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24-hour birdathon goes great in the Hazeltons

This year’s 24-hour Baillie Birdathon in the Hazeltons was a huge success according to the avid birders Ray and Maureen Sturney, and their cohorts Sharon and Randy Rawluck.

This year’s 24-hour Baillie Birdathon in the Hazeltons was a huge success according to the avid birders Ray and Maureen Sturney, and their cohorts Sharon and Randy Rawluck.

Ray said this was their best year to date and it was a day packed full of adventure, including piles of snow, that started early on the Saturday morning.

“We were hoping to drive up to the big swamp at 55 kilometre marker up the Suskwa to start our birdathon,” he said. “But at 27 kilometre an avalanche had cut off the road and Randy didn’t think his four wheel drive could climb over the 20 foot snow bank so we were forced to turn back and drive up the Parker Main.”

After their run in with the snow they were finally able to record their first bird of the day, a Mountain Chickadee.

As they headed down the valley they came across several other species and by the time they arrived at the Suskwa bridge their count was already at 35. They stopped for lunch and were able to pick up two additional special species.

“We saw a Northern Goshawk and then a Golden Eagle,” he said. “Both were really lucky sightings.”

From there they glimpsed a Grey Jay with its newly fledged chicks and a a few Brewer’s Blackbirds, checked out the dump and then headed to Ross Lake.

“Our gang picked up several species there, the highlight being a Black Tern,” he said. “We haven’t seen one here for at least 10 years.”

From there the group headed to the New Hazelton boardwalk over the marsh an then the WLC yard which brought the time to early evening at 5:30 p.m.

After a quick meal they headed out once again and made their way to the Hazeltons sewage lagoon where they found a Calliope Hummingbird and one of Ray’s favourites, a Blue Winged Teal.

A barrage of bad weather started to hamper their journey with lightning and driving rains but they still persevered to Hospital Lake and then out the Kitwanga Back Road and managed to record several more species.

To end their day they stoped at the Forsyth’s place where they explored a beaver dam at 1 Kilometer on the Bell.

“The pond where the dam was turned out to be a bonanza of bird species,” Ray explained. “Green Winged Teal, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, Sora, Solitary Sandpipers and the highlight of a Long-billed Dowitcher which was another first for our Baillies. A Ruffed Grouse on our way out ended our day and we came home to prepare for Sunday morning with a total of 78 species.”

The following morning the four started their morning at 4:09 a.m. when they were woken by the hammering of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on the TV mast. After a leisurely start and a walk around their property they were able to add a few more species before heading out.

“Our first stop was Pete and Melody’s and this time we found an Evening Grosbeak,” Ray said, adding, “Thanks for keeping your feeder!”

From there they headed down to Seeley Lake, the old Carnaby Mill Site and down to Kitwanga where they headed north to Kitwanga Lake where they found a Common Merganser and an Olive-sided Flycatcher before heading further north around the lake where they spotted a Pacific Loon, Merlin, Western Grebe, Herring Gull, Bunaparte’s Gull and an Eurasian Collared Dove before continuing on.

“We drove down to the far end of the lake and picked up species number 97, Sooty Grouse and number 98, a Red-eyed Vireo,” Ray said. “At this point we were about a half an hour from completing our 24 hours. Randy claimed he saw a Yellow-billed Loon at the first stop on the lake so we headed back as it would be a life sighting for him. When we got there he pointed out number 99, a Vauz’s Swifts flying overhead and then he found number 100, the Yellow-billed Loon. We finished off the day with an American Coot and a total of 101, our best Baillie ever.”

Last year’s record for the group was 98. However, Ray added that what is even more important this year is that they raised more than $1,500 for bird research, he said.

“About $1,100 of that will go to the bird banding station at Mackenzie,” he said. “So we really want to thank all of the generous people and take our hats off to them.”

For more information on the annual Baillie Birdathon visit www.bsc-eoc.org.