Sandra

Activity 4: I started taking more bird pics, while walking my dog. We are fortunate to have a large number of marshes, lakes and mountains. My dog is young and impatient. I decided today that i need to visit some hotspots on my own. It is so much fun to sit quietly in the woods or marshes and watch; rather than walking around. I am still working on finding birds by song, and i want to further my education. I have shared a lot of pictures with friends, and i am also discussing with them what we can do for birds. What's the next course? Cheers

Activity 1: It is no surprise to me about the decline of bird populations. I knew about the increase in Bald Eagle populations. While a symbol for the U.S., Canada has alway had more Bald Eagles (to my knowledge). My love and interest of birds goes back at least 3 generations. My life slowing down has meant more time outdoors, where I have always felt peaceful. I restarted my interest in photography a little while back, and this has added to my awareness of birds. Learning to take pictures in flight is fun; the birds, not me. Lol. In British Columbia already this spring I have seen many migratory, returning, breeding and hybrid varieties that I knew existed. I am working on recognition of bird song and sound; hard work! I had always wondered about the different feeding habits and variety of birds. To my delight I have discovered I have many friends who are enthusiasts. During this time indoors for friends around the world, many friends have let me know how much my bird pictures cheer them up. Each time I post a picture I look up information on the bird in Merlin. I remember more birds when i was young. I was sad to see so many migrate last winter, and sadder still to see them in decline. This Mallard is looking at us sideways; wondering where things have gone wrong with his home.

Activity 1: Surprising to me, by our large lake, there is not a lot of diversity. A lot of Canada Geese, some Mallards and other migrating ducks, Sandpipers, and a few birds in the large trees close by (American Goldfinch, European Starlings, ). In the marshes close by are Great Blue and Grey Herons, Mallards, Ruddy Ducks, Gadwall, American Coots, hybrid ducks, American Wigeon, sparrows, Osprey, and on and on. The marshes have so many food sources compared to the lake. I have seen the herons at the lakeshore, but not often. 

Activity 2: I watched the Ontario cam for a while, but only Sparrows. Surprising to me they were eating from the feeders facing down, like the Nuthatch. Then were feeding from the tray. The 5 of them were quite civilized. On the Cornell cam were several blackbirds eating from the feeders and the tray, with a lot of exuberance and fighting. As I expected, the woodpecker was hanging on the side of the feeders, pecking slowly. The Mourning Dove was pecking slowly on the tray. I wonder how humans would eat if social pressure to conform was not there? lol

Activity 4: In Central British Columbia we have a few months of cold weather, so the number of species, and number of those staying the winter decrease considerably. I get really tired of taking pictures of Canadian Geese in the winter. Fortunately spring comes early. Winter: Canadian Geese, Song and House Sparrow, Starlings, my favorite Black-capped Chickadee (I am working on locating them by song), American Crow (some really large ones). There are a few others, but not seen in the city normally. We have a few Alaskan swans that winter here. So nice to see. Summer: Oh boy! So many. How do they do it? American Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds are the first to show up (Blackbirds mainly around our marshes). Our early spring brings so many in April and May: Mallards, Northern Flicker, California Quail (they are so cute, but my mom complains they dig up the garden), American Goldfinch, House finch (this is the largest finch i have seen), just saw a group of Violet-green Swallows for the first time, I love the soft sound of the Mourning Dove, American Coots, the Osprey are a big deal nesting in our city right now. There are so many; and i have seen so many new to me already this spring. 

Activity 2: Canada Geese: Many stay in central British Columbia year round. Sparrows and Starlings: some House Sparrows stay over the winter, as do many Starlings. Winter is not too long where we are. I have seen so many varieties this spring! Spring comes early here, and many species have been back for more than a month. For us the first to arrive are Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds. I feel fortunate to have seen many rare ones already this year; Cinnamon Duck, Wood Duck, Blue-headed Mallard, Ruddy Ducks, and more. The breeding Osprey are a big event here.

Activity 1: I went to one of our many marsh areas. There were the usual Mallards, Canada Geese, red-winged Blackbirds, Yellow-rumped Warblers which I am seeing for the first time (this is their breeding area), sparrows (I think they were Song Sparrows but they were moving in and around thick bush), American Robin (I have seen these my whole life and I did not know the full name. We have always said it is spring when we see the Robins). I love to watch the California quail; so cute. Didn't see any little ones yet. I heard what I think was Chickadees, but they were very high up in the trees. There were some big nests up there too, but I did not see any birds around them. Owls do inhabit this area.

Activity 4: Favorite bird. I like small cuteness. I saw a Black-capped Chickadee for the first time a few weeks ago. Her brown, black and white colorings are not flamboyant, but soothing somehow. Why have I not seen one before? They are year-round inhabitants of British Columbia. Little is hard to spot. I think I was captured by her song. Their body shape is more symmetrical; with a larger head.  I like that they feed on seeds, and not gross worms etc. As much as it would be lovely to have birds at home, I do not believe in animals of any kind in cages.

Activity 2: So many ducks! There is the female Mallard, the Gadwall, and then i saw a group of hybrids; all mainly brown. I did not know there were hybrids. I have discovered a great many more ducks just in the last month. And then there are those migrating through. Makes my head spin!

We have a lot of finches in British Columbia. I was curious why they are called "house" finches. I found a story about finches from California in the 1940's that were caged and sold in the eastern U.S.  Many got free and they started to populate many new areas.