Category Archives: birds

  Chickadees build cavity nests in trees, often by adapting natural cavities or ones made by other birds, such as woodpeckers. Both parents work on clearing out the cavity, although it is the female who builds and provisions a deeply … Continue reading →

  At sunrise this morning, four eagles (three adults, one juvenile) harassed one another over a catch. Consequently, none of them made the kill and the prize escaped. It all started when one adult flew low over what was probably … Continue reading →

  The Black-billed Magpie is a fairly common bird of western North America. However, as it prefers open habitats with only clumps of trees, it is somewhat of a rarity in our heavily forested region. As a result, it is … Continue reading →

  This morning, a Bald Eagle flew past packing a fish athwart its body. It is odd that an eagle regularly carries a fish in this non-aerodynamic orientation. Granted, the eagle is a strong flier, so the extra drag of … Continue reading →

  The synchronized wing flapping of a Canada-Goose couple was spectacular. I assume that theirs was a pre-copulatory, courting behaviour, but I did not see them complete the act. The geese, one in front of the other, rose out of … Continue reading →

  Following recent postings about bluebirds choosing a nest box, and killdeer seeking a nesting site, here is one about Bald Eagles having chosen their nest for this spring. A Bald Eagle couple have chosen a nest in which to … Continue reading →

  Killdeer have arrived. They typically turn up in March, about two months before other shorebirds, such as the Spotted Sandpiper, do. This morning a killdeer couple was seen exploring a rocky island near a creek mouth. Killdeer make their … Continue reading →

  The name given this bird by nineteenth-century settlers, Evening Grosbeak, comes from the mistaken belief that it only came out to sing after sundown. Much better is its name in French, le gros-bec errant, for it truly is the … Continue reading →