Coyotes are one of the most interesting, reviled, persecuted and intelligent of our wild neighbours. Although they do sometimes prey on domestic animals, they provide landowners with a great ecological service by controlling rodent populations. It is always a thrill for me when a coyote allows me to get close enough for photographs.
16/3/2017 Winter Wanderings . . . Hawk OwlSeeing a hawk owl is always a treat. These uncommon owls, which look hawk-like (hence their name), typically nest deep in the muskeg. They are most often seen in Central Alberta during the winter, when they wander widely in search of mice, voles and other prey. They are one of the few Alberta owl species that hunt during the day.
I thought it fitting to devote this blog to the groundhog, a mammal that was widely talked about earlier this month. Balzac Billy, Alberta’s spring prognosticator, emerged on February 2 and apparently saw his shadow. As we all know, Groundhog Day is the legend that the groundhog (woodchuck) comes out of its underground burrow on February 2 each winter to “predict” the weather. If it can see its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If it cannot see its shadow, spring is just around the corner. Groundhog day apparently has its roots in ancient Christianity, when European clergy would bless and distribute candles needed for winter. The candles somehow predicted how long and cold the winter would be. German peoples expanded on the candle concept by adopting the hedgehog as their weather predictor. When these Germans first settled in the U.S., they continued the tradition but, since there were no hedgehogs, decided that the abundant groundhog would make a good substitute spring prognosticator. In 1887, the Punxsutawney (PA) Groundhog Club declared that a local groundhog named Phil was America's only true weather-forecasting groundhog. However, other groundhogs have since been given the honour. In Canada, regions celebrate their own local (real or stuffed) groundhog. Examples include Shubenacadie Sam in Nova Scotia, Wiatron Willie in Ontario, Winnipeg Willow in Manitoba and our own Balzac Billy in Alberta (who was apparently fabricated by a Calgary weather forecaster). In reality, all Alberta groundhogs (woodchucks) are still fast asleep in their underground burrows in February. Woodchucks spend most of their lives in a state of torpor (early in the fall and late in the spring) and (during the winter) true hibernation. They often retreat to their chambers in late August or September and don’t emerge until the following May. Males emerge before the females and young from the previous year. Woodchuck burrow and den systems, which are used for several seasons, are extensive, complex and well-maintained. The den pipes can be up to 30 m long, and each den complex can have several chambers. The chambers used for hibernation are lined with dried grass in the fall, and in the spring, natal chambers are made cozy with fresh nesting material. Woodchucks breed soon after they awaken in the spring. A single litter of two to six (usually four) young is born after a gestation period of about a month. The young emerge when they are six to seven weeks of age, which in Alberta is in late June or early July. Woodchucks, like all marmots, are vegetarians, are active during the day and will spend a lot of time dozing. They usually stay quite close to their dens, to which they can bolt to safety when needed. Their main predators include hawks, owls, foxes, coyotes, bobcats, weasels, dogs and humans. Their old burrows are often used by weasels, hares and other wildlife. It has been my good fortune to spend time watching and photographing these remarkable mammals over the past couple of summers. This particular colony of woodchucks has taken up residence under buildings, where the property managers have (thankfully) taken a keen interest in them and are committed to their conservation. Kudos to this organization for caring! What a thrill it has been to be able to observe these furry, buck-toothed, long-fingered rodents going about their lives… feeding, dozing and interacting with each other. It has been especially fascinating to watch the young after they first emerge: like all young mammals, they love to frolic with their siblings and explore their surroundings, usually under the watchful eye of their stern mother. Although I never did see any of them chuck wood, I was fascinated to watch them lick concrete, likely to obtain a few salts and minerals. I was also amazed by the length of their front claws, which are well-adapted for proficient excavation as well as to easily manipulate food items. Woodchucks are typically found in open fields or pastures that are surrounded by bush. Although their range extends across the central and northern parts of the province, and they may be locally common, it has been my observation that these mammals are not as plentiful as they once were. I would appreciate any reports of local families or colonies. Who knew that a lowly dove would hold the title for being