Category Archives: birds

Merganser fecundity

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Alistair

  By my count, this preening merganser hen had two dozen chicks (23 here, but one had dived). Normally, a hen lays from 6 to 17 eggs, more commonly between 8 and 12. I had previously seen a brood with 19 chicks, … Continue reading →

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Clark’s Nutcracker

Posted on June 20, 2015 by Alistair

  While Clark’s Nutcrackers are occasionally seen at lake level, they prefer subalpine forests where they (mainly) eat the seeds found in the cones of evergreens. I wouldn’t have known where to look, but Derek Kite drove me twenty kilometres up … Continue reading →

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Waxwing nest

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Alistair

  We have two waxwings, nicely separated by seasons. The Bohemian Waxwing visits in the winter (see last November’s bohemian invasion). Consequently, we are unlikely to see it nest around Kootenay Lake. The Cedar Waxwing arrives in the summer, nests … Continue reading →

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Eyes of prey

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Alistair

  The Ruffed Grouse is low on the food chain. A wide range of predators—hawks, owls, coyote, humans—find it tasty. Maybe only a tenth of these grouse makes it past its first year. A recent posting, staring contests, explored the differences … Continue reading →

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Swallow nurseries

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Alistair

  Bank Swallows are late migrants, so while other local swallows have chicks well underway, Bank Swallows are still preparing their nurseries. Still a month off is a view of chicks being fed as they peer from the openings. The first thing … Continue reading →

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Staring contests

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Alistair

  A staring contest is a game in which an individual stares into another’s eyes and attempts to maintain unblinking eye contact for longer than the opponent. It is the rare human who can win a staring contest with a White-tailed Deer.  Yet, … Continue reading →

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Flicker chicks

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Alistair

  Flicker chicks have hatched. Now, both parents spend their days foraging for insects, swallowing them, returning to the nest, and regurgitating into a chick’s mouth. “It’s about time you returned. We are hungry.” “Me first.” “Look what Daddy brought … Continue reading →

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Merganser parenting

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Alistair

  When it comes to styles of parenting, local birds run the gamut: Sometimes neither parent takes any interest in its chicks (Cowbirds); Sometimes only the female does (hummingbirds); Sometimes only the male does (Spotted Sandpiper); Sometimes both do (Osprey).  … Continue reading →

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You’ve had your turn

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Alistair

  I was watching two Spotted Sandpipers. Each seemed to be taking a considerable interest in the other. Then…, The female crouched, lifted her tail, the male landed upon her, wrapped his tail beneath hers, and they mated. After a … Continue reading →

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May goulash

Posted on May 31, 2015 by Alistair

  This is a stew made of photographic ingredients that didn’t merit individual postings. This disheveled-looking bird is probably a House Finch. A male White-tailed Deer was browsing along the lakeshore. And then there was a (garter) snake in the grass. … Continue reading →

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