FAN 2009 May Species Count for Birds 2009 MAY SPECIES COUNT for BIRDS Provincial Summary

Compiled by Judy Boyd Eurasian Wigeon were seen at Medicine Hat and Cardston; Yellow Rail at Calgary and Cold Lake; The number of species was up this year: 270 to Hammond’s Flycatcher at Banff and 280 and the number of individual birds also went BowKanBirders (with count week birds seen at up: 269,851 up from 211,229. In 2008, the most ); Pacific-slope Flycatcher at numerous species was the Tree Swallow with BowKanBirders and Calgary (with count week 13,085. Second was the Red-Winged Blackbird birds seen at Crowsnest Pass); Steller’s Jay at with 12,625. Third was the Franklin’s Gull with Waterton and BowKanBirder; Mourning Warbler 11,740. This year, the most numerous species was at Lac La Biche and Cold Lake; Warbler the Franklin’s Gull with 37,211. Second was the at Cold Lake and Fort McMurray; Nelson’s Canada Goose with 13,347. Third was the Red- Sharp-tailed Sparrow at Calgary and Cold Lake; winged Blackbird with 13,266. Lapland Longspur at Fort McMurray and Lac La Biche; Rusty Blackbird at Fort McMurray and Lac Last year 17 species were seen in only one location La Biche (with count week birds seen at Milk and 12 species were found in only two locations. River); and Pine Grosbeak at BowKanBirders and This year, 27 species were seen in only one location Claresholm. and 12 species were found in only two locations around the province. Of the single sightings: Greater Last year we had seven species seen in all areas. White-fronted Goose, Snow Bunting, Common This year we had only five species seen in all areas: Redpoll were each seen at Lac La Biche; Cackling Canada Goose, Mallard, Northern Flicker, Goose at Cold Lake (with a count week bird seen American Robin, and Yellow Warbler. Last year at Taber-Vauxhall); Wild Turkey at Cypress Hills; four species were found in all but one area and Great Egret at Brooks; Gyrfalcon at Cardston; eleven species were observed in all count areas Peregrine Falcon at Brooks; Ruddy Turnstone at except two. This year three species (Blue-winged Lac La Biche; Dunlin at Brooks (with a count week Teal, Tree Swallow and Red-Winged Blackbird) bird seen at Calgary); Long-billed Dowitcher at were found in all areas except one and eleven Brooks (with a count week bird seen at Calgary); species (Bufflehead, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Sabine’s Gull at Cold Lake; Northern Pygmy-Owl American Crow, Swainson’s Thrush Chipping and Northern Saw-whet Owl each seen at Sparrow, Clay-coloured Sparrow, Savannah Claresholm; Common Poorwill at Cypress Hills; Sparrow, and Brown-headed Cowbird) were Lewis’s Woodpecker, Red Crossbill each seen at found in all areas except two. Calgary; Northern Shrike at Medicine Hat; Western Bluebird at Crowsnest Pass; Wood The Provincial Summary of the May Species Count is Thrush at Brooks; Bohemian Waxwing at provided to all those interested as a free service of the Cardston; Sedge Wren, Nashville Warbler, Federation of Naturalists. Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler were each seen at Cold We welcome your comments! Lake; and Golden-crowned Sparrow at Federation of Alberta Naturalists BowKanBirders. 11759 Groat Road Edmonton, Alberta T5M 3K6

Of the species found in two locations: Tundra www.fanweb.ca Swans were seen at Calgary and Central Alberta; [email protected]

1 Federation of Alberta Naturalists

Banff Other species seen during count week: none Highlights: There were three species which Date: May 31, 2009 appeared for the first time in this 13-year old count: Compiler: Mike McIvor (3) Double-crested Cormorants, (2) Brown Participants: Jill Beleyme, Fumie Craven, Kyle Creepers and (1) Wilson’s Warbler. For the second (child) Craven, Tomo Fujimori, Carlos Garcia, Toni time only, Turkey Vulture, Sandhill Crane and Hess, Masami Ito, Brenda Lepitzki, Dwayne Townsend’s Solitaire were recorded. The Sandhill Lepitzki, Diane McIvor, Mike McIvor, Maho Crane was sitting on a nest. Okamura, Rhonda Owchar, Peter Poole, Jill-Marie Spence, Rylan (child) Spence, Eva Sylvestre, Paul BowKan Sylvestre, Ed Whittingham, Mariko Yamada, Nana Yamada. Date: May 30 and 31, 2009 (June 1 for Area Covered: Banff and Lake Louise area ) Weather: Compiler: Cliff Hansen Temp. 4 to 21oC Participants: Cliff Hansen, Hugh Brook, Kevin Wind speed: 0 to 5 km/hr. Barker, Marion Barker, Andre Gareau, Mary Wind direction: west Dumka, Dene Cooper, Jean Cooper, Anita Walker, Precipitation: 0 Hanne Seidel, Rose Reid, Laura Reid, Dan Team Distance/Hours: Measer, Jason Leong, Monica Dragosz, Bert Total team Mileage 170.5 km; by vehicle 142; on Dyck, Marilynn Dyck, Joel Duncan, Marg foot 28.5. Jorgenson, Jim Jorgenson, Lee Sproule, and Barry Total team hours 32 hr; by vehicle 11 hr; on foot 21 Sproule. hr. Area Covered: The BowKan Birders area is a Number of Species: 85 circle centred south of . The area takes in Number of Birds: 707 the Bow Valley from (and including) Campground, just East of Canmore, to Nakoda Beauvais Lake Provincial Park Lodge along Highway lA, Seebe and along the Trans-Canada to the Highway 40 overpass. To the Date: May 28, 2009 North, all the valleys and mountains from Grotto to Compiler: Teresa Dolman Yamnuska are included. To the South, all the Participants: Denise Coccioloni-Amatto, Douglas valleys and mountains including Wind Ridge, Dolman, Teresa Dolman, Merilyn Liddell, Lois Pigeon, Heart, McGillivray, Lorette and Highway Johnston, Bree Stefanson-Korobanik 40 south to the bridge over the Kananaskis river on Area Covered: Within Park boundaries the road to the Lodge are included. Weather: Weather: Temp. 7 to 22oC Day 1: Wind speed: 7 to 26 km/hr. Temp. 27 to 9oC Wind direction: west Wind speed: 0 to 5 km/hr. Precipitation: nil Wind direction: variable Team Distance/Hours: Precipitation: nil Total team mileage: 20 km; by vehicle 2, on foot 18 Comments: very pleasant weather km. Day 2: Total team hours: 10.5 hr; by vehicle 0.5 hr; on foot Temp. 26 to 9oC 10 hr. Wind speed: 0 to 5 km/hr. Number of Species: 61 Wind direction: variable Number of Birds: 376 Precipitation: nil

