Migratory birds are wildlife too

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Posted: April 2, 2017

Recently, as the result of a Wildlife Forum held in Cranbrook, the plight of mammalian wildlife in the East Kootenay has seen renewed interest.

Attendees learned of declining populations and some of the factors that have contributed to the destabilization of well-known species. In many cases, decades of gradual declines have contributed to the present predicament. The solution may be a bit more complex than feeding stations and predator control.

Birds, too, need our attention, as some species are in trouble, also due to a wide range of difficulties. It’s possible that one third of the bird species on this continent are threatened by extinction.

One way that society can help is by gathering information and establishing useful citizen science databases. Local groups, including Rocky Mountain Naturalists, work under the umbrella of BC Nature, which represents over 52 nature clubs in B.C. Naturalists foster an awareness, appreciation and understanding of our natural environment, that it may be wisely used and maintained for future generations.

Currently, RM naturalists are making weekly birding trips to various areas in the East Kootenay. We are keen to sharpen our observational and identification skills, record our findings and discover what others are seeing.

We welcome birders of all levels to join us on Wednesday mornings. The main group departs from Cranbrook and will meet others along the way. Check rockymountainnaturalists.org or call Daryl Calder 250-489-1601.

One very useful tool is eBird, an easy to use, dynamic database. eBird, a real-time, online checklist program, has revolutionized the way that the birding community reports and accesses information about birds. Launched in 2002 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, eBird provides rich data sources for basic information on bird abundance and distribution at a variety of spatial and temporal scales.

The observations of each participant join those of others in an international network of eBird users. eBird then shares these observations with a global community of educators, land managers, ornithologists and conservation biologists. In time, these data will become the foundation for a better understanding of bird distribution across the Western Hemisphere and beyond.

eBird records the birds you see and keeps track of your bird lists. You can explore dynamic maps and graphs, share your sightings and join the eBird community. Using this global tool, you will contribute critical data to science and conservation.

A quick check indicates that, so far this year, 103 species have been seen in the East Kootenay since January 1, and 244 species since March 2016.

Last week, our early birding group examined the Wardner and Mayook areas.

The ice is starting to retreat and many areas are becoming snow free. Armed with the usual array of optics, guidebooks and checklists, we looked and listened for familiar and uncommon species. March skies were a typical display of clashing air masses; dark and light clouds with the occasional brief shower and shaft of sunlight.

During spring migration, it is not difficult to see birds. They sing and move, form groups, feed and chase each other and become more colourful. One sure sign of spring is the return of the Killdeer (pictured above).

A shorebird you can see without going to the beach, Killdeer are graceful plovers common to lawns, golf courses, athletic fields and parking lots. These tawny birds run across the ground in spurts, stopping abruptly to check their progress, or to see if they’ve aroused any insect prey. Their voice, a far carrying excited kill-deer, is a common sound even after dark, often given in flight as the bird circles overhead on slender wings. Killdeer have the characteristic large, round head, large eye and short bill of all plovers. They are especially slender and lanky, with a long, pointed tail and long wings.

One of the least water-associated of all shorebirds, it’s ‘broken wing’ act leads predators away from a nest but does not keep cows or horses from stepping on eggs. To guard against large-hoofed animals, the Killdeer uses quite a different display. Fluffing itself up, displaying it’s tail over it’s head and running at the beast will often deflect the ‘problem.’

Relying on camouflage, the nest, or scrape, is very minimal; a shallow depression scratched into bare ground. Four to six buff coloured eggs, heavily marked with blackish brown, are laid. These simple scrapes are often placed on a slight rise in their open habitats; several additional scrapes may confuse predators. After egg-laying begins, adults often add small, light coloured rocks, bits of shell, sticks and debris to the nest. A well-known denizen of dry habitats, the Killdeer is actually a proficient swimmer. Adults swim well in swift-flowing water, and chicks can swim across small streams. Killdeer inhabit open areas such as sandbars, mudflats and grazed fields. Here they feed on invertebrates- earthworms, snails, crayfish, grasshoppers, beetles and aquatic insect larvae. Sometimes they will eat seeds left in agricultural lands, or follow a farmer’s plow.

Although the Killdeer is common around human habitation, it is often shy, at first running away rather than flying. Near the nest, Killdeer distract predators by calling loudly, bobbing and running away. It is one of the most successful of all shorebirds because of it’s fondness for human-modified habitats and it’s willingness to nest close to people. It’s easy to understand why we must control dogs and refrain from off-road vehicle use in their habitat. Killdeer populations have declined about 50% in the past 50 years, with steeper declines in Canada and the west. While it is widespread and familiar, it is vulnerable to pesticide poisoning, oil pollution and lawnmowing, as well as collisions with cars and buildings.

The List: Birds found near Wardner/ Ha Ha Valley, mid- March, 31 species

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard