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Picture of tinkerbell

Movie wallpapers #1 ( Tinkerbell  )
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Picture of tinkerbell

Movie wallpapers #1 ( Tinkerbell  )
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Picture of tinkerbell

Movie wallpapers #1 ( Tinkerbell  )
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Picture of tinkerbell

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nature wallpapers - beach picture

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Picture of tinkerbell #1

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Movie wallpapers #1 ( Tinkerbell  )
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Birds of Alberta: White Pelican

White Pelicans Flying over

I am never more delighted than when I discover a bird I didn't expect to see where I live.  I have made several such discoveries in the last couple of years.  One of these is the White Pelican.   When I took the photos, I was naturally already speculating about what species of bird I might have captured on camera.  The Pelicans were flying at a distance that was the very limit of my camera's telescopic range, and I was burning with curiosity to see them.  Although I was not very optimistic about the quality of those photos, because at that distance, these photos are rarely useful.

When I loaded the photos into my computer at the end of the day however, not only did my pictures turn out alright, I received an amazing shock.   After all, where do you expect to see Pelicans but in the tropics.  I was also very, very happy at the same time.  Especially when, after doing some immediate research, I discovered that these White Pelicans weren't just doing a fly over.  They nest in Alberta and only a short distance away.  Well for Pelicans with a nine foot wingspan anyway.

White Pelicans in the sky over Edmonton

So here is what I have learned about White Pelicans so far.  They are still listed as a "Sensitive" species.  Which means that they are recovering from near extinction, but are not out of the woods yet.  In order to protect the species, the Alberta government has declared it illegal to get within eight hundred meters of their nesting colonies.  There is a very good reason for that.  White Pelicans will abandon their nesting colonies, eggs, chicks and all, if disturbed by humans.

White Pelicans flying over tree tops

White Pelicans prefer fresh water lakes and rivers.  They nest in colonies on islands, away from large predators and humans.  Unlike the Brown Pelican, these birds do not dive into the water in order to catch fish, they scoop them up, along with about three gallons of water, with the pouch built into the underside of their incredibly large bill.  The water is then squeezed out before the Pelican tips back it's head to swallow.  They also eat salamander, crayfish and frogs.  They have been known to fly up to seventy miles from colonies to better feeding grounds.

Last White Pelican in my sights

Here in Alberta, some areas that the White Pelican can be seen are the Slave river region, the Bow River and Carseland.

Enjoy,
Susan

Some family time on the water...and p-a-u-s-i-n-g to take it all in.

Leaving Maple Bay via Paddy's Milestone.

With "geography" always a bit of a challenge to many of us in this immense country, good quality "family time" (that is, getting everyone together in the same place at the same time), is hard to come by. Time together, on the the water, is even more rare. We got lucky this past little while - our son flew out to visit us on the Island for a few days. The weather was perfect, and we had the opportunity to spend time doing something we all enjoy - getting the narrow boats launched and padding over to our closest neighbouring Gulf Island...and, following that, visiting a few local vineyards.

Mom and son and lunch break in Burgoyne Bay, Saltspring Island

Like folks often do, we sometimes take for granted our surroundings. We forget about the natural beauty around us. We become accustomed to the views and take them in "stride" rather than pausing to take them in. When we lived in the Rockies, folks often remarked how fortunate we were to have such dramatic views of snow-capped mountains right out our windows - back, front, and sides. It would, at times, jolt me when I realized how blasé I had become! "View? Oh yeah, it's pretty nice here." Huh - what's that about? Walking down the street, instead of focusing on the extraordinary beauty, I would find myself nattering about how the flood of summer visitors were causing long line-ups at the post office.  When we were posted to Germany, we lived on the edge of the Black Forest, just a short drive from both France and Switzerland. Even there, I remember forgetting how marvellous an opportunity it was and getting annoyed at what I perceived to be the interminable waits at the traffic lights in Lahr. - talk about a bad attitude! :)

Father and son, chillin'...savouring the moment, weather coming in.

Looking back over the five weeks we spent working in Scotland in June and early July - the time has already compressed and in some ways, it's hard to believe we were there! I keep a journal, however, and I know we were there and I know we appreciated every moment, every person, and every new experience. Sometimes we get blasé about places, and opportunities, and even people. When that happens, our experience and appreciation for life is greatly diminished. It's as if we're not even here - because when we take any component of life for granted, we're essentially not here.