2 FAN 2009 May Species Count for Birds

Comments: very pleasant weather and mammal count in our portion of the Evan- Day 2: (Kananaskis Country) Thomas Provincial Recreation Area and Highway Temp. 27 to 9oC 40 north to the Trans-Canada Highway (Des Allen, Wind speed: 0 to 5 km/hr. as in the past, completed the flowering plant count Wind direction: variable on schedule). It became necessary to reschedule Precipitation: nil the bird and mammal portion of the count. Joel Comments: very pleasant weather Duncan from Calgary kindly re-arranged his Team Distance/Hours: schedule to assist us on the Monday, 01 June. A Total team mileage: 176.5 km; by vehicle 122, on one day late count is much better than “no count” in foot 54.5 km. this environmentally very important area. Total team hours: 114 hr; by vehicle 4 hr.; on foot 110 hr. Spring arrived late this year, in fact, repeated Number of Species: 124 episodes of cold weather and snow almost to the Number of Birds: 3199 end of May made it feel like winter would never Other species seen during count week: Cougar end (more cold weather and snow was still to come 1 (heard snarling in trees), Coyote 3, Elk 13, Mule in early June). Bird migration north was delayed Deer 8, White-tailed Deer 4, Bighorn Sheep 1, and was still in progress during our count. Plant life Muskrat 1, Snowshoe Hare 2, Red Squirrel 26, was also delayed. Trees were sparsely leaved and Columbian Ground Squirrel 50, and Yellow Pine most blooms were in their early stages. In the end, Chipmunk 4. the innate pressure to migrate and to bloom in spite Comments & Highlights: The “BowKan of the weather won out. During our count, pleasant Birders” is an informal group of local naturalists weather prevailed and we recorded an above who share an interest in enjoying and protecting our average count for bird species, number of birds, local wildlife and habitats. Loosely organized, with and for blooming plants. some sixty members, there is no President, Chairperson, Secretary or Treasurer. However, Since our beginning in 1993, our average number they do need a Coordinator currently covered by of birds on May counts is 121 species covering Cliff Hansen of Exshaw. Twice each year, end of 2848 birds (count day and count week data May and the Christmas/New Year’s period, they included). The corresponding numbers for this fan out in the BowKan Birders designated area (a count are 124 species covering 3199 birds. The 15 km diameter circle centered on the north face of high and low corresponding numbers are 136 Mount McGillivray) and complete a species count species (2003) with a low of 83 (1993), and 3765 for birds and mammals, and in May, include birds (1999) with a low of 2001 (1993). flowering plants. The main purpose of the information is to build a data bank that can be Although this bird count was above average, some useful to any individual or organization that may changes in the distribution by species and group require local environmental information. were noticeable. The numbers of most water birds, gulls (in fact down to zero), and shorebirds were We planned to complete our spring species count noticeably down, for example, the numbers of on the last full weekend of May, this year it fell on Canada Geese, a usually high count species, were 30 and 31 May. It is the same weekend as most nearly half of average and few goslings were organizations in North America do their similar sighted. To compensate, there were significantly counts. It is a busy time of year and the demands increased counts of swallows (particularly Bank of work, family and other species counts for and Cliff Swallows), Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and participant time is fierce. On the scheduled Pine Siskins. weekend, no one was available to cover the bird

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Some highlights include the identification of a foot 29 km. Western Kingbird (a second record since 1993), a Total team hours: 492 hr; by vehicle 172 hr.; on Philadelphia Vireo (a first record), three Cape May foot 320 hr. Warblers (a first record), and two Golden-crowned Number of Species: 161 (+ 6 cw) Sparrows (a second record). The warbler and the Number of Birds: 67205 (+1 cw) vireo probably were still migrating north. Our Other species seen during count week: count area is close to the outer edge of the range of Highlights: New Species added to checklist: the other birds. It is interesting to note that one Wood Thrush, Gray-crowned Rosy Finch (3), Golden-crowned Sparrow wintered in Exshaw. Hairy Woodpecker, Broad-winged Hawk (2), Finally, one Western Flycatcher was reported (a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. Species missed: Common fourth record). My up-to-date references tell me Merganser, Lark Sparrow, Turkey Vulture, that this species designation has been divided into Burrowing Owl, Bobolink, Gray Catbird, Purple two separate but similar species listed as Pacific- Finch. Surprises: Great Egret, 29 White-faced Ibis, slope and Cordilleran Flycatchers. Our sighting 20 Caspian Tern, 22 Short-eared Owl, 3 Eurasian was probably the former as its range extends into Wigeon. 22 new records were set for individual the southern Alberta Rocky Mountains. species high numbers including 1222 Whimbrel, 49 Great Horned Owls. Low Numbers: Most of the The highlight of the mammal count was the vireos, Brown Thrasher, Stilt Sandpiper, House identification of one cougar. Although unseen, it did Wren, Common Tern. Count Sponsors are DU reveal itself to be in close proximity by a loud cat- Canada, EnCana, TransCanada Pipelines. like growl from behind a veil of trees. A very short time later, 11 elk were seen, crossing the Buffalo Lake Kananaskis River, and clearly departing the area. All other identifications and sightings were made up Date: May 31, 2009 of the usual candidates. Compiler: Wayne Kinsella Participants: Lee Carothers, Wayne Kinsella, Zoe Brooks/Lake Newell Kisling, Sharon Mahoney, Barb Smith, Roy Wilson, Wilma Zurfluh. Date: May 16 and 17, 2009 Area Covered: Buffalo Lake to McKenzie Compiler: Bob Parsons Crossing and from east Stettler to the Red Deer Participants: 37 with a high level of expertise. River. Eight areas of Alberta and BC represented, plus Weather: one birder from Costa Rica. Mainly clear with temperatures 15 to 20 oC and Areas covered: All parks and townsites, NW wind code 4 grasslands, lakes, reservoirs, DU wetland basins, Team Distance/Hours: what woodlots we could find! One week earlier Four parties walked 7 km in 3.5 hrs, drove 140 than usual, May long weekend is traditionial. kms in 5 hrs and feeder watched for 4.5 hrs. Weather: Number of Species: 76 Generally overcast periods, some sun both days. 7- Number of Birds: 1845 22 degrees, calm winds mostly. Team Distance/Hours: Calgary and Area Team mileage 1764 km by vehicle; 29 km on foot. Team hours 172 hours by vehicle; 320 hours on Date: May 30 and 31, 2009 foot Compiler: Brian Elder Team Distance/Hours: Participants: Tim Allison, Sandy Ayer, Linda Total team mileage: 1793 km; by vehicle 1764, on Bailey, John Bargman, Bruce Barnetson, Jim Black,

