Winter Birding, Pyewoes and Nature Walking
“Wildlife Winter” duties, big birds and and extra-plus link to “Snakes in Space” and a medieval duck-powered boat
Earlier in the week I felt compelled to add a BTL comment to a political article in the Guardian (as one does), and the infamous spellchecking gnome who lives in my computer changed, quite without my noticing, the words "progressive politicians" to read progressive pelicans.
I received the following response, and it’s hard to disagree ... "I'm all in favour of progressive pelicans. They can't do a worse job than most politicians. And they'd probably be particularly keen on ensuring clean water and sustainable fishing policies."
This not a Pelican, progressive or otherwise, but he was on my patch … a fine Northern Pintail being ignored by a gang of Mallards. Very fine birds that most often only appear on our local waters at around this time of year.
Every winter for ever so many years, J and I plus a couple of friends have volunteered (in snow and deep cold) to census birds and keep feeders filled at the nearby migratory bird banding station - the McGill Bird Observatory . This is a four-month duty that we undertake from the end of November to late March and really, really something that we look forward to coming round again each year. We have had our snow-shoes and big boots lined up in anticipation for weeks. Duties finally started this week … spring and summer are lovely but there is something about mid-winter birding that has that extra something. We are winter people.
It is important to note that the MBO “… is designated as a McGill Research Station, and as such there is no public access, except within the context of special events or research programs.”
Apart from contributing in some small way to a valuable research programme, we value this personally if for no reason other than that we are able to visit a rich habitat and have it all to ourselves with no sight or sign of other people (and their dogs). Over the winter months, we will mention here the highlights of our season in the snow. Checking with eBird I see that we have recorded some 45 species at this location in the November to March period - considering temperatures can be in the -30C range, sometimes actual, sometimes with windchill, and that a couple of feet or more of snow to wade through is not unknown, this doesn’t seem too shabby at all. Interested to know what they were? Of course, you are, let your eye slip over this list … noting that it is in taxonomic order and not a random jumble 😉 whatever it might look like.
Canada Goose, Wild Turkey, Ruffed Grouse, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Merlin, Blue Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, European Starling, American Robin, Bohemian Waxwing, Cedar Waxwing, House Sparrow, House Finch, Purple Finch, Common Redpoll, White-winged Crossbill, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Snow Bunting, Chipping Sparrow, American Tree Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal, Gull sp. … and a Shrike too. A Snowy Owl would be nice too, and there can bee seen not too far away most winters, but we have yet to see on in this location. Maybe this year?
This is a good place to draw your attention to “A Field Guide to Field Guides”
https://bryanpfeiffer.com/a-field-guide-to-field-guides
Ideas for Christmas Gifts, perhaps? …. here’s a quote from the author:
AT THE END of a morning of birdwatching some years ago, at a nature preserve in Canada, I came upon something remarkable and wonderful — something so unusual that I may never witness it again in nature. No, not a rare sparrow or some exquisite warbler. Instead, gathered in a circle and sitting in the grass were 10 teenagers, binoculars at their sides, discussing the birds they had encountered that morning. And to help in their learning, the teens were reading from field guides to birds — actual books. There was not a phone in sight.
We will never reach the 1001 Species finishing line if I don’t introduce at least one more seasonal being to look out for … today, it will be the Pileated Woodpecker. Not rare, but everyone loves them.
Pileated Woodpecker
In December, the number of creatures to be encountered is a bit limited. One though that is remarkably common but which is always met with amazement and delight is the Pileated Woodpecker (known to the cognoscenti as a PIWO, pronounced pyewoe). What is really cool about these birds is that they will happily come to garden feeders, if you have peanuts and suet blocks available.
The Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is the biggest of several woodpecker species to be found here, at about 16 to 19 inches (40 to 49 cm) in length. They are also not rare, despite the surprise many express when they encounter one. In confess that in my first year in North America, when one flew at head height across a trail in an area of woodland that we were walking, my brain’s immediate and instinctive reaction was … PTERODACTYL.
Their size is impressive, as is the black body, a red crest on the head, and distinct stripes on their face. The males and females look similar, but males have a red stripe on their cheek, while females have a black stripe.
