Category Archives: birds

  Windows are a potential hazard for birds. Many birds hang around my home: hunting, feeding, nesting, and squabbling. Yet, collisions with my windows are remarkably rare. When it happens, the window usually displays an indistinguishable smudge. The smudge was not indistinguishable from … Continue reading →

  Some birds protest vigorously if a human (or other perceived predator) passes anywhere near their eggs. The odd thing is that often this noise serves to reveal the presence of a nest that would otherwise be missed. Emily Graeme sent me this … Continue reading →

  Bird chicks demand obeisance. Nuthatch chicks are no different—their parents must dance to their demands. I was fortunate to to be able to revisit the nuthatches at the Sanderson home (see, Tasty spider, m’dear?). The nuthatch couple now has … Continue reading →

  “We are looking forward to a promising future of, er…, embellishing your lawns.”  

  A short time ago, I encountered the birder’s term, FOY, and didn’t have a clue what it meant. It refers to the First (observation of a particular species) Of that Year. Many birds have an annual variation, coming and going at roughly … Continue reading →

  Hummingbirds arrive late April or early May. Of the three species we see—Rufous, Calliope, Blackchinned—the Rufous is usually the earliest arrival and the most common thereafter. I have seen the Rufous off and on for a couple of weeks now, but today … Continue reading →

  This is a story of unrequited love—or so it seems. The story starts with an unexpected and distant sighting of a Common Loon. What was it doing here? This is the breeding season and loons don’t breed on Kootenay … Continue reading →

  Derek Kite took this impressive picture of copulating kestrels three days ago. The female’s tail feathers have been raised to the point that they extend past the male’s head. More pictures from his sequence can be seen on his … Continue reading →

  If any locals are concerned that we might run out of Canada Geese this year, fear not. There is a large, fresh, crop preparing to embellish our lawns and parks. Usually when I see goose chicks with parents, the … Continue reading →