Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2)

Home , Freckled duck, Giant wren, Horned guan

Newsmagazine of the British Columbia Field Ornithologists ISSN 1206-1611 BCFO.ca Volume 27 Number 2 / June 2017

Pacific Loon photographed by John Gordon during the WildResearch pelagic trip out of Ucluelet, May 7, 2017 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2)

Publisher BC Birding is published four times a year by the British Columbia Field Ornithologists, PO Box 45111, Dunbar, BCFO Officers & Vancouver BC V6S 2M8. A subscription to this quarterly is a benefit of membership in the society. Members will also receive a copy of the Directors annual journal, British Columbia Birds. Officers President: Mike McGrenere, Victoria, 250-658-8624, About the BCFO [email protected] Membership in BCFO is open to anyone interested in the Vice President: Larry Cowan, Pitt Meadows, 604-465-1402, study and enjoyment of wild birds in British Columbia. [email protected] BCFO objectives include: fostering cooperation between Secretary: Marian Porter, Salt Spring Island, 250-653-2043, amateur and professional ornithologists, promoting cooper- [email protected] ative bird surveys and research projects, and supporting Treasurer: Mike Fung, Vancouver, 604-266-0238, conservation organizations in their efforts to preserve birds [email protected] and their habitats. Other Directors Membership Jude Grass, Surrey, 604-538-8774, [email protected] See the website (http://bcfo.ca) for details, or write to the Clive Keen, Prince George, 250-963-9520, BCFO address given above under “Publisher.” clive_keen@ hotmail.com Adrian Leather, Quesnel, 250-249-5561, q-birds@xplornet. Annual Membership Dues com General Membership (Canada): $30 Art Martell, 250-334-2979, Courtenay, [email protected] Junior Membership (Canada): $20 Monica Nugent, New Westminster, 604-220-8816, U.S. and International Membership: $35 [email protected] Newsmagazine Submissions Ex Officio To submit material to this publication, contact the Editor by Immediate Past President: George Clulow, Burnaby, 604-438 email ([email protected]) or by mail at 10790 -7639, [email protected] Grassland Road, Prince George, BC V2K 5E8. BCFO Committees & Representatives Submissions may include articles about birding experi- AGM Planning Committee: TBA ences, casual observations about bird behaviour, site guides, Archivist: Les Gyug photographs, and other topics of broad interest to birders, British Columbia Birds (Journal) Editor: Art Martell preferably, but not necessarily, in British Columbia. Dead- BC Birding Editor: Clive Keen; Associate Editor: Virginia lines are: Rasch BC Bird Records Committee Chair: Nathan Hentze • March edition: February 15 BCFO two-day trips: Adrian Leather • June edition: May 15 Canadian International Joint Venture: Wayne Weber • September edition: August 15 Cannings Award Committee: Wayne Weber Featured Photographer Committee: Carlo Giovanella • December edition: November 15 IOC Vancouver 2018: George Clulow Librarian: Andy Buhler Advertising Rates Membership Committee: Larry Cowan Full page: $125 per issue or $112.50 each for 4 or more Website: George Clulow, Neil Dawe issues Young Birder Awards Committee: Carlo Giovanella Half page: $75 per issue or $67.50 each for 4 or more issues Young Birders Program: Melissa Hafting Quarter page: $40 per issue or $36 each for 4 or more issues

BCFO members are welcome to include classified ads, of up to 25 words, at no cost.

Photographs

Back Cover: Painted Bunting at La Penita, Nayarit, Mexi- co, by John Gordon

Right: Peter McAllister notes that an unusually large number of Townsend’s Solitaires were spotted over the winter and spring on Vancouver Island. This is one he photographed on Salt Spring Island.

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Contents

Notices & Notes President’s Message ...... 4 Laurie Rockwell ...... 4 Short Notes 1 ...... 5 Welcome New Members ...... 5 Short Notes 2 ...... 7 Short Notes 3 ...... 21

BCFO Two-day Trips Quesnel Area. June 7-8, 2017 ...... 6 Report: Birds of the Herring Spawn ...... 6

Young Birders Program First Pelagic Trip ...... 8 Future YB Trips ...... 9

Upcoming Meetings & Events ...... 10

Location Review Introduction to Birding in Western Mexico ...... 11

Trips Reports Easter in Arizona...... 13 Birding Volcan Tacana ...... 15 An Australian Birding Odyssey ...... 18

Avian Encounters Sharp-shinned Impact ...... 22 An Avian Q-tip ...... 22 Identifications & Misidentifications ...... 23

Book Review Best Places to Bird in British Columbia ...... 24

Regular Columns Gone Pishing ...... 25 The Reflective Birder ...... 26

For several weeks in April this Burrowing Owl hung around the inside of YVR airport. Then it took up residence on one of the busiest corners of Sea Island where it allowed itself to be photographed and viewed by many. After a month in the Vancouver area the bird moved on. When not posing for photographs it hid in a concrete block.

— John Gordon

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are elected for a two-year term and can Marian Porter is our Secretary responsi- serve a maximum of three consecutive ble for recording board and AGM President’s terms (six years). The current board minutes. Jude Grass and Monica members are spread around the prov- Nugent will be handling the organiza- ince and live in the northern interior (2), tional responsibilities for registration Message the lower mainland (4) and Vancouver and field trips at the Tumbler Ridge Island and the Gulf Islands (3). AGM. Two of our board members have George Clulow is our Past President The Annual General Meeting and Con- served for six consecutive years and and is very busy assisting the organiza- ference in Tumbler Ridge is the next will be stepping off the board. Larry tion. George has been arranging BCFO- major event on the BCFO calendar. Cowan is the Vice-President and is re- led field trips for the 2018 International Field trips have been arranged to pro- sponsible for Membership. We have all Ornithological Congress in Vancouver. vide opportunities to observe a wide received an email or two from Larry for Also, he is the board contact for the BC variety of bird species which nest on various reminders or notices. He has Bird Records Committee and assists the the eastern side of the Rocky Moun- done an exceptional job handling this board with the Young Birders Program. tains as well as species that spend the responsibility and we are very fortunate Other non-board members who con- breeding season at higher elevations. that Larry has indicated he will contin- tribute to the organization are: Les If you are driving to Tumbler Ridge, ue to handle the membership duties as a Gyug, Archivist and Librarian; Virginia you will have the opportunity to do non-board member. Rasch assists with the newsmagazine; some birding with other BCFO mem- The other board member stepping Wayne Weber, Chair of the Cannings bers in the Quesnel area as part of our down is our Treasurer, Mike Fung. Award Committee; Melissa Hafting, two-day field trip program (field trip is Mike has been the Treasurer for six Young Birders Program; Carlo Gio- now full). This will offer some great years and kept us on track financially vanella, Featured Photographer Com- birding in areas where many members over that time. Mike assisted in estab- mittee and Young Birders Awards; Na- have not been before. After the AGM, lishing our online payment system and than Hentze, BC Bird Records Commit- the extension trip to the Dawson Creek, most recently reformatted the spread- tee Chair; and Neil Dawe and George Fort St. John and Pink Mountain areas sheet of our finances to show an operat- Clulow who handle the website. I will take participants to fabulous birding account and a conservation/ would like to thank Andy Buhler who ing areas where they should be able to education account. recently stepped down as our Librarian. observe species that spend the breeding Other board members are making Andy and his wife, Marilyn, were long- season in northeastern BC. valuable contributions to the organiza- time editors of BC Birding. The AGM offers a great opportunity tion. Two of the board members serve I look forward to seeing our mem- for birding and to reacquaint with fel- as publication editors — Clive Keen, bers in Tumbler Ridge and to the won- low members but it also signals the end editor of our news magazine, BC Bird- derful birding opportunities in this area. of a financial year for the BCFO and ing, and Art Martel, editor of our jour- Now I must get out the field guides and the beginning of a new operating year. nal, BC Birds. Adrian Leather organizes recordings to get myself up to speed Some of our board members will be the two-day field trips around the prov- with those eastern passerines. stepping off the board at the AGM and ince which allows our members to ex- we are looking for new members to perience birding opportunities that are Mike McGrenere assist the organization. Board members available away from their home turf.

I particularly enjoyed the two sum- Among other attributes, Laurie had mers I spent with him doing Northern an infectious and tireless sense of hu- Laurie Rockwell Goshawk and Williamson's Sapsucker mour, which agreed very well with Laurie Rockwell, well known to many surveys where his cheerfulness and wit mine. We got along together like a BCFO members, passed away in March outlasted the entire field seasons. He house on fire whenever we went bird- at his home in Summerland. will be sorely missed by all who knew ing together. him. My sincere condolences to his Laurie was a frequent contributor Les Gyug writes: family and many friends. for many years to BCINBIRD, and his Laurie was an avid birder, tireless vol- sense of humour showed through on unteer and a seemingly never-ending Wayne Weber writes: many of his messages. He was “Mr. source of humour and running com- I greatly enjoyed the times that I spent Summerland” to me, and was undoubt- with him. Laurie and I did several Oka- mentary on BCINTBIRD. Since retiring edly the top expert on the birds of that he spent a lot of time birding including nagan Big Day Challenges together, area. Laurie was one of the best-known his 20+ year study of Gray Flycatchers, and all of these were memorable occa- and best-loved birders in the Okanagan his Summerland Nocturnal Owl Survey sions. Another memorable event was Valley. routes, his regular surveys of Trout my participation with Laurie in the first My sincere condolences go out to Creek Ecological Reserve and Sun-Oka Okanagan Mountain Park Bird Blitz in Laurie’s relatives and friends. Provincial Park, and helping out with 1993 with a couple of other folks. The many other surveys. Laurie was on the highlight of this was our sighting of executive of BCFO as a director from two Parasitic Jaegers high overhead, at 2000 to 2002. about 3800 feet altitude and at least 2–3 miles inland from Okanagan Lake! Page 4 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2)

and Young Birder members, so total Short Notes 1 membership is now in excess of 320. Royal Society Note Paul Levesque notes that when he was Young Birders Program reading a recent edition of the Proceedings of the Royal Society, the on Website Name That Bird! image on the front cover looked The BCFO website now has a Young familiar — it turned out to be the same Birders section. From any BCFO.ca Jim Turnbull posted a challenge on the image that is on the cover of The web page, hover first on Features, then bcintbird listserv to give the current Birder's Guide to Vancouver, published on BCFO Young Birders, and you’ll be names of birds listed in the 1923 field by Nature Vancouver. More kudos for able to click on a page covering the guide, Birds of the Pacific Coast, by photographer and BCFO member program, or a page on YB field trips. Willard Ayres Eliot. Chris Siddle Michelle Lamberson. named them all correctly. See if you can do the same. The answers are on page 7. Not for the Alberta List Membership 1. Seattle Wren 2. Tule Wren If you see a very unusual falcon in Ed- Membership Secretary Larry Cowan 3. Golden Pileolated Warbler reports that BCFO membership contin- monton, remember that it’s not counta- 4. Lutescent Warbler ble. Edmonton Airport is using a robot- ues to grow. As of May 15 there were 5. Slender-billed Nuthatch 290 regular members compared to 262 ic Peregrine Falcon to keep runways 6. Arkansas Kingbird clear of birds. The machine is really at this point in 2016. There were 34 7. Nuttall Sparrow new members in the year to that point, very impressive in flight, and prey birds 8. Gairdner Woodpecker won’t be only ones fooled. See: compared to 28 in 2016. 9. Harris Woodpecker There are in addition a number of 10. Desert Sparrow Hawk www.youtube.com/watch? honorary, complimentary, institutional v=-gc8kBmzOOI Photo below: Western Sandpiper on Comber's Beach by Young Birder Liam Singh.

