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Winter Birding in Canada - 2008-09 - Update #1
13 December 2008
I am pleased to offer the first update for the=20
Canadian 2008/09 Winter Birding Season. While=20
the weather has differed markedly across this=20
vast land, in general temperatures were moderate=20
enough to permit some open fresh water to linger,=20
and most provinces have enjoyed a good start to=20
their respective winter bird lists.
It is perhaps too early to spot any trends for=20
this season, but certainly there has been a=20
notable southern influx of Snowy Owls in most=20
provinces. And (as we always hope) there have=20
been many interesting rarites to brighten a=20
winter=92s day. The rarest bird so far recorded=20
must be the Black-tailed Gull in British=20
Columbia, perhaps the first Canadian winter=20
record. But all provinces have enjoyed the=20
unexpected, and I invite you to explore their respective web pages.
Here are the various totals and highlighted=20
species for all ten provinces, as well as the=20
French islands of Saint-Pierre et Michelon, and=20
the country of Iceland. I=92ve also provided links to each winter birding=
page.
PROVINCES FROM EAST TO WEST:
Newfoundland: http://tinyurl.com/2jqo5p (updated 13 Dec)
105 species - Northern Lapwing, Slaty-backed=20
Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Red-bellied Woodpecker (5th provincial record).
Nova Scotia: http://tinyurl.com/nswinter (updated 13 Dec)
162 species. (average =3D 195) - Green Heron (1st=20
winter record); Sora (1st winter record);=20
Semipalmated Plover (3rd winter record); 2=20
Western Kingbirds; Hermit Warbler (4th provincial=20
record, 2nd in winter); 2 Grasshopper Sparrows, Brewer=92s Blackbird.
Several teams are attempting to each reach 100=20
species during the winter within Halifax Regional=20
Municipality. Their progress can be monitored=20
here: http://tinyurl.com/winterhrm
Prince Edward Island: http://tinyurl.com/peiwinter (updated 7 Dec)
46 species (average =3D 118) - House Finch (1st winter record).
New Brunswick: http://tinyurl.com/nbwinter (updated 10 Dec)
131 species (average =3D 162) -=20
White-winged Dove; Marsh Wren (1st winter record).
QuPbec: http://tinyurl.com/qcwinter (updated 12 Dec)
153 species - Tundra Swan (1st winter record);=20
Ross=92s Gull; Laughing Gull; Marsh Wren; American=20
Pipit; Black-and-white Warbler (1st winter=20
record); Wilson=92s Warbler; Dickcissel.
Ontario: http://tinyurl.com/onwinter (updated 7 Dec)
138 species - American Avocet; Blue-headed Vireo;=20
Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler,=20
Black-throated Gray Warbler (< 10 provincial=20
records); Spotted Towhee (< 10 provincial records).
Manitoba: http://tinyurl.com/mbwinter (updated 13 Dec)
82 species (average =3D 101) - American Wigeon;=20
Harlequin Duck; Double-crested Cormorant.
Saskatchewan: http://tinyurl.com/skwinter (updated 4 Dec)
54 species (average =3D 111) - White-winged Scoter;=20
Long-tailed Duck; Eared Grebe; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
Alberta: http://tinyurl.com/abwinter (updated 9 Dec.)
98 species (average =3D 141) - Surf Scoter; American White Pelican; Mew=
Gull.
British Columbia: http://tinyurl.com/bcwinter (updated 13 Dec.)
175 species (average =3D 250) - Black-tailed Gull=20
(1st Canadian winter record); Costa=92s Hummingbird=20
(<10 provincial records); Black-throated Gray=20
Warbler; Hooded Warbler (<10 provincial records).
Other Reporting Regions:
French Islands of Saint-Pierre et=20
Michelon: http://tinyurl.com/spmwinter (updated 12 Dec.)
58 species (average =3D 84) - Snow Goose (3rd=20
winter record); Wood Duck (3rd winter record);=20
Hooded Merganser (2nd winter record);=20
White-rumped Sandpiper (3rd winter record).