It was a great time on the water with our son. Cruisin' the vineyards was fun too. We treasured every moment. That will make those moments last a very long time - and that's a good thing.

Bottom line: Live the present moment fully and with deep appreciation, it ain't here to stay...and you don't want to miss it.

Duncan.

tinkerbell pictures

Picture of tinkerbell #1 ( Disney Fairies )
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nature wallpapers - beach picture

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Horror Wallpaper - Zombie

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The importance of learning about bird behavior

Northern Flicker

Blue Heron Cooling itself off

The only woodpecker that I have ever seen perched at the top of a tree is the Northern Flicker on the left.   More unusual still, is the behavior of the Blue Heron below, who is cooling himself in a very comical manner.  These two behaviors stand out in my memory, because they are not typical to all bird species.

These are just two examples to show that the behaviors a bird exhibits are of utmost importance to bird identification, since behavioral patterns are often exclusive to specific birds or bird species.   It is extremely useful therefore, to learn as much about the behavior of the various bird species as possible.  Keeping in mind that sometimes the behavior that a bird does not exhibit will help to rule out several birds, or bird species it might otherwise belong to.

American Robin

Some behaviors to watch for:   

How and where does a bird perch?
Some birds, like the Robin, love to perch at the very top of a tree.  The Chippin Sparrow, on the other hand, prefers to perch low to the ground, unless he is courting in which case you will see the male at about mid-height of a tree when in song.  Some birds however rarely, if ever, perch out in the open.

Dark eyed Junco

How and where does a bird forage for food?
You are likely to see flycatchers flitting from branch to branch in bushes and at any level in a tree, but birds such as the Dark eyed Junco and the Baird's sparrow, are more comfortable foraging on the ground or in low bush.   The Cooper's hawk prefers to hunt in forest, while the Northern Harrier prefers to hunt just above the ground over the open field of a meadow, field or marsh.

Red winged blackbird harassing Crow

                                    
How does a bird react when threatened,  frightened or defending their young?
Unlike other ducks, the Golden eye Duck does not fly off when startled, instead it dives beneath the water.  Geese will hiss and so will Mallard ducks, especially if it is a female with ducklings.  The Red winged Blackbird however, shown above, will dive at and harass a crow or hawk, for example, to drive it off.

Swainson's Hawk

Cooper's Hawk

                                                                    
What is the typical flight pattern of the bird you are observing?
It is safe to say that Eagles and most Hawks ride the thermals in the sky in a distinct circular pattern.  However you are unlikely to see the Cooper's hawk and Goshawk doing so, except during migration.  They are not very comfortable in the open sky being forest hawks, and so, their flight pattern outside the forest consists of several quick flaps of their wings, followed by a glide. 

American Redstart flicking his wings

                                     
 Does the bird have a nervous habit ?
A Robin holds itself stiff winged and upright while foraging on the ground or any time it doesn't feel quite safe. The Yellow rumped warbler and American Redstart both flick their wings.  Ducks and Geese will bob their heads, by first stretching their neck as far as it will go and then pulling it  down again, as if they are trying to see over the top of something.

House Wren

White Breasted Nuthatch

Does the bird have a habitual posture or any other exclusive behavior?
A good example here, for habitual posture, is the wren, who holds it's tail straight up.  This is something all wren species do.  An exclusive behavior, that all nuthatches exhibit, is walking down a tree trunk head first, or along the underside of a branch, thus making a mockery of gravity.

Bohemian Waxwings just a small part of the flock

                                     
Is the bird typically a loner, or a social butterfly?
It is extremely rare that you will see an owl in company of other owls, unless of course the owl is paired.  The same cannot be said for the Bohemian waxwing, who is rarely seen alone.  In fact, you are most likely to see this waxwing in a flock of more than a dozen of it's kind. 


To find the answers to these questions, as well as others, the best and most enjoyable way to learn about bird behavior is by observing a bird species directly.  There is a lot you can learn about a bird given even a few minutes.  Just relax and watch the bird for as long as it stays in view.  Do this often, and you will soon connect certain behaviors with specific birds or bird species, and bird identification becomes much easier.

Enjoy,

Susan