Birds
Stand still and listen to the many sounds of the birds which inhabit this woodland wetland. This is a noisy place in the spring. Birds make many kinds of sounds to attract mates and defend their territories. You may hear the “KON-KA-REEEEE” of a Red-winged Blackbird, the “WICHETY-WICHETY-WICHETY” of a Common Yellowthroat, the high-pitched whinny of a Sora, or the “HUHUHUHUHU” made by the tail feathers of the Wilson’s Snipe.
Birds love wetlands and beaver
ponds. Beaver ponds and wetlands support an incredible variety of birds by maintaining stable water levels and homes for all sorts of plant, animal and insect species. These areas are a great place for birds to set up a territory, build their nests, forage for food and raise their young. Birds are busy in the spring and summer!
The local Whisky Jacks Club (birding/nature club) has been identifying birds at the boardwalk for years, well before its construction in 2007. To date they have documented 156 different bird species visiting the boardwalk. Download the Birds of the Boardwalk Checklist here and if you’d like to reach out to the local Whisky Jacks club you can send them an email at [email protected].
Rufous Hummingbird
A common breeding bird of the Northwest, this bird breeds farther north than any other species of
hummingbird in the world. There is an extensive rusty coloration in most plumages and the male has
an iridescent red throat and non-shiny reddish back.
Red Winged Blackbird
One of the most abundant birds in North America, this bird is found in wetlands across the continent.
The black male can hide the brilliant red shoulders or show them off in a dazzling display. The female
looks strikingly different than the male and could almost be mistaken for a large dark sparrow.
Common Yellowthroat
A small songbird with plain olive green back, wings, and tail – it has a yellow throat and upper chest,
and the male has distinctive black mask.
Tree Swallow
A common swallow of marshes and open fields, the Tree Swallow winters farther north than any
other American swallow. It is white underneath and shiny blue-green on top.
BIRD BILLS AND THEIR FOOD BILLS
When you see a bird, look carefully at its bill. Bird bills play the role of hands, lips and teeth. You will see birds with bills that are: long (Wilson’s Snipe), flattened (Mallard), strong (Blue Jay), short (Cedar Waxwing), stout (Yellow-rumped Warbler), probing (Rufous Hummingbird), overlapping (White- winged Crossbills) and hooked (Sharp-shinned Hawk). The shape and size of a birds bill helps them find and eat their favourite food. Birds find their food in many different ways.
Swallows catch small flying insects as they zoom along over open water. The Rufous Hummingbird hovers above, below and beside flowers to reach sugary nectar. The Red-winged Blackbird gathers bugs from leaves and branches. The Ring-necked Duck dives for food and eats mosquito larvae, leeches, pond weeds and other aquatic life.