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appreciated by two Audubon-type Yel- low-rumped Warblers. Approximately BCFO How the Trips Work 3,000 Surf Scoters, 200+ Long-tailed Ducks and 200 Greater Scaup were BCFO two-day field trips are member seen along with the 5,000+ gulls. Two-day Trips -led, but participants make their own Then we went to Kincaid Road arrangements for accommodation, where we saw 7,000 gulls, one of which food, and travel. Quesnel Area, June 7–8, 2017 was an adult Glaucous Gull. By now There are two groups for this trip, but • Day 1: all-day birding and then the rain was really coming down and both are now full. evening get together at a restaurant the wind had picked up. Other birds to recap the day and tally species. seen were 100 Brant and 80 Greater • Wednesday, June 7, 2017: Soda Scaup. Creek – West Fraser loop. • Day 2: morning birding, afternoon Next we headed to the Big Quali- optional birding. • Thursday, June 8, 2017: Barkerville cum estuary where six Trumpeter Swans were sheltering in the river Highway to Wells (to include the Carpooling is encouraged and will be option of very good fish n’ chips at mouth along with 28 Bald Eagles, arranged on the morning of Day 1. 3,000 gulls, 17 Black Turnstones and Big H’s in Wells). Register at least two weeks in ad- three Killdeer plus an assortment of vance. The leader will give specific dabbling ducks. Brian Murland and Adrian Leather are details of when and where to meet. leading the trips. We stopped on the highway beside Cost: Members $10 per person; non- Henry’s Kitchen. There were 550 Surf Ideas Needed for Other Trips members $40, which includes BCFO Scoters, 15 White-winged Scoters, 40 Contact Adrian Leather at q-birds@ membership. Long-tailed Ducks and 30 Harlequins xplornet.com if you have proposals for along with 60 Bufflehead and 30+ the locations of future trips. Volunteers Common Goldeneye. By now the rain to host trips are particularly welcome. was mixed with sleet so we decided to bia Beach South which was also very stop for soup, coffee and a warm-up at quiet except for a constant stream of the Sandbar Café. Over coffee we de- gulls heading south. We also saw our cided to look for a reported Black- BCFO Trip Report: first flock of Long-tailed Duck. We backed Woodpecker that was seen in Birds of the Herring then went to Columbia Beach North the Wilson woodlot, (south Nile Creek where there were two Eurasian Wigeon area). Spawn and our first flock of Brant, approxi- A Ruby-crowned Kinglet was sing- mately 200 individuals. Again, predom- ing at the entrance to the woodlot. We Dave Aldcroft inant on the shore were over 5,000 followed the trails to where the bird had gulls. been seen but only managed to find March 11 & 12, 2017, Dave Aldcroft From Columbia Beach we headed Dark-eyed Juncos, one Robin and three (leader) plus nine participants. up to the viewing platform at Qualicum. Golden-crowned Kinglets. There was Here we counted 20 Bald Eagles on the still three inches of slush underfoot in We met at 8:00 am in Parksville and foreshore, with seven Black Oyster- this area. decided to head north to our first stop catchers and a small flock of Black From here we headed up to Deep — French Creek. This was very quiet. Turnstones. Again, 5,000+ gulls. Bay. The horrendous weather continued Observed were two Pigeon guillemots, The next stop was Seacroft Road so we were lucky to see a flock of wad- some red-necked grebe, and a mixed where some fir trees provided some ers roosting on the foreshore. We had flock of 500 gulls with California Gulls protection from the elements. This res- just got the scope on them when they predominant. Second stop was Colum- pite from the weather was also being

Page 6 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2) were flushed. There were 300+ Dunlin, Kumlien’s gull was seen feeding. 70 Black Turnstones and three Surf- It was now about noon, so some of birds. the party members decided to head for As there was no sign of the weather home. The rest of us continued to the abating we decided to call it a day. We main parking lot in Rathtrevor Park. arranged to meet later at Lefty’s Res- Again 7,000+ gulls were just offshore taurant in Parksville for dinner. Lefty’s along with 200 Brant and 30 Dunlin. treated us very well providing two two- From here we headed to Northwest for-one gift vouchers. In addition, their Bay, but it was very quiet bird-wise, menu had gluten-free and vegetarian though there was a cacophony coming options. from the log booms where hundreds of allowed a family of Anna’s Humming- Day 2 was grey and windy but the sea lions had hauled out. birds (a male, a female and at least one rain had stopped. Our first stop was Heading south we called in at Lega- juvenile) to successfully overwinter. Parksville Recreation Area. There was a cy Marsh, where the highlight was great Photo by Lee. large flock of Greater Scaup in the bay, views of a Hutton’s Vireo. We also estimated at 750, with good numbers of managed to find a pair of Wood Ducks. other sea ducks mixed in. Again we By now it was about 3:30, so we called estimated over 5,000 gulls, mainly Cali- it a day. fornia, Mew and Glaucous-winged. On Despite the miserable weather con- National Bird the shingle we noticed a small group of ditions we still managed to see eighty shorebirds comprised of 85 Dunlin, 38 species for the weekend. On the Satur- The lead article on Canada’s National Black-bellied Plover and three Greater day night I felt guilty about collecting Bird (the Gray Jay) in Canadian Geo- Yellowlegs. As we were heading back the ten dollars from the participants graphic included a photo by BCFO to the car a Western Meadowlark was because of the weather. I felt like I Young Birder Ian Harland. See: singing. should be paying them for sticking with From here we headed to the Eng- me. I have since donated the hundred www.canadiangeographic.ca/ lishman River where we walked the dollars collected to the “Bring back the magazine/dec16 trail. Purple Finches were singing as Bluebirds project” based in the Cowi- well as two Ruby-crowned Kinglets, chan Valley on behalf of the BCFO. I and we managed to see most of the would also like to thank the Sandcastle common passerines as well as our first Inn in Parksville for giving the BCFO a Classified Ad Gadwall. reduced room rate. We crossed over to the oceanside of Note: BCFO members are welcome to Englishman River and had good views send brief classified ads to this publica- of 60 Harlequin Ducks. Then on to the tion at no cost. See page 2 for more north end of Rathtrevor Park. After a information on advertising. short walk we reached the ocean. Short Notes 2 By now the wind had picked up Bruce Whittington is downsizing his from the southeast and we were starting library of ornithology (mostly) books to get showers. There was a large flock Anna’s in Winter and monographs. A list of titles and of sea duck, 3,000 Surf Scoters, 50 Lee Harding of Coquitlan found that prices can be found at http:// Long-tailed Ducks and 25 White- www.strayfeathers.ca/private-sale/ or winged Scoters. While we were scan- keeping a feeder thawed, through frequent changes during the coldest snaps, contact [email protected] to ning the flock, a first winter Iceland/ view the collection in Ladysmith.

Rock Sandpiper spotted by Melissa Haflting in Sechelt.

Quiz Answers (page 5)

1. Bewick’s Wren 2. Marsh Wren 3. Wilson’s Warbler 4. Orange-crowned Warbler 5. White-breasted Nuthatch 6. Western Kingbird 7. White-crowned Sparrow 8. Downy Woodpecker 9. Hairy Woodpecker 10. American Kestrel

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This was an incredible start – we kids to see nature in action like that. watched many breeding Pacific Loons In the woods on the way out we had Young Birders fly by and watched Black Oystercatch- Hutton’s Vireo, Pacific Wrens, Golden- ers forage amongst the black rocks. For crowned Kinglets, Golden-crowned many kids on the trip this was the first Sparrows, Steller’s Jays, and Orange- Program time they had ever been to Ucluelet or crowned and Townsend’s Warblers. Tofino. They were amazed by the gor- We were next off to the Tofino Air- Melissa Hafting geous scenery and expansive beaches. port. Here Ilya Povalyaev found four I was so amazed how well the new Pacific Golden-Plovers for us. The kids integrated into our group and it birds were in various stages of moult First Pelagic Trip was so cool to meet Willa from Fort St. and one was in spectacular breeding On May 6 we went on our first over- James and Toby and Cedar from Tofino plumage. The kids were thrilled with night trip ever in the Young Birders for the first time. Their enthusiasm and this and as we were looking at these Group. The kids were extremely excited knowledge and great attitudes blew me beautiful birds we turned around when and some parents told me that their kids away. This was the first trip that we had Bridget Spencer spotted a female Red- have been talking about the trip for a kids from all parts of the province in- necked Phalarope in breeding plumage week straight. The weather looked good cluding Fort St. James, Kelowna, Vic- swimming in the pond behind us. Right and we all piled in the rental van on the toria, Tofino and Vancouver. after that, Ian Harland spotted a Olive- 10:15 am ferry to Nanaimo. On the After this stop we went on to the sided Flycatcher which was perched crossing over we spotted some Com- Tofino mudflats at the Sharp Road above the Phalarope! Other birds we mon Terns. Lookout. Here we saw 275 Short-billed saw there were a Lesser Yellowlegs, We stopped and had a great lunch at Dowitchers in large flocks and this was Least Sandpipers, Killdeer, Dunlin and a local bakery in Port Alberni and then really cool for the kids since they rarely a large flock of Semipalmated Plovers. went straight to Ucluelet. We checked see so many Short-billeds all together. The kids were all on a high and after into our hotel rooms and went to meet We also found seven Whimbrels, six getting a call from Ian Cruickshank I up with the Vancouver Island and Fort Black-bellied Plovers and three hundred decided to take them to Long Beach to St. James Young Birders who were Western and five Least Sandpipers, look for the breeding Red Knots he had meeting us at Amphitrite Point. Two plus a few Dunlin and Common Mer- found earlier. Unfortunately, we did not young birders, Liam Singh and Liron gansers. We also saw an Osprey diving find any Red Knots but we saw Semi- Gerstman, spotted some Fork-tailed for fish. We got to watch a Peregrine palmated Plovers and Sanderlings, and Storm-Petrels just past the lighthouse. Falcon zoom right in and successfully the kids got to see the beauty of the catch a peep! It was a great thrill for the majestic, pristine beaches of the West

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Coast of Vancouver Island. We also picked up some Orange-crowned War- blers and Northern Flickers. After a nice visit here we were off to Comber's Beach to look for the second- year Iceland Gull that Adrian Dorst found a few hours earlier. We never did see the gull but since there were many warning signs up for wolves in the area the kids were hoping to see a wolf on the beach. Unfortunately, we never did see a Coastal Wolf but we did find some tracks. Here the bird activity was pretty slow despite a few Black Oyster- catchers but again the kids marvelled at the gorgeous beach. During the walk back up through the rainforest and boardwalk the kids found a Brown Creeper, Pacific Tree Frogs and Town- send’s and Orange-crowned Warblers and a Hairy Woodpecker. We ended the day with a great meal at the Floathouse Restaurant in Ucluelet and chatted about the day’s events and Pink-footed Shearwater by Bridget Spencer. what we hoped to see the next day. Many wanted to see a Tufted Puffin, Black-footed and Laysan Albatross, light-morph Northern Fulmar with Bald Eagle; 200 Red-necked Phalarope; Manx Shearwater and Cassin’s Auklet. some dark morphs and Pink-footed 3 Red Phalarope; 1 Pomarine Jaeger; 10 The next morning (May 7) at 6:15 Shearwaters that did the same. Another Common Murre; 2 Cassin’s Auklet; 15 am, we met up with Cedar and Toby highlight for the kids were Red Phala- Rhinoceros Auklet; 10 Sabine's Gull; 1 and her dad Marcel at the Main Street ropes in breeding plumage and Fork- Bonaparte's Gull; 1 Western Gull; 30 Pier. Here we met about 50 other bird- tailed Storm-Petrels. California Gull; 10 Herring Gull; 50 ers who had signed up for the WildRe- The biggest moment of the trip Glaucous-winged Gull; 150 Western X search pelagic. We checked in and got came when sharp 13 year-old Young Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid); 1 on the ship called the MV Frances Bar- Birder Liam Singh spotted and photo- Sooty Tern. kley. All the kids had taken their graphed a Manx Shearwater almost at Gravol and were excited and ready for the end of the return trip. The bird was We got back to the dock at 2:00 pm and the adventure. This was WildRe- six kilometres south-west off of Amphi- made it back to Vancouver by 8:00 pm search’s annual fundraiser which helps trite Point in Ucluelet. Unfortunately, via the 5:45pm ferry. to raise money for their conservation everyone did not get on this bird, in- programs including Iona bird banding cluding myself, but luckily six Young observatory. For more info on WildRe- Birders — Bridget Spencer, Katya search and their programs see wildre- Kondratyuk, Toby Theriault, Cedar search.ca. Forest, Willa Crowley and of course Future YB Trips Ilya Povalyaev was spotting during Liam Singh (and a few others on board) the trip and helping to get everyone, — all saw and photographed it. especially all the kids, on the birds, We also saw some great mammals June 24 which I appreciated very much and so on the trip including a sea otter, hump- Manning Park or Whistler. 7:00 am departure. did the kids. back whales, California and Steller's The weather was sunny and bright sea lions and harbour seals. and there was very little wind. Surpris- Here is our official checklist for the July 15 ingly we did not have a single albatross. day: Bowen Island. Meet at Horseshoe Bay This was a little disappointing for the at 9:00 am. kids, as it was their main target. It was 1 Greater White-fronted Goose; 1 the first time I had not seen a Black- Brant; 30 Cackling Geese; 2 Surf Sco- Aug 12 (Tentative Date) footed Albatross on a pelagic as well. ter; 12 White-winged Scoter; 5 Red- Banding Workshop. We also had no Tufted Puffins, which breasted Merganser; 70 Pacific Loon; 3 was another surprise and a much want- Common Loon; 5 Northern Fulmar; 5 Sept 23 ed target for the children. However, we Pink-footed Shearwater; 30 Sooty Sooke hawk watch. Meet at Ladner had some great birds including an adult Shearwater; 10 Sooty/Short-tailed Exchange at 6:15 am. (Vancouver Is- stunning Pomarine Jaeger that flew Shearwater; 1 Manx Shearwater; 10 land participants meet at East Sooke right alongside our boat, giving us all Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel; 30 Brandt’s Regional Park at 10:00 am. ) great views. We also had an uncommon Cormorant; 1 Pelagic Cormorant; 1 Page 9 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2)

details, check the society website at https://waterbirds.org/ annual-meeting Upcoming Meetings Aug. 16-20— ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF WESTERN FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS at Pueblo, Colorado. For further details, check the WFO website at & Events www.westernfieldornithologists.org/conference.php . Sept. 1-3— 31st ANNUAL OREGON SHOREBIRD FES-

