In the middle of the Canadian Rockies, we don’t see as many birds as other places across the country. But I, as others, make the most of what we come across. One of the birds I look forward to seeing each year is the warbler called the American Redstart. The redstart is not a bird that likes to stay in one place. Constant movement in search for food and at times flashing its tail to scurry the insects, so it can catch them in the air. Both the male and the female are beautiful looking birds. The female colours are more conservative, to blend in with the surroundings when sitting on the nest. The male comes with wonderful striking Halloween colours. The adult males have a beautiful call, perhaps only being out done by the yearling males. On occasion the yearling’s marathon-like singing effort pays off by attracting a mate. The chances improve once they have their full adult colours for the following mating season. Our chances are good to see the American Redstarts across the country, as around eighty percent of the population tend to nest in Canada.
Eastern Kingbird
As many of us get excited when spring arrives, looking forward to taking in the sun and spending time outside. But at the same time not looking forward to unwanted visitors, various insects, including wasps. On a sunny day while eating in the backyard or while hiking, wasps are attracted to our sugar-rich food and or drinks. At the nest the larvae are able to convert protein-rich diet into carbohydrates that they produce as small droplets full of sugar for the adult. When there are no larvae in the nest, the adults search for a sugar fix, bringing them to our picnics or while we stop for a break on the side of a trail. Always look at the container before taking the next sip. Some wasps are also pollinators. If you enjoy figs, you can thank small wasps of the family Agaonidae. Wasps are also predators of many insects we consider pests. Some wasps will even lay their eggs inside other insects, providing immediate food when their offspring are born. It’s estimated in the UK, 14 million kilograms of insects are preyed upon by wasps each summer. No harmful pesticide required. Wasps play an important role in our environment.
Just as important, a source of food for the largest flycatchers that pass through Banff. I watched this Eastern Kingbird catch three wasps. Each time after the catch. Perching with the wasp in its bill, banging it on the branch before swallowing it whole. As not to get stung when swallowing the wasp. The bird will squeeze and beat the wasp against the branch to force the venom out. Then down the hatch it goes. Birds can even tell the difference between females and males, with males not having the stinger, the beating step is skipped before eating them. I don’t worry if it’s a female or male, I skip the main meal and move to chocolate ice cream straight away.
Common Loon
The Common Loon is one waterfowl many Canadians are familiar with. Any lake they are successful at, is a great indicator of the quality and the clarity of that water. Thanks to the clear water mountain lakes, more than a few times I have seen what a great swimmer the loons are. Everything about them is designed to be in the water, only time coming out when they are going and coming from their nest. And the nest is always next to the water. Their bones are denser than the bones of other birds, making them less buoyant but very handy for diving. With their legs placed near the back, they are able to move quickly through the water to catch their food. Loon parents and two chicks can put away about 450 kg of fish over a 15-week period.
Fox Sparrow
No birding seasons are the same. They vary with the weather and this season the weather varied from one day of birding to another. Still have a few more weeks to go for this birding season, already we had spring, summer, fall and a bit of winter while birding. A couple of times all four seasons in one day, that’s the Canadian Rockies for you. No biggie that’s why I have outerwear, it all adds to the fun of birding. With mixed weather, we got a few surprises as well. Like more of one type of bird and or rare birds to the Rockies being spotted. And as far as bird photography, I took lots of images that I am happy with, including a few of a Fox Sparrow.
I have seen about 15 different species of sparrows in Banff. Most people I would say are more familiar with the non-native species, the House Sparrow. Which is often found where people reside. The Fox Sparrow gets its name because some Fox Sparrows have the foxy-red colour, even though within the species their colour can vary. The one pictured is slate-coloured. They have a beautiful call. When they are passing through our area they find a location and can often be heard singing around the same spot.
This season I was hearing two in two different locations. I tried for half an hour to get a clear picture of the first one. I could see it around the willow shrubs, but it was hard getting a clean look. And when I did get a few pictures of it with nothing in front, the image was too busy with shrubs around it. I continued my walk and about a km later I could hear the second one singing. It was located across the water, so no chance of getting a good picture of it. But on my way back, it was singing on my side of the water and perched perfectly for me. I quickly pointed my camera toward it and as it sang I got several good images on a spring winter like morning.
