I have just returned from Arizona, the land of bird species such as roadrunners, cactus wren and verdin, desert species we do not see on the Sunshine Coast. In Arizona, some of the migrant species that are about to appear on the Sunshine Coast have already reappeared after a winter in Mexico or elsewhere.
Of the billions of birds that undertake long migrations, there are always a few pioneers, which reappear abnormally early or at least generally ahead of the rest of their species. Apropos of this, the first tree and violet-green swallows have already been sighted in the Fraser Delta, and the first rufous hummingbirds in Victoria. On the Sunshine Coast, the first swallows of the season are often reported about March 7, and Aldo Cogrossi at the Ruby Lake Resort is often the first to see them, flying over the lagoon.
The first sighting of the year of a swallow is an event taken seriously around the northern hemisphere, signifying the advent of spring after a dismal winter.
On the West Coast of North America, we are also blessed with the arrival of the rufous hummingbird. This diminutive species, the smallest bird we normally see on the Sunshine Coast, has an aura and an ego that transcends that of most other species. The males are rufous on the back with a glittering iridescent golden-orange gorget and a famed belligerence around hummingbird feeders. The first rufous hummers occasionally appear in the second week of March, frequently in the third week, and then the floodgates open in late March and early April. Please be aware of confusion with the Anna’s hummingbird (pink gorget) which stays with us all year, and also of the optical illusions of the iridescent gorget, which can appear black at certain angles.
We also await the imminent arrival of yellow-rumped warblers, which are usually reported in the March 12 to 15 period. These birds, the first of the billions of warblers of 30 species that return to Canada to breed, are usually detected by their distinctive “chip” calls from the tops of bare alder trees. Sargeant Bay Provincial Park is a good location to look for these birds. Jim Neish in Roberts Creek reported that band-tailed pigeons returned to his property on Feb. 24. Also look for the first turkey vultures of the year.
To report your sightings or questions, contact [email protected] or 604-885-5539.