the fastest spreading invasive bird species ever recorded in North America? Even the rapid dispersal of our continent’s two most famous and insidious invaders – House Sparrows and European Starlings – pales in comparison to the speed with which the Eurasian Collared-Dove has spread since it was first documented in Miami, Florida in 1982. These birds arrived on U.S. soil via the Bahamas, where some individuals escaped from a pet shop during a mid-1970s burglary. The shop owner then released the rest of his stock – about 50 birds. Apparently, there was another release of individuals on the island of Guadeloupe in 1976, just before a forecasted volcanic eruption. It took these doves only a decade to spread all the way from Florida to Alaska. Their dispersion has followed a northwesterly direction, with the most rapid expansion following along a southeast-to-northwest path between the two areas. Less than 100 years after we drove Passenger Pigeons to extinction, these birds arrived and began to multiply with abandon. Who knows, perhaps we will once again see "a feathered tempest,” which is how Aldo Leopold described the flocks of Passenger Pigeons that were once so large they literally darkened the skies. Judy Boyd, coordinator for the Central Alberta Christmas Bird Count (CBC), reports that Eurasian Collared-Doves were first documented in Central Alberta in 2005, with nine individuals counted. CBC records for the subsequent years are as follows: four in 2006; three in 2009; five in 2010 and 2011, nine in 2012 and four in 2013. Their numbers have increased significantly over the past three years: 16 in 2014, 23 in 2015, 20 in 2016. Eurasian Collared-Doves are so named because their nape is ringed by a black half-collar. They are quite large and can be easily distinguished from our only native dove, the summer-dwelling Mourning Dove, by their larger size, squarish tail, black collar and distinctive, rhythmic three-parted coo. Their other vocalization is a loud hwaah sound, which they issue when they are excited, alarmed and just before they land. Eurasian Collared-Doves prefer highly modified landscapes over forested landscapes. This preference means that they are typically found around human habitation, not in more remote or natural habitats. However, as they increase in number, they may spread into more natural/rural areas. At a feeding station, they will dine on sunflower seeds (they gobble the seed, shell and all), wild bird mixes, millet, milo, wheat and cracked corn. They tend to feed together as a group, then fly off to a communal roosting area where they rest before returning to feed again. It appears that these birds are non-migratory, choosing to remain year-round in their newly settled regions. Although they are obviously hardy, many of the birds that I have photographed exhibited severely frost-bitten toes (either stubs or festering sores on their feet), an obvious ravage of extremely cold temperatures to which they have not yet become acclimatized. As with all invasive species, there is concern that this new invader will outcompete or displace native dove species. However, early research done by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology using Project FeederWatch data in Florida concluded that the abundance of native dove species was actually higher at sites with collared-doves than at sites without them. While the birds may not yet have had a negative impact in tropical areas, their interaction with native species in northern areas remains to be seen. Initial observations of Alberta birds indicate that they appear to feed fairly well with other species and will feed quietly together as a group on a tray feeder. However, aggressive behaviour is sometimes observed between two individual birds vying for space. One bird may fly into a feeder and attempt to knock the other one away, or the two birds will each undergo dramatic wing displays as they attempt to sort out who’s boss. I would be interested in hearing from other feeder watchers who are now (willingly or unwillingly) hosting these birds. What are your observations? Feel free to email me with details myrna@myrnapearman.com THIS JUST IN: I received this email from John and Jane Ferguson of Red Deer who read my column today about these birds: We read with interest your article in the Red Deer Advocate on Eurasian Collared Doves. In the Summer of 2002 we noticed strange dove type birds nesting in our yard, in the Oriole Park part of Red Deer. I could not find any info in Canadian books but in a Bird book of North America I did find a listing on the Eurasian Collard dove which looked like what I seen. Being family friends with Ron Bjorge of Alberta Wildlife we passed this info on to him , Ron also looked at these birds and thought that may be what we are looking at. A visit shortly after by a Biologist from Alberta Wildlife assured our find. He did film the birds at the time , and I believe a count of nine was correct. The parents and Seven young. They had nested in one of our trees that year. This was in Early July of 2002. Later on we were contacted and told that this was the first official sighting in Alberta. Only bettered a year earlier in Saskatchewan. I have dug out an old photo album to check the pictures I have, to what dates we had listed. Thank you for the article as it brings back many exciting memories of the sighting. Myrna is at the Bentley International Christmas Market today! 10-2. A
