SPRING is not only a busy time for birds, but it's also a busy time for birders.
It is a season of peak migration, and of bird song. Some are neo-tropical migrants like flycatchers, warblers, vireos, western tanagers, and the black-headed grosbeak. The purple martin, for example, winters in South America (Brazil), making an annual migration of thousands of kilometres. Turkey vultures pass through the North Shore in good numbers, with a few staying the summer. Ospreys arrived back at Maplewood Conservation Area in March, possibly having wintered in Mexico or further south.
Spring marks a time when birds, like some waterfowl that have spent the winter locally, leave for breeding areas in B.C.'s Interior (like the Cariboo): the common goldeneye, Barrow's goldeneye and bufflehead are three good examples of these. Other species head to Alaska to breed, or in the case of shorebirds (waders), to the Arctic.
A few waterfowl like the cinnamon teal and blue-winged teal, and one wader, the spotted sandpiper are the opposite of this pattern, having wintered in southern latitudes, but breeding here.
If there is one feature of the bird world that characterizes spring, it is song - beautiful and wonderful bird song.
It's an inspiration to hear the "symphony of nature," especially the "dawn chorus."
Many birds start singing at sunrise, as if to greet the morning sun. Some are early starters like the robin with its carolling, and the black-capped chickadee with its "tea-time" (or is it "cheeseburger?"). Since we haven't heard these songs since last spring, a year ago, it's always a bit of a challenge to remember them, but there are lots of apps and CDs to help us.
One good way to help you remember bird songs and calls is to translate them into words and phrases. A famous one is the white-throated sparrow which sings "old Sam Peabody" south of the border, and "Canada, sweet Canada" north of the border (at least that is how the story goes!). And speaking of the white-throated sparrow, a number of have been spotted in the Metro Vancouver area, including one at Maplewood.
Rufous hummingbirds arrived on the North Shore in good numbers (lots of sightings) this spring. All winter long we've enjoyed the beautiful Anna's hummingbirds - now we have two species to marvel at.
Always keep close watch for a third species - the Calliope, which is rare on the North Shore, but common in the Interior. The calliope that appeared at Maplewood a few springs ago was nectaring (feeding) at black twinflower flowers, a honeysuckle related shrub.
Spring is also the season to watch for movements of gulls and terns. We have our resident glaucous-winged gulls, but others to be looked for include California, mew, ring-billed, and the dainty Bonaparte's. Terns are known for their habit of plunge diving headlong into water with a big splash. Watch for both common terns and Caspian terns in Burrard Inlet.
The purple martin, as mentioned, winters in South America (Brazil). Maplewood Conservation Area's breeding colony, consisting of properly designed nesting boxes, is one of B.C.'s largest. Bringing the martin back to the North Shore is one of B.C.'s greatest conservation stories - one that we all can be proud of. A good place at the sanctuary to watch for birds like martins, ospreys, eagles, herons and gulls is Osprey Point. Watch also for waterfowl, grebes, cormorants and the pigeon guillemots.
In the woods, and at the forest edges, purple finch, American goldfinch, yellow-rumped warbler should be easy to find - all singing.
A little more challenging to locate are the hermit thrush, Townsend's warbler, brown creeper, and Hutton's vireo - it's a matter of stopping frequently and listening.
In our local mountains, the sooty grouse will be hooting. Its voice sounds like someone blowing air into a pop bottle. But wait! What is a "sooty" grouse? The blue grouse has been split into two species: dusky and sooty, with our local bird named the "sooty." You'll have to visit B.C.'s Interior to find a "dusky: " Princeton is a good area.
Enjoy the marvelous sounds of spring, like birds, and chorus frogs. Recently, there have been numbers of mourning cloak and Satyr anglewing butterflies seen on sunny days. There's a whole world of nature outdoors waiting for us to enjoy and treasurer at Maplewood.
Al Grass is a naturalist with Wild Bird Trust of British Columbia, which sponsors free walks at Maplewood Flats Conservation Area on the second Saturday of every month. The next walk will be the special Dawn Chorus Walk on Saturday, May 18 starting at 6 a.m. - where we will listen for the birds as they greet the new day. Meet at Maplewood Flats, 2645 Dollarton Hwy. (two kilometres east of the Iron Workers Second Narrows Memorial Crossing). Walks go rain or shine. For this time only the parking will be in the parking area to the west of the gate on the south side of the road.
