Newsmagazine of the British Columbia Field Ornithologists ISSN 1206-1611 BCFO.ca Volume 27 Number 1 / March 2017 Spring is nearly upon us, and the Snow Geese know it. Photo by Bob Steventon at the Reifel Sanctuary. BC Birding March 2017 Edition 27 (1) 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 member- ship 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, [email protected] About the BCFO Vice President: Larry Cowan, Pitt Meadows, 604-465-1402, Membership in BCFO is open to anyone interested in the [email protected] study and enjoyment of wild birds in British Columbia. Secretary: Marian Porter, Salt Spring Island, 250-653-2043, BCFO objectives include: fostering cooperation between [email protected] amateur and professional ornithologists, promoting cooper- Treasurer: Mike Fung, Vancouver, 604-266-0238, ative bird surveys and research projects, and supporting [email protected] conservation organizations in their efforts to preserve birds and their habitats. Other Directors Jude Grass, Surrey, 604-538-8774, [email protected] Clive Keen, Prince George, 250-963-9520, Membership clive_keen@ hotmail.com See the website (http://bcfo.ca) for details, or write to the Adrian Leather, Quesnel, 250-249-5561, q-birds@xplornet. BCFO address given above under “Publisher.” com Art Martell, 250-334-2979, Courtenay, [email protected] Annual Membership Dues Monica Nugent, New Westminster, 604-220-8816, General Membership (Canada): $30 [email protected] Junior Membership (Canada): $20 U.S. and International Membership: $35 Ex Officio Immediate Past President: George Clulow, Burnaby, 604-438 -7639, [email protected] Newsmagazine Submissions BCFO Committees & Representatives To submit material to this publication, contact the Editor by AGM Planning Committee: TBA email ([email protected]) or by mail at 10790 Archivist: Les Gyug Grassland Road, Prince George, BC V2K 5E8. British Columbia Birds (Journal) Editor: Art Martell Submissions may include articles about birding experi- BC Birding Editor: Clive Keen; Associate Editor: Virginia ences, casual observations about bird behaviour, site guides, Rasch photographs, and other topics of broad interest to birders, BC Bird Records Committee Chair: Nathan Hentze preferably, but not necessarily, in British Columbia. Dead- BCFO two-day trips: Adrian Leather lines are: Canadian International Joint Venture: Wayne Weber Cannings Award Committee: Wayne Weber March edition: February 15 Featured Photographer Committee: Carlo Giovanella June edition: May 15 IOC Vancouver 2018: George Clulow Librarian: Andy Buhler September edition: August 15 Membership Committee: Larry Cowan December edition: November 15 Website: George Clulow, Neil Dawe Young Birder Awards Committee: Carlo Giovanella Young Birders Program: Melissa Hafting Advertising Rates Full page: $125 per issue or $112.50 each for 4 or more issues Half page: $75 per issue or $67.50 each for 4 or more issues 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. Photo right: A leucistic Bald Eagle photographed by Janice Melendez. See also page 28. Page 2 BC Birding March 2017 Edition 27 (1) Contents Notes and Notices President’s Message ............................................................................................... 4 Welcome New Members ........................................................................................ 4 BCFO Notes ........................................................................................................... 5 Tumbler Ridge Conference and AGM: Registration Form ............................................................................................. 7 Conference Speakers ........................................................................................ 7 Schedule of Events ........................................................................................... 8 Registration Information ................................................................................... 8 Accommodation Information ............................................................................ 9 Post-conference Extension Trip ........................................................................ 9 BCFO Two-day Trips: Parksville: March 11–12 ................................................................................ 10 Quesnel Area: June 7–8 .................................................................................. 10 Important Dates Upcoming Meetings & Events ............................................................................. 11 A National Bird for Canada .................................................................................. 25 Young Birders Program Tumbler Ridge Young Birder Awards .......................................................................................... 13 Conference & AGM Mentoring Young Birders ................................................................................... 15 2017 CBCs of Note Multiple Haida Gwaii CBCs ................................................................................ 18 Red-breasted Sapsuckers on the Sunshine Coast CBC ......................................... 20 Registration Overseas Trip Reports April 2 Birding in Ecuador ............................................................................................... 21 Registration opens for Conference Into the Kalahari ................................................................................................... 22 & AGM, and post-conference trip. Avian Encounters Imperturbable Pygmy-Owl ................................................................................... 26 Event Dates The Cat & the Coot .............................................................................................. 27 Leucistic Bald Eagle ............................................................................................. 28 June 7 – 8 Breakfast of Champions ....................................................................................... 28 Pre-conference Quesnel area two- Rare Bird Alerts .................................................................................................. 29 day trip (see page 10) Special Reports June 9 – 11 Watson Slough No More? .................................................................................... 31 Tumbler Ridge Conference & AGM The March of the Eurasian Collared-Dove ........................................................... 32 June 11 – 14 Mugaha Marsh Bird Banding Station, 2016 ......................................................... 33 Post-conference Peace area Exten- Kootenay Bank Swallow Survey .......................................................................... 34 sion Trip (see page 9) Bewick’s and House Wrens: Diverging Fortunes ................................................ 36 Media Review Beaks, Bones and Bird Songs, by Roger J. Lederer. ............................................ 39 Closing Deadlines Briefings 1. Update on Epidemic Birds................................................................................ 10 May 27 2. Not a Bird in Sight............................................................................................ 12 Registration for the Pre-conference 3. Shorebirds Are Tanking ................................................................................... 24 Quesnel area two-day trip. 4. Desperate Birds ................................................................................................ 25 May 31 5. Nest Duties ....................................................................................................... 30 Registration for Tumbler Ridge con- 6. Decoding Birdsong ........................................................................................... 36 ference and AGM Regular Columns Gone Pishing: Cooper’s & Sharp-shinned ............................................................ 37 The Reflective Birder: A Conundrum Worth Exploring ...................................... 40 Listers’ Corner Introduction and Tables ........................................................................................ 41 Page 3 BC Birding March 2017 Edition 27 (1) along with the resident birds, if you Tumbler Ridge trip will be in August choose to go on the Flatbed/Wolverine and will be quite different than our June President’s field trip. This is the area where dino- event. Although some of the field trips saur footprints were first discovered in will be to the same locations, in June 2000. If there is sufficient interest, we will be observing birds in their Message members of the Museum Foundation breeding season when they are singing are prepared to lead a dusk trip to the on territory. The August IOC trip will During the heavy snowfalls experienced Wolverine River trackway to observe be at the start of migration when the in early February in the Victoria area, it the footprints using low-angled lanterns birds will be making their contact and was interesting to look at the bird tracks which highlight the footprints. flight calls. left in the snow around our bird feeders. Complete information on the Tum- Both Larry Cowan and Mike Fung We have a lot of Dark-eyed Juncos,