Iceland: http://tinyurl.com/iceland-winter
90 species - White-tailed Eagle; Water Rail;=20
Eurasian Woodcock; Common Snipe; Bar-tailed Godwit.
Other Resources:
Environment Canada=92s Winter Seasonal Forecast:
http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/saisons/index_e.html
Reference: What is Winter Birding?
In Canada, perhaps because of (or in spite of)=20
experiencing a bit of weather during the winter,=20
winter birding has become a very popular=20
activity. The origins of this slightly insane=20
behaviour apparently date from southern Ontario=20
in the 50's and 60's, but the sport's appeal=20
really took off with the promotion afforded it by=20
Gerry Bennett in the 1980's, through his=20
"Birdfinding in Canada" newsletter. Winter=20
Birding remains popular today. The winter=20
birding period comprises the three months of=20
December through February, matching the reporting=20
period of "North American Birds".
"For those who may be unfamiliar with the=20
concept, it basically involves a frenzied search=20
during the first couple of weeks to squeeze in as=20
many late migrants as possible before the=20
onslaught of usually more severe weather=20
conditions. Christmas Bird Counts often jack up=20
our total, as do normal winter activities. Plus,=20
it gives us birders something to do for the three=20
slowest birding months of the year other than=20
sitting idle on our hands until March. To me, at=20
least, a winter list is great for maintaining=20
birding enthusiasm, and gets a person active and=20
out of the house to ward off the winter doldrums=20
that tend to creep up mid season."
- Rudy Dudragne, Saskatchewan
Good (winter) birding,
----------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-
Blake Maybank
maybank@ns.sympatico.ca
White's Lake, Nova Scotia, Canada
Editor, "Nova Scotia Birds"
author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia"
http://maybank.tripod.com/BSNS.htm
=93A true Canadian loves the Winter, revels in it,=20
especially in the North. . . .Winter is on, the=20
air becomes like rich wine that strengthens and=20
invigorates; pure, crisp and=20
health-giving. Those who have not travelled in=20
the vast, snowbound lake country of the North, or=20
tramped on showshoes in the Winter forest, where=20
the brilliant sun, shining out of a sky that is=20
pure, clear blue; those who have never witnessed=20
the wild, majestic spectacle of a swiftly=20
marching snowstorm=97To them I will say that no=20
matter what they may have seen and done, life=20
still holds something for them that they should=20
not miss. Not every country has these things and=20
I, for one, say we are fortunate. =94
- Grey Owl
=20
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<html>
<body>
<font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times"><b><u>Winter Birding in Canada -
2008-09 - Update #1</u></b> <br><br>
13 December 2008<br><br>
I am pleased to offer the first update for the Canadian 2008/09 Winter
Birding Season. While the weather has differed markedly across this
vast land, in general temperatures were moderate enough to permit some
open fresh water to linger, and most provinces have enjoyed a good start
to their respective winter bird lists.<br><br>
It is perhaps too early to spot any trends for this season, but certainly
there has been a notable southern influx of Snowy Owls in most
provinces. And (as we always hope) there have been many
interesting rarites to brighten a winter=92s day. The rarest bird so
far recorded must be the Black-tailed Gull in British Columbia, perhaps
the first Canadian winter record. But all provinces have
enjoyed the unexpected, and I invite you to explore their respective web
pages.<br><br>
Here are the various totals and highlighted species for all ten
provinces, as well as the French islands of Saint-Pierre et Michelon, and
the country of Iceland. I=92ve also provided links to each
winter birding page.<br><br>
<b><u>PROVINCES FROM EAST TO WEST</u>:<br><br>
Newfoundland: </b>
<a href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/2jqo5p" eudora=3D"autourl">
http://tinyurl.com/2jqo5p</a>
(updated 13 Dec)<br>
<dl>
<dd><b>105 species</b> - Northern Lapwing, Slaty-backed Gull,
Yellow-legged Gull, Red-bellied Woodpecker
(5</font><font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times" size=3D1><sup>th</sup></font>
<font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times"> provincial record).<br><br>
</dl><b>Nova Scotia:</b>
<a href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/nswinter" eudora=3D"autourl">
http://tinyurl.com/nswinter</a> (updated 13 Dec)<br>
<dl>
