IING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 University of Alberta Library .... . | | | j | | | ill | | M IING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 llllllllll Mil II I II II H mmmm hh m m JelBLUE lAY QH 1 B65 v.74: no.1 2016 SCI/TECH An astounding three new species were added to the all-time Saskatchewan Christmas Bird Count list, including a king eider on the Fort Qu'Appelle Count. Craig and Lorriene Salisbury discovered a red-winged blackbird with a wafer-thin extension of his maxilla (aka upper mandible). What's inside 5 How the Blue Jay got its name Lome Scott 6 74th annual Saskatchewan Christmas bird count - 2015 Alan R. Smith & Randi Edmonds 20 Western red damselflies found at two new locations in 2015 Lome Duczek 21 Wing-flapping by mud¬ gathering cliff swallows: additional comments Spencer G. Sealy The western red damsel is a small damselfly, 24-28 mm long, and its bright red abdomen distinguishes it from other small damselflies in Saskatchewan, which are mainly blue. Eight young mountain bluebirds nearly ready to fledge from a nest box. Young fledge at about 18 days of age. 22 International piping plover breeding census 23 The Stewards of Saskatchewan programs welcome summer staff for 2016 24 Owls of the prairies Kaytlyn Burrows 25 Anomalous bill on red-winged blackbird Craig and Lorriene Salisbury 26 Nature Saskatchewan spring meet 2016 28 Is nocturnal birding for you? Rob Wilson A short-eared owl at Francis Lake, Saskatchewan. The Frenchman River between Ravenscrag and Eastend. 30 43rd annual Saskatchewan Christmas mammal count - 2015 Alan R. Smith 35 Thoughts from ARTS Cares volunteers 36 My life with bluebirds Lome Scott 40 Changes to our publications and membership structure 42 Human Nature Annie McLeod 43 Mystery Photo BLUE JAY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 FROM THE PRESIDENT Tara Sample President, Nature Saskatchewan It is spring and once again the air is filled with the familiar sound of returning songbirds as prairie plants are starting to awaken from their frozen slumber. It is, I think, appropriate that during this season of renewal and new beginnings we launch a new version of the Blue Jay. On behalf of the Board, I am very pleased to welcome you to this first issue of the new Blue Jay. I think you will enjoy it. The committee endeavoured to honour the society's rich history, while embracing its future. I believe you will find the same commitment to the documentation of our natural history and the sharing of conservation news that has always been important to the society. Members will have more options in how they read the Blue Jay, too. We are offering it in both digital and print format. I believe this is an important step for the Society and one that aligns well with our new strategic plan that holds engaging youth as an important element. The Photo credit: Nick Saunders ON THE COVER Hne warbler at Holiday Park in Saskatoon, February 2016. This pine warbler, first observed on December 7, 201 5, was one of 45 species recorded on December 26, 201 5 in Saskatoon as part of the 74th Annual Saskatchewan Christmas Bird Count. newest generations of naturalists are the ones that have grown up in the digital age, after all. However, to truly be a success, we need participation from you, our valued members. Please continue to send us your observations, photos and nature-related news. And remember that above all else, this is your Blue Jay and your opinion matters, so let us know what you think. Enjoy your read. -Jt //< * e SASKATCHEWAN H SB 1 ANTED SASKATCHEWAN Loggerhead Shrike (Threatened) Songbird with black face mask and contrasting black, grey and white plumage and a hooked, black bill. Prefers open habitats and thinly wooded areas, including dense or thorny bushes, such as shelterbelts. 