World Record Migration Flight - Bar-tailed Godwit

                                     Bar-tailed Godwit - Male Transitioning to Breeding Plumage  [Internet Photo]

The Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) has one of the longest (if not the longest) flight paths of any migratory bird on the planet.  Few, if any species, can match it.  Let's begin with a look at its life history.

There are two subspecies of the Bar-tailed Godwit, the Asian and the European.  The European subspecies breed in eastern Europe and Iceland and spend their winters in Mauretania and western Europe.  The Asian subspecies breed on the western slopes of Alaska and winter in New Zealand.  Either subspecies is a rare visitor to North America.  A few can be found in Alaska and the Pacific coast.  Rarely one might be found along the Atlantic coast.  They nest in shrubs, sedge clumps and bogs on tundra and taiga. 

The Bar-tailed Godwit is about the same size as the other godwit species.  It measures 33-42 cm (16 in).  Its distinguishing features are: relatively short legs (compared to the other godwits), white or barred underwing coverts, and a white or barred rump.  In breeding plumage the male shows a rufous colour all the way to and including the tail underparts. The Asian subspecies shows the barring on the underwing and rump, but the European subspecies shows plain white.  Note, the Black-tailed Godwit shows heavy barring in the belly and undertail parts.

Now let's consider the world record migration path of this species.  The following material is taken from a recent publication of Birdwatch Canada, Winter 2021, Number 94, p. 19, in an article written by Jody Allair and Pete Davidson.  The incredible features about the migration of this species is the distance it flies and the time it is in the air, non-stop without touching down to feed and rest.  The ability to place satellite transmitters on large birds has given us these amazing facts.  Migration studies are blessed with modern technology.  

The studies have found that in the fall, the Bar-tailed Godwits leave Alaska and fly non-stop to New Zealand.  That is a trip of more than 11,000 km and they take 8 to 11 days to do it!  Yes, that is correct.  They fly non-stop over ocean for 8 to 11 days and cover over 11,000 km.  That is astounding.  That is a fact we moderns can now marvel at.  I wonder if Roger Tory Peterson would have believed it.  These same birds who flew so far to go to wintering grounds return in the spring by a different route.  They fly 8,000 km from New Zealand to the Yellow Sea in China and to the Korean Peninsula.  There they stop to rest and refuel before they continue on the rest of their journey, 6,000 to 7,000 km to Alaska.  Wow, take a look at a globe/map and appreciate how large the Pacific Ocean really is.  

In this study the bird that flew the farthest was a male who flew 12,200 km non-stop in 11 days.  This breaks a previous world record set in 2007 also by a Bar-tailed Godwit.  This truly is awe-inspiring!

If you are paying attention, there is at least one weak link in the chain of these migratory flight paths.  Did you catch it?  Yes, the Yellow Sea in China and the Korean Peninsula.  As you know there are huge human populations there with all its activity, pollution, coastal garbage, etc.  The loss of the intertidal flats there would (and have) cause a severe decline in the Bar-tailed Godwit population.  

This study was a collaboration between Bird Studies Canada, Birds New Zealand, Massey University, and the Global Flyway Network.  Please consider supporting these groups so they can continue their studies and attempts to protect our migrating shorebirds (and others).  

Incredible Numbers of Northern Cardinals

                                                 Northern Cardinal Male    [Julie Sproul Photo]

Recently I was made aware of another incredible example of the invasion of Northern Cardinals we are experiencing in New Brunswick this fall and winter.  For more information on Northern Cardinals in general and on the invasion see two previous posts on this blog.  To find them search for: 5 January 2017 'Northern Cardinal'; and 9 December 2020 'Northern Cardinal - An Invasion'.  

The large number of Northern Cardinals which is the subject of this blog has occurred in Burtts Corner, York County, NB, late this fall and is ongoing. It is at a house in the village which is semi-urban and the lot backed up by a coniferous forest and open area beyond that.  The people where the cardinals have chosen to reside are bird-loving and have several feeders filled with black oil sunflower seeds.  The yard also has many perching areas and a lot of low cover, an ideal place for cardinals.  But still, this is New Brunswick and we don't normally have large numbers of cardinals.  We usually have a scattering of pairs and individuals in urban areas in the south of the province, more in the west than in the east.  But this year is unusual!

