Grand River Trail: Peter Halman Family Trailway

This morning I woke up, had a shower and got dressed. As I was combing my hair I noticed a Ladybug in the bathroom. I let it crawl on my hand and I let it free outside. It was very cold out so I got my vest on and went birding with my dad. We were searching for the Great Blue Heron at Peter Halman Family Trailway. On the way there we saw our first Tree Swallows for 2008. We also saw Purple Martins, Red-winged Blackbirds and Canada Geese. Soon 15 minutes past and we arrived at Halman's Trailway. There we noticed even more Tree Swallows, Brown-headed Cowbirds, European Starlings, Purple Martins, Killdeers and Red-winged Blackbirds. We started walking and we saw flowers buding through the cement path! Then we heard Northern Cardinals so we followed them and a duck quickly dived underwater not giving us a chance to identify it. Ducks can stay underwater for a whole hour but we had to go home soon a and go to church. So we were about to leave and a Purple Martin swooped a foot over my head. Then I saw the most beautiful background behind two displaying Red-winged blackbirds. I didn't post the photo of it because my blog is having some technical difficulties.

Goodbye,
Birdman

Birding With My Dad

This morning I woke to a beautiful sunrise, I got dressed feed Max and went outside. My dad was outside too and we watched Purple Martins, Brown-headed Cowbirds and more. Only my dad saw a Great-Blue Heron. Then we went to a birding trail that a had a platform for Birds of Prey. We saw a pair of hawks or eagles mate. Then we saw a pair of European Starlings mate. We started to get hungry so we went to Tim Horton's. There we got ten Sour Cream Glazed Timbits. We finished them and went to another trail. This one had birds singing a rapid tit-tit-tit-tit-tit! And a cardinal was singing loudly. Then we watched a pair of Black-capped Chickadees leave their nest. Then a group of American Goldfinches came singing their lovely song varying so much that a can't word it. After that a Scarlet Tanager flew by calling twit! It sounded so much like a person saying "twit" that was joking a said that Scarlet Tanager was rude. But I was just joking it was just calling to his mate. Then we saw the most beautiful lily ever! I got a clear picture of it but I can't post it sadly. Anyway, we left to go to another park that had three baseball diamonds. As soon as we opened the door we heard tons of birds singing. Even ones I couldn't identify like a peep! I don't have much time to do a blog write now but it ends with us seeing Whip-or-Wills, Kildeers and lots more! We managed to see over ten new species for 2008. That was my exciting Saturday. I will write about this tomorrow also and I think the Mallards nesting by our church courted from 3 weeks ago 'till now. Goodbye, Birdman. This blog may have mistakes because we have guests and I don't have time until tomorrow to do a blog. Bye!

Mallard Nest

Today as I arrived in Kitchener I first went to the Mallard nest I was told about. At first I thought they were mistaken, but my dad soon shook the bush and it jumped out at him. Then it went back in the bush at a position that I could see it. I took some pictures of it then left it alone because it was probably very stressed after this. I soon went to help my dad unpack the trailer and unfortunately many Brown-headed Cowbirds were feeding at our unfinished bird feeder station. My brother wanted to scare the nest parasites (cowbirds) away but I said there was also many other types of birds there too and the cowbirds usually come back after being flushed. Oh well, despite the nest parasites I am happy to hear Mallards are reproducing. I will soon get some more info ie; when they courted, mated, started and finished the nest and when the female laid the eggs. I will also try to post some close photos of the nest if the female doesn't think I'm a harm to her nest. Maybe while the female is incubating the nest I could get a picture of the male bringing food to the family. Also, I just found out that Mourning Doves have a difference between each gender.

Birdman

Mallard Nesting

Today I have just been informed by my mom that Mallards are nesting in the church we go to in Kitchener. My grandpa is the bishop of the church so this weekend I will be posting some photos of it.

