There are HOW many bird species here?!
“Birds will give you a window, if you allow them. They will show you secrets from another world– fresh vision that, though it is avian, can accompany you home and alter your life. They will do this for you even if you don't know their names– though such knowing is a thoughtful gesture. They will do this for you if you watch them.”
― Lyanda Lynn Haupt, Rare Encounters with Ordinary Birds
I write about birds in some depth because they are perhaps the most evident and easily seen and widely enjoyed wildlife. Birds are the group that is most watched and documented by large numbers of professional and amateur birders - if only because they are hard to miss.
The surprising answer to the headline question is that over 240 different bird species have been reported (eBird) within a short distance of where I am writing this on Montreal’s West Island. Even in your own garden or nearby green areas you can enjoy a rich variety of species. For example, my personal garden list, a very small area, now amounts to 120 species of birds that we have seen in or flying over at some time. If they come to us then they more than likely also visit your neighbours and wherever you are reading this, they could visit you. Some are common, some rare, some can be seen year around while some pass through during spring and fall migration. Not every small brown bird is “just a Sparrow”, not every small yellow bird is “just a Goldfinch” and not every black bird is “just a Blackbird”. Far from it.
“I had forgotten you were a bird-watcher till you reminded me just now. You went in for it at Oxford, I remember. It isn’t a thing I would care to do myself. Not,” I hastened to add, “that I’ve anything against bird-watching. Must be most interesting, besides keeping you” – I was about to say “out of the public houses” but thought it better to change it to “out in the open air”.
“What’s the procedure?” I went on. “I suppose you lurk in a bush till a bird comes along, and then you out with the glasses and watch it.”
― P.G. Wodehouse, Aunts Aren't Gentlemen
The various different habitats I can visit without going too far, and often without needing a car, provide a rich diversity of locations to see birds. Be it in our gardens, in the Arboretum (see last week’s post), along the shoreline of the river or in local parks and neighbours’ gardens, there is always something to see and enjoy, whether for the novice or the expert. The areas of mature forest, open green spaces, groups of garden shrubs and associated forest-edge habitat that the residential roads offer all attract a wide selection of the bird species of Quebec. We are fortunate to be adjacent to one of the narrower crossing points along the river in this region that many migrating species make use of to reach their destinations in spring and fall. We are at the southern edge of a 'green corridor' running north to Ile Bizard and beyond - eventually leading to the boreal forests of the north where all that breeding happens. A huge range of birds can be seen. The McGill Bird Observatory has been located just the other side of Highway 40 from us for a very good reason.
Something that many people getting a start in birding mention, and in fact the reason why they may not pursue the pastime, is that they find trying to work out the identity of the birds they are seeing rather confusing - even if they have a good field guide on their bookshelves. It is best to start by learning the features of a small group of birds that you actually stand a good chance of seeing and then set out to identify them in the field. The aim is to learn how really “look” at birds in general and not only the one in front of you - because with experience you will gradually gain the ability of, almost with out effort, saying to yourself :”I don’t know what it is but it looks like X or Y” and that starts you on the road. The trick is to always try to narrow the field - and not simply by colour. The reason that the Merlin bird identification app on your phone is successful is that it asked you the key, non-specific, questions … size, dominant colour, habitat, activity and time of year. Knowing those easy to determine features dramatically reduces the options.
Any top-twenty starter list out of the species of birds that have been seen near here or near when you live is going to be highly subjective. Seek out local birders (we are always willing to help and are easy to find via social media) or log onto the eBird website and use their detailed maps and records to make a list of a few that are really common. Once you have become familiar with these few birds you can start to add more and more to your mental collection. Keep a detailed checklist of all the possible species, check them off as you see them and add new “lifers” to your personal life list. Keeping records in a notebook or on the websites of eBird or iNaturalist is easy. Note: most field guides include range maps - don’t make the too common mistake of saying “oh, it must be X” when that species is only fund on the other side of the country. There are vagrants but not that often.
You will increase your likelihood of seeing different birds by going out early in the morning before the heat of the day sends them into hiding. You can see plenty of birds by looking out of your window at the garden with your morning cup of tea or coffee as the daylight intensifies. Don't forget that birds are often to be heard before being seen, especially in a place of dense leaf cover. Most, if necessary, can be identified by their songs alone with some practice, aided by the judicious use of smartphone apps that can more or less accurately identify bird song for you. Every one of the keen and knowledgeable birders you meet has been in your shoes at some time. Never be afraid to ask for help. If you have a local birding club that runs regular field trips then don’t hesitate to join them … should you be near Montreal then check out Bird Protection Quebec at the following links … there is no need to be a member to go along to their weekly field trips and you will learn a lot and make good contacts and friends. Of course they would like you to join but it isn’t necessary.
“With my new habit of carrying binoculars everywhere, I feel imbued with a readiness to see, an attitude that my life itself is a kind of field trip. The urban naturalist has the terrific luxury of stepping out her door and into "the field," without long rides or carpools, or putting money in for gas and Dairy Queen. When does the field trip being? Whenever we start paying attention.”
― Lyanda Lynn Haupt
Well, it is now March. What might be seen when we are wandering?
Not much if you live around here. The weather gods, having, blessed us with a very unseasonably warm start to March and with no snow on the ground - a first I think in the 25+ winters have lived here - are now saying “fooled you!”. We are about to have three days of heavy rain, heavy and wet snow and advice to hunker down … so that’s what we will be doing. No question. However should you not be near neighbours and so out of the path of this bundle of fun, I will leave you with images of three creatures that, frankly, it is pretty unlikely that you will encounter. Just enjoy the photos and I will be back next Sunday.
Red-breasted Nuthatch
The northern relatives the White-breasted Nuthatches that are more common in the southern Canada cities overlap around here. Smart little fellows
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Obviously this photo was not taken at the start of the year, and it is a juvenile too, rather than an adult - but an early returnee just could be skulking somewhere. You never know.
Eastern Cottontail “Rabbit”
Unlike European Rabbits, the Eastern Cottontail does not excavate burrows and stays strictly on the surface year round, giving birth in situations more akin to Hares. If you have ever wondered what they fond to eat in winter, the answer is often then bark on young trees and shrubs in my garden!
In last week’s “1001 Species” I wrote about my local piece of woodland/forest. The Morgan Arboretum just west of Montreal. That melds nicely with a post by a biologist from Vermont, not far south of here, about his local woodland in this unusually snow-free early March. It includes a snippet about a lichen that I also drew attention to. Coincidence … but do have a look at this short piece by Brian Pfeiffer, I think you will enjoy it.
Really nice essay Richard. It reminds me of when I restarted my birding journey some years ago. The eBird app and Merlin ID app were quite helpful once I had began expanding beyond the usual suspects like Black-capped Chickadees, Northern Cardinals, and Song Sparrows.
I do remember the thrill of chasing rarer species around the Ottawa area based on eBird reports. Good times! These days I am trying to walk a fine line between recovering birder addict & simply enjoying hikes and walks in Nature.
As Ajari of the Tendai in medieval Japan said, "I'm just a simple monk who enjoys nature."
But if something new perches in the old backyard apple tree, I'm going to reach for my Sibley.
How sweet are our lives!