4 FAN 2009 May Species Count for Birds

Phil Cram, Marcia Crawford, Bernie Diebolt, K. Cardston Donohue, J. Donohue, Joel Duncan, Jean Dunn, Brian Elder, A. Elliott, Jess Eustace, Joan Falcione, Date: May 30 and 31, 2009 Lenora Flynn, Dick Flynn, Dave Gibson, Horst Compiler: Shirley Sillito Grothman, Ian Halladay, Mike Harrison, Andrew Participants: Neldon & Priscilla Hatch, Meran & Hart, Chris Havard, Ken Havard, Frank Liam Hinch, Ruth Le Roux, Ruth Olsen, Vickie Hennessey, M. Huston, C. Kenny, Al Kimberly, Romeril, Don Shaw, Wendel Shaw, Weldon & Terry Korolyk, Karen Larsen, Bob Lefebvre, Don Shirley Sillito, Michele Snyder, Mira Vanhala, Magnusson, Simone Marler, Lynn Moore, Mike Nancy West Mulligan, R. Parks, Jerry Pilny, Terry Poulton, N. Area Covered: Cardston, Woolford PP, Kimball Seneveriatne, Destin Skauge, Ena Spalding, Jim St. Park, Police Lake PP, Mountain View, Leavitt, Laurent, Don Stiles, Bob Storms, Judy Swan, M. Glen Hill Park Swatschina, Tony Timmons, Hank Vanderpol, D. Weather: Vernon, Ray Woods, Robert Worona, G. Yaki, Day 1: Colin Young, Lois Zwick, Walter Zwick Temp. 10 to 15oC Area Covered: Calgary area – 80km radius Wind speed: 5 to 30 km/hr. centered on Centre St. bridge Wind direction: SW Weather: Precipitation: nil Day 1: Day 2: Temp. 0 to 22oC Temp. 10 to 20oC Day 2: Wind speed: 0 to 5 km/hr. Temp. 0 to 22oC Wind direction: SW Precipitation: brief rain in some areas Sunday Precipitation: nil evening Team Distance/Hours: Comments: very windy Sunday evening; not a Total team Mileage 472.5 km; by vehicle 455; on factor at other times foot 17.5 km. Team Distance/Hours: Total team hours 58.5 hr; by vehicle 48.5 hr; on Total team mileage: 4271 km; by vehicle 4079; on foot 10 hr. foot 192km. Number of Species: 126 (+ 2 cw) Total team hours: 351 hr; by vehicle 208 hr; on foot Number of Birds: 4757 (+ 2 cw) 143 hr. Other species seen during count week: Upland Note: on foot distance and hours includes cycling Sandpiper, Ruby-throated Hummingbird Number of Species: 212 (+ 9 cw) Highlights: This count set a new record high of Number of Birds: 100,047 126 species, breaking the old record by two. Six Other species seen during count week: species were seen for the first time – Turkey Peregrine Falcon, Broad-winged Hawk, Hudsonian Vulture, Northern Goshawk, Gyrfalcon, Eurasian Godwit, Dunlin, Pectoral Sandpiper, Long-billed Collared-Dove, Pileated Woodpecker and Winter Dowitcher, Calliope Hummingbird, Blackpoll Wren. Other seldom-seen species of interest were Warbler and Bullock’s Oriole Eurasian Wigeon, Bobolink and Brewer’s Sparrow. Highlights: Lewis’s Woodpecker; record number of species and number of birds including over Central Alberta 30,000 Franklin’s Gulls Date: May 30 and 31, 2009 Compiler: Judy Boyd Participants: Jerry Alderson, Marion Alderson, Jean Bargholz, Bud Bargholz, Brian Biggs, Dianne