Compiled by Wayne C. Weber TIVAL, Charleston, Oregon (near Coos Bay.) Field trips will include a pelagic trip, and featured evening speakers are No- ah Strycker and Paul Bannick. Full details not available yet, The following meetings and other events are those that but check the website of Cape Arago Audubon Society take place in BC and immediately adjacent areas or that (http://www.capearagoaudubon.org ) after July 1st. potentially include information on birds that occur in BC. Sept. 15-17— OREGON BIRDING ASSOCIATION AN- Information on additional meetings is listed in the bi- NUAL MEETING, at the Malheur Field Station, near Burns, monthly Ornithological Newsletter at www.birdmeetings. OR. For information and to register, check the OBA website org and on the BIRDNET website at http://www.nmnh.si. at http://www.orbirds.org/2017annualmeeting.html . edu/BIRDNET/ornith/birdmeet.html . Sept. 15-17— PUGET SOUND BIRD FESTIVAL, Ed- For most meetings, festivals and other events, the web- monds, WA. For information and to register (starting Aug. 1). site is the main source of information, and registration can check the festival website at http:// often be accomplished online as well. Wherever infor- www.pugetsoundbirdfest.org , or contact Jennifer Leach at the City of Edmonds Parks Dept. (phone 425-771-0227), or mation can be obtained through a phone number or email email her at [email protected] . address, we have included these as well; if no contact in- Sept. 21-23— FALL GENERAL MEETING, BC NA- formation is listed, it can be assumed that none was pro- TURE, Vernon, BC, hosted by the North Okanagan Natural- vided by the organization, at least not on the date when ists. Full details not available yet. For information, check the this listing was compiled. It is usually not necessary to BC Nature website at http://www.bcnature.ca , or contact the contact a particular individual, except for scientific meet- office at [email protected] . ings when one is interested in making a presentation. Sept. 21-25— WASHINGTON ORNITHOLOGICAL SO- Names and contact information for individuals are listed CIETY ANNUAL CONFERENCE, Semiahmoo Resort, whenever they are available. Blaine, WA. No details posted yet other than the dates and location, but check the WOS website (http://wos.org/annual- June 3— OKANAGAN MOUNTAIN PARK BIRD BLITZ. conference/current-year ) closer to the conference date for This annual survey of the birds of Okanagan Mountain Pro- details and to register. vincial Park near Kelowna has been held every year since Sept. 23-27— 24TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE 1993, except for two years after the huge 2003 wildfire. For WILDLIFE SOCIETY, Albuquerque, NM. For information, information or to participate, contact the organizer, Les check the TWS conference page at http://wildlife.org/learn/ Gyug, at [email protected] , or phone him at (250) 769- conferences-2 . 5907. Nov. 8-12— RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION annu- June 9-11— BC FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS ANNUAL al meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah, hosted by HawkWatch In- GENERAL MEETING, Tumbler Ridge, BC. For details, ternational. For information, check the RRF website at http:// check the BCFO conference page at https://bcfo.ca/bcfo-agm- www.raptorresearchfoundation.org/conferences/upcoming- tumbler-ridge-2017 . conferences, or contact the chairperson, Dave Oleyar, by June 16-18— MANNING PARK BIRD BLITZ, Manning email at [email protected] , or by phone at (206) 972- Provincial Park, BC (based at Loneduck Campground on 0163. Lightning Lake). For information and to register, check the Nov. 18-19— FRASER VALLEY BALD EAGLE FESTI- website at http://hopemountain.org/programs/manning-park- VAL, Harrison Mills, BC. For information, check the festival bird-blitz-june-16-18-2017 . Inquiries may be made by email website at http://fraservalleybaldeaglefestival.ca , send an to La Vern at [email protected] or by phone at 604 email to [email protected] , phone 604- -869-1274. 826-7361, or write the Mission Chamber of Commerce, June 24— First WESTPORT SEABIRDS pelagic birding 34033 Lougheed Highway, Mission, BC V2V 5X8. trip of the summer/fall season from Westport, WA. This is Dec. 14 to Jan. 5 (2018)— CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS. the first of 15 trips scheduled from June through October For information on dates of counts and contact information 2017. For information and to sign up for a trip, please visit for count organizers, check the BCFO website in November the Westport Seabirds webpage at http:// and December, or check the December issue of BC Birding. www.westportseabirds.com . July 31-Aug. 5— 135TH STATED MEETING OF AMERI- CAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ SOCIETY, AND 35TH STATED MEETING, SOCIETY OF CANADIAN ORNITHOLOGISTS, at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. For further details, to register, or to submit a paper for presentation, please visit the website at http://aossco2017.fw.msu.edu/ Aug. 8-12— ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WATERBIRD SOCIETY, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. For Page 10 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2)

Introduction to Birding in Western Mexico

Adrian Dorst below, and it has a top deck that’s great give up birding at home just because we for watching soaring birds. On a good fail to tick off a lifer every day? It is mid-January on the south coast of morning you can check off thirty spe- Birding in Yelapa has taught me that BC and 3 degrees Celsius with heavy cies of birds in an hour without leaving it takes time to find everything that overcast. Rain is gushing down and the the breakfast table. Evening meals at a lives in a given area. In the first few prospect for the next week or two is restaurant a ten-minute walk away are years I missed some of the buntings more of the same, the weather man tells to die for and inexpensive as well. To entirely because they were hiding in us. If you’re like me and grow tired of top it off, the climate is as near perfect weedy fields that seemed largely devoid the dismal winter weather, this is a as it gets. Situated on somewhat of a of birds. When I looked a little closer, good time to board a plane for tropical point, Casa La Loma is almost always however, there they were – Blue Gros- climes. About a million and a half Ca- blessed by a gentle sea breeze; thus it is beak, Painted Bunting, Orange-breasted nadians are reported to visit Mexico never too hot. Bunting, and Ruddy-breasted Seedeat- each year. Unlike most of my fellow Birding in an area year after year is er. The latter bird I did not discover Canucks, however, I don’t have a hank- very different from paying a brief visit. until last year, having overlooked it on ering for basking on the beach, beer in A friend of mine who has done exten- all previous trips. I should point out that hand. I’m a birder and there are birds to sive birding around the world once told because the majority of buntings and be discovered. me that he leaves an area and moves on seedeaters in winter are females or drab Many birders mistakenly believe when his expectation of daily lifers is males they are easily overlooked, as that North America ends at the Rio reduced to four or five species. My well as a challenge to identify. Grande. However, that notion is based friend fails to grasp that patience is re- So habitat-specific are some birds largely on the American Birding Asso- quired for many species, as some are that you will find them only on a small ciation (ABA) having drawn the south- very elusive. Personally, I am delighted patch of land no larger than an urban ern boundary of the continent on the to reacquaint myself with ones I already backyard. One year I could always Mexican border. In actual fact the con- know from previous years. It’s like count on finding Painted Buntings in a tinent continues to the Isthmus of Te- greeting old friends and I find myself small weedy patch beside a trail. The huantepec, and thus includes most of fascinated all over again. Besides, how following year they were gone. Some- Mexico except for the Yucatan Penin- does one get inured to such spectacular one had cut the vegetation. Likewise, sula and Tabasco and Chiapas provinc- species as Squirrel Cuckoo, Elegant the most reliable location to find Or- es. If we accept this fact, the North Trogon, Russet-crowned Motmot, Pale- ange-breasted Buntings was a scrubby, American bird list suddenly gains, by billed Woodpecker, and Black-throated neglected lot beside a grassy field. my count, an astonishing 382 additional Magpie-Jay, to name just a few. Do we The walk I do most frequently is on species, which will keep us birding for the rest of our lives. Russet-crowned Motmot. Photo by Adrian Dorst. Over the years, beginning in 1964, I’ve made numerous trips to Mexico, the first one south to Vera Cruz province and Oaxaca, and in later years road trips to the tip of the Baja peninsula. For the past dozen years my location of choice has been the village of Yelapa, located on the south shore of the Bay of Banderas, 20 miles southwest of Puerto Vallarta on the west coast and easily accessible by water taxi. I usually spend four weeks hunkered down at that one location, though sometimes longer. Why so much time in one place? There are many reasons, not least of which is the great variety of birds found there. The village is situated among wooded hills in a region of high biodi- versity and is far removed from the bus- tle of the city. As well, the place of my accommodation, which I now regard as my home away from home, is idyllic. The large hacienda where I stay, Casa La Loma, is perched on a hill with a fabulous view of the village and bay

Page 11 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2) the road above the village. Although hills above the river, and if you hike foot in the shallow water allows one to Yelapa’s streets are too narrow for nor- two miles upriver you may get lucky have very closeup looks at herons, mal vehicular traffic, there is a road that enough to see them up close. Lilac- egrets and ibis, totalling ten species or comes down the mountain and ends just crowned Parrots were seen almost daily so, as well as a few shorebirds, notably short of the village. Few conventional when I first came to Yelapa, but they Willets and Black-necked Stilts. So motor vehicles, however, brave the are now rare, the illegal pet trade likely accustomed are these river birds to peo- steep, rutted road, leaving it largely being responsible for their demise. ple that they move only reluctantly at abandoned to the occasional horse and Nevertheless, a flock of nine birds was your approach and you can easily pho- rider, trail bike, ATV or pedestrian. seen flying over the village on my last tograph them with a point-and-shoot Conveniently located a short distance visit. camera. In most winters moderate num- from my place of lodging, the road Additional species that may be seen bers of Laughing and Heermann’s Gulls traverses a variety of habitat. Also con- along the lower road are Yellow Gros- congregate in the harbour and river venient is the fact that for a good part of beak, Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, Thick- mouth, and in some years, Elegant and it one can remain in the shade provided billed Kingbird, Red-breasted Chat, Royal Terns as well. On a morning riv- by trees. Birds seen on this upland walk Grayish Saltator, and six species of vir- er walk you can easily log 30 or 40 spe- are mostly passerines, woodpeckers and eo – Golden, Bell’s, Plumbeous and cies. raptors, as there are no bodies of water Black-capped among them, the latter Besides herons and egrets, there are here. Among the birds regularly seen being the rarest. Above 800 metres ele- many other birds to be seen here such here are Elegant and Citreoline Trogons vation I once found a seventh vireo, the as Green Kingfisher, Groove-billed and Russet-crowned Motmots. Ani, Great Kiskadee, Social On the lower portion of the road Flycatcher, and if you’re lucky, watch for Blue Mockingbird, Boat-billed Flycatcher. Golden- which otherwise can be very elu- cheeked Woodpeckers are com- sive. Blue Buntings can almost mon and with a little luck you be guaranteed on any given day, will see the large and striking as well as Varied Buntings in Pale-billed Woodpecker and the some years. Four Myarchis fly- Lineated Woodpecker. West catchers are found in the area, Mexican Chachalacas are com- though they can be a challenge to mon in the village and are identify. When in doubt, I try to sometimes seen foraging like see the underside of the tail, or I chickens in people’s yards. use my small camera with a 60X Crested Guans are in the area as lens to photograph the bird and well but are elusive. I once identify it later. found them at high elevation but Swifts are seen only occa- locals report that these large sionally, though sometimes in birds now come down into the numbers. White-collared and village regularly. Great Swallow-tailed Swifts are As a result of birding in the always a thrill to see when they same area year after year, appear. Howell and Webb’s Yelapa sometimes produces book, A Guide to the Birds of surprises. On 18 February, Mexico and Northern Central 2012, having hiked the road up America, shows the range of the to the 800 metre level of the White-collared Swift as being far mountain, I spotted two large to the south of Yelapa, but the raptors soaring slightly higher book is mistaken on this count. I than eye-level. Too far away to have numerous records for this identify with certainty, I took species in Yelapa. several photos using a long lens. Three members of the parrot When blown up, the photos un- family are found in the area, and equivocally showed Ornate two of them are seen on most Lineated Woodpecker by Adrian Dorst. Hawk-Eagles, a species not rec- walks on the lower road. One is orded in the area before. The the Orange-fronted Parakeet, home range of the species lies which is common here and is seen in Yellow-throated. Raptors are often seen far to the east, though a map in Howell moderate to large flocks, and the other from the road, with the three most com- and Webb’s book on Mexican birds is the Military Macaw. These large mon being Common Black Hawk, Gray shows that a disjunct population exists birds are quite spectacular when they Hawk and Short-tailed Hawk. The Zone not far south of Yelapa. are seen well, though here they are usu- -tailed Hawk is seen only occasionally Two years later, I recorded no fewer ally seen passing high overhead in and the Crane Hawk and Crested Cara- than three extralimital species. First, pairs. You’ll hear their loud squawks cara rarely. two Double-toothed Kites, far outside long before you spot them. As many as To view water birds in Yelapa one their known range, were seen and pho- 30 to 35 have been seen flying over the needs to visit the river. Walking bare- tographed on the mountain, again at

