Birding News ALBERTA JANUARY 2020

(Common and Hoary) Common will quickly gather numerous whole seeds and store them in an expandable section of their throat called the diverticulum. Once they have flown One of the "winter ," nesting in the Arctic and sometimes to the safety of dense cover they will regurgitate the invading southern Canada and the northern states. Redpolls are tiny, restless , feeding actively on seeds among trees and weeds, whole seed, husk it and then re-swallow the nut meat. fluttering and climbing about acrobatically, their flocks seemingly They will also fill the diverticulum with seed just before always on the move. For their small size, they have a remarkable the onset of darkness in order to provide an extra source ability to survive cold temperatures; their southward flights are of energy to help them survive the night. sparked by temporary scarcity of food in the North, not by cold. At feeders in winter, redpolls are often remarkably tame.

Common redpolls are energetic little birds that forage in flocks, gleaning, fluttering, or hanging upside down in the farthest tips of tree Migration branches. Like many finches, they have an undulating, up-and-down Migrates by day, in flocks. Very irregular pattern when they fly. To keep order in flocks, redpolls have several in winter range, probably moving only as ways of indicating their intentions. When quarreling with flock mates, a far south as necessary to find food. fluffs its plumage, faces its adversary, and opens its bill, sometimes jutting its chin to display the black face patch. Males court females by flying in slow circles while calling and singing. Males may feed females during courtship. You may see small flocks of this social The tiny Common redpoll, one of the smallest members species even during the breeding season; during migration they may of the family, weighs only as much as four pennies, group into the thousands. In winter, some redpolls roost in tunnels under the snow, where the snowpack provides insulation and stays yet it survives the cold and darkness of winter in the far much warmer than the night air. north. Most birds depart in autumn to warmer climes. But redpolls feed on and seeds that are available throughout the winter, no matter how deep the snow. They do it in the cleverest of ways through a series of precise adaptations.

Redpolls are acrobats, feeding with ease on the smallest of branches, even hanging upside down to extract seeds from birch catkins. They may shake a catkin vigorously, then drop to the snow to pick up the fallen seeds in a more sheltered spot. This little bird typically eats 40% of its body weight in seeds every day to keep itself alive.

The redpoll’s expanded esophagus allows it to store large numbers of seeds during rapid feeding. The bird then retires to a dense conifer and while sheltered from the freezing winds, brings up the seeds one by one, cracking their shells and swallowing the nutritious kernels. In a land of extreme winter conditions, redpolls are survivors. Top 5 Tips for Feeding Redpolls 1) Offer fresh nyjer seed—make sure your nyjer seed (aka thistle or niger) is fresh (less than 2 months old, whether it’s in the feeder or in the bag). Also make sure the seed is loose and dry in the feeder.

2) Hang multiple finch feeders—Redpolls are VERY gregarious. Flocks can number over 100. Having multiple finch feeders for them will allow you to host more Redpolls.

3) Use a mesh finch feeder—Most finch tube-type feeders limit the number of birds on it at one time to the number of perches it has. A mesh finch feeder allows more Redpolls to cling on the feeder to eat and the sight is amazing—looks like a busy-beehive!

4) Keep your feeders and feeding area clean—Redpolls are susceptible to salmonellosis, and because of their flocking behaviour, they could easily spread it to others in the flock. Help them out by cleaning your feeders often with a weak bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) and by cleaning the area beneath the feeders as well.

5) Watch for the rare Hoary redpoll—Within any sizeable Redpoll flock, you might be able to pick out a Hoary redpoll, a frostier-coloured cousin of the Common redpoll.

Sheep and dog bones can be whittled into orthopedic pins that stabilize pigeons’ fractured wings, helping the fractures to heal properly without follow-up surgery. Researchers describe the treatment, which is cheaper and more efficient than using metal pins for pigeon rehabilitative surgeries. There is no need for the implants to be removed because they will ultimately be absorbed by the body. Therefore the implants can be used for wild birds, such as Eagles, Owls and Gulls. Typically metal pins are used, which is standard for these types of procedures, but researchers noticed imbalance in the flight, take off or landings after fracture repair. Therefore, they wanted a technique to use lightweight pins that they did not need to remove. The team sanded and processed sheep and dog bones, obtained from that had previously died, into pins small enough to be inserted into a pigeon’s humeral bones—the wing bone closest to a bird’s body. After 32 weeks of obser- vation, pigeons with sheep or dog bones orthopedic pins were able to fly. The team treated the dog and sheep bones to minimize the risk of rejection or infection. They used hydrogen peroxide to remove grease from the bones and ethylene oxide to sterilize them. Christmas Bird Count 2019 December 15th results

Northern pintail

Stellar’s jay We offer a discount if you return your seed bags (sorry—not the Mother Nature bags which we cannot re-use), suet ball containers, if you bring your own container to fill or use a bag from our re-cycle bin. This discount is in addition to any other discount offered.