                                                   Northern Cardinal Female   [Julie Sproul Photo]

This house in Burtts Corner has been blessed with the invasion of 15 Northern Cardinals!  Not all have remained but daily after a few weeks they still have 5 to 9 individuals feeding and resting in their back yard.  As you would expect, this has caused a great deal of excitement.  The Northern Cardinal can do that.  On many occasions I have been invited to come to people's yards to watch their cardinals.  What a treat, some calling it 'eye candy'.  The people where this group of cardinals now resides have been very generous with their information for which I am thankful.  Below is a video showing at least 6 Northern Cardinals coming to feed both at the feeder and on the ground. 

                              Numerous Northern Cardinals At Feeding Area  [Julie Sproul Video]

There have been other reports of large numbers of Northern Cardinals gathering at backyards in the province.  In early fall a group of 13 were at a St. George feeding area.  And, in December a group of 11 were at another backyard bird feeding area in Miramichi City.  The invasion of this species is certainly related to the many bird-feeding areas in the province.  But, it also reflects a huge increase in population elsewhere causing the species to expand its range by movements into new areas and habitat.  Whatever the reason, we are delighted to have them.  Already we are hearing their cheerful song and the spectacle of them coming onto the snow to feed.  

Fredericton Christmas Bird Count 2020 - Douglas Sector

                                                       Wild Turkeys Feeding in Apple Tree

The Fredericton Christmas Bird Count is usually held the Sunday before Christmas, 20 December this year.  The 24-km circle is divided into sectors and we cover the Douglas sector.  We have done this for many years.  More than 50 counts are done all over the province during the period from December 14 to January 5.  The Fredericton count has been done every year since the 1950s.  Christmas Bird Counts represent a good example of citizen science.  Our results for 2020 are shown below.    

Canada Goose	60		Common Raven	3
Mallard	8		Black-capped Chickadee	140
Common Goldeneye	57		Red-breasted Nuthatch	7
Barrow’s Goldeneye	2		White-breasted Nuthatch	9
Hooded Merganser	1		Brown Creeper	1
Common Merganser	11		Golden-crowned Kinglet	1
Bald Eagle	1		American Robin	24
Wild Turkey	7		Bohemian Waxwing	19
Mourning Dove	13		American Tree Sparrow	4
Downy Woodpecker	4		White-throated Sparrow	1
Hairy Woodpecker	2		Pine Grosbeak	30
Pileated Woodpecker	3		Common Redpoll	51
Blue Jay	8		American Goldfinch	28
American Crow	115		Evening Grosbeak	26

    

Our results are always interesting.  In total we had 28 different species and 636 individuals.  This meets our average for the last 10 years very well (average no. species = 26; average no. individuals = 623).  There is a lot of variability over the years with weather and food resources available to the birds being important factors.  To do the count we spend the whole day driving all our streets, watching feeders, checking the open patches on the river, talking to our friendly Douglas people about their bird visitors.  

                                            Wild Turkey Seen on Christmas Bird Count
         

I have chosen the Wild Turkeys to illustrate this report because of the 7 we saw off the Carlisle Road.  They were in an apple tree feeding on small apples and some were feeding on the ground.  That was a great find.  This species has moved into Douglas and is slowly increasing in numbers.  As far as I know they are mainly in the Carlisle Road and the Diamond Street areas.  I have not heard of them crossing the main road yet.  I have heard we have more than 7 in the area but for the count we can only record what we see that day.  

Another unusual species recorded was a pair of Barrow's Goldeneyes on the river.  We were lucky to have lots of open water and they were with the many Common Goldeneyes.  The Barrow's Goldeneye is a rarer species here.  It is mainly a western and northern species but a few winter usually along our sea coasts.  See photo below.

