Mayne Island Conservancy Society

New Sightings for Mayne Island

• Cackling Goose among large flock of Canada Geese in Bennett Bay December 13, 2011
• Eurasian Wigeon male among large flock of American Wigeon at Village Bay boat ramp December 13, 2011
• Heermann's Gull juvenile off Campbell Point (Gulf Islands National Park Reserve) December 13, 2011
• Michael Dunn notes that the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker juvenile is still around Georgina Point Road-Neill Road area
• A Eurasian Wigeon pair has been seen among the flock of American Wigeons in Village Bay at the boat launch on January 10, 2012

Unusual Sightings

22 Marbled Murrelet offshore Campbell Point December 13, 2011

Over forty Common Mergansers in Gallagher Bay February 13, 2012

Knowing Winter Birds on Miners Bay

Knowledge from 2010 Helped in 2011!

And this what they were looking at

Birders' Ramble - Walkabout 2011

Barred Owl does her Exorcist Trick

Copy us your photos for this Birder's Gallery with details of what is shown and a mention of the name of the photographer to be credited - we'll put up a selection every now & then. Send an e-mail with attachment to info@conservancyonmayne.com

Christmas Bird Count on Mayne - Saturday December 17, 2011

In 1900, American ornithologist Frank Chapman asked birders across North America to head out on Christmas Day to count the birds in their home towns and submit the results as the first "Christmas Bird Census." The Christmas Bird Count, as it is now called, is conducted in over 2000 localities across Canada, the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. These bird observations have been amassed into a huge database that reflects the distribution and numbers of winter birds over time.

Christmas Bird Counts are conducted on any one day between December 14 and January 5 inclusive. They are carried out within a 24-km diameter circle that stays the same from year to year. The Mayne Island count is part of a larger area that is shared by the Penders and Saturna Island. The latest count for our area took place on Saturday December 17, 2011.

17-Dec-2011 COMPLETED CHECK LIST (revised 12/2010)
SPECIES	TOTAL
Canada Goose	254
Trumpeter Swan
Eurasian Wigeon	2
American Wigeon	250
Mallard	33
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
scaup sp.
Harlequin Duck	5
Surf Scoter	63
White-winged Scoter	46
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead	102	None of these spotted during the CBC
Common Goldeneye	25
Barrow's Goldeneye	150
Hooded Merganser	12
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser	38
Goldeneye sp.	155
Merganser sp.	24
Sooty Grouse	1
California Quail
Red-throated Loon
Pacific Loon	313
Common Loon	2	Non Nocturnal, Non CBC Spotters
loon sp.
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe	13
Red-necked Grebe	1
Western Grebe
Brandt's Cormorant	400
Double-crested Cormorant	112
Pelagic Cormorant	19
cormorant sp.	10
Great Blue Heron	8
Bald Eagle
Adult	29
Immature
Sharp-shinned Hawk Count week Dec 14/11	3
Cooper's Hawk		Aaahhh!... Nectar!
Red-tailed Hawk	1
Peregrine Falcon
Virginia Rail
Coot
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher	22
Spotted Sandpiper
Black Turnstone	12
Surfbird Count week Dec 16/11	60
Wilson's Snipe	1
Bonaparte's Gull	1
Mew Gull	97
Ring-billed Gull		Sphyrapicus ruber takes a break
Thayer's Gull	47
Western Gull	4
Glaucous-winged Gull	35
Glaucous w x Western hybrid	9
Black-legged Kittiwake
gull sp.	299
California Gull	1
Common Murre	50
Pigeon Guillemot	11
Marbled Murrelet	6
Rhinocerous Auklet	1
Alcid sp.	3
Rock Pigeon	55	Bird on a (barbed) wire
Band-tailed Pigeon
Great Horned Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Barred Owl
Anna's Hummingbird	15
Belted Kingfisher	13
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker	8
Hairy Woodpecker	12
Northern (red-shafted) Flicker	34
Northern (yellow-shafted) Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker	13
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Juvenile	1
Hutton's Vireo	10
Northwestern Crow	71
Common Raven	65	Laridae & Alcidae
Chestnut-backed Chickadee	303
Bushtit	4
Red-breasted Nuthatch	121
Brown Creeper	9
Bewick's Wren	1
Pacific Wren (Winter)	47
Golden-crowned Kinglet	283
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	9
Hermit Thrush	6
American Robin	1395
Varied Thrush	267
European Starling	444
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee	108
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow	38
Song Sparrow	63
White-crowned Sparrow	19
Golden-crowned Sparrow	35
Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco	543	Gone South for the Winter
Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Purple Finch	45
House Finch	102
Red Crossbill	1
Pine Siskin	278
House Sparrow	8
Chipping Sparrow	1
Number of Species:	71
Number of Individuals:	7105 + 64 count week