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Bilous, Garry Bilous, Myron Bjorge, Karin Bjorge, kayak); on foot 60.25 hr.; horseback 2 hr. 69.5 hr Tony Blake, Tyra Bowerman, Judy Boyd, Larry + 10 minutes feeder watching Boyd, Lois Burkenshaw, Phil Burkenshaw, Vivian Number of Species: 146 (+2 cw) Busat, Claudia Cameron, Dave Cook, Mary Number of Birds: 19033 (+2 cw) Coughlin, Eileen Ford, Jordan Ford, Laurel Ford, Other Species seen during count week: Stewart Ford, Tom Ford, Bertha Ford, Harry American Redstart, Rufous Hummingbird Ford, Ray Fraess, Bernice Hafner, Dorothy Highlights: Our count of individual birds went up Hazlett, Bill Heinsen, Tom Hoskins, Gail Hughes, from 16192 last year to 19032. The number of Carol Kelly, Jessie Kinley, Myron Kinley, Keith species though went down from 153 species to Kline, Janice Lawrence, Victor Lawrence, Mark 145. We also had the highest number of counters Lawrence, Jim Leslie, Mark Meunier, Ruby (54) since 2001. Meunier, Heather Montgomery, Bonnie Mullen, Jean Paton, Doug Paton, Shirley Paton, Doug We had some record highs this year: 1506 Canada Pedersen, Sue Shewkenek, Doug Slack, Joanne Geese, 374 Gadwall, 848 Mallard, 61 Green- Susut, Joan Susut, Jean Wood, Shirley Zombori winged Teal, 172 Canvasback, 106 Ring-necked Area Covered: Central Alberta covers 27 circles. Duck, 160 Bufflehead, 100 Common Goldeneye, Of these, this year 17 were covered and 10 were 617 Ruddy Duck, 81 Double-crested Cormorant, not. The best coverage was the circle that included 8 Osprey, 21 Northern Harrier, 7 Black-necked the City of Red Deer. Other areas covered were Stilt, 77 American Avocet, 13 Lesser Yellowlegs, Zone 2 (Sylvan Lake), Zone 3 (Gull Lake/Bentley), 2259 Franklin’s Gull, 836 Ring-billed Gull, 2 Zone 4 (Lacombe), Zone 5 (Joffre, Ellis Bird Barred Owl, 5 Great Gray Owl, 26 Yellow-bellied Farm), Zone 6 (east of Penhold), Zone 7 (Penhold, Sapsucker, 38 Downy Woodpecker, 29 Hairy Innisfail), Zone 8 (Dickson Dam, Medicine River Woodpecker, 36 Northern Flicker, 7 Western Wildlife Centre), Zone 9 (Leslieville), Zone 10 Wood-Pewee, 2 Alder Flycatcher, 16 Eastern (north of Leslieville), Zone 15 (Alix), Zone 16 Phoebe, 41 Eastern Kingbird, 6 Gray Jay, 45 Blue (Delburne/Lousana), Zone 17 (Bigelow Reservoir), Jay, 399 American Crow, 83 Common Raven, 143 Zone 18 (Davey Lake), Zone 20 (James River Purple Martin, 94 Barn Swallow, 7 Boreal Bridge, Garrington), Zone 21(Caroline, Chickadee, 35 White-breasted Nuthatch, 20 Crammond), Zone 26 (Dry Island Buffalo Jump). Marsh Wren, 247 American Robin, 26 Yellow- Weather: rumped Warbler, 6 Western Tanager, 59 Vesper Day 1: Sparrow, 179 Savannah Sparrow, 27 Dark-eyed Temp. 8 to 25oC Junco, 27 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 2 Bobolink, Wind speed: 0 to 50 km/hr. 1052 Red-winged Blackbird, 122 Brown-headed Wind direction: variable Cowbird, 37 Purple Finch, 34 House Finch 423, Precipitation: nil Pine Siskin and 197 American Goldfinch. Day 2: Temp. 2 to 25oC First time ever: 23 Forster’s Tern, 1 Brown Wind speed: 0 to 39 km/hr. Creeper, 1 American Dipper and 1 Cassin’s Finch Wind direction: variable Precipitation: nil Claresholm Team Distance/Hours: Total team Mileage 1140.6 km; by vehicle 1036.6 Date: May 30 and 31, 2009 (including quad, boat, 4 wheel cart); on foot 94 Compiler: Grace Norgard km; horseback 10 km. Participants: Jason Attwell, Ruth Attwell, Rob Total team hours 140 hr + 10 minutes; by vehicle Chisholm & family, Don Clark, Shirley Clark, Gary 77.75 hr + 10 minutes (including quad, boat, Cotter, Nola Cotter, Carley Egger, Hayley Egger,

6 FAN 2009 May Species Count for Birds

Kerry Hart, Audrey Helmer, Betty Hoare, Mike the Cold Lake count area preparing for an Alberta Hoare, Lawrence Hutchinson, Joan Larson, Leo Big Day Larson, Stan Lewis, Debbie Lozeman, Judy Lucas, Area Covered: 25Mi RADIUS COUNT Ellis Norgard, Grace Norgard, Jeremy Norgard, CIRCLE CENTER 5327.30N 11030.00W Jack Peacock Cold Lake Provincial Park, Cold Lake Centre Bay, Area Covered: 40-km radius around Claresholm, English Bay, North Bay, HorseShoe Bay and including Porcupine Hills Marina, Jesse Lake, Moose Lake, Angling Lake, Weather: Ethel and Marie Lake. This covered areas within Day 1: WR51-55, WR40-45, WR33-34, WR10-11, and Temp. 20 to 30oC WR01; due to team limitations the W and NW Wind speed: 31 to 56 km/hr. portions of the Count Circle (Manatokan, Wind direction: S Margaruite, Crane, Tucker Lake areas which Precipitation: nil includes WR02-04, WR12-15, WR 22-25) did Day 2: not get covered this year. no information given Weather: Team Distance/Hours: Day 1: Total team mileage 306 km; by vehicle 300; on foot Temp. 9 to 20oC 6 km. Wind speed: 7 to 28 km/hr. Avg 14 km/hr. Total team hours: 40 hr; by vehicle 28 hr; on foot 2 Wind direction: began SSE, moved through N to hr; watching feeders 10 hr. W through course of day. Number of Species: 129 (+ 3 cw) Precipitation: period of light showers around Number of Birds: 5027 (+ 3 cw) noon.Comments: Partly to mostly cloudy Other species seen during count week: Alder Day 2: Flycatcher, Tennessee Warbler, White-throated Temp. 5 to 19oC Sparrow Wind speed: 9 to 28 km/hr. Avg 13 km/hr. Gsts to Highlights: Two new species were added to the 37 km/hr in early afternoon/early evening. count list - a Northern Pygmy-Owl and a Barred Wind direction: W to WNW Owl were both identified by call in the Porcupine Precipitation: n/a until 9 p.m. Showers through late Hills west of Claresholm. For only the second time evening. Harris’s Sparrow and Pine Grosbeak were Comments: scattered/partly to mostly cloudy recorded, and for only the third time Northern Team Distance/Hours: Saw-whet Owl, Bullock’s Oriole and Pectoral 8 teams. Sandpiper were tallied. Total team mileage: 691.3 km; by vehicle 607.8 km; on foot 61.5 km; canoe 22 km. Cold Lake Total team hours: 81.5 hr; by vehicle 30 hr; on foot 39.25 hr; canoe 10 hr. Date: May 30 and 31, 2009 Number of Species: 170 (+ 6 cw) Compiler: Ted Hindmarch Number of Birds: 5733 (+ 8 cw) Participants: Total 18: Local Participants: Phil Other species seen during count week: Virginia Shore, Bill Bretsch, Nancy and Ron Donnelly, Rail (1), Barred Owl (1), Long-eared Owl (2), Norm Parrish, Carol Humerstone, Wes and Iris Common Nighthawk (2), Olive-sided Flycatcher English, Bryan Simpson; Chris and Bob Etue of (1), Wilson’s Warbler (1), Lapland Longspur Rapid View Sask; Vivian Elias, John Ollerenshaw, (flock). Bruce Morito, Merilyn Peruniak and Geoff Highlights: The moderately windy conditions Peruniak of Athabasca AB; and input from Tom made birding from the vehicle less productive than Hince, Paul Pratt of Ontario, who were scouting normal with birds. Better results were achieved on

