Counting birds is a social affair
The International Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is Dec. 14 – Jan 5. last year (2017) saw 12 in The Yukon from Watson Lake to the Tombstones.
Time For Birds
Whitehorse writer Jenny Trapnell loves to discover our wild spaces. Jenny has a passion for birding she shares her tips for bird watching and helps us learn about the birds in the Yukon through her column Time For Birds
Feeding our feathered friends … do it for joy, and do it for science
It’s winter—time to check out the bird feeders and stock up on “fast food” for our feathered friends. A huge variety of bird feeders are available in local stores or can be made easily from milk jugs or cartons. The cheerful black-capped chickadee is the most frequently reported “feeder bird” in the Yukon and in …
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A bird’s-eye view
Whether it’s for the annual bike race or a fishing holiday, Yukoners love Haines. The small southeast-Alaska port is a special destination for many. Come fall, the arrival of thousands of American Bald Eagles, in the nearby Chilkat River Valley, offers another reason to visit. From October to January, between two- and four-thousand bald eagles …
Nothing says spring more than the sounds of birds
The Yukon Bird Club’s new president is Shyloh van Delft (shown here leading a field trip at Tagish). The club has launched a new season of free field trips and special events. PHOTO: Jenny Trapnell The North is a nursery for millions of migratory birds returning from winters in places as far south as South …
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Who’s still here?
Fall migration is over, but you can still see some pretty cool birds around if you know where to look.
Look Who’s Parking in Whitehorse
Dr. Katie Aitken, an ornithology instructor at Yukon College, says it’s “unknown” if Yukon’s house sparrow population will expand to become a problem downtown or with bird lovers. She admits she has a soft spot for them. “It was the first species I identified when I started birding as a child down south,” she told …
Birding on the Fly
I’ve joined her in a Riverdale neighbourhood in search of a rare Mountain chickadee. The first species we see, however, is a noisy woodpecker, a “Hairy.” Whitehorse resident Tracy Allard brings out her smartphone and taps an app called eBird to start her checklist: the type, number and location of each bird she’ll see on this …
The Yukon’s Winter Mermaid: The American Dipper
A happy melodic song rings along the Yukon River below the dam, and you imagine it’s a pretty little bird singing in a tree. But it’s 10 below. Then you notice a small chubby bird, coloured like slate, sitting on boulders near the rushing water. Its body is bobbing up and down. It suddenly plunges into …
Getting Ready for Fall and Winter Birding
We’re getting ready for winter and so are the birds. They’re chirping and feeding everywhere and the sky is alive with flocks of all kinds. It’s so busy one of Yukon’s most avid birders, Tracey Allard, says fall can seem like spring for a few weeks. “There are so many sparrows and warblers and you’ll …
Summer Birding: It’s All About the Kids
In summer, birding is all about the kids. Or, chicks. After the spring blitz of migration and mating, many birds are rearing offspring and staying closer to their nests. It’s a time when many Yukoners stop birding. “Our forests are usually more silent and less colourful as males no longer have to advertise for mates or rivals,” …
Putting the WOW in Tombstone Park
Looking for a memorable northern road trip? The 17th annual Tombstone Weekend on the Wing (WOW) offers three days of fabulous hiking, a birding festival and interpretive events for all ages. The weekend of free events takes place June 3 to 5 and will start from the Tombstone Territorial Park campground, at kilometre 71 of …
Annual Birdathon a Tweet Event
The birds are back! And so is the annual Yukon Birdathon – a 24-hour birding extravaganza and sweet fundraiser. Held the last weekend in May, the 2016 event starts at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 27 and ends at 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 28. Birders can take from a few hours to all 24 …
Oh, Chickadee!
Of all the birds of the forest, the chickadee is my favourite. Growing up in Nova Scotia, it was one of the first birds I knew. My family had a cottage in the forest on the shore of St. Margaret’s Bay, outside Halifax. The black caps regularly shared our play areas. This tiny, cheery bird …
One-Two-Tweet…
There’s nothing like a bird count to inspire new and seasoned birders. This Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) takes place Feb. 12-15 and it’s a family-friendly event for any skill level. The GBBC helps to give a snapshot of bird life throughout Canada, the continent, and the world. Last year 5,090 species were recorded – …
Tips on Winter Birding
Yes, baby, it’s cold outside. But birding can get you out of the house, connect you with nature, and other people. During December’s Christmas bird counts – an annual winter birding tradition – hundreds of participants recorded birds in 14 different communities. (The numbers aren’t all in yet.) In Whitehorse, 46 people gave up Boxing …
Homage to a Yukon Birder
Yukon birds, and its birding community, have lost a true friend. When he died last month, at 75, Helmut Grünberg had spent over 40 years promoting the enjoyment, study, and conservation of Yukon’s bird life. He found his way to Whitehorse in the early ‘70s when, en route to climb Denali in Alaska, he was …
Happiness is a Warm Bird
It’s a season of traditions, and for thousands of Canadians this means taking part in the annual Christmas Bird Count. Called the “longest-running science project in the world” by the Audubon Society, this annual winter event — the 115th — can be fun, and it also has a purpose. This year the Yukon Bird Club …
Spring migration means a busy time for birders
The end of April’s Celebration of Swans at Marsh Lake comes at a good time. That’s because at least a hundred other bird species are now arriving as part of the long-awaited spring migration. This year, the Yukon Bird Club is offering free guided field trips in Whitehorse and 10 other locations to help both visitors …
The Yukon is One, Big, Public Garden
I don’t remember the first time I went birdwatching as an adult, but I know that it started when I was just a kid. Watching birds is a good way to get outdoors and connect with the natural world. This is especially true for children. At the age of six months, a family photo shows …
Counting Birds: A Christmas Tradition
You may be familiar with the partridge in the pear tree and the two turtle doves – counting birds is a longstanding Christmas tradition. The first official Christmas Bird Count (CBC), however, was started in 1900, after American ornithologist Frank Chapman decided to count birds instead of kill them (the annual “side hunt” was a …