Ruffed Grouse
It was a sunny morning for the Banff’s Community Bird Walk, but without the community. Birding season 2022 for group walks. I got an early start to the bird count. Right away, I had the more common birds spotted, like the ravens, magpies, crows, geese, mallards, juncos, chickadees and more.
But I had a heat issue, too many bottom layers. My long-johns had to come off. I decided to pop into the woods and remove them. There was an old fallen tree, on which I placed my backpack, gloves and the camera on. Boots came off first, followed by unzipping of the jackets and then the pants. As I was in the process of removing my long-johns, I heard what sounded like a motor starting. I quickly realized it was a grouse making the drumming sound. As soon as I saw it, I grabbed my camera and with the long-johns at my ankles, I took a few pictures before it moved.
Less than ten meters away, a Ruffed Grouse was on an old fallen tree, looking toward me while moving its wings back and forth. Compressing the air to create a vacuum to produce a sound similar to a running motor in the distance. The male grouse was performing a mating ritual, sound of which can be heard from 400 meters away.
I assumed my long-johns coming down and the grouse’s drumming starting at the same time was just coincidence. Nonetheless the less, the long johns were put away in the pack and the pants and the boots were back on. The grouse stayed put and repeated the drumming a few more times as I got better pictures. I then quickly left in case the grouse was not impressed with the untended strip show. I had no intentions of ruffling any feathers.
Trumpeter Swan
It was the end of the work day, and I was slowly making my way home. I decided to check out the marsh for any bird activity, to my surprise two Trumpeter Swans were hanging out in the middle of the marsh. Change of plans when I noticed one of the two swans was looking to fly out, it was bobbing its head. But the other adult was not quite ready yet. Dinner would have to wait, I wanted to see them taking off into the air. They were safe from any danger, the closest I could get was about 70 to 80 meters and no predator was going to go into the water after them.
They are by far the largest waterfowl we get in Banff NP, coming in at 12 kg or more with a wingspan of just over 2 meters. The young swans will eat aquatic insects, but soon their diet is dominated by plants. Like the dabbling ducks, they will feed underwater by submerging their head. When they are paddling their feet in the mud under water to loosen plants, it’s not uncommon to see other waterfowls hanging around them with the hope of picking off any aquatic insects that pop up to the surface.
The two swans explored much of the marsh, did some eating and some resting, nothing for too long. Close to two hours had passed, and they were still deciding what to do. Friends came by with their young daughter to see the swans and when they left to explore the area. The swans started moving toward one end of the marsh, similar to a plane moving to the end of the runway for a take off. Both started bobbing their head and they were off. The sound of energy being used to get their weight into the air could be heard all around. They need about 100 meters to clear the water and then any shrubs and trees that might be in front of them. As soon as they were high enough, they made a 180 degree turn and saw them heading up the valley.
Say's Phoebe
Every few years I'll see a Say's Phoebe in Banff National Park, each time it's special. I caught it in the air with the evening light hitting its wings.
Northern Goshawk
During the birding season, I tend to see predators more often like the Northern Goshawk. With so many preys for the predators, it’s good to keep a lookout for this and other local hawks. But they still don’t stay long enough to get a good look, unless they are perched in the distance or unaware of me. When coming out of their hiding, they have to be quick if they want to be successful catching a prey. It’s a positive for them with so many birds to choose from, but also a negative with so many birds to warn others.
I was standing in a spot while watching birds and taking pictures when the opportunities presented themselves. Near me were also about 120 elk, grazing or resting. To my right a Killdeer calls out, I look toward it and see it coming toward me and goshawk pursuit. The Killdeer goes past me and the goshawk turns away and then tries to go for a European Starling among the elk. The goshawk just misses it. Everything was happening so fast, there was no way to get some pictures of the action, except when the goshawk perched on a tree to get a breather. Even the birds get tired. Perched on a cottonwood tree, about forty to fifty meters away with elk between us. Even without the elk, from my past experience I was not going to be able to get too close. I took a few pictures when it looked toward me, branches without the leaves made for an interesting pattern. Soon after, it flew into the nearby woods.
