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FINAL
NEWS FROM THE NORTHERN OBSERVATION POSTS
May 10, 2005
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John Nagy: Inuvik, NT
May 5: No robins up here yet--don't expect them for another 2 weeks. Not much
for migratory birds up here yet--has been quite cool until recently--no waterfowl
yet either. Spring is slowly coming but still 100 percent snow cover.
Mike Sterling: Anchorage, AK
May 5: The robins are well-established in Anchorage, and swallows were swarming
yesterday (they've been here about 10 days). It's funny how they anticipate the
first batch
of mosquitoes. Two weekends ago a friend and I crossed the Talkeetna River on
snow machines to get to my cabin. The next morning we had to ride them across
open water--a
new experience for both of us. This last weekend the river was ice-free bank-to-bank.
Man! Spring comes fast up here! As we walked in to the school this morning a
resident pair of bald eagles were chasing each other through the sky above the
lake. Their
behavior reminded me
of my sixth-graders as they try out their wings with their latest crushes.
Linda Hoffman: Creston, BC
May 5: This has been quite a spring for robins and us. About three weeks ago
we
noticed a lot of robin activity near our deck. Well, Mrs. Robin decided that
the vines of our honeysuckle, which wrap around the corner
post of our deck, were a great place for a nest. She failed to take into account
that this well protected corner is only about 10 feet from our patio door. She
spent the next three or four days making her nest, then a few days laying the
eggs and then started to sit on the nest. Three days ago both parents started
to bring luscious worm material to the nest. My curiosity got the best of me
and today I took the step ladder and peeped into the nest. Three pinky red, ugly,
only-a-mother-could-love, little babies are in there just waiting for more worms.
At least the robins trust us enough now to ignore any activity we may want to
do on the deck. They even ignore our chocolate lab, Kayla, who likes to lay out
there. Things will be very busy for the parents for the next couple of weeks
and then peace will return to the deck.
Steve
Arthur: Fairbanks AK
Spring
is well along its way now. In fact, we seem to be about 2 weeks
ahead of schedule, with the trees leafing out, warm sunny weather,
and only a few small patches of snow lingering in shaded areas. Robins
are
singing all around, and many other migrants are passing through.
If this keeps up, we may be in for another hot dry summer like we had
last year.
Dominique Cloutier: St. Sauveur des Monts, PQ
May 5: Wild geese are flying over our house by the hundreds this
morning, the noise was almost deafening since they were flying
low! My robin seems to have
chosen the old apple tree near our house; I have noticed that he spends a lot
of his time there before diving for yummies onto the lawn. The weather has
been very rainy and kind of coldish, I'm now watching for the
arrival of my first
hummingbird, they usually arrive around this time, last year was the 8th, but
they have come as early as the 4th, I have put my feeder up last week-end and
now, I'm watching for them, both on the site and outside!
Margot Hervieux: Grande Prairie, AB
May 6: Spring for plants is about 2 weeks early this year with the aspen already
setting seed and lots of early wildflowers. The birds, however, continue to
arrive as expected with the thrill of seeing something new just about every
day.
Nancy Seamans: Quispamsis, NB
May 6: There are plenty of robins around now and like all mothers everywhere,
this weekend will be a busy time for them.
Sara Hepner: Sterling, AK
May 6: The robins are here in force...singing from the treetops early every
morning. They enjoyed an awesome week of sunshine followed now by a week of
cold, rainy
weather. I haven't observed nest-building activity, but I'll watch for it this
weekend.
Wayne Dwornik: Lethbridge, AB
May 7: Just a few lonely quiet robins in my neighbourhood here. But there is
now a bit of singing to be heard, and a friend from work says she has robins
singing in her neighbourhood (that's our Canadian spelling!). Yea!!
I've only seen 3 robins at any one time here. But I've got my lively house
finches to keep us company with their melodic singing. AND now we have 8 white-crowned
sparrows feeding in our yard. WOW! And can they ever sing BEAUTIFULLY. I love
it....AND in the river bottom we now have a small colony of American Pelicans.
A
very grand sight to see them flying in formation, too.
Richard and Vi Darling: Nipawin, SK
May 7: The robins are doing fine now that the warm weather has arrived and
there is
plenty of food. My purple martins returned today! And some scouts were looking
at my big apartment that I have had plugged so the sparrows don't get into
it. I hope the
martins will come there too. New in Nipawin is the white headed sparrow. They
have a lovely song. A friend is giving me some seeds for the purple flowers
that the Monarchs like.
Maybe next year I can report seeing some Monarchs.
Ute Keitsch: Port Hope, Ontario
May 7: We have Spring! The Robins are going crazy, still no leaves showing
on the
trees and bushes. April 30 and May 1 we had another huge wave of Robins;
mostly females but also
some new males. We have a big grassed area, part is Soccer field and plans
for a School and up to 50 Robins come from quit a distance away to feed .Then
they
take off again to the trees and tall shrubs. I can’t wait to plant
my trees and shrubs. First loon was on the last day of April. A bonded Pair
of Barn swallows
on May the 5th. Yesterday we heard our first Frog, not a Peeper. We have
just the first
Day since yesterday that the weather truly was heavenly. I am up early and
walk at 6 am or earlier, just to hear the Bird -Concert. Also the bumble
bees made
there appearance today. Next year I will have Bluebird Box up too. The country
side is full of them around
here.
Check Your Predictions! How Did You do?
Copyright
2005 Journey North. All Rights Reserved.
Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to jn-help@learner.org
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