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800 metres elevation. Then, just four days later I photographed a Black Hawk -Eagle above the road just outside the village. Remarkably, both these species were hundreds of kilometres northwest of their known range. The third sighting involved a large juvenile gull of ques- tionable identity on the shore in the village that I had initially identified as a juvenile Western Gull. After considera- ble debate and dispute about the photo on eBird, I am now confident it is a Kelp Gull. Although native to South America, they have turned up in widely disparate locales, including the United States. More surprises were to come. In the years 2016 and 2017, Black Hawk- Eagles were again seen and photographed at Yelapa, and Black-and- white Hawk-Eagles as well. The latter species too has a home range hundreds of kilometres to the southeast and was virtually unknown anywhere in the west. Exactly a month after the first Streak-backed Oriole by Adrian Dorst. Yelapa sighting, John Gordon took an excellent photo of a Black-and-white Why are so many raptors from the their known range certainly adds anoth- Hawk-Eagle at the botanical gardens, south and east now being seen on the er dimension to birding. located less than 20 kilometres by air Pacific slope? Have they been over- from Yelapa, thereby firmly establish- looked, or are they new arrivals ex- Adrian Dorst lives in Tofino where he ing its occurrence in western Mexico. panding their range? I shall leave that works as a bird guide in summer. He Both these raptors have been recorded for others to ponder. My point in relat- currently offers guided birding trips in in Yelapa by two other Canadian birding all of the above is that in Mexico, Yelapa, Mexico. He can be reached at ers – Bruce Ferry of Toronto and Aziza expect the unexpected. Ornithologically [email protected] Cooper of Victoria. Recently there have significant discoveries still happen rela- been a number of sightings of the Black tively frequently compared to back - and-white Hawk-Eagle far to the north home in BC. Finding birds that are near San Blas. many hundreds of kilometres outside

a ton of typical Sonoran desert birds the next day for our next new spot. So there, butterflies such as the majestic nice to be able to rely on the weather Easter in Monarch and lots of different cacti. It for a change – clear skies every day! made me completely forget the fact that We stopped at a gas station to stock up the airline had misplaced my tripod (I on bottled water and then we were off Arizona got it back a few hours later). to Madera Canyon, one of the world’s Our next and last stop of the first best hotspots. We birded the nine miles Adam Dhalla day was Zanjero Park, where we were of grassland, the Santa Rita Experi- Over this past Easter weekend, my dad able to spend time with a triplet of Bur- mental Range, just before entering and I went to that southwestern mecca rowing Owls. When we arrived, we Madera. The highlight of this region for birders, Arizona. It was great to get didn’t see any and we thought, if we was an abundance of Black-throated away from the constant, chilling drizzle did, they would be a little flighty. But Sparrows, which was a bird I wasn’t of “Raincouver” and find some lifers in toward the end of the trail we saw one, expecting to see much of. a dry, sunny and hot climate. I grew then another. And then one flew in and Our first stop was Santa Rita Lodge excited as we flew over canyons far perched nearby, providing me with — there were birds everywhere! At below our iron bird and approached our spectacular shots. There were a bunch various hummingbird feeders I saw destination. of man-made burrows on the right side, Magnificent, Broad-Billed, Black- Once we got there, we were birding which the owls shared with the occa- Chinned and Rufous Hummingbirds. A as soon as we got into our rented SUV. sional jackrabbit. This splendid sight few small flocks of Mexican Jays were In Phoenix, we had a great time with provided us with a much-needed boost roaming the area. Other species there Roadrunners, which circled the paths of for our evening drive south to Tucson. were Lesser Goldfinch, Black-Headed Desert Botanical Garden. We also saw We woke up at the crack of dawn Grosbeak, Acorn and Arizona Wood-

Page 13 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2) peckers, and lots of Wild Turkeys. Af- Park, only a couple terwards, we went down to the Amphi- minutes’ drive from our theatre Trail, where we first thought we hotel. Our target was a couldn’t see anything, until a flash of Vermilion Flycatcher. We red and grey flew over me and landed were drowsy and tired in a nearby tree. I got a record shot and when we were walking in it flew away: it was a female Elegant the parking lot to get to our Trogon! We tried to re-locate it, but we car, but even though my sadly couldn’t, but we did pick up a eyes were a bit glassy, I Dusky-Capped Flycatcher in the pro- was still able to easily spot cess. a small blob of the bright- We drove to our next stop, which est red I’ve ever seen sit- was Paton’s Center for Hummingbirds, ting in a tree in our parking southeast of Madera, in the town of lot. Yes, we actually found Patagonia. While looking for it we got a Vermilion Flycatcher in slightly lost, but at least we were able to our hotel parking lot. It see the border and the original begin- was hard to photograph, nings of what perhaps will be a long since it was in a dark place, wall separating Mexico and the U.S. so we headed over to Reid Once we arrived at Paton’s, birds Park. As soon as we got were everywhere. My apologies for out of the car to start bird- repeating myself, but it seemed like ing, there was another Ver- birds were everywhere, everywhere! At milion Flycatcher just sit- the Oriole feeders, there was two Lad- ting on the monkey bars in der-backed Woodpeckers. In the trees, a the playground. It was Gila Woodpecker. At seed feeders, an much easier to get photos Abert’s Towhee, a Green-tailed Tow- now with the sun coming hee, Lazuli Buntings, a Summer Tana- up and with it being a more ger and an Inca Dove. We got a quick “tame” bird. glimpse of a Violet-crowned Hum- We headed back to mingbird, and good looks at a pair of Phoenix, to hopefully see Gambel’s Quail. Far away, on the tops some Rosy-Faced Love- of trees, I spotted a Black Vulture and a birds at Encanto Park, which we did! light enough to take photos, so that was Cassin’s Kingbird. It was funny to see There was a large group nesting in the what everyone did. Once it got dark we Gila Woodpeckers at the hummingbird top of a palm tree, which was conven- listened to it call to its mate. What a feeders. iently right next to the parking lot. wonderful experience! We left when the sun was going Birding was so easy, compared to B.C. On our fourth and final day, we down and got back to the hotel by They were a lot tinier than I expected. could only go to one spot before we had nightfall, finishing the night off with We drove back to fabulous Madera to catch our plane back to still wintery some awesome and cheap Mexican Canyon, with a very, very small bird in Vancouver – and that was Tohono Chul food: burritos and quesadillas – muy mind: the smallest owl — Elf Owl. By Park. We had to pick up some last de- delicioso. the time we got there, it was 5:00 pm sert specialties we had missed, so hope- The next day, we woke up super and the owl would, according to other fully we would be able to find them early (again — but that’s par for the birders, poke out of its hiding place at here. We went on an 8:30 am bird walk course for birders) to head over to Reid 7:00 pm so we had time to bird again at and got our first lifer, a Costa’s Hum- Santa Rita. Even though it was mingbird, which we saw many more of the same spot, I got a few more later. At the end of the bird walk we got lifers: Hepatic Tanager, Red- two desert birds that we missed, the naped Sapsucker, Zone-tailed Verdin and Black-Tailed Gnatcatcher, Hawk, and Bridled Titmouse. I which we were very happy to see. A may have seen the latter last total of 45 lifers for the trip! We ended time, but I had no photo, so I our birding in this beautiful state with a wasn’t sure. This time, they Cactus Wren pair, their state bird, feed- were very tame. We then fol- ing their chicks in their nest in the lowed a group of people to the crook of a Saguaro cactus, something nest site, which has been used truly Arizonian. for five years: an electricity pole, which has become locally famous. For 15 minutes we Photo left: Gambel’s Quail. Above: waited, and right as it turned to Vermilion Flycatcher. Both are by Ad- 7:00 pm, on cue, the tiny owl am Dhalla. Adam is a recent recipient poked her head out. It was still of the BC Young Birders Award.

Page 14 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2)

blend of vodka and pineapple juice over crushed ice. A waiter, carrying a gourd Birding on a tray, announced the drink in a macho voice, “Pumpo!” then others joined in “Igual, Pumpo!” and rang Volcan Tacana bells to create more drama. When opportunity presented during the tour, Adrian Leather you’d hear “Pumpo!” March 3 saw us greeted by joggers March 2–13, 2017, Chiapas and surrounded by Ridgway’s Rough- I pondered Mexico for exciting birding, winged Swallows at Sumidero Canyon. and Eric Antonio Martinez suggested a Canivet’s Emerald showed well and a tour of Southern Chiapas, featuring El Cabanis’s Wren crept in and out of Triunfo, a place covered in Fifty Places sight. Other species included Northern To Go Birding Before You Die. The trip Bentbill, Slender Sheartail, Rufous- filled almost instantly, the crew being browed Peppershrike, Belted Flycatch- Mark Yunker (Brentwood Bay), Clive er, and a dazzling Blue Seedeater. We Keen (Prince George), Ed Jordan & departed well satisfied. Dawn Seeley-Ross (Quadra Island), On March 4, Slaty-breasted Tina- John Hodges (Roberts Creek), Jerry & mou haunted the rainforest. A Barred Lynne McFetridge, Nora McMuldroch, Antshrike surfaced for a few holas. A and Adrian Leather (Quesnel). vocal Green-backed Sparrow set us Planning ran smoothly until officials scanning. We heard a Royal Flycatcher, at El Triunfo changed our birding dates. and watched a Plain Xenops. We en- Blue-crowned Motmot by Mark Yunker. Eric suggested an alternative, Volcan joyed a fun time with four Green Shrike Tacana, a biosphere reserve bordering -Vireos. Any sensible birder would Guatemala, with similar birding and a have given up on Nava’s Wren. The ite being a well-scoped Tody Motmot. monitoring group to protect habitat and tricky customer vocally tormented us. We watched a White Hawk, then a survey species. We would be the first Ed joked, “We need it to come out on Black Hawk-Eagle flew directly over us international birding group to visit! Eric that stick.” We laughed, ironically. The – fantastic! had birded Tacana well, as had the wren sang a few more times, then March 7 saw us at Benito Juarez El monitors, but could they succeed as astonishingly, hopped out along the Plan. We enjoyed awesome scope hosts? stick to a cacophony of clicking camer- views of a Blue-crowned Chlorophonia. Aeromexico cancelled our morning as. Absolute elation! It even performed We searched for Horned Guan, but to flight to Tuxtla Gutierrez, so we missed an encore, emerging on to a second no avail. Cabanis’s Tanager proved a trip to San Cristobal de Las Casas. stick – surreal! similarly elusive. Scanning from a With diminishing daylight, on March 2, March 5 illustrated the quality of ridge, affording very close looks at Pal- we enjoyed watching Green Parakeets Eric’s itinerary: a new adventure daily; try Tyrannulet, we heard that Nelson, a in downtown Tuxtla. visiting various habitats and elevations; monitor, had spotted a Cabanis’s Tana- We visited Restaurante Las new species presenting; the tour always ger, and we savoured this beauty, Pichanchas, and ordered a refreshing fresh. We birded Arriaga, and it was decked out in shimmering shades of hopping. Star species included Bare- blue, until it flew across the valley with Orange-breasted Bunting by Jerry throated Tiger-Heron, White-bellied five others. McFetridge. Chachalaca, Turquoise-browed Mot- We appreciated the local coffee and mot, Giant Wren, and two Yellow- ordered some via the monitors. We wit- naped Parrots. A massive adrenaline nessed an intriguing way of life: im- rush continued into the evening with pressive self-sufficiency, everything terrific looks at Northern Potoo and organic. Villagers walked precipitous Pacific Screech-Owl. trails carrying firewood. Guys with ma- March 6 found us at Mapastepec chetes worked patches of flowers and and La Sepultura. We relished the ka- fruits. leidoscopic beauty of Orange-breasted, We engaged in rooftop birding at an Rosita’s, Indigo, Lazuli, Varied, and arty hotel in Union Juarez, a scenic Painted Buntings. We had a great look mountain getaway. We watched Com- at a Squirrel Cuckoo. We adored the mon Tody-Flycatcher, Rufous-collared comical flight of a Highland Guan, air Sparrow, and White-collared Seedeater. venting through the wings. We’d tried Feeling sufficiently ornithologically for Long-tailed Manakin, and seen a entertained, we visited an excellent res- few females. Now we watched two taurant. The hotel rooms were named males, somewhat back in a hole, but after famous volcanoes, Tacana includ- classy blue and black showing nicely. ed. A cool staircase adjoined a living An ant swarm attracted birds, a favour- wall of ferns and plants, water stream- ing to a pool. Birders are used to rough- Page 15 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2) ing it, but this was the height of ele- and juices, the jamon y queso, ome- gance. lettes, quesadillas y tortillas, and salsas. On March 8 we traveled to the se- It was a wonderful welcome. rene mountain refuge of Agua Caliente, We watched Melodious Blackbird, stopping for Pacific Parakeets at their Golden Grosbeak, Chiapas and Guate- nest holes. A Thicket Tinamou was malan Junco, Eastern Bluebird, and heard. We were pleasantly shocked to Yellow-throated Brush-Finch. A Blue- see another two Yellow-naped Parrots, and-White Mockingbird crept among a and added White-fronted and Mealy tangle. At night, Mexican Whip-poor- Parrot. Other birds included five Red- wills took over, and a Mottled Owl was legged Honeycreepers, three Blue-tailed heard. A Fulvous Owl wound up, and Hummingbirds, two Orange-billed eventually we listened to five, one al- Nightingale-Thrush, and a Lesser lowing jaw-dropping looks, lit up in all Greenlet. its finery. At Agua Caliente, mules were fitted March 9 featured a grand search for with our luggage. We faced a steep Horned Guan and Resplendent Quetzal. hike, and focused on our footing. A Prior to the trip, Eric stated a need for Ruddy Foliage-Gleaner was seen. A exercise, and he wasn’t joking! We building atop a narrow ridge was ventured high into cloud forest. Five Don.Benjamin’s private paradise. We Hooded Grosbeaks and two Green- were greeted by Black-headed Siskins. throated Mountain-Gem were noted. A The monitors had set up brand new Barred Forest-Falcon attempted to tents, a shower, and a toilet with a view. avoid our gaze. Black-throated Jays We were directed to a female Highland remained distant. Movement in the Guan, which roosts with the resident trees betrayed a female Resplendent Collared Trogon by Mark Yunker. chickens, ducks, and turkeys. We were Quetzal, then a canopy window re- treated to a feast, and formal address by vealed a male, shimmering in green, red stars and the distant lights of mountain Don.Benjamin. I felt really humbled and white, the intricate tail curling up in villages. Mexicans don’t worry about and truly privileged. Each monitor in- phases. We gasped in awe at a Fulvous high altitude, nor roosters announcing troduced themselves, then we greeted Owl – intimidating talons, and piercing the morning. You’d hear a distant one, each other casually. There was an over- eyes investigating us. I should have felt and think, no, please don’t get a closer whelming sense of anticipation. It was euphoric seeing Resplendent Quetzal, one started, then two would crow right more than a birding trip. It was sheer but couldn’t help feeling gutted we’d by your tent. joy, profound human contact, and we missed Horned Guan. It was important March 10 saw us depart Don.Ben- felt the connection. If life is about any- to the monitors, as a foray into birding jamin’s place in the sky, and its sere- thing, apart from birding, it is surely tourism wouldn’t be complete without nading solitaires. Singing Quail vocal- about creating social memories, and one. ized. Ed photographed a Wine-throated this ranks with the ultimate experiences We returned to camp, snoring com- Hummingbird, and we watched two in my life. We relished the fresh fruits peting with night birds, overseen by Black-capped Swallows. Slate-throated Redstarts and Crescent-chested War- Female Highland Guan by Clive Keen. blers added dashes of colour. We ad- mired the aqueduct gushing down to Agua Caliente. An evening walk near Union Juarez added Emerald-chinned Hummingbird, Rufous Sabrewing, Greater Pewee, and Blue-throated Motmot. On March 11 we drove to Chiqui- huites, then hiked from 6,500 feet to 10,300 feet. Tacana peaks at 13,484 feet, with Goldman’s Yellow-rumped Warbler near the top, but nobody con- templated that. In a corn field at 8,500 feet a truly memorable moment was sighting locals around a table full of refreshments; a luxury pitstop, where Pink-headed Warbler and Elegant Eu- phonia joined the party. We marveled at sunlit Volcan Taju- mulco in Guatemala. Our quest for Horned Guan continued, with three teams in radio contact, but the crucial