<dd><b>162 species</b>.<b> </b>(average =3D 195) - Green Heron
(1</font><font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times" size=3D1><sup>st</sup></font>
<font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times"> winter record); Sora
(1</font><font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times" size=3D1><sup>st</sup></font>
<font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times"> winter record); Semipalmated Plover
(3</font><font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times" size=3D1><sup>rd</sup></font>
<font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times"> winter record); 2 Western Kingbirds;
Hermit Warbler
(4</font><font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times" size=3D1><sup>th</sup></font>
<font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times"> provincial record,
2</font><font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times" size=3D1><sup>nd</sup></font>
<font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times"> in winter); 2 Grasshopper Sparrows,
Brewer=92s Blackbird.<br><br>
<dd>Several teams are attempting to each reach 100 species during the
winter within Halifax Regional Municipality. Their progress
can be monitored here:
<a href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/winterhrm" eudora=3D"autourl">
http://tinyurl.com/winterhrm<br><br>
</a>
</dl><b>Prince Edward Island</b>:
<a href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/peiwinter" eudora=3D"autourl">
http://tinyurl.com/peiwinter</a> (updated 7
Dec)<br>
<x-tab> </x-tab><b>46
species</b> (average =3D 118) - House Finch
(1</font><font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times" size=3D1><sup>st</sup></font>
<font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times"> winter record).<br><br>
<b>New Brunswick:</b>
<a href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/nbwinter" eudora=3D"autourl">
http://tinyurl.com/nbwinter</a> (updated 10 Dec)<br>
<x-tab> </x-tab><b>131
species</b> (average =3D 162) - White-winged Dove; Marsh Wren
(1</font><font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times" size=3D1><sup>st</sup></font>
<font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times"> winter record).<br>
<b>Qu</font>P<font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times">bec: </b>
<a href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/qcwinter" eudora=3D"autourl">
http://tinyurl.com/qcwinter</a> (updated 12
Dec)<br>
<dl>
<dd><b>153 species</b> - Tundra Swan
(1</font><font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times" size=3D1><sup>st</sup></font>
<font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times"> winter record); Ross=92s Gull;
Laughing Gull; Marsh Wren; American Pipit; Black-and-white Warbler
(1</font><font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times" size=3D1><sup>st</sup></font>
<font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times"> winter record); Wilson=92s Warbler;
Dickcissel.<br><br>
</dl><b>Ontario:</b>
<a href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/onwinter" eudora=3D"autourl">
http://tinyurl.com/onwinter</a> (updated 7 Dec)<br>
<dl>
<dd><b>138 species</b> - American Avocet; Blue-headed Vireo; Yellow
Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler (<
10 provincial records); Spotted Towhee (< 10 provincial
records).<br><br>
</dl><b>Manitoba: </b>
<a href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/mbwinter" eudora=3D"autourl">
http://tinyurl.com/mbwinter</a> (updated 13 Dec)<br>
<dl>
<dd><b>82 species</b> (average =3D 101) - American Wigeon; Harlequin Duck;
Double-crested Cormorant.<br><br>
</dl><b>Saskatchewan:</b>
<a href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/skwinter" eudora=3D"autourl">
http://tinyurl.com/skwinter</a> (updated 4
Dec)<br>
<dl>
<dd><b>54 species</b> (average =3D 111) - White-winged Scoter; Long-tailed
Duck; Eared Grebe; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.<br><br>
</dl><b>Alberta:</b>
<a href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/abwinter" eudora=3D"autourl">
http://tinyurl.com/abwinter</a>
(updated 9 Dec.)<br>
<dl>
<dd><b>98 species </b>(average =3D 141) - Surf Scoter; American White
Pelican; Mew Gull.<br><br>
</dl><b>British Columbia:</b>
<a href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/bcwinter" eudora=3D"autourl">
http://tinyurl.com/bcwinter</a> (updated 13 Dec.)<br>
<dl>
<dd><b>175 species </b>(average =3D 250) - Black-tailed Gull
(1</font><font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times" size=3D1><sup>st</sup></font>