perfect place for last minute shopping! Bentley Ag Centre. 14/12/2016 In Praise of the Gray JayIn Praise of the Canada/Gray Jay My December 2016 Red Deer Advocate nature photo essay is about a bird that has received a lot of recent publicity—the Gray Jay. As was widely publicized, the Royal Canadian Geographic Society (RCGS)—after a two-year, Canada-wide search—has chosen the Gray Jay as our national bird. In a contest that included animated debates and online voting, the Gray Jay was chosen over Black-capped Chickadee, Common Loon, Canada Goose and Snowy Owl. Although the federal government hasn’t committed to naming a national bird, the RCGS has made the case that Canada’s 150th anniversary is an appropriate occasion for our country to finally choose one. Although the Gray Jay is a quintessentially Canadian bird species, some people have complained that it doesn’t really represent Canada because it is found only across the northern boreal forests. And there was some consternation voiced over the fact that RCGS chose the Gray Jay even though the loon had won the popular vote. The core range of the Gray Jay does not extend as far east as Red Deer, but anyone who has visited the west country will be well familiar with this friendly rogue-of-the-woods. I have spent many a delightful hour watching these interesting birds. What isn’t there to love about a bird that will take treats from your hand (or leftover food from a frying pan, as shown in the images here)? Like all members of the Corvide family (magpies, ravens, crows and jays), Gray Jays are intelligent and armed with formidable memories. They thrive in harsh northern climates thanks to several unique behaviours and adaptations. For reasons that aren’t clearly understood, these birds begin nesting in late winter, often sitting on eggs by late February! Both adults (which bond for life) construct their complex nests, which are fashioned from spruce and tamarack twigs held together by caterpillar cocoons, then topped with a donut of twigs that is filled with finer twigs, bark strips and lichens and then lined with feathers and fur. Interestingly, one young from the previous year may return to help feeds its siblings the next season. Some of the unique adaptations which enable these birds to endure cold temperatures include: extra fluffy plumage; feather-covered nostrils; roosting in sheltered locations; “sun-bathing” even during cold temperatures on the wind-protected, sunny side of a tree; storing food year-round by encapsulating and then gluing morsels into hiding spots in vegetation using saliva from their enlarged salivary glands (and then remembering where they hid them!). Most people who have camped, hiked or skied in the mountains or foothills have experienced the delight of being accosted, or having their campsite food pilfered, by one of these fearless beggars. Where they occur, Gray Jays will also come to backyard bird feeding stations to dine on kitchen scraps, suet, bread and shelled sunflower seeds, some of which will be cached away for later dining. They will also eat raisins and dry or canned dog and cat food. In addition to being nicknamed Camp Robber, Meat Hawk and Moose Bird, this species has also been called Canada Jay (till the American Ornithologists’ Union lumped it with the Oregon Jay and renamed them both Gray Jay in 1957) and Whiskey Jack (from the Cree name wisedadjak, meaning mischievous prankster). There has been a growing call for yet another name change, this time to reverts its name back to Canada Jay. I fully support this suggestion—an iconic Canadian name for an iconic Canadian bird! 28/11/2016 A Morning with the PtarmigansWhite-tailed Ptarmigans have been on my bucket list for a few years now. My interest has been often piqued when naturalist and photographer friends would post – or tell me – about sightings of these denizens of our alpine meadows. Last year, on the day before Highway 40 in Kananaskis Country closed for the winter, I joined my good friends Kathryn and Claudia on a trip to the Highwood Meadows parking lot in an attempt to get a glimpse of these elusive snow birds. We didn’t realize that the snow would be waist deep (oops) so we had to stick to the well-packed snowshoe trails in the area. We saw plenty of tracks and sign, but did not get even one glimpse of a bird. This year, we thought we’d start our quest a bit earlier, so Claudia and I decided to check the area on Friday November 25. We strapped on snowshoes and set out in the snow and howling winds across the flats, keeping our eyes peeled for any ptarmigan sign. The wind and snow obliterated any tracks that might have been left