Birds of Spring

It didn’t feel like the birds were co-operating with me this spring but when I piece the months together there are a few nice images.

Birds of Prey

My favourites are the Great Horned Owl and Owlets. The parents chose to make a nest right next to a busy pathway in east Fish Creek Park. Apparently, there were three owlets in the nest but I saw only two of them.

It was nice to get such a clear view of the owlets but sad to see the momma getting stressed by all of the people gathering around pointing cameras and cell phones at her. She would hoot to warn them away, which drew more attention to her, making it even worse.

The Osprey was in a tree by the Bow River working on Sunday brunch when we came by. I couldn’t tell what was on the menu but given how close it was to the river, it may have been a fish.

Water Fowl and Shorebirds

The river and ponds yielded some nice views of a male Wood Duck and a team of female Common Goldeneye, just hanging out together. There was a large squadron of American White Pelicans in the middle of the river, looking as goofy as ever. A Spotted Sandpiper flew by, giving a good view of the spots on its chest.

Songbirds

Songbirds are probably the ones most commonly thought of as birds of spring. I am surprised by some of the birds that belong to this category. There are the various sparrows, of course, the King Bird, the House Wren and the warblers. I have never thought of Cedar Waxwings as songbirds, however, and certainly not the Common Raven. The latter is not exactly a musical bird, at least to my ears. Yet a songbird, it is!

Tree Swallows are songbirds as well, it seems. One day in the Weaselhead, we came upon a nesting pair. She was doing all of the work, picking up twigs and flying up to the tree to stuff them into the nest hole. He just sat on a branch, surveying the neighbourhood.