Page 16 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2) call never came. We’d proudly com- direct us to the guan, using a combo of We stopped at a restaurant, where pleted a marathon hike, but no Horned Spanish, English, and pointing. We the food kept coming, a celebratory Guan. It felt devastating. struggled for composure. Near the val- evening, but with emotional goodbyes We saw a small soccer field. Who ley bottom was a bending tree, with a to the monitors, who presented our cof- knew Mexico play Guatemala at Linda hole in the trees above. The guan was fee, gagged and bound for BC. Vista? A huge boulder doesn’t stop the apparently above that. Eric set up his On March 13, Eric arranged a light games. As cloud enveloped a ridge, scope in record time, and we shuffled breakfast before driving to Tapachula sheltering magical forest, we enjoyed a around on a tiny ledge to view the glit- airport, where Grey-breasted Martins close encounter of the Black-throated tering prize, the legend revealed, a saluted us. It was a very fond farewell Jay kind. We reached camp. There was Horned Guan! We observed a broad to Chiapas. a shower, a loo with a view, and tents black tail, the bill, eyes, red legs, and The monitors were superb hosts, and set up in a shed. It got cold at night. I the horn. Our last full day in Chiapas, greatly enhanced a magnificent tour. was glad of my sweater and jacket. We and we were ecstatic, not just for our- Overseen by Patricia Hernandez, I re- hoped to hear Unspotted Saw-whet selves, but for the monitors too. We call their happiness, friendliness, and Owl, but no luck – unspotted you might punched the air, smiled Cheshire Cat exemplary service. Organization behind say. Mexican Whip-poor-wills domi- smiles, and thanked Rene for spotting the scenes must have been immense, nated, with owls and Highland Guan this endangered cloud-forest icon. and special thanks go to our guide and prominent in the mix. We relaxed, enjoying Amethyst- friend, Eric Antonio Martinez. As daylight broke on March 12, throated Hummingbird, Garnet-throated I’m so happy I lived this dream, and Black-capped Siskins entertained, and a Hummingbird, and sumptuous looks at shared it with a great group. We are the Guatemalan Flicker called. We reveled an Emerald Toucanet. first international birding group to visit in another scrumptious breakfast. Sud- Between Chiquihuites and Union Volcan Tacana, and I know many will denly, we heard that Rene, aka Volcano Juarez we watched a Violet Sabrewing. follow. Man, had found a Horned Guan! Some White-faced Quail-Dove provided monitors were part way down a precipi- background bass. A Yellowish Fly- tous slope. We threw caution to the catcher perched, silent and composed. wind, dodging trees and bushes, and Ed said, “Hey, you know, I’ve got a propelling ourselves left and right, from funny blue bird here.” Would you be- one slippery patch of mud to another, lieve it? Cabanis’s Tanager! And then Most of the group taking a breather at so as not to tumble straight down. My there were three. What a way to finish 10,131 feet. Three monitors are in the heart was pounding, as monitors tried to our tour. background.

Page 17 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2)

An Australian Birding Odyssey

Peter Candido bird species endemic to New South north, ultimately touring Kakadu Na- Wales. Also here were White-bellied tional Park and Darwin, the drop-off In October—November of 2016 my Sea-Eagle, Eastern Whipbird and Pied point for our vehicle. Along the Stuart wife Gloria and I returned to Australia Currawong, among others. Highway we recorded Crested Bellbird, for our third time, to explore parts of Finally it was time to get started on Chiming Wedgebill, Black-faced the country we had not yet visited, in the main part of the trip and we flew to Woodswallow, White-browed Babbler, particular the “Red Centre,” Kakadu Alice Springs (“Alice,” to the locals) on Red-browed Pardalote, Australian National Park, Darwin, Western Aus- October 5. A walk into town from our Ringneck, Mulga Parrot, Cinnamon tralia, Victoria and Tasmania. In 2008 motel took us to Olive Pink Botanical Quail-thrush, Brown Songlark, Budger- we had travelled, over the course of Garden, where the highlights were sev- igar, Crimson Chat, Australasian Pipit, seven weeks, from far northern Queens- eral Western Bowerbirds, one of which White-winged Triller and others. land to Eden in New South Wales, Reaching Uluru in the after- mainly near the coast, with two noon of October 7, we were excursions inland to the outback able to get to a popular viewing along the way. On another occa- point in time to see the setting sion we had visited the Adelaide sun illuminating the great red area and the mouth of the Murray monolith. River in South Australia. With my I had always visualized this Australia bird list standing at 362 part of the country as relatively species, there was still plenty of barren, with sparse vegetation; potential for some fabulous new however, there had been fre- birds. Furthermore, as I am inter- quent rain prior to our arrival, ested in seeing as many of the and the desert was now green world’s bird families as possible, I and lush looking, with many was very keen to try and find the flowers in bloom. At one road- five remaining Australian endem- side stop we found Black Hon- ic bird families, all of which were eyeaters singing and displaying possible on this trip (more about in their aerial flight over an this later). expanse of flowering shrubs. After an overnight flight from On the east side of Uluru, soar- Vancouver, we picked up a rental ing near the rock, Gloria spot- car in Sydney on October 1, 2016. ted a rare Square-tailed Kite, a We spent four days in the Sydney curious raptor that specializes area, mainly in and around Royal in feeding on small birds, par- National Park, and immediately ticularly their eggs and nest- began to get reacquainted with lings. Other birds included a many of the local birds such as flock of 100 or so Zebra Finch- Magpie-Lark, Sulphur-crested es near a waterhole, and a Cockatoo, Olive-tailed Thrush, Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo. Spotted Pardalote, New Holland Returning to Alice, we turned Honeyeater, Eastern Spinebill, west to bird Simpson’s Gap, Little Wattlebird, Superb Fairy- Ormiston Gorge and Glenn wren, Azure Kingfisher, Green Helen Gorge, very picturesque Catbird, Golden Whistler, Eastern Western Bowerbird. All photos by Peter Candido. areas with rugged cliffs border- Yellow Robin, Leaden Flycatcher, ing water courses. Ormiston Australian King-Parrot, Superb Gorge was noisy with hundreds Lyrebird and many others. Channel- was actively displaying and putting of Budgerigars chattering in the beauti- billed Cuckoos had returned from their ful ghost gums along the river, as well wintering grounds in New Guinea, and finishing touches on its bower. The next day we picked up our as many Australian Ringnecks of the I was surprised to see a couple of these nominate race, the “Port Lincoln Par- (at 60 cm the world's largest brood par- campervan from Britz Campervan Rentals, bought supplies and headed rot.” Spinifexbird was found on a asite) in flight in the Sydney suburbs. grassy slope below a cliff. Glenn Helen On the rocky cliffs at Providential Head out. The plan was to drive south on the Stuart Highway looking for key out- Gorge is cut through by the Finke Riv- in the park, I found one of my target er, often described as the world’s oldest birds, the enigmatic Rockwarbler. This back birds, then west on the Lasseter Highway to Uluru (a.k.a. Ayers' Rock) river — it has been following the same species is confined to sandstone and general course for about 100 million limestone formations, and is the only National Park. We would later head Page 18 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2) years! A large patch of reeds on the paintings. innicup National Park, a short walk river bed was occupied by a number of Moving on to Darwin, we birded from our cabin. I even got photographs Australasian Reed-Warblers, all singing most of the well-known sites listed in of one. The Scrub-bird and Bristlebird away, and Little Woodswallows flew bird-finding guides. Among the birds added two new families to my list. The overhead. new for me here were Little Curlew, Park also harboured Western Whipbird Backtracking to Alice, we turned Oriental Plover, Barking Owl, Rainbow (frequently heard but not seen), Brush north along the Stuart Highway, pass- Pitta, Silver-backed Butcherbird (split and Common Bronzewing, Fan-tailed ing through Tennant Creek (Gray- from Gray Butcherbird), Rose-crowned Cuckoo, Inland Thornbill, Red-winged fronted Honeyeater), Renner Springs Fruit-Dove, Varied Lorikeet, Northern Fairy-wren, Tawny-crowned Hon- (Black-chinned Honeyeater) and New- Rosella and Red-headed Myzomela. eyeater, White-cheeked Honeyeater, castle Waters. The vegetation changed Having driven 4,200 kilometres to Western Gerygone, Purple-crowned from mallee to tropical woodland and date, on October 22 we flew from Dar- Lorikeet and others. we began to pick up birds such as Pa- win to Perth. The next day we set off Heading back inland, at Porongorup cific Koel, Rainbow Bee-eater, Lemon- for the south coast of Western Austral- National Park near Mt. Barker we rec- bellied Flycatcher, Dollarbird, Pied Im- ia, stopping at Cheynes Beach Caravan orded a pair of Rufous Treecreepers perial-Pigeon and Blue-winged Kooka- Park where we had booked a cabin for feeding young in a tree hollow, Western burra, among others. Silver-crowned two nights. New birds around the park Rosella, Gilbert’s Honeyeater and a Friarbird was seen at Nitmiluk National were Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo and stunning Red-eared Firetail. In Stirling Park near Katherine, and at a tiny White-breasted Robin, both endemic to Range National Park we found Western stream off the entrance road I found a WA. A short walk from our cabin was a Yellow Robin, Elegant Parrot, Regent small flock of six finches coming in to well-known site for Noisy Scrub-bird, Parrot, Western Spinebill and Shining drink: two immature Gouldian Finches also endemic and one of the most noto- Bronze-Cuckoo. Lake Muir Observato- and a Long-tailed Finch (both lifers) as rious skulkers in the country. Watching ry yielded a flock of 100 Western Co- well as two Crimson Finches and a patiently down a narrow track through rellas, another WA endemic. It is rather Double-barred Finch! Other birds in- coastal scrub, we waited for a resident localized and becoming uncommon, the cluded Great Bowerbird (very common bird to cross from one section of his nominate race being listed as endan- here), Australian King-Parrot and Blue- territory to another, and were eventually gered. Dozens of Australian Shelducks faced Honeyeater. A Tawny Frogmouth rewarded with a quick view of the run- and over 200 Black Swans dotted the and a pair of Bush Thick-knees with a ning bird on two different occasions. shallow lake. chick were neighbours at our campsite Western Bristlebird was another diffi- Dryandra Woodland SE of Perth in the park. cult skulker, but I managed to see three gave us good looks at Western Wattle- En route to Kakadu National Park birds crossing a sandy track in Waych- bird and Western Thornbill as well as we passed through Pine Creek, the most reliable site for Hooded Parrot, and found a flock of about 30 feeding around the large park in town. In Kaka- du, we had signed up for the popular Yellow Water Boat Cruise, which runs several times per day; for birders, it's advisable to take the earliest one, leaving at 6:30 am. The two-hour cruise on quiet waterways yielded a host of waterbirds and other species (most seen previously in Queensland) as well as close encounters with four-metre Estua- rine Crocodiles or "salties". Birds seen included the enigmatic Magpie-Goose, Green Pygmy-Goose, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Paperbark Flycatcher, Whiskered Tern, Rufous Night-Heron, Royal Spoonbill, Australasian Darter, Brolga, Comb-crested Jacana, Black- necked Stork and Black-tailed Whistler. Later at the Jabiru Visitor Centre we found Partridge Pigeon, and along the highway near the Mary River we spotted a rare Red Goshawk near a known nest with chicks. At Burrungui (formerly Nourlangie Rock) we marvelled at the amazing aboriginal rock Right: Brolga at Kakadu NP.