7 Federation of Alberta Naturalists foot. Otherwise the weather was pleasant for the Day 1: participants. Overall area coverage and distance Temp. 5 to 20oC travelled was down as more time was spent on Day 2: foot. Canoe travel was also impacted, and Temp. 5 to 20oC restrained to sheltered areas. Cool, wet and late Team Distance/Hours: spring delayed migration, so the fact that the last information not available May weekend fell right at the end of the month Number of Species: 80 (+9 cw) made an positive impact on count results. Several Number of Birds: 709 of the areas more experienced birders were Other species seen during count week: Great unavailable for the count, so we were fortunate to Blue Heron, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Broad-winged have a group from Athabasca come in to assist with Hawk, Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Alder Flycatcher, the Cold Lake Provincial Park (south) area (there Barn Swallow, Orange-crowned Warbler, Western 2nd time joining our count). Meadowlark

The group was especially blessed to meet up with Crooked Creek/Athabasca Tom Hince and his birding partner Paul Pratt, who were scouting in the Cold Lake count area in Date: May 30 and 31, 2009 preparation for an Alberta Big Day. From 1983 to Compiler: Deidre Griffiths 1995, Tom was senior park naturalist and resident Participants: Deidre Griffiths, Jack Sherman, Joan birding expert at Point Pelee National Park and Sherman now runs a B&B and bird guiding business in that Area Covered: ~4 km2 (Crooked Lake Study area. (http://www.netcore.ca/~peleetom/ Area 11 km2) webdoc4.html). They provided their input over the Weather: two days which helped fill in several gaps in our list, Day 1: and added such special reports as Sabine’s Gull Temp. 9 to 17oC (12 near Cold Lake Marina) and count week Wind speed: 0 to 30 km/hr. Common Nighthawk and Virginia Rail. As a note, Wind direction: WNW - NW until late afternoon, Tom and Paul went on to complete an incredibly dropping to 20-25 km/hr. successful Big Day: They started in Cold Lake at Precipitation: trace a.m. midnight and finished at Pakowki Lake at 9:30 pm Comments: wind negative factor for both water and with 207 species for the big day on June 2nd (a land birds; detectability/singing reduced. new Alberta record by 29 species). Day 2: Temp.6 to 15oC Other sightings of interest was a Cinnamon Teal in a Wind speed: 20 to 35 km/hr. pond just outside of Cold Lake and 3 Whimbrels at Wind direction: NW Moose Lake. Both only observed on 1 previous Precipitation: 2 mm (overnight and a.m.) count. Comments: wind again negative factor until decreased through afternoon. 0 km/hr by early Coyote Lake evening. Sun/cloud afternoon. Team Distance/Hours: Date: May 30 and 31, 2009 Total team mileage 49 km; by vehicle 4 km; on foot Compiler: Javan Green 45 km. Participants: Javan Green, Penny Green Total team hours 39.5 hr; by vehicle 0.5 hr; on Area Covered: Warburg area, including Coyote foot 39hr. Lake and sections of Strawberry Creek Number of Species: 81 (+ 10 CW) Weather: Number of Birds: 1311 (+27 CW)