that day, and the few other brave birders out scouring the landscape mentioned that the birds had been seen the day before, but had been flushed several times by some over-zealous photographers. We finally gave up when darkness settled over the mountains. The next day, joined by Kathryn and getting an earlier start, we tried again. Thankfully, the wind was not as gusty and the sun even tried to shine a few times. We set off on the same paths we’d followed the day before, then soon decided to fan out and continue down the valley on both sides of the creek. What a thrill it was to finally see our first bird of the day, tucked in for a nap in the qaminiq (bowl) of a small spruce tree. Using our long lenses, we snapped a few pictures and then left it to snooze. Claudia, with her keen sense of hearing, then announced that she heard more birds on the other side of the creek, just below some big boulders. Kathryn and I hurried over to join her, and for the next hour, we were treated to an intimate glimpse into the lives of these amazing birds. We kept a respectful distance at all times, moving slowly and then sitting quietly in the snow. The birds soon determined that we posed little threat, as they actually flew to the bushes beside us and started feeding. How remarkable it was to watch their behaviour! I had no idea that they would crash land in the snow and then either sit and peek out at the world around them, or disappear altogether under the snowpack. At one point, we were photographing four birds that were feeding right in front of us. Within seconds, all four of them completely disappeared. A few minutes later, one reappeared up the slope. As we photographed and watched them, we enjoyed listening to their chatter, and were delighted to watch them go about their daily tasks—stretching, dozing, nibbling at the buds of small bushes, sunbathing, flying on occasion from spot to spot, relaxing and wading through the fluffy snow with their huge, feather-covered snowshoe-feet. After about an hour, we decided that it was best to leave. We thanked the birds for sharing a part of their day with us and bid them adieu before setting back to the parking lot. Fittingly, a howling wind came up and escorted us back to our vehicles. We headed for home feeling very, very blessed. 24/11/2016 Hoar frost day.I love spending time on the prairies! Shelley and I made a quick trip last week to Leader, SK to visit sis and her family and to do a talk for the Leader Library. It is always a thrill to see pronghorn, which we start scanning the horizon for once we get close to Hanna. No super shots this trip (like my header pic!) but the weather was amenable and the roads were good (well, except for an errant cotter pin that was waiting for us on a newly graded road, just so it could embed itself in my brand-new tire. Who knew that new Dodge Caravans don’t even come equipped with a spare tire(!) But that is another story…) The highlights of the trip included a beautiful walk with our friend Cathy on her amazing ranch property. She tried her hand a rattling for deer and was successful at bringing in a young buck. There wasn’t much other wildlife stirring around, but it was wonderful to be out strolling among the cottonwoods. We happened upon some interesting orange fungi on a downed water birch that my good friend Dr. Charley Bird identified as Smelly Oyster fungus (Phyllotopsis nidulans). We didn’t think to take whiff, but Cathy promises to sniff it next time she walks past the tree. We were heartened to see lots of Sharp-tailed Grouse, with one bunch sitting atop a lone old poplar tree looking ever so much like Christmas lights! The highlight of the trip was to encounter a warren of Mountain Cottontails near the Estuary Ferry. Alberta’s only true rabbit species (Snowshoe Hares and Jack Rabbits are both hares), these diminutive bunnies are unique because of their small size and the fact that they do not turn white in the winter. Apparently conditions have been favourable for them this season, because there were cottontails everywhere. We also saw a few rough-legged hawks, a couple of coyotes, a nice rugged young mule buck and a few pheasants on our hurried trip out and back. The dearth of sightings was not surprising given how late it is in the season. I look forward to returning to the prairies in the spring, when the song of the meadowlark fills the air and the rattlers begin to stir. If you would like to explore the prairies, I highly recommend a stay at Mammy’s Place, located right near the Estuary Ferry (http://www.mammysplace.ca). A delightful place to stay while you explore the many natural wonders of the area. 19/11/2016 November 19th, 2016Myrna delivered a Backyard Bird Feeding talk in Leader, SK on Monday November 14th and had her first sale of Beauty Everywhere books. The book was enthusiastically received. She is shown here with her partner, Shelley, and sister, Sheridale.
The large shipment of books arrived yesterday, November 18th! |
AuthorMyrna Pearman Archives
August 2022
|
16/3/2017
0 Comments