                                     Barrow's Goldeneyes - 1 Male, 2 Females  [Nelson Poirier Photo]

The count showed high numbers of Common Crows (115).  That is because there was a very large flock of crows flying up river.  We counted 80 in that group.  We assumed they were moving up to the grain fields on Sugar Island.  There were also many American Robins (24).  Some have not migrated yet because of the mild winter weather.  Low numbers included Mallards (8) and Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers.  They are here but were not seen on count day.  The number of Blue Jays was also low at 8.  They along with the woodpeckers may be because they were feeding on natural food in the woods and were not seen at feeders.  

What was really noticeable to us was the lack of some species:  Black Ducks, Rock Pigeons, Starlings and Northern Cardinals.  The Blacks were scarce because of the long hunting season which was still open and hunters were still shooting that day.  The lack of pigeons and starlings was unusual.  In a way it is a good thing because these species are considered pests.  What it shows is that they have found food sources elsewhere.  We don't have fast food restaurants, farms and other areas where food is spilled or thrown on the ground.  Because we didn't record any cardinals was too bad because this is a good year for cardinals and there certainly are some in our area.  

This winter has been tagged as a 'finch winter', meaning that we have flocks of winter finches moving into the area.  This does not happen every winter and depends on what food resources are found up north and whether we have a good supply.  By food resources I am referring to such things are fruit still on the trees and bushes (apples, crabs, sumac, berries, grapes, ash seeds, heavy cone crop in the conifers, etc.).  We did record higher numbers of species and individuals of finches, but not as many as I anticipated.  The sparrows and goldfinches are found every winter.  Of interest and not found every year are the Bohemian Waxwings (19), Pine Grosbeaks (30), Common Redpolls (51) and Evening Grosbeaks (26).  These species are colourful and their behaviour is interesting.  Some are very tame because they are normally in the far north where they do not encounter so many people.  They certainly are welcome additions to feeders.  The Common Redpolls are certainly here in large numbers.  I have seen many flocks this fall and winter, some as large as 75 to 100.  Some have photographed flocks so large they show the 'murmuring' that large flocks of birds sometimes do.  That is an optical phenomenon when a flock appears to roll showing pulsations of dark and then light colour.  Starling and shorebird flocks also murmur.

For the 3 days before and the 3 days after the count day we are also allowed to record any species not seen on count day.  We added Tufted Titmouse and Great Horned Owl as 'count week' species.

Many thanks to all who had full feeders on count day and who welcomed us to do our bird census.  Douglas is an excellent area  to live in and also for our avian residents. 

Mactaquac Christmas Bird Count 2020

The 2020 Mactaquac Christmas Bird Count was held on January 1, 2021. The official dates in which Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) can be done is December 14 to January 5.  During that time on a specific date a team of people survey an area and tally all the bird species and numbers in that area.  The area is a circle of 30 km diameter.  The Mactaquac circle goes from Granite Hill to Keswick and Upper Prince William to French Village and Mazerolle Settlement to Springfield.  Our team this year included 10 people travelling and 6 at feeders.  We collectively drove 498 km by car and walked 27 km.  We spent 26 hours in cars and 15 hours outside either walking or watching for birds on foot.  The weather this year was the best we have ever experienced on a CBC.  It was clear, sunny with almost no snow.  The temperature got up to -3º.

The results of the count are shown below.

Species	Number
Am Black Duck	91
Mallard	30
Common Goldeneye	42
Hooded Merganser	3
Common Merganser	42
Bald Eagle	10
Sharp-shinned Hawk	1
Merlin	1
Ruffed Grouse	2
Wild Turkey	51
Herring Gull	9
Ring-billed Gull	2
Great Black-backed Gull	1
Rock Pigeon	312
Mourning Dove	51
Downy Woodpecker	28
Hairy Woodpecker	21
Black-backed Woodpecker	1
Northern Flicker	1
Pileated Woodpecker	5
Blue Jay	95
Gray Jay	3
American Crow	136
Common Raven	33
Black-capped Chickadee	312
Red-breasted Nuthatch	45
White-breasted Nuthatch	15
Golden-crowned Kinglet	6
American Robin	2
European Starling	34
Bohemian Waxwing	2
Pine Warbler	1
American Tree Sparrow	4
White-throated Sparrow	1
Dark-eyed Junco	17
Lapland Longspur	1
Northern Cardinal	14
Snow Bunting	55
Pine Grosbeak	14
Purple Finch	1
Red Crossbill	5
White-winged Crossbill	0
Common Redpoll	364
Pine Siskin	0
American Goldfinch	105
Evening Grosbeak	135
Woodpecker sp.
Finch sp.
Total	2104
No. of Species	44