Page 19 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2) an obliging Echidna. Returning to Perth catchers. Among the land birds here to visit friends for a few days, we bird- were Little Grassbird, White-fronted ed various parks and small lakes, get- Chat, Zebra Finch, Inland Thornbill, ting good views of a pair of Blue-billed Little Raven, Fairy Martin, Silvereye, Ducks with young as well as a large Swamp Harrier and Brown Falcon. variety of other waterbirds and wood- Leaving the Melbourne area we then land birds. drove southwest, reaching the coast at On November 5 we flew to Mel- Torquay. We continued along the Great bourne and immediately headed to the Ocean Road, one of the most scenic Werribee Sewage Farm, a wastewater drives I have experienced anywhere. treatment plant about 30 km west of This area harbours the range-restricted city. This large facility covers about Rufous Bristlebird, which proved to be 110 square kilometres, and is subdivid- much easier to see than its Western rel- ed into many sewage lagoons and ative; at Split Point Lighthouse we had ponds separated by fields and dikes. It at least two pairs and I managed a few is considered one of the top birding photographs. At Maits Rest Rainforest sites in Australia, and a permit system Walk near Apollo, we walked a beauti- allows birders to access the area. We ful rainforest loop trail past large trees first stopped at the Werribee Open and giant tree ferns, the highlight being Range Zoo where one now obtains per- a singing male Pink Robin. At the mits and a key to the sewage plant Twelve Apostles lookout, after a beauti- gates. Unfortunately, for us this site ful sunset we watched as groups of Lit- was rather disappointing. Water levels tle Penguins, about 40 in all, swam in were very high, leaving no shoreline for from the sea and walked up the beach to waders or rails, and the weather was their burrows below us as darkness fell. recently reclassified into its own mono- overcast, cold and windy. Where we Loch Ard, an area of rugged sea cliffs typic family. Another major highlight had expected thousands of ducks, there and arches nearby, yielded our first was a pair of Ground Cuckooshrikes, a were only a few Black Swans, Chestnut Long-billed Corellas, perching on the species I had long been hoping to see; Teal and Australian Shelducks. A flock sandstone cliff formations. this Australian endemic has become of eight Cape Barren Geese flew by and It was now time to return to Mel- rare and rather difficult to find. did not linger. The only shorebirds we bourne and drive north to Deniliquin in After dark on a calm, clear night we saw were outside the plant area, roost- New South Wales, where we had proceeded to the Plains-Wanderer habi- ing on the seashore: a small flock of booked a tour with Philip Maher to find tat (sparse, flat native grassland), and Red-necked Stints and 18 Pied Oyster- the rare and localized Plains-Wanderer. drove around for about an hour before Most birders in the world who have our quarry was spotted by Phil: a fe- Crested Shrike-Tit. Above right: seen this species have likely done so on male (males are less colourfully marked Plains-Wanderer. one of Phil’s trips, which he has been in this species and care for the chicks). I guiding for over 30 years. Because of managed to get some photos with the the popularity of these trips and because illumination from the spotlights, and we they are available on only a few week- later saw a male as well. Tick off anoth- ends each year, I had booked ours al- er new family, and the last potential one most a year in advance — indeed, I had for this trip! We also came upon several basically built the rest of our itinerary Banded Lapwings and a Little Button- around this 1½ day excursion. quail in the same area. The next day The first day of birding, Saturday overcast skies and very strong winds November 12, started at 7:00 am and made birding difficult, but we added ran until almost midnight, as Plains- Black-tailed Native-Hen and White- Wanderer is usually found by spotlight- backed Swallow to the trip list before ing them on their breeding grounds af- finishing at noon. ter dark. During the day we birded vari- On our drive back to Melbourne, a ous habitats around Deniliquin, racking stop at Fryers Ridge State Forest yield- up a long list of birds including Little ed Fuscous and Painted Honeyeaters, Eagle, Superb Parrot, Emu, Brolga, and I photographed a Dusky Wood- Varied Sittella, Brown Treecreeper, swallow on the nest. Buff-rumped Thornbill, Red-capped On Tuesday November 15 we flew Robin, Southern Whiteface, Crested to Hobart, Tasmania where we were Shrike-Tit, Australian Owlet-Nightjar, a met and hosted by our friend Els Wake- Tawny Frogmouth on a nest, Bluebon- field. Els is a prominent birder and con- net and Striped Honeyeater. For me, servationist in Tasmania and also a highlights were the Varied Sitella and keen photographer. She had guided two Crested Shrike-Tit, both new families international birders doing world big for me. Crested Shrike-Tit was only years: Noah Strycker in 2015 and Arjan

Page 20 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2)

Dwarshuis in 2016, helping them find stops on this circuit. I hoped to find White-throated Needletails flying low the twelve endemic birds of the island, Ground Parrot here, so one evening at overhead and a skulking Eastern so we knew we were in good hands. We dusk and again the following morning Whipbird. After five internal flights and did indeed find the birds, all within a at dawn I drove to a buttongrass plain 10,094 km of driving in six rental vehi- short distance from Hobart. The most near the airport. Here one of the memo- cles, on November 28, 2016 we re- range-restricted of the passerines here is rable experiences of the trip was hear- turned to Vancouver. Our bird list for Forty-Spotted Pardalote, which can be ing multiple Ground Parrots calling — the trip stood at 364 (95 of them being found on Bruny Island, a short drive a strange high-pitched, morse-code like lifers for me), my Australia list reached and ferry ride from Hobart. Here we ringing. 481, and we had garnered a host of also found a pair of lovely Hooded After completing our circumnaviga- wonderful memories and photographs Plovers. tion of Tasmania and checking out a from the marvelous continent down Near Dover we eventually connect- few more birding sites around Hobart under. ed with Swift Parrot, a species which (Freckled Duck added to the trip list) breeds only in Tasmania but winters on we flew back to Sydney, where we vis- the Australian mainland. This species is ited friends there and in Newcastle. A Below: Black-browed (Campbell) undergoing a steep population decline walk along Lake Macquarie near New- Albatross, Tasmania. due to predation by introduced Sugar castle yielded excellent looks at three Gliders, and its status was revised from endangered to critically endangered in 2015. An added bonus of our Tasmanian experience was a pelagic trip out of Eaglehawk Neck east of Hobart, orga- nized by Els to coincide with our visit. For information on the timing of regular trips from this location, see the following link: http://birding-aus.org/pelagic-trips-off- eaglehawk-neck-tas-in-2017/

We set out on November 19, a sunny day with generally light but cool winds, and headed for the continental shelf break. On the second stop to release chum (“berley” in down-under speak), a Pterodroma zoomed by and a few of us got quick photos which allowed us to identify it as a Soft-plumaged Petrel, a lifer for me. We soon had visits from and very close views of the largest albatrosses in the world: adults of Northern Royal and Southern Royal, and an immature Wandering Albatross (gibsoni). Also well represented were the smaller Black-browed (Campbell’s), Shy (cauta/steadi) and Buller’s albatrosses. Short Notes 3 At times we witnessed mad scrambles near the boat as Royal Albatrosses tried At least three BCFO members have been speaking about birds and birding on to steal fish scraps from the Shy Alba- CBC of late. You can still catch the interviews via the web: trosses. The trip also produced Northern Giant Petrel, Fairy Prion, Grey-faced BCFO Young Birder Liam Singh speaks about raising awareness for declining Petrel, White-chinned Petrel, hundreds bird populations by sharing photographs and leading bird-watching tours at: of Short-tailed Shearwaters, and Wil- www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/british-columbia/programs/ son’s Storm-Petrel among others. northbynorthwest/13-year-old-bird-watcher-and-photographer-looks-out-for-his- On November 22 we left Hobart and feathery-friends-1.4041788 drove north, completing a circular route around the island. At a roadside stop in Richard Cannings and Melissa Hafting talk about birding — start listening at the forest near St. Mary’s we found a beau- 30-minute mark — at: tiful Flame Robin singing on territory. The town of Strahan on the west coast www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/programs/bcalmanac/march-24 was the one of the most interesting -2017-youth-and-sexual-extortion-bird-watching-1.4042943

Page 21 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2)

Avian Encounters

perched on the back of my gloved left hand. Grateful for right-handedness, I Sharp-shinned reached for the camera and made a An Avian Q-tip Impact couple of quick close-ups, all the while Gerry Polman Gordon F. Brown In the hills above Oliver, BC, a yearling Mule Deer and an adult doe, presuma- Just as had been the case with the bly the yearling’s mother, graze sedate- Northern Pygmy-owl story in the ly along the side of a rural road. Near- March issue of BC Birding, my dear by, a pair of Black-billed Magpies for- wife was responsible for this story too. age on the shore of a small pond. A From the kitchen, Jeannie heard the tell typical nature tableau… but then some- -tale impact of a bird hitting the dining thing quite unexpected happens. The room window and rushed out onto the yearling trots over to one of the mag- deck to see who had been involved and pies. Perhaps it is the approach, or pos- whether it had survived. What she sibly some other unseen communica- found was a Sharp-shinned Hawk, on tion passes between the two, as directly its back and pitifully still. I was out the magpie flies up to land on the deer’s shoveling snow, being far less praising the gods of technology for hindquarters and then hops forward to motionless than I might have wished, having invented auto focus. I don’t where it perches on the ungulate’s when she came out and rescued me. remember how I encouraged the bird onto the jacket but it complied, shoulders. Meanwhile, the yearling allowing me to make a few last shots. turns its head sharply to the side and at We then went inside leaving it to the same time swivels a large ear back revive, if it was going to. Ten minutes to bring the open side of it within later, when we peeked out the window reaching distance of the magpie. The to check, the Sharp-shinned was gone. bird stretches its neck, obligingly sticks Of course there’s no way to know if the its bill inside the proffered ear, and ap- little hawk hit the window while pears to remove and eat an insect or tick chasing its own reﬂection, or something from it. Mission accomplished, the else that managed to escape. Nor do we magpie hops back down to the ground have any idea whether it ultimately and the yearling returns to grazing with survived, but we have seen one in the its mother. neighborhood a few times since this From my vantage point inside my early February event. vehicle parked on the opposite side of the road, I am completely amazed by this little spectacle, the likes of which I As luck would have it, I’d left a camera had no idea existed. I did know that in mounted with a 60mm macro lens on Africa certain birds, especially the Red- the dining room table (sometimes it’s billed and Yellow-billed Oxpeckers, good not to have put your toys away) groom ticks and insects from large Af- and was able to grab it on my way to rican mammals such as rhinos, hippos, the deck. On ﬁrst seeing the bird, I was cape buffalo, zebras, eland, impala, and in awe at just how small and beautiful it even giraffes. However, until this mo- was, but a second and more careful look ment along a rural BC road, I had no found the little chest to be gently rising inkling that our side of the Atlantic and falling; the bird was alive, at least might harbour its own version of for the moment. After making a quick “oxpeckers”. Several more experienced record shot I set the camera on the birders I shared this story and photo picnic table, luckily just an arm’s- with had also never witnessed such an length away, and went to get a jacket, event. However, from the casual, al- thinking I might be able to make a nest most practiced, nature of the encounter to help the bird retain body heat while I had seen, it was evident that this had trying to recover. not been the first rodeo for either of At this juncture, my most these critters and it therefore seemed remarkable birding experience quickly unlikely that this could have been a began to unfold: the moment I lifted the unique or isolated event. Some further otherwise motionless creature it research revealed that in fact this phe- immediately sat up, facing me while nomenon is not at all uncommon in Page 22 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2)