Description of the bird and sighting details for species not on the above check list:

1 Cackling Goose Count week Dec 13/11

Sidebar Photos by Michael Dunn

To view a compledte recap of the count for our local zone (the Penders, Mayne & Saturna) by Island, Zone and Species click here

Baillie Birdathon 2011

2011 Baillie Birdathon National Results

8 February 2012 - Final results are in! In 2011, the Baillie Birdathon raised more than $250,000 for bird research and conservation - an all-time record! Of the total amount raised, over $26,500 will support the Baillie Fund. Cheques totaling just over $104,000 have been sent to the 97 conservation clubs and migration monitoring stations across the country that were designated by participants to receive a portion of the funds they raised. Bird Studies Canada would like to thank all participants, sponsors, prize donors, naturalist clubs, and bird observatories involved for their dedication in ensuring this continuing success.

The Mayne Island Conservancy received nearly $300 as a result of Michael Dunn' efforts - and a hat tip to all who "sponsored" him!

Michael's report follows:

May 19th was the day I chose to do my annual Baillie Birdathon in support of bird conservation and research across Canada. It is a bit late to do this 'every species you can see in a day' sort of activity because you want to maximize your numbers by timing it to catch late over wintering species plus those that are migrating through to breeding ground. My rationale for the late start was mostly to do with the weather. It was cold and wet earlier in the May and my quick samplings of what was around indicated that many migrants, particularly the warblers had not arrived or at least were not consistently around. So I delayed. I finally decided that the third Thursday of May was the time and hoped that some of the over-wintering species had also delayed their departures. The weather was clear and warm.

I have found that when trying to observe birds, especially as many species as you can, it is best where you are not necessarily where you think you should be. This philosophy paid off in that just around my neighbourhood, I saw or heard over 30 species in ninety minutes of observing. The Upper Gallagher Road plateau has very productive mixed habitats, which make for a very diverse bird community. Around my place, I had the usual breeders including a most ferocious male Rufous Hummingbird that takes on all comers within its established territory around my vegetable garden. Also raising families were White-crowned Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Western Tanager, Orange-crowned Warbler, Pacific Slope Flycatcher, Cassin's Vireo, Red-breasted Nuthatch and Winter Wren to name a few. A pair of American Robins decided to make their nest at head height right next to our main entrance door. We had to practice some stealth so as not to disturb the parent while sitting on the eggs. They did get used to our comings and goings and only flew off while we were right beside them. One of our longer regular breeders, a Cooper's Hawk, was not in its usual breeding location this year as that was occupied by a Barred Owl family at the time. I thought 'our' hawk was not around this year, but while I was taking a break there she was, bathing in our pond. We know this is the same bird because of an unusually large white and downy rump patch and this will be the fifth year she has bred in the vicinity.

I went on the road after the neighbourhood walk about and here I chose to go to sites that I knew from past experience had diverse habitats for birds. I was not disappointed as there were some great moments. Some highlights were spotting a beautiful Yellow Warbler calling and feeding in a Pacific Willow tree in full bloom. The sun on this brilliant little bird made its brilliant yellow with red streaks vibrant. I was glad to see Barn Swallows feeding over the fields again, this species has been recommended for listing as a species at risk this year because of its declining population. I had a great sighting of Cliff Swallows swarming around the sunny side of a barn. From my observation place they looked like honey bees trying to get into their hive. As I expected it was definitely quieter along our marine shores, but I did spot a pair of Surf Scoters and two Harlequin Duck males in molt. One lone Common Loon, in full breeding plumage, was still in Horton Bay awaiting better weather in the Interior lakes I suspect.

This year I had a couple of firsts for me and for the Mayne Island species list. While I was at Georgina Point looking for shorebirds I spotted a Marten foraging along the intertidal zone. This small mammal is similar to a Mink, but is shorter, has a bushy tail and a faint face-mask. I began watching it to see what it might eat in the intertidal zone. It moved quickly over the rocks and disappeared under a large boulder. Immediately as it did this a brownish, almost rusty small bird on 'spindly' legs jumped out. I thought it was a Song Sparrow, but it looked too small and its longish legs made it look different. It was a Lincoln's Sparrow. These are not uncommon in this part of BC, but very secretive and hard to spot. So thanks to that little Marten, we now have a new record for Mayne Island.

