VICTORIA Two winged wonders are delighting bird watchers on southern Vancouver Island with first-ever sightings. According to experts with the Rocky Point Bird Observatory, two incredibly rare species were spotted in the past 24 hours. On Sunday evening, birders snapped photos of a great-tailed grackle at Esquimalt Lagoon. The spindly-legged black bird normally resides in the southern United States and Mexico. This was the first time it was ever seen on Vancouver Island, according to Ann Nightingale, with the Rocky Point Bird Observatory. The grackle has been seen, I think the seventh time for all of British Columbia, said Nightingale.
B.C. researchers are asking the public to send in feces from hummingbirds to determine their health which they say could help measure one of the indicators of a healthy planet.
“It’s great. I grew up reading National Geographic and it helped me think about the different people and wildlife across the earth and different places to go, it helped me dream big,” Ford said. “Hopefully it helps the next young person think about ways they can support wildlife conservation in the future for them.” With habitat loss threatening the extinction of an ever-growing number of species around the world, many wildlife advocates and conservation professionals rely on canary in the coal mine species to maintain healthy wildlife biodiversity. Ford s study, originally published in February, 2020, determined the rufous hummingbird was a top surrogate species in the province.
VICTORIA The Rocky Point Bird Observatory has launched the first annual Victoria Bird Week. The nine-day event has a variety of virtual events and activities scheduled, with the ultimate goal of getting more people into birding. “One of the fantastic things about birding as a hobby is that you can do it anywhere and anytime,” said Ann Nightingale with the Rocky Point Bird Observatory. “Sometimes it s better than others for sure, but you can do it by yourself, you can do it with your family, you can do it with the same groups,” she said. Nightingale says there are health benefits to birding as well.
Hosted by the Rocky Point Bird Observatory, the week-long event is intended to raise awareness of bird conservation and bring people closer to nature.
Today is both World Migratory Bird Day and a “Global Big Day,” an annual celebration of the birds around you, says Renee Cenerini, lead educator for the organization. “No matter where you are, join in virtually on May 8, help celebrate World Migratory Bird Day and share the birds you find with eBird.”
Rocky Point Bird Observatory will host a live Zoom presentation.
There will be a number of online, bird-themed presentations throughout the week, including two talks: Bird Motherhood on May 9, and 10 Easy To Learn Bird Songs on May 16.