It may be springtime in Paris, but why travel to Paris when we have the Sunshine Coast? Everyone has their favourite time of the year but I think many would settle for a sunny day in late March or early April when there is blossom everywhere, the birds are singing, and the pristine, snowy ridges of Vancouver Island are highlighted by an azure sky. The life force of the natural world, both animal and vegetable, is energized for another year by the sunshine, temperature and lengthening days.
For birders, the arrival of migratory species that do not winter with us is greeted with a sense of being in touch with the seasons and the pulse of life on Earth, thus, the March arrival of violet-green and tree swallows, yellow-rumped warbler, and rufous hummingbird is eagerly anticipated. All of these species have now returned to the Sunshine Coast. The first violet-green swallows were reported on March 14, followed by sporadic reports, and then a widespread arrival at numerous locations on the 25th. Yellow-rumped warbler was first reported on the 17th and became widespread immediately after that. The first rufous hummer was reported on the 20th with more on the 24th. All of these dates were fairly normal, though perhaps late by a couple of days, reflecting the absence of any significant warm air flows from the south.
The return of birds from the south is concurrent with the return of birdsong to our area. Many of the singers are birds that are resident with us year round including Pacific wren, Hutton’s vireo, purple finch, house finch, song sparrow and red-winged blackbird. White-crowned sparrows do winter with us in small numbers but there is a massive inbound migration and they were first reported singing on 16th of March and it will be one of our most commonly heard songs for the next few months. It is a good song to become familiar with (learn from online sources).
Not all “birdsong” is song in the traditional sense. Up in the hills the sooty grouse are singing their repetitive, deep “hoop, hoop” calls, and in the lowlands you will likely hear our five species of woodpeckers drumming on snags and chimneys, which serves as the woodpecker equivalent of song.
One of the most common songs on the Sunshine Coast in April is the long, sustained warbling from the tree canopy of the tiny ruby-crowned kinglet. This species passes through our area in enormous numbers, but none stay to breed, as they continue on to their northern and interior breeding locations. Around April 9, listen for the first orange-crowned warblers, whose trill is likened to that of running your fingers along a comb.
To report your sightings or questions contact [email protected] or 885-5539. Good Birding.