8 FAN 2009 May Species Count for Birds

Other species seen during count week: White- Number of Species: 73 (+ 55 cw) winged Scoter (8), Surf Scoter (6), Cinnamon Teal Number of Birds: 550 (+ 453 cw) (2), Sharp-shinned Hawk (1), American Coot (2), Other species seen during count week: Barred Owl (1), Common Nighthawk (2), Ruby- Mammals: Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (1), throated Hummingbird (1), Philadelphia Vireo (1), Moose (1), Beaver (1), Muskrat (1), Coyote (3), Gray-cheeked Thrush (3). Columbian Ground Squirrels (many), Red Squirrels Highlights: Cinnamon Teal (second consecutive (7), White-tailed Deer (14). Amphibians: Western year in same site), Surf Scoter (not present every Toad (1), Boreal Chorus Frogs. Butterflies: year), “Audubon’s” warbler (1 and male, first Swallow Tails, Mourning Cloak record - included in Yellow-rumped Warbler Highlights: Harlequin Duck, Ferruginous Hawk, number). Other: here, by end of May migration not Bullock’s Oriole, Long-billed Curlew, Bobolink, complete (see Count week list). Additional species Lazuli Bunting, Black-headed Grosbeak, Winter (nesters) arrive through first half of June; others Wren, Brown Creeper, European-collared Dove, increase in number; still others leave continuing Rock Wren, Wood Duck, Veery, Indigo Bunting, migration. However, diversity of owls and hawks Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Fox Sparrow, low in 2009, as well as some songbirds. MacGillivray’s Warbler and a Bald Eagles’ nest with one Eaglet. Crowsnest Pass Cypress Hills Provincial Park Date: May 30 and 31, 2009 Compiler: Dawn Hall Date: May 30, 2009 Participants: Denise Coccioloni-Amatto, Dawn Compiler: Jennifer Stroh and Darian Kath Hall, Sandra Impens, Herald Kane, Merilyn Participants: Bob Frew, Kari Gohdes, Stewart Liddell, Paul Larson, Karen Larter, Pat Lucas, Guy, Darian Kath, Brigette Lemay, Dave Keith McClary, Phil Nicholas, Linda Ransome, McKenzie, Mike O’Shea, Fanny Provencher, Milt Peter Sherrington, Jenice Smith +2, Christopher and Elaine Spitzer, Jennifer Stroh, and Ben Velner. Smith and James Tweedie Area Covered: including the Elkwater townsite, Area Covered: Crowsnest Pass roads/trails within the park, and immediate area Weather: outside of the park Day 1: Weather: Temp. 7° to 25 °C Temp. 9° to 27°C Wind speed: 0 to 65 km/hr. Wind speed: 11 to 24 km/hr. Wind direction: North Wind direction: WNW Precipitation: none Precipitation: none Comments: very windy Comments: clear and slightly above average Day 2: Team Distance/Hours: Temp. 11° to 24°C Total team mileage:151.6 km; by vehicle 125.2; on Wind speed: 0 to 54 km/hr. foot 26.4 km. Wind direction: North Total team hours: 24 hr; by vehicle 11 hr; on foot Precipitation: none 13 hr. Comments: Overcast, sunny and partly cloudy Number of Species: 96 Team Distance/Hours: Number of Birds: 1669 Total team mileage:160 km; by vehicle 150; on foot 10 km. Total team hours: 15 hr; by vehicle 7.5 hr; on foot 7.5 hr.

9 Federation of Alberta Naturalists

For Far Park 2/3 of the peat moss area and it has become a birding hot spot. Just north of this area is the horse Date: May 31, 2009 lease where he was able to confirm a pair of Compiler: Jim Lange Sandhill Cranes appeared to be making a home Participants: Jim Lange there. (Beavers have also made this area into a Area Covered: For Far Park and small boreal series of ponds.) forest at Westlock/Athabasca County line. off Sec. Day 2: #663. Temp. 5oC to 10oC Weather: Wind speed: 10 to 15 km/hr. with gusts of 28 km/ Temp. 7 to 12oC hr. Wind speed: 20 to 40 km/hr. Wind direction: NW Wind direction: NW Precipitation: 2 – 5 mm Precipitation: none Comments: Cooler than normal temperatures. Team Distance/Hours: Team Distance/Hours: Total team mileage 16 km; by vehicle 14 km; on Total team mileage: 470 km; by vehicle 400 km; on foot 2 km. foot 67 km; kayak: 3 km. Total team hours 8 hr; by vehicle 0.5 hr; on foot 6 Total team hours: 90 hr; by vehicle 45 hr; on foot hr; standing and sitting at the lake 1.5 hr. 43 hr; by kayak 2 hr. Number of Species: 47 Number of Species: 129 (+ 1 cw) Number of Birds: 127 Number of Birds: 6954 (+ 1 cw) Highlights: Northern Goshawk flying slowly over Other species seen on count week: June 1: A tree tops, just like a Red-tail. Never seen one fly so Broad-winged Hawk was seen at Shell Jackpine slow! Mine Site Highlights: A member saw a Baltimore Oriole in Fort McMurray a plum tree in her yard May 26.

Date: May 30 and 31, 2009 Lac La Biche Compiler: Cathy Mountain Participants: Linda Ball, Valerie Cooper, Jane Date: May 23 and 24, 2009 Elser, Alison Finstad, Cheryl Freeman, Sharlene Compiler: Jennifer Okrainec Graves, Bernice Grey, Robert Grey, Tom Klein, Participants: John & Joyce Charchun, Bob & Cathy Mountain, Deborah Pollen, Vern Pollen, Mary Dunn, Jim Gammon, Stan Gosche, Carol Christine Sparling, Steven Stryde, Margo (Dead- Gosche, Tim Gosche, Bernie Guathier, Janos Eye) Wilson. Kovacs, Mel Kuprowsky, Dave & Kathy Lawson, Area Covered: urban, roadside, hiking trails, Muriel & Jennifer Mueller, Jennifer Okrainec, horse pasture, mixed forest, riverside, ponds/ Cathy Scott, Brian Stephen, Dan Stoker, Terry slough, lakes, gravel pit, peat moss pit, muskeg, Thormin, Elaine Tosczak, Clark Watson, Don & landfill. 7 backyard bird feeders were also counted. Jean Welke, George & Barbara Ann Wicker, Percy Weather: Zalesky. Day 1: Area Covered: Lac La Biche Town site, West to Temp. 10oC to 18oC Plamondon and Hylo, North to Avenir and the Wind speed: 5 to 10 km/hr. Alpac K road – Hwy 881, East to Lakeland Wind direction: W Provincial Park and PRA – Touchwood Lake, Precipitation: none South to Kikino Metis Settlement, Frenchmen Comments: One of our members reports that just Lake outside city limits the beavers have flooded about