North America and is quite well docu- sumably to line their nests. Although mented. the only reference to North American The main difference between the Crows and tick removal that I could Identifications & two continental versions of this inter- find was in regard to wild boars in the Misidentifications species behaviour, is that while the Af- American Southwest (along with Scrub David Stirling rican oxpeckers feed almost exclusively Jays), it would be surprising if these on the parasites they find on their hosts opportunists did not also from time to and rarely leave them, our black-billed time partake of this moveable feast with Identification 1 magpies are opportunistic generalists other mammals. Certainly, European It is the peak of the hare and the vole for whom mammalian pest control is and Asian crow species are known to cycle and every owl species has arrived very much a part-time occupa- for the banquet. In late March the bore- tion. This likely explains why it al forest is animated by singing owls. I has been more rarely observed want to tie the singing to the species; by birders. Historically though, Hawk Owl? Boreal Owl? I ask an old when the uncountable Bison trapper for a bit his wisdom. herds roamed the American He said, “The indians say these are Great Plains and the Canadian spirits of the forest calling, and you will Prairies, many thousands of get into a deep heap of bad luck if you magpies followed their migra- try to investigate.” tions and it is likely that at least As the near waist-deep snow was some of those fed almost exclu- packing down, thawing by day and re- sively on the abundance of par- freezing overnight it was close to being asites provided by these herds. life threatening for a person staggering Today, in many places on these about in the darkness, trying to zero in plains, domestic cattle have on songs that always appeared to come replaced the vanished bison and from the another direction. I persisted while some magpies have and after several nights of wallowing adapted and are known to inci- about and much cursing, I got both dentally feed on cattle ticks, the Hawk Owl and the Boreal Owl songs. plentitude that formerly existed No bad luck, not at that time anyway. is no more and neither are the large groom ticks from red deer and sambars Identification 2 prairie flocks of magpies. respectively. It is quiet summer’s evening on the In Western Canada there are two Returning to the roadside mule deer shores of Calling Lake in northern Al- main species of ticks that feed on graz- near Oliver, I had driven that same rural berta. I am talking to a mink farmer. ing mammals: Rocky Mountain wood road on dozens of previous occasions The high-pitched “kreek kreek” of ticks and winter ticks. They attach and almost invariably, especially in the Western Grebes seemed to hang in the themselves primarily to moose, elk, mornings, members of the resident deer air as no birds are visible in the sun's woodland caribou, mule deer and white herd would be encountered grazing glare off the water. -tailed deer, and less frequently to other there. Sometimes I had stopped to “The calling of the grebes adds to hoofed grazers such as black-tailed watch or photograph them, but more the ambiance of the evening,” I say. deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, often I had just driven by and only The mink man looks at me and wood bison, and pronghorns. Even fleetingly noted such a common sight. smiles. bears, coyotes, and wolves can acquire Had I driven by and not stopped on this “Them’s not birds, them’s fish call- ticks after feeding on the carcass of an particular occasion described above, I ing,” he said. “Come with me. I am infested herbivore. In addition to the would have completely missed an unex- going to lift a net I have set for mink already mentioned cattle, other poten- pected inter-species interaction that food.” tial tick hosts are domestic and feral opened up what for me at least was a We have a full net of suckers, com- horses, and occasionally human hikers whole new area of knowledge about mon sucker, Catostomus commersonii. and their pet dogs. both North American birds and mam- As their air bladders deflate they vent a Although tick feeding on North mals. Perhaps, therefore, the most valu- squeaky “kreek kreek” similar to the American mammals is most often asso- able lesson learned was to never assume call of the Western Grebe but only au- ciated with magpies, this same behav- that there isn’t something more to be dible at less than a metre. iour, but to a lesser extent, is also en- gained from taking the time to observe “Well”, the man says, “are these gaged in by other members of the even the most mundane and common- birds?” “You city (Athabasca pop. 700) corvid family such as Gray Jays and place natural scenes. Nature is full of fellows think you know everything but Clark’s Nutcrackers. Ravens too, alt- surprises. admit it, in the bush, you don’t know hough elk in particular have been ob- your ass from your elbow.” served rejecting their advances, appar- By coincidence, Chris Siddle’s Gone ently because in addition to plucking Pishing article on page 25 also discuss- Identification 3 ticks, the rascally Ravens also have a es this issue—Editor. In my part of Alberta in the 1930s tendency to painfully pluck large many of the settlers, immigrants from clumps of hair from their elk hosts, pre- central Europe, believed that the Devil was real, you would be scared if you Page 23 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2) saw him but not at all surprised. A like a Blue Jay, looks like a distant Blue be seen, and tips on where exactly to neighbour had been splitting firewood Jay and your brain is in a Blue Jay head for the best birding. all summer and throwing it up in a huge mode, the bird is most likely a Belted It doesn’t actually take very long to pyramid. One September night under a Kingfisher? keep reading, covering all thirty chap- brilliant harvest moon the lady of the ters. Though the book extends to more house came out to visit the outhouse. than 200 pages, the abundant photo- There, sitting on top of the wood pile, graphs, wide margins and double- was old Satan, large as life, round face, spaced text ensure that the book could side whiskers, horns and all. I am not Book Review be read from beginning to end in an sure what happened next except that she evening. While some people might in- got a frightful scare. The remainder of deed take the book with them to specif- Best Places to Bird in British Colum- the month saw several more sightings, ic spots and follow the tips, I suspect bia, by Russell Cannings and Richard mostly by school kids who were forced that most would use it more as a general Cannings, Greystone Books, softcover, to make long detours through the mus- gazetteer, to gain an overview of the $22.95 keg to avoid the beast, and then got a birdier places in the province that they telling off from the teacher for being might, one day, want to visit. The book At first blush this might seem to be a late. does cover places serious BC birders reference guidebook like the authors’ Saturday evening, at twilight, I am tend already to know – Iona Island, previous Birdfinding in British Colum- walking the three-mile journey home Reifel, White Lake, Road 22, Scout bia, with a focus on specific, particular- from the rural post office, where every Island, etc – but it also opens our eyes ly good, areas. The back cover of the Saturday night the farm kids gathered, to places we’ve never thought of, and book, stating that the volume covers the some carrying .22 rifles, to pick up let- no doubt many travel plans will be de- authors’ thirty favourite birding sites, ters from the Old Country, handed out vised as a result. reinforces that impression, bringing to one at a time from a worn mail bag by a BCFO’s Young Birders are remark- mind the superb Birder’s Guide to Van- formidable lady postmaster. Turning a ably well represented in the book, as couver and the Lower Mainland, which corner on the trail I am face to face with they and their mentors contributed large also originally described thirty great Satan. We regarded each other for what numbers of photographs. birding spots. But whereas the latter seemed to be several minutes. I will Richard Cannings will be present at book is a very substantial compendium admit that I, a twelve year-old, had a this year’s AGM and Conference, and that one would certainly want to take damn good scare but I soon realized his publisher has been asked to make along on birding trips, I suggest that that the Devil was a Lynx, Lynx cana- sure he brings plenty of copies with Best Places is not really a birder’s trav- densis, round face, side whiskers, and him. Fortunately, Chapter 26 of the elling companion. prominent ear tufts like horns. It ap- book is devoted to Tumbler Ridge. The first location described – peared to be almost white with greyish Triangle Island – immediately indicates spots, a beautiful animal, looking quite – CNK that the book is more suited to an arm- calm and dignified. The tall cat retreat- chair read. Very few BCFO mem- ed into the dense trail verge. I carried bers are ever likely to visit Triangle on for home at a faster pace, turning Island, particularly since we hear it often to check my back. It was the last involves chartering a vessel for sighting. I told people that the strange $6,000, and probably not being beast was a lynx but I was informed by allowed to land anyway. But it is the old timers that Satan could manifest certainly good to read about the himself in many guises and what did a place. We hear, for instance, that twelve year-old know about these this spot, 46 kilometres west of the things? northern tip of Vancouver Island, is Identification 4 home to 80,000 Rhinoceros Auk- I am shepherding a group of birders lets, 60,000 Tufted Puffins, 8,000 around the mud flats of the Fraser delta, Common Murres and a million Cas- in a year of the Blue Jay incursions into sin’s Auklets. Most BC birders will southern BC, even as far west as Victo- be delighted to be told about the ria. While ear bashing the group regard- place, never dreaming of actually ing the possibilities of Blue Jays be- going there. coming permanent residents of the low- The discussion of Triangle Is- er mainland, I caught a glimpse of a land is brief and interesting, and blue-and-white bird flying through the chapter two follows very quickly distant trees. with another brief and interesting “Look, there's one” I shouted. discussion, this time covering Port I get a quizzical look from one or McNeil. The text follows the pat- two of the group, but the guru had spo- tern of all thirty chapters – an intro- ken. Later, pondering this sighting and duction to the location, an indica- my instant identification, I began to tion of how to get there, a discus- wonder: On the West Coast, if it flies sion of some of the birds likely to

Page 24 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2)

Clearly the Black-billed Magpie is a Some were tame enough to take food bird that leaves strong impressions up- from the hand. Gone Pishing on its viewers. At Fort St. John, it cer- This rather affectionate attitude to- tainly left an impression upon me, as I wards Black-billed Magpies changed Chris Siddle saw magpies flying around in the for two reasons. First as Tim Birkhead snowy fields and bare shelter belts at explains, “with the increase in game the beginning of my first northern win- preservation in the 18th and 19th centu- Magpie! ter. Here was one of the few birds that ries the [Eurasian Magpie] ceased to be did not leave the area. It was tough, popular in Europe because of its habit I saw my first Black-billed Magpie on a hardy, irrepressible. It could handle of taking game bird eggs and long May weekend in 1966 when, hav- minus 35–40 Celsius with aplomb. chicks.” (215-216). Once gamekeepers ing lied to my parents that I was camp- A magpie was proof that life existed set their minds against the magpie, they ing around Chilliwack well within a in spite of the harsh climate. Southern- and their Victorian overlords empha- safe drive of my home town of Mission, ers don’t know what it’s like to walk sized his darker habits such as nest rob- I accompanied two older birder friends, through a northern landscape where bing and added him to the long list of Ron and Jim, into the Cascades where your steaming breath and squeaky foot- undesirable wildlife that they insisted we spent the first night camped on the steps on the dry snow seem your only responsible managers of land should banks of the Similkameen at Hedley. It company, when the intense cold, the eliminate. Thus began campaigns was my first trip past Hope and I was skeletal bare aspens and the dark green against magpies in the great estates of agog with the possibilities of “new” of spruce along the gullies are a back- the Old World. birds. Early Saturday morning, as we drop apparently empty of all other high- In the New World, extermination of drove farther east towards Osoyoos, we er life forms. Suddenly with an upward food sources like the American Bison passed under a powerline upon which inflected “yerk,” a magpie flies up the and the introduction of livestock in the perched a long-tailed black and white ravine and over your head, black and West likely caused a profound series of bird. From my obsessive nightly study white against the big empty cold blue of changes in the foraging of the Black- of the few bird books I had access to at space and suddenly you’re a little billed Magpie. The planting of shelter- the time, I recognized it instantly as a warmer, knowing you’re not alone. belts and treed gardens enabled edge- lifer, a Black-billed Magpie. Only relatively recently have the species like Baltimore Orioles and At the time, rolling along in Ron’s Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) of American Robins to spread across the old Ford, excited by all the new sights, I North America and the Common Mag- formerly tree-less plains. Quick to take treated it as just another bird on my pie (Pica pica) of Eurasian been sepa- advantage of this situation, the Black- growing life list, certainly not as memo- rated by taxonomists into two species. billed Magpie, like its European rela- rable as the male Calliope Humming- The two species have different vocali- tive, was soon seen by the bird-loving bird I had watched earlier that morning zations, social behaviour, and spacing farmers as a ruthless, cruel and calculat- as it visited its trapline of purple penste- (Trost 1999), but look so similar that ing villain, a destroyer of songbirds’ mons around a rocky hill near Hedley, it’s not surprising that following its eggs and a murderer of their chicks. or the male White-winged Crossbill discovery on the plains and mountains Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the glowing pink-red that we had stumbled of western North America, the Black- second reason for the negative shift in over the day before hopping around in a billed Magpie was saddled with the the European attitude toward the mag- corral in Manning Park. reputation of its Eurasian relative. Early pie was developing. The magpie trans- It wasn’t until after my wife and I in its relationship with Europeans and ferred its habit of picking and eating had moved to Fort St. John in 1975 that Britons, the Black-billed Magpie was ticks from deer and wild sheep to tick- I began to appreciate what a complex regarded like the Eurasian Magpie as a picking cattle, horses, and mules. These and fascinating bird the magpie is. It’s a friendly consumer of insects and ro- domesticated animals, often lacking bird of pleasing design. C.H. Trost, who dents and fairly harmless mischief- basic vet care, sometimes bore saddle- wrote the 1999 BNA account (#389), maker that Lewis and Clark noted sores and other unhealed wounds that described it as “strikingly marked and sometimes even hopped into the tents of magpies picked at and sometimes en- conspicuous.” Florence Merriam Bailey the Plains Indians in search of meat. larged. Cattle bearing the fresh burns of (1908) in a wonderfully dated simile introduced the magpie as “a black air- ship with white side-wheelers and long black rudder.” J.A. Munro (1950) fo- cuses more closely on the magpie’s plumage. “Actually, only the head, neck, and part of the back are black: the closed wings are iridescent blue; the great wedge-shaped tail, as long as the body, is iridescent green.” As to the bird’s personality, it has been described as “interesting,” “knowing,” “resourceful,” “audacious,” “unscrupulous,” “perfectly confident,” and “a bird amply able to take of itself.”

