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May 25, 2006  Playing The Sound Card I've just returned from my Wednesday coffee klatch where I managed to sign up several pledges for this year's Baillie Birdathon. This is the fifth year I've participated in the birdathon. In order to participate I must get those all-important pledges from people willing to donate money to Bird Studies Canada. The next step is to pick a day in May, go into the field and then conduct my own version of a bird quest. My challenge for this fundraising effort is always to record at least 100 species of birds, and this year will be no different. After a birdathon I always intend to provide the people who pledge money with a short description of my day in the field and a list of birds seen - I have yet to do this. This year, I hope I follow through; it's the least I can do for those who so kindly give up their money for the cause. Before I take to hills, fields, and lakeshores for the official count, I like to do several test bird counts. These "test-counts" occur over several outings to see if there is a possibility of reaching my 100 bird goal. I feel there is a good chance if more than 130 species of birds are in the area, and we recently passed that magic number. So far, on my best day, I recorded 80 species. That was a day filled with the zeal of spring. I was so confident my goal could be reached that I took to calling it an "easy 80" day. My enthusiasm was fueled because I counted 65 species just by walking around the house and down to the creek. However it took a drive to town and the rest of the day before I checked off the last of the 80 birds, so I realized that 80 wasn't that easy after all. To record 100 species in a day requires planning, some luck, and cooperative weather. If it's unseasonably cold, small birds such as Flycatchers and Warblers will be hard to find. If it's too hot then you must maximize the early morning hours because, and this is true on any moderate day, birds go quiet as the temperature rises. In the Cariboo there is no way to stand in one spot and record 100 species of birds, so a route must be planned. A good route should include wetlands because unless you spot a lot of Cariboo area waterfowl, (there are about 20 in all,) you can't reasonably hope to reach 100 birds. Flycatchers are critical. On a really good day it is possible to record eight members of the flycatcher family. On a very, very good day you could possibly spot ten. I have never seen ten Flycatchers on a Baillie Birdathon day, but I did spot ten on one day during the annual Churn Creek trip. By driving through the dry countryside found around the Fraser River, chances of seeing Western and Eastern Kingbirds increase, as do the chances of seeing a Pacific-slope Flycatcher and Say's Phoebe. Thankfully we are blessed with a number of Swallow species. On every test day I've counted all the Swallows (there are 6 types,) which boosts the total significantly. If count day were very cold there would exist the possibility of not being able to count all the Swallows. Or, if I failed to swing through 100 Mile House to get the Violet-green Swallow, a species that insists on living right in town, and almost no where else in close proximity. Woodpeckers can be hit and miss. Hairy Woodpeckers, and Downy Woodpeckers, a daily yard staple all winter long, seem to evaporate during nesting season. Three-toed Woodpeckers have made my Baillie Birdathon list in past because I knew where one nested. This year, given the number of Pileated Woodpeckers around, a special booby prize should be handed out for missing this bird. Hawks can be very uncooperative. The Red-tailed hawk can always be counted on if one knows where there is an active nest, but the rest, such as the Cooper's, Sharp-shinned, Goshawk and Harrier may be no-shows. One large group of birds proving particularly elusive this year is the Finches. The usually ubiquitous Siskin has become so scarce in our area that seeing one has become a matter for emails and celebration. Similarly, Crossbills seem to have stepped off the face of the earth. But what would a challenge be without variables? Before finishing this column, I must clear up the impression that listing 100 species means actually seeing 100 bird species. This is a bit of a deceptive statement. Bird counts often include birds seen, or heard. I call this playing the sound card. For example, I have never seen any of the Hermit Thrush that I have counted during the last 5 year's of the Baillie Birdathon. Every one has come to me as a mysterious sound, like an ethereal flute, scarcely audible over the clamor of the busy road near the house. Hearing the familiar song each year results in a mere ticking off of a box with a pen next to the name hermit Thrush. It is a small gesture masking a significant occasion. To e-mail Tom CLICK HERE To look at previous column "CLICK HERE |