10 FAN 2009 May Species Count for Birds

Weather: Sparrows were pleasant surprises. Day 1: Temp. 0 to 22oC Lethbridge Wind speed: 2 to 5 km/hr. Precipitation: 0 Date: May 30 and 31, 2009 Day 2: Compiler: Teresa Dolman Temp. 5 to 20oC Participants: Linda Cerney, Teresa Dolman, Wind speed: 0 to 4 km/hr. Graeme & Patricia Greenlee, Judy Hazinoff, Del Wind direction: South Huget, Jennifer Mather, Ken Orich, Jay Yanke Precipitation: 0 Area Covered: parks within City limits Team Distance/Hours: Weather: Total team mileage: 1095 km; by vehicle 1075; on Day 1: foot 20 km Temp. 14 to 31oC Total team hours: 79 hr; by vehicle 58 hr; on foot Wind speed: 11 to 44 km/hr. 21 hr. Wind direction: NW Number of Species: 178 Precipitation: nil Number of Birds: 14286 Day 2: Temp. 12 to 25oC Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park Wind speed: 4 to 26 km/hr. Wind direction: N Date: May 23, 2009 Precipitation: nil Compiler: Stan Gosche Team Distance/Hours: Participants: Carol Gosche, Stan Gosche, Tim Total team mileage: 41 km; by vehicle 12; on foot Gosche, Janos Kovacs, Brian Stephen, Dan 29 km Stoker, Terry Thormin, Percy Zalesky. Total team hours: 20 hr; by vehicle 1.5 hr; on foot Area Covered: Sir Winston Churchill Park LLB 18.5 hr. 54° 49' 21.79604" N, 111° 53' 13.13559" W Number of Species: 80 (+ 4 cw) Coordinate Source: Approximate map coordinates. Number of Birds: 1666 (+ 7 cw) Dominant Habitat: Mixed Wood Forest. Visited Other species seen during count week: Great Habitats: Lake, Mixed Wood Forest, Pond / Blue Heron (1), Tennessee Warbler (2), Slough Blackpoll Warbler (3), Northern Waterthrush (1) Weather: Highlights: The total of 80 species seen was far Temp. 5oC to 22oC lower than the long-term average of 117, but can Windspeed: 2 to 5 km/hr. – some smoke be accounted for by two facts: low participation driftComments: clear, few clouds and the restriction of observations to sites within Team Distance/Hours: city limits. The absence of observations from rural Total mileage: information not available. areas, especially wetlands, resulted in species such Total team hours: 14 hours; all on foot as Northern Pintail, Lesser Scaup, Marbled Number of Species: 110 (+ 2 cw) Godwit, Wilson’s Phalarope, Cliff Swallow and Number of Birds: 3426 (+ 5 cw) Brewer’s Blackbird being missed entirely for the Other species seen on count week: Harris’ first time in the 33-year history of this count. Even Sparrow (4), Baltimore Oriole (1). so, one “new” species was added to the list – a Highlights: Notable observation was that the early Turkey Vulture just made it “under the wire” at date this year resulted in more migrants and less about 7 pm on Sunday evening. For only the third breeding birds. Eastern warblers were not here in time in its history, the count tallied Yellow-breasted good numbers yet. 1 Upland Sandpiper and Harris Chat.

11 Federation of Alberta Naturalists

Medicine Hat Bald Eagle 7 3 Numerous Date: May 24, 2009 Compiler: Marty Drut Red-tailed Hawk 19 Participants: Rick Carrier, Eileen Cowtan, Marty 17 2008 Drut, Val Felesky, Corlaine Gardner, Dale Holmes, Lisa Holmes, Annalora Horch, Phil Horch, Jim Eurasian-collared Dove 7 Knelson, Cam Lockerbie, Jim Marshall, Valerie 5 Numerous Martins, Bernice Morrison, Michael O’Shea, Tina Regehr, Jo-Anne Reynolds, Jennifer Roberts, Dan Downy Woodpecker 24 Schiebelbein, Mark Schiebelbein, Jan Scott, Elaine 22 1990 Spitzer, Milt Spitzer, Ben Velner, Mike Velner Area Covered: 25 km circle around Medicine Hat Tree Swallow 305 Weather: 204 2008 No weather data recorded Team Distance/Hours: Violet-green Swallow 36 Total team mileage: 312 km; by vehicle 76; on foot 29 2002 236 km Total team hours: 86.25 hr; by vehicle 35.75 hr; on Blue Jay 18 foot 50.5 hr. 9 Numerous Number of Species: 127 Number of Birds: 10,297 American Robin 894 Other species seen within 3 days: No species 819 2008 seen exclusively during count week. Highlights: 2009 was another great year as there Clay-coloured Sparrow 168 were 11 species with recorded high counts, 153 1996 including an all time high for Eurasian wigeon (see Table 1 below). This occurred despite slight Killdeer 26 decreases in total participants, kilometres covered, 30 1993 and hours spent in the field. Many thanks to all those who volunteered their time this year! Several species (gadwall, bald eagle, red-tailed New species observed: None. hawk, tree swallow, violet-green swallow, American robin, and clay-coloured sparrow) with Table 1. 2009 Spring Bird Count All Time High all time highs observed in 2009 are native species and Low Observations. that are relatively common in the Medicine Hat area during spring and summer. Two of our more Species High common year-round residents (downy Previous High Year woodpecker and blue jay) also had highs this year. Of note is that gadwall, red-tailed hawk, tree Gadwall 176 swallow, and American robin beat previous highs 88 2008 that were just observed in 2008.

Eurasian Wigeon 6 Less frequently seen species observed in 2009 1 1996 included snow goose (1), Eurasian wigeon (6 – ALL TIME HIGH), rough-legged hawk (1), greater yellowlegs (1), willow flycatcher (1),

