaropes was seen flying out of the harbour. Soon, two red phalaropes were discovered close to the peace pavilion adjacent to the Dartmouth Ferry Terminal, providing thrills for a number of lucky birders. This was followed by the discovery of nearly 50 red phalaropes feeding off Seaveiw Park in Halifax and one near Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth.<BR> <BR> Unfortunately, a security guard at BIO was quick to discourage any birders from looking at the habour waters near the institute, even from a distance.<BR> <BR> I believe that security is important, but at the same time it should be carried out in a manner that ordinary citizens are not made to feel like criminals. In this day and age, security issues need to be addressed, but let's hope they can be dealt with in a professional, courteous manner.<BR> <BR> <I>dnbirder@yahoo.ca.<BR> </I><BR> <I>Clarence Stevens is the author of Birding Metro Halifax and operates Natural Wonders, a company specializing in nature walks and workshops.</I> <BR> <BR> </BODY> </HTML> --Boundary_(ID_bIaFB/UExHcer/Yph9roQg)--
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