2024 Rideau Ferry Bird Count Dec. 14th
I've participated in our local bird count for several years! Dec. 14th, there were 35 people out in the field looking for birds. Also, 21 people (like myself) watching feeders. The final total was 51 birds species, and 7133 birds were spotted.
There aren't that many Northern Shrikes spotted. Keep this in mind!
The bird feeders attract all sorts of birds. Well, not all sorts, it attracts our winter birds! Many birds fly south, as the insects disappear under the snow, in the cold.
The feeders attract predators, as well. Last month it was a hawk. This week, a Northern Shrike! They catch small birds and mice, and spear them on branches for later consumption. Cool little predators.
The bird bath has not been used as a bird bath since the starling visited on Jan. 3rd. It came back. Most of them seem to fly south. Except for this one!
In 2012, I snapped a photo of a juvenile starling!
Originally, they were an invasive species:
- All the European Starlings in NA descended from 100 birds released in New York's Central Park in the 1890s.
- It was a group who wanted America to have all the birds that Shakespeare mentioned. (REALLY...?)
- An estimated 200 million European Starlings now range from Alaska to Mexico. 😱
It was bath time for our lone starling!
9 comments:
Hari Om
Starlings can be a bit of a pest as far as farmers are concerned, but I find them very entertaining as a bird - particularly when the do their sky dancing! YAM xx
Oh she's having so much fun! Even the dove came over to check the activity. I guess it's kind of warming, in the heated water.
Very pleased to see the bath being used. I think it’s the one. I showed Sue.
Congrats on the Northern Shrike, it is a good bird to see.
Take care, have a happy day!
I haven't seen our local starlings for a few weeks. The only birds around here seem to be sparrows chattering away in thick bushes. And of course some pigeons.
So cool you had a shrike visit!
I participated in the local bird count until this year.
Fascinating! I wonder what's up with that Starling? He was left behind as a caretaker for their territory
Great birding! When walking to the mailbox on the ridge I heard a strange noise.
It was about 50 mourning doves wings in flight! They didn't make any noise other than taking off and landing in the woods near me.
Good job on the birding.
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