The total number of species is the highest ever in recent years at 44.  The average is 36.  The total number of individuals is average at 2104.  The weather certainly contributed to our success.  We could stay outside comfortably longer and the lack of snow enabled access to areas we normally could not access this time of year.  We also had a goodly number of participants this year which also helps.  More eyes watching produces better results.  

It is difficult to pick out highlights because all the data are interesting.  Surprises for me were the large numbers of Wild Turkeys (51) and Common Redpolls (364) and the Lapland Longspur.  This is a finch year (many finches have moved from the north into this area to locate better food resources).  This brought the large numbers of Redpolls.  But I would have expected more Pine Grosbeaks and Bohemian Waxwings.  There was also a low number of sparrows and goldfinches.  The turkeys have been moving into our area from Maine for a long time now.  The number seen indicates that they are making a success of living in their new territory.  

The Lapland Longspur has not been recorded in recent years.  It is a circumpolar species found only here in winter in small numbers.  It prefers open areas and is sometimes found singly or in small numbers in flocks of Snow Buntings or Horned Larks.  This individual was alone feeding on weed seeds on the side of the road in an area with very large open fields.  

                                                                           Lapland Longspur

Waterfowl numbers were about average.  Most of the river was frozen over except below the dam.  That area was where most of the waterfowl was found.  I was surprised we did not find more gulls there, too.  Woodpeckers are doing well.  We had a large number of Downy Woodpeckers and the first ever report of a Black-backed Woodpecker and a Northern Flicker on a count in recent years.  The Black-backed Woodpecker is here in very small numbers but not easy to find on a count.  The Northern Flicker is one that has not migrated and was feeding under a feeder in Kingsclear.  We found Blue Jay numbers very high in the Mactaquac area but reports from other areas found them average or low.  We have our usual number of Rock Pigeons which remain a curse to farmers because they gather around and contaminate animals and feed.  I was very surprised at the very low numbers of Starlings.  It will be interesting to see what numbers we get for them next year.

                                                                    Northern Flicker

Northern Cardinals are always exciting for feeder watchers.  We are experiencing an irruption of this species this year (large numbers have moved into the area).  One of our stops had 4 Northern Cardinals coming regularly to their feeders!  Fourteen is a large number for this count.  The Pine Warbler was an interesting holdover from summer.  This is a hardy species which is uncommon at winter feeders.  Every year there is an individual or two at a feeder somewhere in the province.  The feeder area where this bird was seen has lots of feed and cover close by making it ideal for a summer resident to make it into the winter.  

The large numbers of Common Redpolls have been enjoyed by birders all over the province this year.  We counted 364 but our actual high over the years is 722.  So, our high was not as spectacular as we might have thought.  We just haven't seen many flocks of redpolls for a number of years.  The American Goldfinch numbers (105) show that they are recovering from a big population drop in recent years.  The largest number we have counted in recent years is 503.  

                                                                Common Redpoll

What is absent from this list?  We recorded no buteos (e.g., Red-tailed, Rough-legged Hawks).  The only hawks recorded were a Merlin and a Sharp-shinned Hawk.  There are good numbers of buteos down river in the Sheffield area so our area might be low in rodents for them to feed on.  

In summary, it was a successful tally of the species found in that circle at this time of year.  The data are recorded with Bird Studies Canada and the Audubon Society.  They represent a wonderful example of citizen science.  Our count will be used for research in ornithology and environmental science in the future.  A big thank you to all who participated and to our residents who welcomed us and showed an interest in our findings.  