Write a Google review on your experience at The Wild Bird Store, and as a thank you, we will give you 100 customer loyalty points ($5.00 value). To get a promo code, kindly email [email protected] Saturdays in The Gallery we serve (one Google review per customer) cookies and coffee.

Earn 200 customer loyalty points ($10.00 value) by referring a friend, acquaintance or Have you been into The Galler-oom? Come see fellow birder. the display of art and home décor for sale, from local artists and photographers. Please visit the store to get a promo code.

This is where we run our seminars from September to May as well as presentations from No need for a card, just give your phone number. You earn $1.00 for every $20.00 spent birding experts. For information on these (excludes “sales” items, books & optics) and can seminars and presentations see the Seminars and be used in-store and on Mobile Seed Truck. As Presentations section of the newsletter or go to a loyalty member our monthly promotions and in our website and check out the Calendar of -store “specials” are automatically given at the Events. cash register. The Galler-oom is also for rent for small groups of 35 people of less that need a meeting or event space. Table and chairs are available as well as Combining our Seniors 10% discount with refreshments for $50/hour. For more information the Loyalty Program. (Excludes “sales” items, or to book the room, please email books & optics). [email protected].

Discount for membership 10% discount for members of Fish Creek Park, AIWC, Priddis Golf Club, Nature Calgary, Sandy Cross Conservation and Springbank Garden Club. Must present valid membership card at

time of purchase.

Located at The Wild Bird Store (near the seed Bird Walk BONUS Card Sign up and bins). We collect your donations and arrange to participate in 9 Bird Walks with either Jim St. Laurent or Gavin McKinnon and receive the deliver them to Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation 10th bird walk FREE . Cards are available Society. For their wish list please visit: from either Jim or Gavin. http://calgarywildlife.org/wishlist/

Shade grown coffee requires little or no chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. The shade trees filter carbon dioxide which causes global warming, and aid in soil moisture retention which minimizes erosion.

Bird Friendly coffee is certified organic and produced on farms with a shade cover that provides important habitat for migratory and resident birds in tropical landscapes, which are increasingly threatened by deforestation globally at an unprecedented rate. The Bird Friendly criteria are the world's most stringent standards for shade-grown coffee production.

The market for organic, shade-grown coffee grown to the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center's Bird Friendly® criteria is bigger than ever before. At 19 million pounds, the total volume of Bird Friendly certified coffee produced has grown by 13 million pounds in the past decade. The num- ber of certified producers participating in the program more than doubled in 2017, with more than 4,600 participants managing farms from Mexico to Colombia and Ethiopia to Thailand. Bird Friendly habitat covers more than 30,000 acres around the world.

When the coffee reaches its final destination — where it is roasted, packaged and sold — roasters can use the Smithsonian Bird Friendly seal to market their Bird Friendly coffees to consumers. These pennies-on-the-pound royalty fees fuel the program, as well as the Smithsonian Migra- tory Bird Center’s cutting-edge ornithological research exploring the connections between birds, coffee and beyond. Excitingly, some of the following studies cited in Mexico and Costa Rica were supported with funds from royalties remitted to SMBC by roasters involved in the Bird Friendly program. These remittances paid by forward-looking coffee roasters help to fund scientific work that would otherwise not be possible.

Next Month Reduce Plastic Use

From grocery store bags to disposable water bottles to Tupperware, plastic is everywhere. In part, that's because it's convenient.

But that convenience comes at a price. Plastic pollution can take generations to decompose. Every year, 8 million metric tons of plastic finds its way into the ocean, according to a 2016. As National Geographic reports, about 700 species of marine animals eat or become ensnared by plastic.

And although recycling is something we should all be doing, it can't completely solve the plastic problem.

Find out how you can help in the February edition of The Wild Birding News. Cost: $10.00 +fees & GST. Please visit Eventbrite to purchase tickets

February 19, 2020 , 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Nest Boxes 101 Learn which birds use nestboxes and the correct dimensions, placement and how to encourage birds to use your bird houses. We will also discuss Kris Brown-Schoepp predation and solutions as well as other issues that may arise while birds are nesting.