Another first for Mayne does not carry as great a story with it. I had returned from the road trip and was sitting outside with a tea. I noticed a small flycatcher in the tree above my head. I first assumed it was the Pacific Slope Flycatcher I had heard, but it looked different like its wings were too long for it and it continuously flicked its wings and tail while it sat or while feeding. This little flycatcher turned out to be a Hammond's Flycatcher. This very small and nervous bird is usually seen in the mountains, but I would guess that because of the snowpack and cool weather this year, it was biding its time on the coast until mountain conditions improved.

There were two observations of birds in action where I wished I had a camera. One was seeing a pair of Brewer's Blackbirds doing courting displays for each other. This mostly entails fanning their tails and stretching the necks up and back while looking down with their very yellow eyes. This was all on a very high tree branch above Miners Bay. The second chance observation occurred while I was driving (at the posted speed limit) in front of the school on my way back home. It was around 2 in the afternoon. I could hear robins calling in distress, which means usually a predator nearby. As I had not seen many hawks I thought I would check this out. I was just about to turn into the school's driveway when right in front of me a Barred Owl flew by carrying a Garter Snake. Fantastic!

In all I tallied 74 species for the day, which was a slight increase over the 72 I tallied last year. As this is a fund-raising event in which part of the funds I raise go to bird conservation work such as the Active Pass IBA and the Western Purple Martin recovery program, please feel free to make a donation to the following personal website sponsored by Bird Studies Canada: http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1914&AID=1491&PID=199033 Thanks to those who have already contributed.

Purple Martin Appeal

The Purple Martin Stewardship Program needs our help!

The Mayne Island Conservancy Society (MICS) invites your financial participation in saving the Purple Martin Stewardship Program.

The Western Purple Martin, our largest swallow, a short ten years ago, was almost gone from our region. Today, due to the efforts of the Georgia Basin Ecological and Restoration Society, Purple Martins are back! The Society is a group of volunteers who are dedicated to Purple Martin recovery. This year, the BC Purple Martin Stewardship and Recovery Program (coordinated by the Georgia Basin Ecological Assessment and Restoration Society) finds itself in a financial shortfall for the 2010 summer season, as an expected $10,000 Summer Jobs Grant has been denied. As a result they have launched an appeal for assistance. Michael Dunn writes:

"Western Purple Martin's almost disappeared from the south coast of British Columbia due to losses to their preferred breeding habitat (cavities in trees) as well as, competition from introduced bird species such as starlings and house sparrows. The Western Purple Martin Stewardship program was launched to try to restore and increase the breeding populations of these magnificent birds. For Mayne Island this was in 2007 with establishment of artificial nest boxes in Miners Bay and then Bennett Bay. Since these have been installed, martins have been breeding successfully at both sites. The Miners Bay population is within the designated Active Pass Important Bird Area."

With this in mind MICS intends to make a contribution from the IBA Project and our supporters are invited to donate via the Conservancy (Tax receipts will be issued by MICS) or to contribute directly to the Western Purple Martin Foundation. Full story here....

UPDATE

Charlene Lee (Administrator - Western Purple Martin Foundation) writes:

"We managed to raise enough money so far to hire the second student for about 3 weeks during the nestling banding period which will be mid July to early August this year. I had an email from Michael yesterday that the Mayne Island Conservancy Society had raised an additional $350 so that's another few days which is great. We also had two people from Mayne Island donate directly to the Western Purple Martin Foundation for an additional $100. That is very close to the additional $500 Michael was hoping to raise for us.

Please extend a big thank you to all those on Mayne Island who helped us out with our summer student funding appeal.

If anyone asks if we still need funds please let them know that yes we do. We'd like to have the second student for an additional 2 weeks to help out if the data entry and applying data loggers to adult birds for the second year of our migration study....."

Latest News from the Purple Martin Project

You are invited to the 7th Annual Purple Martin Open House at the Ladysmith Maritime Society marina (follow the yellow signs) on July 24 from 1 pm - 4 pm. Wear something PURPLE!!

Come and help us celebrate the return of Purple Martins at the largest colony on Vancouver Island!

• - see adult birds feeding nestlings
• - learn more about the birds and the recovery program at our displays
• - see baby birds being banded at 2 pm and 3 pm

Light refreshments will be available, including our famous purple (blueberry) milkshake (while quantities last).

The Ladysmith Maritime Society is also holding an "Art Walk on the Dock" from 10 am to 4 pm, so there will be lots to do and see at the marina.

Please park in the upper parking lot. Walk down the stairs and come down onto the wharf to the social dock where the tents are (beyond the big blue boat shed and museum).

Report a Sighting

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