1 Burrowing Owl (Endangered) WSfj, Small owl, 9 inches tall with long, featherless legs; plumage is brown and white with beige spots. Most active during dawn and dusk. Found in grassland areas °f southem Saskatchewan, sometimes nesting in ditches or cultivated fields. Monarch (Special Concern) Bright orange butterfly with marked black veins and wings bordered with two rows of white spots; wingspan is 10 cm. Occurs in southern Saskatchewan, where milkweed and wild flowers grow. Sr Piping Plover (Endangered) nail, grey bird with a single black band around its neck. It has a black forehead band, short ■ orange legs and a black-tipped orange bill. Found on sandy, gravelly or pebbly shorelines. Northern Leopard Frog (Special Concern) Green to brown with dark spots and two light ridges running along its body from its eyes to its lower back. Found in aspen parkland and grasslands, in and around j water. Prefers ponds, marshes, pools and sometimes slow-moving streams. Report Sightings to Hatnri Saskatchewan at: 1-800-667-4668 SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 BLUE JAY 3 BLUE JAY SASKATCHEWAN Blue Jay, founded in 1942 by Isabel M. Priestly, is a journal of natural history and conservation for Saskatchewan and adjacent regions. It is published quarterly by Nature Saskatchewan. Editor: Annie McLeod 3017 Hill Avenue Regina, SK S4S 0W2 E-mail: bluejay@naturesask.ca Editorial Information Blue Jay welcomes all submissions, preferably by e-mail (although hand¬ written or typed manuscripts will be considered to accommodate those who do not have access to computer equipment), polished or in need of some editorial assistance. All items for publication should be sent to the editor electronically (in a Microsoft Word document) by e-mail or on CD. Hard copies and CDs can be mailed to the editor at the address above. Submission deadlines January 1 for the Spring issue, April 1 for the Summer issue, July 1 for the Fall issue, and October 1 for the Winter issue. For detailed information, please see the "Guidelines for Authors" under the Publications section of the Nature Saskatchewan website (www.naturesaskatchewan.com). Board of Directors President Tara Sample Vice President Branimir Gjetvaj Treasurer Ed Rodger Secretary Nicole Dunn Honourary President J. Frank Roy Past President Donna Bruce Conservation Director Lome Scott Directors Dean Cattell Joan Feather Hamilton Greenwood Vladimir Kricfalusy Robert Wilson Office & Program Contacts Executive Director Jordan Ignatiuk Species at Risk Manager Melissa Ranalli (on leave) Acting Species at Risk Manager Rebecca Magnus Conservation & Education Manager Lacey Weekes Communications Manager Ellen Bouvier Office Coordinator Becky Quist Operation Burrowing Owl/ Habitat Stewardship Coordinator Kaytlyn Burrows Acting Shrubs for Shrikes/ Plovers on Shore/Banner Program/ Habitat Stewardship Coordinator Ashley Fortney International Piping Plover Census Coordinator Alan Smith NatureWatch Coordinator Lacey Weekes Turkey Vulture Tracking Program Dr. Stuart Houston Main Office Nature Saskatchewan 206 - 1 860 Lome Street Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 2L7 Editors Blue Jay Editor Annie McLeod Special Publications Editor Anna Leighton Contacts for Local Societies & Affiliates Fort Qu'Appelle Natural History Society Keith Stephens Indian Head Nature History Society Irv Escott Kelsey Ecological Society Kathleen Pitt Nature Moose Jaw Lorna Arnold Nature Prince Albert Jim Bahr Nature Regina Dale Hjertaas Neudorf Trails & Wild Bird Sanctuary Society Keith Gerstner Saskatoon Nature Society Marten Stoffel Southwest Naturalists Janet Payne Weyburn Nature Society Val Thomas Wolseley Nature Society Richard Solberg Yorkton Natural History Society Geoff Rushowick Yellowhead Flyaway Birding Trail Association Martin Phillips Meadow Lake 'Woodlanders' Junior Forest Wardens Neil Marsh Friends of Wascana Marsh Ramona Clarke UNIVERSITY LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA 4 BLUE JAY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 HOW THE BLUE JAY GOT ITS NAME Lome Scott Conservation Director Nature Saskatchewan Isabel Priestly, born in England and residing in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, was instrumental in the formation of the Yorkton Natural History Society (YNHS) in 1942, and in publishing the Society's newsletter — Blue Jay. Charter members of the YNHS included young Stuart Houston and Harvey Beck who authored the Saskatchewan Natural History Society's (SNHS) first Special Publication — The Mammals of Saskatchewan. As many of our members know, Stuart and Mary Houston are still active in making many contributions to the SNHS. With Isabel Priestly's untimely death in 1946, several individuals continued to keep the YNHS and Blue Jay afloat. The 25-cent membership fee was increased to 50 cents, and the Regina Natural History Society (RNHS) and the Provincial Museum (Royal Saskatchewan Museum) offered