<font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times"> Canadian winter record); Costa=92s
Hummingbird (<10 provincial records); Black-throated Gray Warbler;
Hooded Warbler (<10 provincial records).<br><br>
</dl><b><u>Other Reporting Regions</u>:<br><br>
French Islands of Saint-Pierre et Michelon:</b>
<a href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/spmwinter" eudora=3D"autourl">
http://tinyurl.com/spmwinter</a> (updated 12 Dec.)<br>
<dl>
<dd><b>58 species</b> (average =3D 84) - Snow Goose
(3</font><font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times" size=3D1><sup>rd</sup></font>
<font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times"> winter record); Wood Duck
(3</font><font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times" size=3D1><sup>rd</sup></font>
<font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times"> winter record); Hooded Merganser
(2</font><font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times" size=3D1><sup>nd</sup></font>
<font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times"> winter record); White-rumped
Sandpiper
(3</font><font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times" size=3D1><sup>rd</sup></font>
<font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times"> winter record).<br><br>
</dl><b>Iceland:</b>
<a href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/iceland-winter" eudora=3D"autourl">
http://tinyurl.com/iceland-winter<br>
</a>
<dl>
<dd><b>90 species</b> - White-tailed Eagle; Water Rail; Eurasian
Woodcock; Common Snipe; Bar-tailed Godwit.<br><br>
</dl><b><u>Other Resources</u></b>:<br><br>
Environment Canada=92s Winter Seasonal Forecast:<br>
</font><font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times" color=3D"#0000FF"><u>
<a href=3D"http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/saisons/index_e.html" eudora=3D"au=
tourl">
http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/saisons/index_e.html<br><br>
<br>
</a></u></font><font face=3D"Times New Roman, Times">Reference: <b><u>What
is Winter Birding</u>?<br><br>
</b>In Canada, perhaps because of (or in spite of) experiencing a bit of
weather during the winter, winter birding has become a very popular
activity. The origins of this slightly insane behaviour
apparently date from southern Ontario in the 50's and 60's, but the
sport's appeal really took off with the promotion afforded it by Gerry
Bennett in the 1980's, through his "Birdfinding in Canada"
newsletter. Winter Birding remains popular today. The
winter birding period comprises the three months of December through
February, matching the reporting period of "North American
Birds". <br><br>
"<i>For those who may be unfamiliar with the concept, it basically
involves a frenzied search during the first couple of weeks to squeeze in
as many late migrants as possible before the onslaught of usually more
severe weather conditions. Christmas Bird Counts often jack up our
total, as do normal winter activities. Plus, it gives us birders
something to do for the three slowest birding months of the year other
than sitting idle on our hands until March. To me, at least, a
winter list is great for maintaining birding enthusiasm, and gets a
person active and out of the house to ward off the winter doldrums that
tend to creep up mid season</i>." <br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>- Rudy
Dudragne, Saskatchewan<br><br>
Good (winter) birding,<br><br>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-<br>
Blake Maybank<br>
maybank@ns.sympatico.ca<br>
White's Lake, Nova Scotia, Canada<br>
Editor, "Nova Scotia Birds"<br><br>
author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia"<br>
<a href=3D"http://maybank.tripod.com/BSNS.htm" eudora=3D"autourl">
http://maybank.tripod.com/BSNS.htm<br><br>
</a>=93<i>A true Canadian loves the Winter, revels in it, especially in the
North. . . .Winter is on, the air becomes like rich wine that strengthens
and invigorates; pure, crisp and health-giving. Those who have not
travelled in the vast, snowbound lake country of the North, or tramped on
showshoes in the Winter forest, where the brilliant sun, shining out of a
sky that is pure, clear blue; those who have never witnessed the wild,
majestic spectacle of a swiftly marching snowstorm=97To them I will say
that no matter what they may have seen and done, life still holds
something for them that they should not miss. Not every country has
these things and I, for one, say we are fortunate. </i>=94<br>
<x-tab> </x-tab>- Grey
Owl<br><br>
</font></body>
</html>
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