Kirsten Pearson, wildlife biologist/field Tickets must be purchased in advance co-ordinator through Eventbrite Josh Sullivan wildlife biologist/wildlife lead

Learn to Birdwatch Saturday, February 22, 2020 @ 1:00pm Tickets are $15.00 each + fees

Join professional ornithologists Kirsten Pearson and Josh Sullivan introduce participants to birdwatching, traits to look for and a discussion on field guides and optics.

Cost: $5.00 +fees & GST. Please visit Eventbrite to purchase tickets Meet at the back of The Wild Bird Store at 8:45am and carpool Saturday, January 11, 2020 Carburn Park

Cost: $5.00 +fees & GST. Please visit Eventbrite to purchase tickets This Owl Prowl is an all Meet at the back of The Wild Bird Store at 8:45am and carpool day prowl—please dress Jim St. Laurent Saturday, January 25, 2020 Owl Prowl for the weather and remember to bring lunch

and water Cost: $5.00 +fees & GST. Please visit Eventbrite to purchase tickets Meet at the back of The Wild Bird Store at 8:45am and carpool Saturday, February 8, 2020 Votier Flats

To purchase tickets to any of The Wild Bird Store ID Classes, Saturday Bird Walks, Seminars or Workshops you will need to go to Event Brite and search for the event by name or click the link attached to the event. The Wild Bird Store now has a “Bird Walk” customer appreciation card. Sign up and participate in 9 Saturday morning birdwalks and receive the 10th birdwalk FREE. Please note: Special events do not qualify e.g. Christmas Bird Count or Owl Prowl.

Cards are available from Jim St. Laurent or Gavin McKinnon.

Go to YouTube, type in the search bar “The Wild Bird Store” to watch our videos and to help us become more visible . Be sure to click on “Subscribe” before you leave the page.

Gimme Shelter: How Do Birds Survive A Snow Storm? Shelter in Place

When bad weather hits, birds generally seek shelter in microhabitats, such as inside a thick hedge, or on the down- wind side of a tree—in this case, being petite has its advantages. Hunkering down in these spots can protect them from wind, rain, and even cold (it’s warmer closer to the ground). Birds that nest in cavities, including woodpeckers, bluebirds, and chickadees, can also hide out in their tree holes. Some birds even wander several miles looking for adequate shelter and reliable food sources. Dense evergreens, , or junipers provide better cover than the bare branches of a deciduous tree in winter. This helps keep the ground underneath snow-free, and gives birds a place to forage for food, too.

Beef Up in Advance

Fat birds have a better chance of surviving a storm. When birds sense changes in air pressure (a sign of brewing bad weather), they tend to forage more, or flock to feeders.

Evolution’s Got Their Backs

Birds have also evolved to withstand bad weather. Their lanky legs and little feet have what are called counter- current circulation. Birds have cold blood in their feet, which means very little heat is lost when they are standing on cold ground. Their feathers are the perfect insulation—they are basically natural down jackets. The down feathers underneath a bird’s contour feathers trap air, holding in the warmth from its body and preventing cold air from reaching its skin. Birds that winter in cold climates also don a thicker plumage in the winter, which they then molt in the fall and spring. So, while we cozy up with our hot chocolates this weekend, there’s no need to worry about the birds— they are well-equipped to survive the ensuing tempest.

To purchase tickets to any of The Wild Bird Store ID Classes, Saturday Bird Walks, Seminars or Workshops you will need to go to Event Brite and search for the event by name or click the link attached to the event. January 4th, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm The Road to 300—An Alberta Big Year ($5.00) Maximum of 35 Participants Be the first to hear all the details about Gavin McKinnon's successful attempt to see 300 species in Alberta during 2019. Gavin will show you the steps he took to achieve this goal as well as the places he visited along the way. Gavin will show you his list of birds and stunning photographs he captured en route to 300.

Gavin McKinnon February 8th, 1:00pm - 2:00pm Irruptive Winter Finches & Raptors ($10) maximum of 35 participants Join Gavin McKinnon to take a look at irruptive winter birds. Many of the species we will talk about are often scarce in and around Calgary, but in some years they become fairly common. We will look at what causes these irruptions and how to attract these birds to your own feeders. Participants will also receive a free cheat sheet of winter finches for future reference.