Birdman

Earth Day

Common Yellowthroat Eastern Adult Male (I got this photo from http://www.pointpelee.ca)

Today's adventure or should I say trip begins before school. This morning before school Black-capped Chickadees caught my attention from the beautiful sunrise. Then at 8:45am I got prepared for school. We started driving at 8:55am and arrived at school 9:05am. Just in time to play a quick game of football in the school yard. Then at 9:10am the bell rang and we went inside prepared for class. Of course we had recess break and nutrition break. At 1:15pm we went outside walking to a senior motel. When we arrived there our teacher and the owner of the senior motel instructed us how to plant chives and other herbs into pots. We did and brought over to the table. The owner gave us popsicles, a wristband that said "Make Every Day Earth Day" "earthday.ca" and a non-permanent tattoo that had a green leaf with blue streaks around it. It also showed "EARTHDAY CANADA earthday.ca". Then we walked back to school at 3:00pm and wrote our homework in our S. T. Worden. P. S. agendas. Then our teacher let us outside early to play football for the fourth time today. My team lost 9 to 14. Then at 3:30pm we went home and I heard American Goldfinches in our backyard.

Birdman

Squirrel-proof Yard

I have not done a blog in since the 15th because I was playing football. Anyway, I think I finally have the solution on how to stop squirrels, combine all the great ideas together like "if you can't bet 'em, join 'em". Well, here it is.
1. Place baffles on all your feeders.
2. Place feeders far trees or anywhere else squirrels can jump from.
3. Use cage feeders that have the special grove for a perch.
4. Use safflower seed.
5. Provide a squirrel feeding station far from the feeders.

That is my idea, but you don't have to limit it to these five ideas. You can use even more if necessary.

Birdman

Late Evening Birding

Mourning Dove Adult Landing
European Starling Adult Breeding Mimicking
Dark-eyed Junco Adult Female Perched

Common Grackle Adult Male Interior (Bronzed) Foraging

Brown-headed Cowbird Pair Whistling

Brown-headed Cowbird Adult Male Eastern Flying

Mourning Dove Adult Preening

House Sparrow Adult Male Breeding Drinking

House Sparrows Calling

Did you know early morning (6-9) and late evening (6-9) are the best time to go birding? In early morning and late evening I see Mourning Doves, House Sparrows, Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Tufted Titmice, Common Grackles, American Crows, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Laughing Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, Herring Gulls, American Robins, Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, Dark-eyed Juncos and Downy Woodpeckers! From 9am to 6pm you would probably only see a few of these. And this is only the list of them I see in my back yard during these periods of the day. If you went anywhere in early morning and late evening you would see a lot more birds than you would in another time of day. Ok, lets move on to dealing with squirrels. If squirrels are a nuisance in your area buy feeders that are easy for squirrels to get to. I know, it may seem crazy but here's why. If you buy what companies call "squirrel proof feeders" it will be a challenge for them to get. But they will get the seed anyway and leave a mess and a broken feeder. If you buy a feeder that is easy for squirrels to get they will get a little seed and leave no mess and no broken bird feeders. That is why "squirrel proof feeders" are almost completely useless. If you have any questions about this please leave them in the comment box or e-mail me by samwpsnook@hotmail.com.

Birdman

Backyard Birding

Song Sparrow Adult Eastern Perched
Max
Brown-headed Cowbird Flock Calling
Song Sparrow Adult Eastern Perched
Dark-eyed Junco Adult Male Feeding
Song Sparrow Adult Eastern
My Grandparent's 50th Wedding Anniversary on April 12th 2008
Congratulations On Your Anniversary Grandma & Grandpa!
Common Peafowl Pair Roosting
American Crow Adult Flying

Evening Noises
These are the pictures for 2 blog posts ago.

Blog Problems

My blog is having problems so I can not do a proper blog. All I can write is we saw Wood Ducks.

Birding With New Species

Early this morning I woke up and showered. Then I got dressed appropriately to go outside and went out for Max's bathroom break. But it was more like a birding break. I saw adult female Red-winged Blackbirds, and I heard Wood Ducks, Mallards, Northern Pintails, Common Mergansers, American Crows, Blue Jays and frogs croaking. I went inside again and told my dad that Wood Ducks were in the cornfield. So we both went out with Max to a trail. At first a pair of Red-winged Blackbirds were calling kon-ka-reeeee! There was also two adult male robins territorial fighting. As we arrived at the trail we had made in our 40 acre property there was animal tracks and flowers. We started walking and a flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds were singing tseeeee - teeea, seeeeeetiti and kkkkkk. So went went home and got prepared for church. That was morning birding with my dad, Max and many new bird species for 08. Birdman

Brown-headed Cowbirds Have Arrived! (Video)

