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
Do you have a question about birds? Email: birds@whatsupyukon.com
Issue: 2018-12-12, PHOTO: Shyloh van Delft
There aren’t a lot of birds around in winter. But the Christmas bird counts always generate a crowd. First established in 1900, as an alternative to the seasonal Christmas “side-hunt,” the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is now an annual international... Read more
Issue: 2018-11-14, PHOTO: Tony Gonda
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... Read more
Issue: 2018-10-31, PHOTO: Bill McRoberts
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... Read more
Issue: 2018-05-02, PHOTO: Jenny Trapnell
The North is a nursery for millions of migratory birds returning from winters in places as far south as South America. To help increase the awareness and conservation of Yukon’s birds and habitat, the Yukon Bird Club has launched another season of... Read more
Issue: 2017-11-08, PHOTO: Cameron Eckert
Fall migration is over, but you can still see some pretty cool birds around if you know where to look. One popular birding area is along the Yukon River near the Rotary Centennial Bridge. The open water here attracts a wide array of species, and... Read more
Issue: 2017-04-05, PHOTO: Jennifer Trapnell
One of the world’s most urban birds has parked itself in downtown Whitehorse. The house sparrow, a small chirpy songbird, is now a familiar sight at downtown grocery store parking lots and other places where food is handy. Unrelated to North... Read more
Issue: 2017-03-08, Screenshot: Jennifer Trapnell
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... Read more
Issue: 2016-11-30, PHOTO: Cameron Eckert
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... Read more
Issue: 2016-09-15, PHOTO: Keith Williams
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. Read more
Issue: 2016-07-14, PHOTO: Ben Schonewille
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... Read more
Issue: 2016-06-02, PHOTO: Cameron Eckert
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... Read more
PHOTO: Jim Hawkings
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. Read more
Issue: 2016-04-28, PHOTO: Shyloh van Delft
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... Read more
Issue: 2016-02-11, PHOTO: Jennifer Trapnell
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... Read more
Issue: 2016-01-28, PHOTO: Shyloh van Delft
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... Read more
Issue: 2015-03-12 PHOTO: courtesy of Jennifer Trapnell
Yukon birds, and its birding community, have lost a true friend. When he died last month, at 74, 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 ... Read more
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 Read more
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. Read more
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 shoot-out competition). Read more
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. Read more