Bohemian Waxwing
Every photography opportunity is also an opportunity to learn, to add to the previous gained knowledge and to engage with nature. Even if at the end no image was worth keeping, other opportunities are still achieved. Coming across 650 to 700 Bohemian Waxwings one cold morning during the winter was a wonderful opportunity. Being in the middle, the waxwings beautiful call was nature’s version of surround sound. After taking in the visual, it was time to decide how I wanted to take their picture. I had several options, but I only focused on a few. One of them was when some started consuming juniper berries. The way they were moving around the shrubs, it looked like chaos to my eyes. But they were in full control. For several minutes I was hoping to get a picture of one waxwing with a berry in its bill, I got three. After spending about twenty-five minutes among them, they decided to move on, leaving me with memories on my camera and on the sensor in my head.
American Dipper
As the sun was coming up, this American Dipper decided to take a break from searching for food. Which provided my a chance for a better picture on a cold morning.
Northern Shrike
Northern Shrike on the move to its next meal.
Northern Shrike
Unlike Macbeth, there is no guilt felt by the Northern Shrike. The blood stains on its forehead, bill and breast are from the prey, which it killed to survive another day and not to sit on the throne. Half an hour earlier, it had gone down into the willows, on its way back up it was showing the evidence of having consumed a meal. With no small birds in sight, small mammals like the voles were on the menu. Even if it were full from its recent meal, it was ready for the next prey and if successful it would store it until hunger returned. Even with all my layers, I could feel the cold on my face and hands after being out there watching the bird for an hour on a cold windy day. For the shrike to survive the cold days and nights, it needs to consume a certain amount of food each day. After a meal, it can’t take it for granted it will catch something when it gets hungry. Instead, the shrike is always ready to kill and save it for later. While it waited, it groomed to keep the feathers clean to maximize warmth as I made my home.
Boreal Chickadee
On my way back to my car, I had decided to wander through an open area surrounded on both sides by woodland. I was walking or trying to walk without breaking through the snow crust. I stopped when I heard birds, there were over hundred Common Redpolls with few Pine Siskins sprinkled in. Moving slowly toward them, hoping with each step I would not step through the crust and startle them. After getting close enough and started taking their pictures and at the same time I could hear behind me Boreal Chickadees. When I looked back, they were a few feet away. I went back to taking pictures of the redpolls, waiting until the chickadees were little farther away. Then slowly turned completely toward the chickadees and started getting better pictures. As long as I did not make any quick moves, chickadees were fine with me, I slowly moved to get into a better position. They were great models to work with, always within 3 to 4 meters from me, giving me one great pose after another. It was one of those moments when I knew right away I was getting good images, no need to look at the LCD. When they started moving away, I turned around to learn the redpolls were gone. It was time to move on.
Golden-crowned Kinglet
If you’re the type of person who likes biding from the comfort of your home, this is the year for you. No socializing on the trail while trying to listen to the sounds of those noisy birds. No meeting up in the evening with even more birders to talk about how the day went and what birds were spotted, followed by the big chicken dance at the pot-luck.
Due to COVID-19, this year you can do the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) from the comfort of your sofa. We will be sending out a birder on each of the trails, wearing a body camera connected to the WWW. Once you have downloaded “Birding from Home” from your favorite phone app store. Install the app and open it to connect with our server. Right away our server will download everything about you, including how much money you spend on chocolate.
Then you’ll see all the trails in the Bow Valley where birding will be taking place, choose your trail and you will meet your birder walking on the trail that day. They will have the latest in body camera technology Santa helpers can make during their off season. The video will seem so real; you will be able to feel the cool winter breeze on your checks. You will have full control over the birder on the trail at all times. Well, except for when nature calls. For you, you can be sitting on your favorite toilet at home, while enjoying the beautiful surroundings of the trial through your huge phone screen. Hearing every bird sound like you were right there. And it comes with the most demanded feature, we call it “I’m good”. This is how it works. Let’s say you see on the screen the bird attached to this email on a spruce branch and you I.D. the bird as a Black-billed Magpie. If the birder tries to correct you, you click the “I’m good” button. The experience birder will get a small painful shock and a message, that you’re good and don’t need help with the identification.