*Turn volume up very, very high to hear the cowbird whistle*

Birding With My Brother Jesse

American Robin Adult Male

Northern Cardinal Adult Male Eastern

Dark-eyed Junco Slate-colored Adult Male

House Sparrow Adult Male Breeding and Adult Female

Mourning Dove Adult

Black-capped Chickadee Worn-adult Eastern

Common Grackle Adult Male Interior (Bronzed)

American Robin Adult Male

Mourning Dove Adults

This morning I went outside and I heard House Finches singing. And a Black-capped Chickadee feeding on the hopper feeder. And after school I went outside with Jesse and we filled the feeders and birdbaths. Then we sat down and waited for birds. Soon enough many birds came including doves doing "you know what" again and a robin pair. But Jesse couldn't sit for long so we brought Max out and he started chasing all the birds away, so we went inside with him. Or we thought he came in. About ten minutes later we realized Max was still outside. I quickly went out there to find Max whining at the patio. A tarp was blocking the door so I moved it and toke him inside. And now I'm here typing this blog, so goodbye. That was my day birding with Jesse!

Birdman

Long Birding Day

Dark-eyed Junco Slate-colored Adult Male

American Robin Pale Adult Female
Mourning Dove Adult
House Sparrow Adult Male Breeding


Mourning Dove Adults
House Sparrow Adult Female
Common Gray Squirrel

Common Grackle Adult Male Interior (Bronzed)
Mourning Dove Adults
Mourning Dove Adult

Today after school I went birding in my backyard and stayed for 3 hours straight! Here's how it all started. I had just came home from school and I took my dog for a walk and I heard Blue Jays calling. Then when I came home I left Max inside and went in the backyard. I saw Mourning Doves eating out of the feeder and a Common Grackle singing. Then the Mourning Doves did a courtship display on the fence... and did what mon@rch calls "you know what". Uhhgg! I left that spot immediately so I didn't have to see it. They stopped doing "you know what" and went back to feeding again. Soon House Sparrows came to join the feeding frenzy and they all where having a good time until a squirrel came. As soon as came it did a "begging" stand as if it was a dog. Then it ate some seed and stared a the doves right against the cedar edge. After that a House Sparrow pair came to an abandoned American Robin nest in the open and started building to it. Then about a dozen House Sparrow pairs came and each of them prearranged the twigs there own way. Then the first pair came back and took some twigs from it and so did the other dozen pairs. But I soon turned my attention to the Song Sparrows and Northern Cardinals singing out in the distance. I tried to find them but they were in a dense coniferous tree so I couldn't spot them. Anyway, they were soon mimicked by a European Starling. But with various whistles. Then a American Robin came calling and singing loudly. It stayed on the tree for a while then it left. So all the other birds began feeding again and some juncos came to feed also. It was about 7 o'clock then so I went inside.
Birdman

Backyard Birding

House Sparrow Adult Male Breeding And Adult Female Drinking
House Sparrow Adult Female Drinking
House Sparrow Adult Female Drinking
House Sparrow Adult Male Breeding Perched
Two House Sparrow Male Breeding Adults Drinking House Sparrow Adult Female Drinking

Mourning Dove Adult Bathing
House Sparrow Adult Female And Adult Male Breeding Drinking
Song Sparrow Adult Eastern Perched

First as I went in the backyard there were Dark-eyed Juncos warbling and calling. Although they was frightened when they saw me and flew away. Then some House Sparrows came feeding on seeds but they were throwing seeds everywhere! They left a big mess and I have to clean it up. Why do birds throw seeds everywhere? But soon quarreling male sparrows came flying here and the rest of the sparrows joined the fight. After they left a Song Sparrow came for a moment to eat the seeds. Accept it wasn't a messy eater. So I was glad to see it. For a while after that sparrows were bathing and drinking in our bird bath and pond. And some doves did too. Anyway not much happened today accept this so I can't write a long blog.

Birdman

Birding In My Backyard

Mourning Dove Adults Roosting
Mourning Dove Adult Perched
American Robin Adult Male Perched

After school today I went birding in my backyard. There were already many birds including House Sparrows bathing and Mourning Doves preening their feathers and I got some photos of them but not many were clear and I only post three pictures per post unless it is an important post. But after the sparrows and doves left a dove soon returned to roost on the fence. Although there were not many birds a squirrel was trying to attack a robin. You would think it react by displaying but it was a female. After this I went inside to eat supper.

Birdman