Yellow-headed Blackbird

                                            Yellow-headed Blackbird, Male  [Gene Nadeau Photo]

A rare blackbird appeared at a feeder in the Edmundston area in early December.  Not only is it rare for a blackbird to be here in December, it is very rare for it to be a Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus).  The normal range of this species is the western half of North America from the northern prairies and British Columbia south to southern US and Mexico.  It normally breeds in summers in the bulk of western Canada and the US and winters in the southern US and northern Mexico.  It is a rare visitor here with more records from the fall than the spring.  The first one recorded was from Whale Cove, Grand Manan in 1948.  There have been more than 50 reports since then.  We will likely have more visitors of this species since it is common in the west.

To see this species here in winter is another anomaly.  We have had many rare species here in the east this fall and early winter.  We do not know why with any certainty but it is surely related to fall storms and winds blowing them off their migration routes.  This individual has faired well, being at a well-stocked feeder area with the protection of bird-loving people.  

                                 Yellow-headed Blackbird, Male  [Gene Nadeau Photo]

Although Yellow-headed Blackbirds will come to feeders they are normally birds of marshes and open areas.  They are a large blackbird, 24 cm (9.5 inches) long.  They appear bulky and males are larger than females.  As you can see in the photos above, the male has a brilliant cadmium yellow head, throat and breast.  The black mask contrasts well with the yellow.  The big white wing patch contrast with the otherwise black body, wings and tail (not visible on these photos).  One characteristic which is new to me is that it also has  yellow around the vent, although this would be very difficult to see in the field.  The female is brownish with a dull yellow supercilium and breast.  She has a whitish throat with dark stripes and a yellow malar stripe (stripe on the side of the throat).  The juvenile looks similar to the female.  This species is so distinctive there are no other species here one would mistake it for.

During winter and migration the Yellow-headed Blackbird prefers open land, cultivated fields and pastures. In spring and summer it nests in fresh-water marshes.  It makes a deep basket-like nest woven into the vegetation over the water.  The 3 to 5 pale green to gray eggs marked with dark blotches are incubated by the female.  These birds feed on beetles, spiders, ants and the seeds of panic grass, ragweed, smartweed and pigweed.  They usually forage on or near the ground and will also hawk insects from the air.  From those that come to feeders we have learned that they will eat cracked corn, nuts, seeds, millet and suet.  Yellow-headed Blackbirds nest in the same habitat as Red-winged Blackbirds dominating them and pushing them away from desirable food and nesting sites.  They are also aggressive towards Marsh Wrens.

This species has a peculiar song and call note.  It is varied and has been described as a mixture of honking, gurgling and a strangling, rusty-hinge noise.   There are also some interesting facts about Yellow-headed Blackbirds.  They are good engineers.  They make their nest out of wet vegetation which tightens up when it dries, making a secure nest for the eggs and hatchlings.  The males can be polygamists, sometimes acquiring up to six mates.  If they do acquire new territory, they don't destroy the broods sired by other males.  

In winter this species often forms single gender flocks.  Flocks of all males or all females are common.  Their flying formations are also interesting.  Flocks often move in a rolling formation.  The birds in the back of the flock fly over the birds in the front.  This gives the impression of rolling movement.  If you think about it, this strategy is probably good in large flocks because it gives those at the back of the flock an opportunity to land on a fresh feeding area where food would be more abundant. 

Populations of this species are presently stable but they are vulnerable to toxic sprays and the drainage of marshes and ditches on the prairies.  Local droughts can increase mortality.

The first detailed description of a Yellow-headed Blackbird was done by Charles Lucien Bonaparte, nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1825.  The specimen from which he made his description was collected in 1820 by Thomas Say and Sir John Richardson.  These names are familiar to birders since they show up in the names of other North American bird species.  The very first knowledge we have of this species comes from Pleistocene fossils from 100,000 years ago which have been dug up in California, Utah and New Mexico.