The rain has stopped and I can talk to you on a beautiful sunny day. Plus 2 degrees at the moment. Our Northeast readers have a colder day but the sun shines for them as well. Let me tell you can keep the rain in a southern B.C. bucket. I did my 37 years on the coast and rain was my aggravation.
These milder days affect our bird populations I am sure. The stellar’s jay that stayed here for some months have left us. I hope he has just gone where he can find another of his kind to make more of his kind with. I guess he could have met with some mishap.
Haven’t seen the pileated in a few days as well. He had eaten his fair share of suet as well as peeling more slabs of bark from a few trees.
Shannon from Telkwa asked if squirrels will mate this early. She saw some suspicious activity going on. I saw the same thing here. Darn those milder days!
From the Northeast a report of a few more redpolls at a feeder in Fort Nelson along with a smattering of sparrows.
Another reader from Fort St. John has a red-breasted nuthatch and white breasted feeding on the same suet mixture. Good chance to spot the differences.
Had a call from Gary in Smithers who has seen the Eurasian collared doves. From the number of reports we are getting I would say they are now an established species.
Many of you have seen the short-eared owls along Tyhee Lake road. Take a look if you must but don’t interfere with their hunting. Hard enough as it is to get a measly mouse for dinner.
It is a good time to make sure you have bath water out for the birds. They do like to splash about in these above normal temperatures. They know when it is too cold for a bath.
Yesterday the pigeons came out of their coop and very much enjoyed lifting their wings to have wing pit baths. Must feel good after all the colder days.
Douglas from Fort Nelson asked me to remind everyone to add finely ground egg shell to the suet mixtures or just give it as is. Always make sure you cook the shell a bit to eliminate any possibilities of salmonella.
It won’t be too long before I send along some nesting box plans. With more habitat being removed nesting boxes will become more important. Give me a call with your requests.
Don’t forget when you are ordering your seeds to make sure you get plants that birds will enjoy.
Good job done by so many who take care of the birds and other critters. I have enjoyed your weekly calls to 250-846-5095 as well as those e-mail notes to mallory@bulkley.net.