The Beauty and Evil of Winter...

 

The scenery following yesterday's storm rekindled my love for winter and its elegant beauty... 

despite the cold...

The icy rain entirely froze to every tree branch and every berry...

 The morning after the storm brought great danger with great beauty. The carefully wrapped ice weighed down the branches and caused some of them to snap. Many branches fell onto roads, onto roofs, and onto telephone cables.

 

Who would suspect that such beauty would leave over 200 000 Torontonians without power for days?

OFO Convention

This last weekend, I had the fabulous opportunity to go to the 2013 Ontario Field Ornithologists annual convention, which was held at Point Pelee National Park. I was very excited, and I signed up for many interesting workshops.

On Saturday morning, I partook in the young birders outing around the Tip. Unfortunately, we only managed to find a couple warbler species, most likely because all of them are hiding from the dozens of dangerous Sharp-shinned Hawks circling above. However, we did find many interesting bugs, such as several Monarchs, Viceroy butterflies, and plenty of cool dragonflies.

Turbulent Phosphila

Believed to be Hypercompe scribonia, which turns into the Giant Leopard Moth.

 Later that day, I went for my second workshop; canoeing on the marsh. We were hoping for some shorebirds out on the mudflats. On the way there, we observed some gorgeous white lilies, lily pad roots, and something that looked like an underwater pineapple attached to a lily pad.

Finally, getting to the flats, we see lots of birds: Green-winged Teal, Ruddy Duck, cranes, herons, plovers, and sandpipers. Along with them, we see thousands of gulls and cormorants all around the marsh. I managed to get very close to one Pectoral Sandpiper, being at the front of the canoe. My camera lens must have been two inches from the bird. I snapped photo after photo, and the little guy didn't even look frightened! The same Pectoral Sandpiper will never be forgotten, and is presently pictured behind my blog title.

One peep remained unidentified, sitting silently in a tiny corner of the marsh - but it wasn't so tiny. Having Least Sandpipers for comparison, this bird was two or three times larger. All the participants looked on trying to pin a name to the bird. What could it be? It would not stand up to show its legs, so we had immense difficulty identifying it. Finally, one canoeist said what all of us had been too embarrassed to suggest: "Red Knot?" As soon as I got access to my field guide, I searched frantically under the species Red Knot. Apparently, southern Ontario only had several autumn records every year. But as soon as I turned to the right page, I knew that it had to be a Red Knot - nothing else matched. Lifer!

My first Red Knot!

The banquet Saturday evening was magnificent. The hall buzzed with excitement as we all waited for Greg Miller to present his keynote speech. If you're aren't familiar with his name, the main character from the story "The Big Year" was based on him! He was also a consultant for the movie in its making - that meant that he had a chance to meet the famous actors starring in "The Big Year". His speech was very inspirational, and I can't believe that he shook my hand!

Anyway, the following morning, I woke up late for birding: my clock read 7:30am. I was supposed to be at the Tip with the Young Birders group right now! I threw on the first clothes I could find, inhaled my breakfast, and rushed off to to Point Pelee. Luckily, I was able to catch up to the group that was intently looking at something from the beach. As soon as they saw me, they waved me over enthusiastically. I knew they must be looking at a good bird, so I ran over there as fast as I could.

Approaching the group, the leader invited me to peek through his spotting scope. As I brought my eye nearer and nearer to the lens, I could not contain myself and I let out a yip of joy... catching sight of the Brown Pelican everyone was looking at sitting on the Tip! Apparently, this was the same individual that spent the entire summer in Cleveland, and recently visited the nearby Wheatly Harbour.

Brown Pelican - noted white cheek patch

I was overjoyed observing this unusual species to Ontario - unfortunately, I did not bring my camera, so the only documentation I have of it is a quick, on-spot sketch.

I spent an hour at the Tip until I had to leave for my next workshop: drawing birds in the field with Peter Burke. It was probably my favourite workshop of the weekend. We started off by examining a freshly dead Cooper's Hawk and talking about the importance of understanding bird anatomy in sketching. Then, we went out to the nearby harbour to try our own drawings with this newly-gained knowledge. It was a lot of fun, and I know now how vital it is to draw from observation to enhance not only drawing skills, but also bird identification skills.

This was an unbelievably amazing trip! I can guarantee that if you come next year, you'll have plenty of stories to tell, just like me. I will see you all at the 2014 convention, which will take place in Ottawa!

Great Blue Heron

2013 Ontario Nature's Youth Summit

Just came back from Ontario Nature's fantastic Youth Summit on weekend of the 20th! It was very inspirational, and participants had the chance to learn everything nature, be "children in the woods", and find out how to make a difference in our communities. Plus, at the end, we all had a chance to meet filmmaker Rob Stewart, and we listened to his very moving keynote speech about his new movie, Revolution. I encourage all to watch the movie, and attend the summit next year (if you want to have a great time)! Please like ON Nature! :) 

Learn more at: http://www.ontarionature.org/connect/nature_guardians/youth_summit.php

Youth Summit Participants

Merry, merry, Maryland

With school all done for the year, I thought I'd celebrate the start of summer with a trip to Maryland. There, I partook in a wonderful summer program organized by the youth division of the Maryland Ornithological Society. A week long in June, the nine selected participants had the chance to learn about data entry using eBird, birding by ear and by habitat, bird banding, ornithology as a career, and much more...