How much would you pay for this app? Don’t say anything yet, because that’s not all. Order now, and we will also send you a pair of disregarded steak knives from the finest Bow Valley restaurants. How much would you pay for this app now? Well, believe it or now, it’s free. Zero dollars. And it comes with a 90 day money-back guarantee. You can’t beat that.
Silliness aside, the Banff-Canmore Christmas Bird Count will be taking place on Saturday, December 19th. Pop over to “bowvalleynaturalists.org” if you like to play a role next week. In the valley the CBC has been taking place since 1975, but this year it will be different. Alberta Health Service COVID-19 guidelines will be followed. You will be on the trail with your own group/cohort, no matching birders of different experience, and we will be following physical distancing guidelines. Even from the birds who get too close. My trick with the birds is to look at them through the binoculars or the camera and most of the time they seem to fly away before I get a good look. At the end of our walk, we’ll send in our sightings and instead of meeting up during the usual pot-luck that evening. We’ll meet up on the web.
Hopefully, next year we’ll be back to our normal CBC, when the chicken dance will be back on the table. This year, wherever you do your CBC, stay safe as we find out how our feathered friends are doing this winter.
Common Redpoll
During the later part of October, I started seeing the Common Redpolls. You gotta love these amazing finches, they nest in the Arctic and come southward when food is scarce. It’s remarkable how they can survive the cold Canadian winters with their small size. When I got this picture, there were three of them, including another member of the Finches, a Pine Siskin. The most I have seen so far in one day, were just over 150 individuals. I was focused on one of the redpoll foraging on a shrub branch, taking my time to get a few good pictures. They are very skittish, if one flies, they all fly, so no quick movements. I was about five meters away and kept waiting for the right moment to take its pictures. Slowly moving left or right to get the right background as well. That day I hiked about 25 kilometers, and this was my best chance of going home with some decent pictures for the day. I must have spent half an hour near the four birds that day, but well rewarded when I got home and had a better look at the images I got. Here’s the best one from the day.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet surrounded by yellow.
Snow Goose
Two mornings ago, I must have seen few thousand Snow Geese fly over the Bow Valley over couple of hours. What a sight. With a overcast sky, it was a challenge getting good images, but that did not stop me.
Townsend's Solotaire
Photography became fun when I stopped listening to social media talking about the latest equipment. I have what I need and when I need to replace something that’s worn out, I will then look for it. This opened up my imagination, to get better I needed to put in the time. No matter what perfect brand of equipment you have, it has limits, but our imagination has no such limits.
Second thing is, I don’t use filters or software to create the colourful backgrounds that are often in my wildlife images, including this one. When I have time, as I did when I came across this Townsend’s Solitaire perched on top of a four meter tall spruce tree. I know the limits of my equipment, the chocolate induced mind did the rest.
I was hiking up a slope to look for landscape opportunities. I heard the call of the solitaire among the juniper berries. The trail went around and then above them. When I was above, I stopped to get the pictures of the valley below. The bird popped up and perched about ten meters in front of me. I knew if it stayed there, I would get a nice focused image of the bird with a soft background. I took that image and then started moving left, right, up and down to get the blurred fall colours as the background from the valley bottom in the image. The warm colours are of the balsam poplar and trembling aspen trees, the blue greens colours are from the spruce trees.
The subject, the bird, perched on top of two different trees for a couple of minutes, gave me a couple of different shots. But moving around, each background provided a different opportunity. There are several brands of equipment that can help us get the same picture of the bird, but it's our imagination that can help us get something unique.
Mountain Chickadee
Mountain Chickadee surrounded by fall colours.
Rufous Hummingbird
It has been a another great year for birding and bird photography. What's the secret for both. Getting out as much as you can.
