Spring is around the corner and the birds are heading back to N.L.
Aah, at last, we are into the beginning of the spring movement of birds and not just talking about it coming soon.
The first ring-billed gulls have arrived. Denise Macisaac and Kathy Marche saw two at Stephenville on March 16, and Gary Case photographed one on the ice at Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John’s, on March 17.
These are five or six days ahead of schedule but the weather has been calm and suitable for migration, so the vanguard of ring-billed gulls has come early.
BACK FOR THE SUMMER
For birders, the arrival of ring-billed gulls is as good as the first spring robin. The ring-billed gull is a common summer bird in all of Newfoundland and the southern half of Labrador.
Unlike other species of gulls, all the ring-billed gulls depart from the province in the fall.
Banding records have shown that at least some of the Newfoundland ring-billed gulls overwinter in Massachusetts. It is quite likely that others join the wintering hundreds in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
The sight of the first arrivals of spring is like a breath of fresh air. They come back all trimmed out in their finest, including a glistening black ring around the chrome yellow bill, glowing lemonyellow legs and an overall fresh-looking plumage.
CANADA GEESE
The appearance of Canada geese at favoured locations this past week on the Avalon Peninsula, such as Cootes Pond and Renews, is a distinct sign of spring.
These could be migrants from Nova Scotia or birds shifting over from the wintering goose flocks in the Clarenville area.
Horned larks often slip back to the province unnoticed but should be arriving on southern coastal barrens now.
ROBINS AND SPARROWS
The arrival of spring American robins and fox sparrows in early April is the real start of spring birds for most people. There will be the annual spring discussions about whether that robin or fox sparrow is a spring arrival or an individual that overwintered in the province.
Another greatly appreciated spring arrival is the northern gannet. To see the first arrivals, you have to be at Cape St. Mary’s, where the largest breeding colony is located. Tradition says the gannets arrive there by St. Patrick’s Day.
This may be true, though it is usually not possible to check this out because the road out to the cape is blocked by old winter snowdrifts. However, by the end of the month, we can realistically hope to see a gannet migrating north past Cape Spear or Cape Race.
SOUNDS OF THE SEASON
The frequent sound of singing juncos, song sparrows, purple finches and black-capped chickadees is a beautiful sign of the season. It is great to hear these birds open up after enduring the winter within the province. The ubiquitous crow is feeling the spring.
You may notice the occasional crow carrying a stick in their beak. This is not for fun –– they are, as secretly as can be, building a nest in your neighbourhood.
Ravens are already sitting on cliff face nests incubating eggs. The Signal Hill bald eagle nest has grown significantly in size as the local pair is very busy adding yet more sticks to the structure. Very soon the female should be sitting on eggs.
THE RUFF
The Quidi Vidi Lake ducks are breathing a sigh of relief as the lake opens up giving them more freedom to move about and feed themselves.
Most of the collection of ducks wintering at Quidi Vidi Lake were heavily dependent on daily food handouts.
One great success story of the winter was the ruff. The ruff is a species of shorebird from Europe that arrived late last fall and decided to stay for the winter at Quidi Vidi Lake.
Against all odds, the ruff not only survived but seemed to thrive on the food handouts.
Suddenly, after being a daily fixture for four months, the bird went missing on March 15. It is with mixed feelings that we see it go, but it is migration time for ruffs. Where this lost bird has migrated to from Newfoundland is a mystery that we will never know the answer to. Best of luck, little ruff.
STELLER’S SEA EAGLE
And what about the Steller’s sea eagle photographed by Morgan O’rourke at the Robin Bay landfill in St. John’s on March 16?
It seems to have been a oneday wonder. It was probably attracted by the presence of bald eagles foraging in the garbage.
Maybe the Steller’s sea eagle did not recognize what the bald eagles were calling food in the human trash, so it went on.
The last previous sighting of this great Siberian wanderer was from Feb. 22 in the Codroy Valley. Where will it show up next?
Most likely it will zero in on the Trinity area, where it spent the last two summers.
Spring is out of the starting gates. Feel the promise in the warming sun.