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge salt marsh.

The group did lots of birding. One day, we visited Bombay Hook NWR in Delaware. I was amazed; as far as the eye could see, there was salt marsh. In Ontario, this habitat does not exist at all. So, within the next few minutes of entering the park, I was taken aback at the three species I had just acquired to my life list: Clapper Rail, Seaside Sparrow, and Black Skimmer. The marsh was humming with cicadas, dragonflies, and of course, horse flies. All around me was life.

Young Marsh Wren just under its nest.

What particularly caught my attention about all of this were the loud, singing Marsh Wrens that constantly fluttered across the boardwalk trail. I observed them for a while - from where I was standing, I counted four nests! From the closest one, I could see several wrens poking their heads out, peeping and begging their parents for some juicy bugs. Inadvertently, I noticed a snake creeping up around the reeds, getting alarmingly close to the nest. Snap - just as it suddenly went for the young, the fledglings hopped out of the way. I had just witnessed the accidental fledging of Marsh Wrens!

That Friday, the group went to Chino farms to watch a grassland bird banding operation. The project has been continuing for several years throughout the summer. We observed a variety of species being caught in mist nets, untangled, weighed, measured, banded, and released. Some species that spend a lot of time in shrubs and thickets have a lot of embedded ticks, so the banders carefully removed them with tweezers and disposed of them. Interestingly, one thrasher that was banded had almost twenty ticks on his head!

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird

 It was a pleasure to see these birds up so close and personal. Still, I was a little uncomfortable looking on as the banders set the birds upside down into a tube to be weighed. (Please check out my video of a Gray Catbird being weighed below.) However, I was reassured that bird banding is done safely, and birds are definitely not harmed during the process.

 

My trip to Maryland was amazing, and it inspired me to become a better birder. Now, I regularly sketch birds from observation and I keep a field notebook of all noteworthy plants and animals I encounter. Additionally, I plan on having more regular blog posts!

Birding the Bruce

On June 15th, I took part in an Ontario Field Ornithologists outing on the Bruce Peninsula. It was my first time there and I quickly learned that despite the tourism and recreation the area offers, birds thrive there as well as humans. What was especially memorable were the species at risk I had the chance to observe.

First, the group stopped by a section of the Bruce Trail to locate a recently reported Cerulean Warbler. We searched up and down the path until we finally heard its beautiful song echoing in the treetops. Soon after, with our thirty heads craned up to the canopy, the group was able to get peeks at the famous bright blue the warbler was named after.
I was very pleased at finally seeing this bird for myself. I have read numerous articles on the threats facing Cerulean Warblers, including habitat fragmentation, degradation, and Brown-headed Cowbird parasitism. It didn't seem likely that I would have the chance to see one at all!

In the afternoon, we visited a field on Everatt Side Road where an Upland Sandpiper occurs every year. The Upland Sandpiper is a Bruce specialty, and birders from all over the province gather here to observe this threatened species. Hunting was the primary cause of the dramatic plummet in its population in the last century. Recently, the Upland Sandpiper's population recovered, but it is continuing to steadily decline due to widespread loss of tall-grass prairie, which key nesting habitat for the Upland Sandpiper.

Our last stop was Sauble Beach to observe a Piping Plover nest. The Piping Plover is a rare shorebird that is protected by the Ontario Endangered Species Act. Over the last fifty years, the bird was extirpated from Canada's Great Lakes due to extensive shoreline development. Only a few nests in Michigan remained. However, until recently, intensive management projects repopulated many nest sites. Today, with about forty-five nests in Ontario and many with volunteer guardian programs monitoring them, the Piping Plover is a reminder that we are able to make a difference for wildlife conservation.

As soon as I came back home from my trip, I brought out my life list and a big red pen. I carefully checked off the Cerulean Warbler, the Upland Sandpiper, and the Piping Plover. I took a moment to reflect; these bird mean so much more than ink on a page. They are charismatic species teach us and encourage us to conserve the nature around us. If we want to continue to see the Cerulean Warbler, the Upland Sandpiper, and the Piping Plover, for example, even caring about the future of birds must not be forgotten...

On the Quest for Biodiversity

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle at the Royal Botanical Gardens

One weekend this May, I went for a pleasant walk through the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton. The entire time, my gaze was directed to trees as the enchanting birds danced above.

When it finally came time for me to tie up my unlaced shoe, what did I see? Before my feet was a magnificent and glowing beetle (or rather two, if you look closely at the photo). I was fascinated by this creature, and I wanted to know more.

Soon enough, I obtained an insect field guide to begin identification. I determined this species is a Six-spotted Tiger Beetle.

Still, this is not enough. Identifying this beetle gave me such a feeling acquaintance and familiarity with the forest that I wanted to know more. Immediately, I felt so small in such a big world. Nearly 100 000 insect species occur in North America alone. The insect numbers are so dizzying that it's almost unimaginable to even picture such diversity.