They live in mature coniferous and deciduous forests, and can also be spotted in wooded suburbs and parks - certainly in the suburb where I live. In fact, the photograph below was taken in a corner of my garden. As you would expect for a woodpecker of this size, they produce powerful drumming and loud calls. They excavate distinctively rectangular-shaped holes in trees, rather like a vertical letterbox in size, while searching for insects. They also feed on fruits and berries and not infrequently visit backyard feeders.
Populations are relatively stable, although habitat loss and fragmentation can impact their local abundance. Rather surprisingly, they are not as prominently featured in folklore as some other birds.
This photo was also a garden instance, just for those readers who think I might be fantasizing about the likelihood of these birds coming for free food in suburbia. The other bird shown is a Red-bellied Woodpecker, which a serious rarity this far north - not quite like hens’ teeth but in that area of improbability.
There is an interesting “Nature of Things” film about woodpecker species, that you can watch on CBC Gem
https://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/episodes/woodpeckers-the-hole-story
The Pileated Woodpecker is a keystone species, defined as “a relatively uncommon species that is functionally linked to the perseverance of numerous other species and plays a critical role in the organization and/or functioning of an ecosystem. To quote from Nature Canada: “For the Pileated Woodpecker, that role lies in the holes that they drill. A simple action that has multiple benefits for the ecosystem—including supporting nutrient cycling, managing insect populations, and manufacturing new niches for other species to occupy. They create opportunities for foraging, sheltering, and nesting. For example, cavities that aren’t used for their own nesting are used for years thereafter by an array of different species. In this sense, the Pileated Woodpecker is engineering the ecosystem, a role that easily supports over 30 species. One of the most noteworthy changes to the amended Regulations of the Migratory Birds Convention Act is the inclusion of the Pileated Woodpecker on the list of species for which nesting sites are protected after active nesting - having Pileated Woodpecker on the list of species for enhanced nest site protection does, is force the people cutting down trees to do their work carefully rather than recklessly.”
Finally, finally going on that walk …
Almost everything you need to know about nature walking is in the following article linked below - it seems there is now some science supporting and explaining the casual observations about the benefits of walking outside:
I am not so naive as to think that too many of you will really need helpful guidance in getting outside and noticing plants and wildlife - if you are here, it’s probably because taking a walk in nature is already second nature to you. However, the holidays are approaching. There will be gatherings of friends and family, and after lunch someone will almost certainly suggest going for a walk if only to avoid the royal message to the subjects.
Sometimes I speak with people who honestly ask how they can see more of nature - knowing the how of looking is half the battle because it isn’t always obvious unless you do it regularly.
https://substack.com/inbox/post/138829478
Sit or stand quietly from time to time and wait for wildlife to appear so that you can observe from a distance without disturbing creatures. Look up and down as well as around. Impress on children, and quite a few adults, that they will see a lot more if they slow down and stop chattering. Bring a field guide or use a nature app to identify plants, birds, and insects. For general identification help in the field or using photographs you have taken once you return home, sign up for iNaturalist (free) and install its app on your phone. Take note of any unusual or interesting species you encounter and try to identify them. Sharing what you “think” a species might be on iNaturalist is especially good as observations are verified by other naturalists (over time) and if they suggest an alternative to you, then you learn as you go.
Visit the same areas during different seasons to witness changes in foliage, colours, and wildlife activity. Have a notebook to jot down details of what you see, or think you have seen. Once you feel comfortable identifying birds, consider reporting your observations to eBird
Always ask questions about what you observe, and seek answers later. When others, especially young people, ask you about something you have encountered, try to answer with brief facts. Don’t be over pedantic (kids hate that) and if you don’t know all the answers - and why should you, who does - make a point of helping them find the information once you have got home. The internet is full of answers. Saying “I don’t know” is not really an answer but “I don’t know, so we will look it up later” is … every time.
Snakes in Space …
Seriously cool bit of technology here, searching for aliens. The Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor, known as EELS, is a project developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The video is worth watching and the EEL is fascinating.
http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2286508611709
Articles about gardening with wildlife have been less frequent here of late as the year winds down but they will return. I came across the rather fine term “Backyard Stewardship” for what I try to do just a couple of days ago - I think that’s somewhat better than pollinator garden and the like. Lots to chew on in the article below, but I did enjoy “ … one of the main purposes of native gardening is precisely to give insects something to eat in order to give everyone else something to eat. When it comes to native gardening, I concluded, “insects are a feature, not a bug.” Yeah, pun intended.”