Cost $20.00 per person for the 4 classes—with a minimum of 5 people. Saturday January 11th, 2020 Carburn Park @ 9:30 Saturday February 1st, 2020 Confederation Park @ 9:30 Saturday March 7th, 2020 Weaselhead Natural Area @ 9:30 Saturday April 11th, 2020 Inglewood Bird Sanctuary @ 9:30 Gavin

April 18th, 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm- Waterfowl Identification ~ Figure out those Ducks, Geese and Swans Including Field Trip to Frank Lake after the Workshop. ($15) maximum of 20 participants

Description: Learn how to identify Waterfowl in all plumages and even in flight with avid birder Gavin McKinnon. This workshop will teach you how to identify all of the regularly occurring Ducks, Geese and Swans in Alberta! The classroom session will be followed by a field trip to the world renowned Frank Lake where we will be able to see thousand of Ducks, Geese and possibly Swans! May 23rd, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Birding by Ear - How to identify Bird Vocalizations. Including Field Trip to Weaselhead Natural Area at 6:00 am on May 24th. ($15) maximum of 20 participants Description: Learn the basics of identifying bird songs and calls with guide Gavin McKinnon. This workshop will teach you how to quickly identify and memorize over fifty different songs! The workshop will be followed by a guided trip to Weaselhead Natural Area where we will be able to find many species of birds. Tickets are mandatory Please dress for the weather and remember to bring water for all ID classes and Bird Walks Bird Seed Truck

Be sure your order is on the truck when we come to either of our locations by Texting us @ (403) 701-4571 or emailing [email protected] With desired location pick-up

PLEASE NOTE: earn and redeem customer loyalty points on the Bird Seed Truck.

Montgomery Community Association 5300 - 16 Avenue N.W. (corner of Home Road and 16th Avenue N.W.) Every Monday Can’t make it to one of our locations, we 3:00pm - 6:00pm also deliver. Send us your order by email PLEASE NOTE: As Kris will be away, The Seed Truck will not to [email protected]. We deliver be at the Montgomery location on Monday, January 20th on Mondays (except if it’s a holiday) and and Monday, January 27th. require your order no later than 4:00pm Crowfoot YMCA/Arena on the preceding Friday. Delivery charge (corner of John Laurie Blvd. and Nose Hill Drive) is applicable unless brought to one of our Every Wednesday locations on The Bird Seed Truck. 2:00pm to 6:00pm PLEASE NOTE: If The Wild Bird Store is CLOSED then the Mobile Seed Truck will not be on location. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

To try a pair of binoculars

Ever tried a pair of binoculars in a store and having purchased them, discovered they were not what you had been hoping for? Well, The Wild Bird Store is offering a solution—rent a pair of binoculars….and if they don’t work for you, rent another pair. We want you to enjoy your new binoculars and more importantly, we want them to perform for your viewing pleasure. Binoculars will be available for rent on a daily basis and once you decide on the pair you want, 50% of your paid rental will be applied to your binocular purchase. The Wild Bird Store only carries Leupold® binoculars and scopes for two reasons:

1. An excellent affordable binocular/scope 2. The Wild Bird Store is a warranty depot for Leupold Optics

For more information on our binocular rental program, please contact The Wild Bird Store at (403)640-2632 or come in and see us.

The Wild Bird Store also has tripods, window mounts, backpacks, adapters for digiscoping, binocular harnesses and much more….. ------

5901 3rd Street S.E., Monday through Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm Calgary, AB T2H 1K3 CLOSED Sundays and ALL Statutory holidays for Faith, Family & Friends Phone: (403)640-2632 December 31st New Years Eve Day—close at 3:00pm Web: wildbirdstore.ca email: [email protected] Wednesday, January 1, 2020 — Closed

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Go to YouTube, type in the search bar “The Wild Bird Store” to watch our videos and to help us become more visible . Be sure to click on “Subscribe” before you leave the page.

The Wild Bird Store Try our own in-store suet— Is the warranty & repair depot for: made with pure beef kidney Squirrel Buster® Bird Feeders suet and filled with freeze- Aspects® Feeders dried crickets and Droll Yankee® Bird Feeders Squirrel mealworms. Available in

Buster suet tubs, suet slabs and 6 cup

feeder—feed tube.

the birds not the squirrels guaranteed! And the warranty depot for: Leupold Binoculars & Spotting Scopes Insect Suet