Page 25 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2) recent branding were prime targets for the eyes, lips, sores and soft skin inside opening up of many areas that were the magpie’s not-so-benign ministra- the thighs. It was the most singular formerly forested and therefore unsuita- tions. One source notes that sometimes spectacle I ever witnessed. One after ble for magpies may be real. Magpies, the bird’s picking would even obscure the other birds rolled off the dead mule, like Canada Geese, European Starlings, the brand on the flank of the cow. Eve- and as they fell, others greedily took House Wrens, Bullock’s Orioles, Amer- ry fan of Westerns knows what happens their vacant places; and so this terrible ican Robins, Red-tailed Hawks and a when you mess with a rancher’s live- slaughter went on until heaps of dead host of other species, some of them la- stock – a range war, this one against magpies nearly buried the body of the beled nuisance wildlife, find our treed magpies. mule.” yards, lawns, and our little parks, ponds In 1927 E.R. Kalmbach published “Heaps of magpies” sounds, well, a and golf courses much to their liking his research into the Black-billed Mag- tad exaggerated, but the wholesale and have within the last half century pie’s relationship with agriculture. On slaughter of wildlife whether it was spread into areas like B.C. Peace River the whole he found the species benefi- buffalo, wolves, coyotes, or magpies, where they were unknown in the 1930s. cial, and helpful in controlling out- was common and not only tolerated but Given our history of shooting and breaks of insect pests. Carnivorous by encouraged in the West at the time. A poisoning magpies, is it any wonder nature, it only consumes grain when final example of magpie slaughter is that Black-billed Magpies are wary of there is nothing else to eat. However, in mentioned in A. C. Bent’s Life Histo- us? addition to his analysis of the contents ries of North American Jays, Crows of 547 magpie stomachs, he summa- and Titmice: End of Part One rized some of the campaigns, either The hatred that many people hold directly or indirectly being waged for the magpie has found expression in If you have a comment about this col- against magpies: the carrying on of contests in an attempt umn or any true magpie stories that you During campaigns against coyotes to “exterminate” the species. An item would like to share with the author, in the winter of 1921-22 along Butter from a newspaper in British Columbia write Chris Siddle at chris.siddle@ gmail.com. Creek, in Umatilla County, Oregon, it gives some results of one of the con- was conservatively estimated that 5,000 tests as it was conducted in 1931 in the magpies were killed. In Douglas Coun- Okanagan Lakes region. Two teams, of References ty, Colorado, magpies were practically six persons each, killed a total of 1,033 Angell, Tony. 1978, Ravens, Crows, exterminated in the country covered by magpies in one season. (p.148) Magpies and Jays. University of Wash- poison lines placed for coyotes in the Even if much of the magpie slaugh- ington Press (in Canada Douglas and winter of 1922-23. In the winter of ter was incidental, the birds being a McInTyre, North Vancouver). 1921-22 a coyote campaign planned for kind of “by-catch” when the intended Bailey, Forence Merriam. 1908. Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation, Ne- victims were coyotes, it is clear that no Handbook of Birds of the Western Unit- vada, called for preliminary measures one seemed to object to the avian perse- ed States, third ed. Houghton Mifflin, against magpies. On the first day after cution. As J.A. Munro, Dominion Wild- Boston. placing baits, three grain sacks full of life officer in B.C., observed in 1950 Birkhead, Tim. The Magpies: the dead magpies were picked up. In one “public sentiment is definitely anti- ecology and behaviour of Black-billed poison station at Summit, Utah, 143 of magpie” and if anyone grieved the and Yellow-billed Magpies. 1991. T.D. these birds were accounted for within a wholesale killing of magpies, he/she Poyser, London. few days. left no mention of it. Even today it’s not Cannings, R.A., Cannings, R. J. and The local poisoning of magpies de- hard to find people in B.C. who will tell Cannings, S.G. 1987. Birds of the Oka- scribed by Kalmbach also occurred you that magpies are solely responsible nagan Valley, Canada. Royal British closer to home. The British traveler J.K. for the decrease in songbirds experi- Columbia Museum, Victoria. Lord in his explorations of the interior enced throughout the magpie’s range Cocker, Mark and Richard Mabey. of Gold Rush B.C. also visited Colville, and beyond. Such ideas are often predi- 2005. Birds Britannica. Chatto & Win- Washington State, just south of the bor- cated upon a perceived local increase in dus, London. der where he claims to have witnessed magpie numbers, which, given our Linsdale, J.M. “American Magpie” the following incident: in A.C. Bent. 1946. Life Histories of “To the packer the magpies are dire North American Jays, Crows and Tit- enemies .... If a pack horse or mule has mice. Smithsonian Institution United a gall … the [magpie] pecks away at the States Publishing Office, United States wound…. This repeated agony soon National Museum, Washington, D.C. kills the animal, unless the packers res- Munro, J.A. 1950. Birds of Cana- cue it … at our winter mule camp … da’s Mountain Parks. Dept. of Re- [magpies] gradually accumulated … sources and Development, Ottawa. until they were in the hundreds….We Taverner, P.A. Birds of Western had an old maimed suffering mule Canada, second ed. 1928. National Mu- which was to be killed, so the packers seum of Canada, Ottawa. gave it a ball containing a large dose of strychnine; death was immediate, and Black-billed Magpie photos by Chris the carcass, ere ten minutes had lapsed, Siddle. was covered with magpies working at

Page 26 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2) discovered by most birders when they felt appropriate to nature? I suspect that wend their way slowly, looking all there’ll always be reason for some rib- The Reflective about them, through suburbs and coun- bing of birders. Let’s face it, some of try lanes (Downside 3). Suspicious eyes the things we do understandably cause begin to follow. What can these some smiles. Most people’s favourite Birder strangers be up to? Surely it’s to no places are not sewage lagoons and cem- good. Many a birder is challenged by eteries. Most people don’t get wildly Clive Keen people on neighbourhood watch. Occa- excited by reports of a Red-flanked sionally, even police are called to check Bluetail. Most people don’t pause in the out us doubtful-looking characters. middle of a conversation to say that Birding: All Sweetness And this is only half of it. For most they can hear a Yellow-rumped War- of the past century, birders have had, to bler in the trees. But we want the rib- and Light? put it mildly, an image problem bing to be good natured. We want to be A collection of essays reflecting on (Downside 4). Consider the character of laughed with, not at. It was encouraging birding would be incomplete if it failed Miss Jane Hathaway in The Beverley that the characters in The Big Year were to tackle one thorny subject: the down- Hillbillies, one of the most-watched mostly laughed with, not at. Have we, sides of the hobby. There are none, I television programs of all time. A Plain though, made the full transition from hear you cry? But it’s worth thinking Jane, pining for the handsome if clue- dweeb-dom? I’m not sure. I do, though, through, because sometimes, dwelling less Jethro, her role as a figure of farce know how it can come about. on possible downsides brings not just was confirmed by adding scenes of her Twenty years ago, our culture had enlightenment but a plan of action. in the woods staring through binocu- come to the point of accepting that, in A week’s thinking about the issue lars. Her exclamations of delight when theory, gay people should not be dis- generated four Possible Downsides of birds appeared were guaranteed to gen- criminated against or denigrated be- birding. The first, significant for some erate laugh-track hilarity. To a fair ex- cause of their orientation. The first peo- of us, concerns the optimal time for tent, all birders were seen by the gen- ple coming out of the closet, though, birding. Cobwebs in the brains of peo- eral public as Jane Hathaways – birding knew perfectly well that perceptions did ple who aren’t morning persons tend to was the hobby of choice, in the public’s not align with theory, and they’d have clear just as birds slack off for the day. mind, of dweebs. to grit their teeth in the face of unspo- It’s when the mist-nets are being taken Have things changed? Should we ken disparagement. But twenty years down, not when they are being put up at warn potential birders of this image on, with the closet doors wide open, dawn, that people like me start to func- problem, or is it a thing of the past? homosexuality is just a different sort of tion properly. Bummer. Over the last fifty years there have been normal, no longer even a cause for Well, that’s not too troublesome for two enormous shifts in western culture. comment. Once gays became known most. So let’s move on to Possible One has concerned gender. The change openly to most people, as relatives, co- Downside Two, which should affect in attitudes about the role of women workers, friends, service-club acquaint- more people. This is the discovery, by and the status of non-heterosexuals has ances, etc, fingers ceased to be pointed, nearly all birders, of humility. The nov- been profound, of a width and depth whispers stopped, and they were simply ice quickly and easily becomes the bird which would seem incredible to a Rip Bob, Fred, and Mary. expert in his circle, by simple virtue of Van Winkle awakened from the 1950s. Birders’ Lib is of course hardly in being the only birder around. Birding, it But the change in attitudes towards na- the same league as Gay Liberation, and seems, is easy. Filled with confidence, ture has been no less profound. We re- it might seem frivolous to be making the novice goes on to join birding ally have come a long way towards re- the comparison. But great changes in groups. Among the members of those alizing that nature deserves our deep public perceptions hold lessons for less- groups, though, are people with superb concern and respect. As I write that er causes. In the past, birders mostly eyes and ears, a steel-trap memory for sentence, I imagine legions of people kept quiet about their hobby, except all things avian, and knowledge that has forcefully complaining that we still among themselves. The hesitation, I been building since childhood. Once in haven’t learned, and are still despoiling suspect, still lingers. And it is why the their company, it becomes clear that for nature. But those legions make my general public, seeing a binocular most of us, real birding is not easy at point. In the 1950s, nature was being wielder in leafy suburbs, does not in- all. Trying to keep up with the true ex- despoiled constantly, unreported and stantly realize that they are simply look- perts shows that birding can be posi- unnoticed. Now, every new economic ing at a birder. When Doug, Peter and tively hard, almost too hard for those development is examined closely for its Margaret are all known as birders, and with normal doses of talent environmental impact, and businesses clearly aren’t lesser mortals, birders, Fortunately, learning humility is and politicians know that there’ll be too can be seen as just a different sort good for you, even if it hurts a bit, so strident cries and determined opposition of normal. we might decide to shrug our shoulders if their actions may be deemed harmful So, don’t be boring about it, but at Possible Downside Two. Numbers to the natural world. show your pride in your hobby. Swap Three and Four, though, can’t be dis- Attitudes towards nature, beyond stories on Facebook. Offer to take peo- missed as lightly. Both concern percep- any doubt, have changed dramatically. ple birding. Promote your naturalists tions, by the general public, of birders Does this mean that youngsters thinking club. Wear your binoculars on the and birding. of taking up birding needn’t worry street. Add a bumper sticker. Above all, One manifestation is the problem about the dweeb factor? Would they make it clear that birding is normal and instead share in the respect that is now fun. Page 27 BC Birding June 2017 Edition 27 (2)

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