to Birding in PEI
by J. Dan McAskill
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the still of the dawn in June, the Island's forests and fields
come alive with a chorus of songs. It is the breeding period for
most woodland birds and, in their many different ways, they proclaim
their domain. Some, such as the American Robin, do so quite vociferously
while and others do so softly with their melodies widely spaced
such as a Swainson's Thrush. This spring chorus of songs is music
to the ears of those who are drawn to birds as it heralds the
arrival of many species who spent the winter in more southern
clines ranging from New England to deep in South America.
known as bird watchers, those who identify birds by sight and
sound now call themselves birders. Those who feed birds in their
backyards form the largest group of birders while acoustic birders,
those who identify birds by their songs and call notes, are among
one of the smallest groups. Most birders thrill to the sights
and sounds of birds just as many Islanders respond to that first
call of a Canada Goose in spring.
draws on many senses and feelings. For many, it offers peace and
relaxation. This might be from the corner nook or table from which
you take your morning coffee overlooking your bird feeders and
gardens. Or, it might be from the edge of a forest road where
one listens in anticipation for the response of a Long-eared Owl
to its song broadcast on a portable tape recorder.
evoke wonder amongst those who watch them. The breadth of their
behaviours is so large that you are always seeing something new.
For the avid reader, there is a multitude of books on birding.
These range from field guides and books on bird behaviour to how
to attract birds to your backyard niches through plantings or
visual spectacle offered by birds is amazing. The brilliant yellows
and blacks of the male Evening Grosbeak add splashes of intense
colour to a winter landscape while in summer, its smaller relative,
the American Goldfinch does the same to our many shades of green.
The undulating flight of hundreds of Snow Buntings, commonly know
as snow birds, provides a striking, multicoloured hue of white
and brown flashes against the Island's backdrop of snow covered
field and forest. The majesty of a single adult Bald Eagle soaring
high above river valleys is contrasted against the furtive behaviour
of a Lincoln's Sparrow as it searches for food amongst the bases
of trees and shrubs.
those who thrill to the chase, birding can be a competitive event
with individual birders or teams of birders pitting their skills
against each other to identify the most birds in a single day,
year, or lifetime. In the jargon of birding these individuals
are known as listers. The most avid lister will pursue birds about
provinces, states, or continents in search of adding new species
to their lists for that area. Thus, the sighting of a single Black-tailed
Godwit, a large Eurasian shorebird seen in January, 1999 here
on the Island, brought birders to the province from as far away
offers enough to fill a lifetime of learning. Almost every outing
brings something new to experience as the antics of the various
species are so varied as are the interactions between species.
It offers relaxation and can be enjoyed throughout most of the
world. All it takes to start is a field identification guide for
your area and a pair of decent binoculars. Help is as close as
your local naturalist club!
Dan McAskill is a leading expert on Birding on Prince Edward Island
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