daily townsman / daily bulletin
Monday, JUNE 10, 2013
features
Page 13
Birdwatching with the Rocky Mountain Naturalists
Return of the aristocratic Kingbird Da ryl C a l d e r
W
ith dark grey upperparts and a neat white tip to the tail, the Eastern Kingbird looks like it’s wearing a business suit. This big-headed, broad-shouldered bird does mean business — just watch one harassing crows, Red-tailed hawks, Great Blue Herons, and other birds that pass over it’s territory. Eastern Kingbirds often perch on wires or other prominent perches in open areas. They sally out for flying insects or flutter slowly over the tops of grasses. Naturalists were expecting their return during late May and sure enough, six were observed this week at Elizabeth Lake. The semi-open habitat with a mix of grassy fields and trees, often near water, makes the East Kootenay a favourable area for both the Western and Eastern Kingbirds. During the summer, the Kingbird eats mostly flying insects and maintains a breeding territory that it defends vigorously against all other Kingbirds. In the winter, along the Amazon River, however, it has a completely different lifestyle: it travels in flocks and eats fruit. Adults feed their young for seven weeks. Because of this relatively long period of dependence, only one brood is raised per season. It’s not called a Kingbird for nothing. It has a crown of yellow, orange or red feathers on it’s head which is usually concealed. When it encounters a potential predator, the Kingbird may simultaneously raise it’s bright crown patch, stretch it’s beak wide open to reveal a red gape, and dive-bomb the intruder. Kingbirds sometimes catch small frogs, treating them the same way they deal with large insects: beating them against a perch and swallowing them whole. Eastern Kingbirds apparently rely completely on insects and fruit for moisture; they have never been seen drinking water. As the summer progresses they supplement their insect diet with fruit. During the fall migration, they begin to eat a lot of fruit
which makes up most of their diet on the wintering grounds. Recently, several naturalists paddled a favourite waterway, heading upstream between Lower and Upper Moyie Lakes. Willow thickets challenged us to separate the calls of yellow warblers, blackbirds, wrens and song sparrows which were more easily heard than seen. About 100m up Lamb Creek, a pool below a log jam provided a shady rest area and turnaround. A different set of birds called from this habitat featuring tall trees, shrubs and narrow sandbars. Woodpeckers, kingfishers, flycatchers, chickadees and thrushes created a variety of sounds under the Bald Eagle’s watchful eye.
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Michael Woodruff
Eastern Kingbird Spotted Sandpipers occur all across North America, they’re distinctive in both looks and actions, and they’re handsome. With their richly spotted breeding plumage, teetering gait, stuttering wingbeats and showy courtship dances, this bird makes a great ambassador for the notoriously difficult – to - identify shorebirds. We watched several foraging along Lamb Creek, walking quickly, crouching low, occasionally darting towards prey, all the while bobbing the tail. Listen for a few high whistled notes as they take off from the shoreline. Although their populations are relatively stable, development and loss of their wetland habitat, or compromised water quality due to pesti-
cides, herbicides or other runoff, can harm their ability to feed and raise their young. Join Rocky Mountain Naturalists at 7AM on Tuesday mornings by the Elizabeth Lake Visitor Centre. Dress warmly and bring binoculars, a guide book and scope if you are able; we can provide a helpful Checklist of East Kootenay Birds. We wander along the trails slowly and quietly, so if you are a bit late, we are easy to find. At 8AM we’ll be near the ‘concrete blind’ and lake outlet. Experienced birders will guide the group and help with identification. We often spend as much as 3 hours exploring the various habitats.
College of the Rockies
Write in the Mountains July 8 - 19 th
th
A combination of Elizabeth Lake and Moyie Narrows Pied-billed Grebe Eared Grebe Great Blue Heron Canada Goose Mallard Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler American Wigeon Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Common Goldeneye Ruddy Duck Bald Eagle Red-tailed Hawk Sora American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Rock Pigeon Vaux’s Swift Rufous Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Red-naped Sapsucker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Western Wood-Pewee Willow Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Mountain Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch Winter Wren Marsh Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Swainson’s Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird European Starling
Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat Savannah Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Yellow-headed Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird House Finch Pine Siskin
Submitted by Daryl Calder on behalf of Rocky Mountain Naturalists
Sharpen your skills at professional editing, nonfiction and introductory creative writing.
Three two-week intensive courses for post-secondary credit will be offered in Nelson, BC, July 8 to 19, 2013, by Okanagan College, Selkirk College and College of the Rockies. Learn more about these courses at www.emlfestival.com/
College of the Rockies presents Creative Non-Fiction writing with well-known Canadian author and COTR faculty member Angie Abdou. Develop your writing skills in the major forms of creative non-fiction including the personal essay, memoir, biography or travel writing. Online component June 26 to July 5 Classroom sessions in Nelson July 8 to 12 For more information go to: www.cotr.bc.ca/university www.cotr.bc.ca
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Phone: 250-489-2751 Toll Free: 1-877-489-2687 e-mail: ask@cotr.bc.ca