12 FAN 2009 May Species Count for Birds eastern phoebe (1), and lazuli bunting (1). Taber/Vauxhall

The top five for 2009 were: American robin (894), Date: May 30 and 231, 2009 European starling (878), red-winged blackbird Compiler: Lloyd Bennett (634), Canada goose (596), and house sparrow Participants: Bruce Bennett, Jenie Bennett, Lloyd (482). Bennett, Yolanda Bennett, Glen Gardner, Murray Gardner, Ilene Levagood, Ron Levagood Milk River/Writing-on-Stone Area Covered: Taber and Vauxhall areas, Purple Springs Dunes Date: May 23 and 24, 2009 Weather: Compiler: Bob Parsons Day 1: Participants: 9 Temp. 8 to 30oC Area Covered: Pinhorn Grazing Reserve, coulees, Wind speed: 5 to 30 km/hr. badlands, native grasslands but mainly Verdigris Wind direction: SW Lake, Crow Indian, Vernon Flats DU, Etzicom, Precipitation: nil west Pakowki Lake. Also riparian areas along Milk Day 2: River, all in all no other area like it in Alberta. It not available should be noted that there were good wet patches Team Distance/Hours: in many fields so fair shorebird numbers this year. Total team mileage: 819.5 km; by vehicle 812; on Weather: foot 7.5 km. Calm mornings, some winds in afternoon from the Total team hours: 44.5 hr; by vehicle 27 hr; on foot west. A few scattered showers. Generally 10-20 6.5 hr; watching feeders 11 hr degrees. Number of Species: 132 (+ 5 cw) Team Distance/Hours: Number of Birds: 6813 (+ 5 cw) Total team mileage: 555 km; by vehicle 543; on Other Species seen during count week: foot 12 km. Cackling Goose, Common Merganser, Say’s Total team hours: 53 hr; by vehicle 41 hr; on foot Phoebe, Mountain Bluebird, McCown’s Longspur 12 hr. Highlights: Two “new” species appeared on this Number of Species: 134 (+ 12 cw) count - Yellow-breasted Chat and Dark-eyed Number of Birds: 13926 (+ 13 cw) Junco. For only the third time a Western Tanager Highlights: Highlights include 24 new broken was seen. records plus unusual species such as Snow Goose, 2 American Pipits, 7 Sharp-tailed grouse, Red- Wakomao Lake naped Sapsucker, White-rumped Sandpiper. Low Date: May 30, 2009 numbers: Baird’s Sparrow, Brewer’s Sparrow, Compiler: Jim Lange House Wren, Golden Eagle, Bobolink. Again, the Participants: Jim Lange, Fred Wiley Chat showed up on the Monday after the Area Covered: Wakomao Lake and Bouchard weekend!! New Species: Solitary Sandpiper, Lake and all areas within 10 km block, farmland, American Pipit, Eurasian-collared Dove (9), Ruby- pine, etc. crowned Kinglet. Species missing: Burrowing Owl, Weather: Clark‘s Grebe, Grasshopper Sparrow, Temp. 11 to 18oC McCowan’s Longspur, Black-necked Stilt, Black- Wind speed: 20 to 30 km/hr. headed Grosbeak. Count sponsored by the Wind direction: NW-NE Wildbird General Store, EnCana Energy, Precipitation: none TransCanada Pipelines. Special thanks to Del Comments: cloudy in AM, mainly sunny in PM. Huget who did all the scouting this year.

13 Federation of Alberta Naturalists

Team Distance/Hours: elevations by the snow. The snow on Saturday Total team mileage: 84 km; by vehicle 84 km; on forced many passerines to forage along road-sides foot 0 km. so that record high numbers of several species Total team hours: 9.5 hr; by vehicle 9.5 hr; on foot were counted such as Swainson’s Thrush, 0 hr. American Pipit, Vesper Sparrow and White- Number of Species: 68 crowned Sparrow. For only the second time Wood Number of Birds: 794 Duck and Redhead were observed. Despite the Highlights: High number of avocets cold, snowy weather the number of species seen was third-highest in the 25-year history of the Waterton Lakes National Park count.

Date: June 6 and 7, 2009 Yamniska Compiler: Teresa Dolman Participants: Lloyd & Yolanda Bennett, Anna Date: May 29 and 30, 2009 Lee-Carswell, Mary Coleman, Doug & Teresa Compiler: Mike McIvor Dolman, Randy & Patricia Jensen, Harkirin & Participants: Leanne Allison, Barb Bertch, Reg Jogendra Khalsa, Kim Pearson Bunyan, Fumie Craven, Kyle (child) Craven, Dave Area Covered: Within Park boundaries Dalman, Heather Dempsey, Eli (child) Whittington, Weather: Jesse Whittington, Jeannette Fish, Wendy Francis, Day 1: Menno Froese, Tomo Fujimori, Zev (child) Heuer, Temp. 0 to 3oC Masami Ito, Diane McIvor, Mike McIvor, Chuck Wind speed: 0 to 17 km/hr. O’Callaghan, Peter Poole, Bob Smith, Gareth Wind direction: NE Thomson, Ed Whittingham, Jack Whitworth, Precipitation: 23mm (as 22 cm snow) Marion Whitworth, Charlotte Young. Comments: About 5 cm of snow at lower Area Covered: Yamnuska elevations; 22 cm at higher elevations Weather: Day 2: Day 1: Temp. -2 to 9oC Temp. 8 to 23oC Wind speed: 2 to 11 km/hr. Wind speed: 0 to 10 km/hr. Wind direction: E Wind direction: West Precipitation: 2 mm Precipitation: 0 Comments: A much nicer day, a mix of sun and Day 2: cloud. Temp. 5 to 24oC Team Distance/Hours: Wind speed: 10 to 30 km/hr. Total team mileage: 336km; by vehicle 314; on foot Wind direction: West 22 km Precipitation: 0 Total team hours: 38.5 hr; by vehicle 22hr; on foot Team Distance/Hours: 15.5 hr; watching feeders 1 hr. Total team mileage: 71 km; by vehicle 30 km; on Number of Species: 126 (+ 1 cw) foot 41 km. Number of Birds: 2274 (+ 1 cw) Total team hours: 27.5 hr; by vehicle 1 hr; on foot Other species seen within 3 days: Baird’s 26.5 hr. Sparrow Number of Species: 70 Highlights: Two “new” species were added to the Number of Birds: 552 count list – a single Caspian Tern far out of its normal Alberta range and 68 Gray-crowned Rosy- Finches which no doubt were pushed to lower

14 FAN 2009 May Species Count for Birds

2009 May Bird Count Centers in Alphabetical order, with Codes

Banff Bnff Cypress Hills Provincial Park CypH

Beauvais Lake Provincial Park Beau For Far Park Ffar

BowKan B-K Fort McMurray FMcM

Brooks/Lake Newel Brks Lac La Biche LLB

Buffalo Lake Buff Lethbridge Leth

Calgary and Area CGY Medicine Hat MedH

Cardston Card Milk River/Writing-on-Stone Milk

Central Alberta C-AB Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park SWC

Claresholm Clar Taber/Vauxhall TabV

Cold Lake Cold Wakomao Lake Wako

Coyote Lake Coyo Waterton Lakes National Park Wlnp

Crooked Creek/Athabasca Crook Yamniska Yam

Crowsnest Pass Crow

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