After my little encounter, I found a new appreciation for bugs - even the spiders that I am so frightened of. Now, I am on the Quest for Biodiversity - meaning I am off to identify all the bugs, trees, wildflowers, mammals, and birds (or course) to reach a better understanding of the beautiful natural world that surrounds us. I hope all you readers all join me and begin your own quests!

Monitoring Neighborhood Nests

Lately, I have been monitoring several nests in my neighborhood. They belong to the following species: House Finch, Barn Swallow, Yellow Warbler, Baltimore Oriole, American Robin, House Sparrow, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Bank Swallow, and Northern Rough-winged Swallow.

American Robin nest with three nestlings.

 For the longest time, the parents have been constructing their nests and incubating. Finally, I had the chance to see the chicks of three species. Until the rest hatch, I will keep you updated on them.

Point Pelee

On Saturday, May 18th, I set off to Point Pelee National Park for the 2013 Victoria Day Long Weekend. As many of you birders may know, Point Pelee is often referred to as the "Warbler Capital of North America", and the park certainly lives up to its name.

I observed a total of 96 species. It's not too bad of a count considering it is already quite late in the season. Some highlights included White-throated Vireo, Eastern Screech-Owl, woodcock courtship flights, and 21 warbler species, including lots of Parulas. Empidonax species were abundant. Any birder that hasn't yet been to Pelee in May should go as soon as possible.

On Monday, I made a visit to Rondeau to catch some rarities such as the Prothonotary and Yellow-throated Warblers. Rondeau Provincial Park is about an hour east of Pelee, and it proves to have equally rewarding birding, if not better.

I was delighted to find this Prothonotary Warbler on the Harrison Trail.

I was even more thrilled to find a second!

Luckily, I caught this Yellow-throated Warbler at the end of my visit, just as I was leaving.

I came home with a ton of photos, a couple Ontario lifers, and a smile. I can't wait to return next year...

ID Quiz #1: Bird from behind!

Before we begin identification, I will give you a hint: I took this photo in February in my backyard in Toronto. From this, we can assume that this bird is resident and more common. While trying to identify this bird, notice that there is nothing to really compare for scale. This just adds another ID challenge. This is why it is really important to focus on body structure and key field marks on the bird.
      Firstly, notice the large feet on this bird in relation to the size of its body. It must spend lots of time on the ground... Also notice the pale rufous flank visible on the bird's right side. This should get you closer to getting the answer.
      If you're ever confused about a bird, note all possible field marks such as body structure, bill shape, wing and tail length, colour, etc. Having gathered all this information, we can then leaf through our field guides to see if any species match our description. As well as appearance, we must take habitat, behaviour, voice, range, and abundance into account. Surroundings are typically a great way to point us in the right direction.
      If you're still stuck, does this help?

American Robin

Congratulations if you successfully identified this unusually dully coloured American Robin! There are times in the field when we birders are forced to face ID challenges where you see the bird from an odd angle or in terrible lighting. Photographs are very helpful when you are stuck on a bird and just can't figure out what it is. They preserve field marks that you may not have noticed before. As well, you can send them to more experienced birders that may help you ID it.

Thank you for participating in my first ever bird ID quiz and I hope you enjoyed it! Please leave a comment or suggestion to help me make my blog a better one. Good birding!

Western Grebe in Colonel Samuel Smith Park

Since late January, a Western Grebe has been lingering on the shores of Lake Ontario between Colonel Samuel Smith Park and Humber Bay Park. Although it has been here for so long, it has been avoiding me. Whenever I am at one park, it is always at the other. Luckily, I finally managed to catch it early this month. It was actually quite close to shore, so I managed to get some adequate photos.

Western Grebe - Colonel Sam Smith Park

Western Grebe - Colonel Sam Smith Park

I've heard that apparently this grebe is still here, so you can have a chance to see this rare and elegant bird. Good luck!

Spending the GBBC Weekend in the Adirondacks

For long weekend of February 15th to 18th, I went on a hiking and skiing trip to High Peaks, Adirondacks. This was somewhat unfortunate because I knew that I wouldn't have many opportunities to birdwatch. Still, I saw a stunning twelve species (!) that I reported for the Great Backyard Bird Count.

Overnight, I stayed in a cozy motel in Lake Placid. From there, it wasn't a long drive to the peaks. On Saturday, I climbed Phelps Mountain. The trail was extremely icy near the top, and I can honestly say I slipped a few times even while wearing crampons. Nonetheless, the view was magnificent. The weather conditions proved to be perfect and cloudless. Phelps isn't one of the taller 46 mountains above 4000 feet, but the view was still one of the better ones.

Phelps Mountain, High Peaks, Adirondacks

The next day I planned to ascend Giant Mountain. However, the temperatures went down further than I was prepared for and the winds were strong enough to blow me off the mountain. Instead, I went skiing on Whiteface. This way, if I got cold or tired, I could just hide away in the cafeteria with a hot chocolate.

The skiing was fantastic. As it turned out though, the next morning all the lifts were closed except for the ones on the bunny hill. Apparently the winds were too violent, but it wasn't any worse than the day before. A voucher was good enough for me though, and that was the end of my weekend.