assistance to the Yorkton naturalists and the publication of the Blue Jay. However, in 1948, the newsletter's editors in Yorkton announced in the Blue Jay that "with this issue the Blue Jay, as the official organ of the YNHS, will cease to exist." Recognizing the importance of the Blue Jay, a group of RNHS members and others from around Saskatchewan offered to partner with the YNHS to continue the publication of the newsletter. A key condition from the Yorkton group was that the Blue Jay name be maintained for the new, joint publication. In 1949, after much planning and communication, a group of naturalists and conservationists met in Regina to form the SNHS — more commonly known as Nature Saskatchewan — and assumed responsibility for the publication of the Blue Jay. At this time, the first Executive and directors were also named from around the province. Over the years, the format of the Blue Jay has changed, and this year brings a new change to the publication as well. In addition, SNHS priorities and programming have changed many times over the years, but the one constant throughout the past 65 years has been the name Blue Jay. Many younger members ask, "Where did the name Blue Jay come from?" Mrs. Priestly explained in (Volume 1 , No. 2) that the name originated with "Sammy (Blue) Jay" of Thornton W. Burgess' Bedtime Story Books, who carried the news to the "Little People of the Green Forest and Green Meadows." As we move into another chapter in the history of Blue Jay, we hope you will embrace the new Blue Jay and continue to support Nature Saskatchewan. Suggestions and comments are always welcome, and equally welcome are articles and stories for use in the Blue Jay. We would like to thank Kerry Hecker and Lowell Strauss for serving as editors of the Blue Jay for the past several years. We also welcome, and look forward to working with, Annie McLeod as the new Blue Jay editor. *The information for this article comes from "The Isabel Priestly Legacy"; Saskatchewan Natural History Society 1949-1990. By Margaret Belcher. SNHS Special Publication No. 19. This very informative book is available at the Nature Saskatchewan office. 4 4.WVI TYtrh 1 Mimitecf Nature Shop M'e 'Bring TeopCe & Nature 'Together 330A - 2600 8th St. E. Saskatoon 306-955-BIRD (2473) www.wbu.com/saskatoon SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 BLUE JAY 5 74TH ANNUAL SASKATCHEWAN CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT - 2015 Alan R. Smith & Randi Edmonds, Box 154, Avonlea, SK, SOH 0C0 alanrandi@sasktel.net The Counts The number of counts conducted rebounded from 88 to 93 this year. Three counts missed last year were revived while five new counts were added, more than compensating for a loss of three other counts. Perhaps encouraged by the balmy weather, party hours in the field (as opposed to feeder hours) rebounded from last year's 20-year low to about average; feeder hours remained about average. The Weather Average minimum and maximum count temperatures this past count period (with 2014-15 records in brackets) were -13 to -9 C (-16 to -12 C), wind speeds 7 to 14 km/h (7 to 1 5 km/h), and snow depths 6 to 13 cm (9 to 21 cm). As can be seen, winter temperatures were higher and snowfall lower compared to last year (winds speeds were about the same). There has been much debate as to how much of this change was due to El Nino and how much due to climate change - only time will tell. In either event, the warmer, drier weather had a profound effect on count results. The Birds The number of birds counted more than doubled over last year's 84,702 to 177,799, and is the highest total since the 2001 record high of 188,086 birds. Some of this increase is attributable to revival of the Coronach Count that contributed almost 34,000 birds, mostly waterfowl, but the rest is a result of the marked increase in the numbers of several species (see Population Trends). The average number of species per count at 18.7 was slightly above the 1995-2013 average of 17.5, while the overall number of species (108 on count day plus seven count period species) was the second highest ever, eclipsed only by 1 16 species plus five count period species in 1997. For the first time in 14 years, Saskatoon lost the crown for the most species on a count, albeit on a technicality. Both cities had 45 species on count day but Regina had seven as opposed to two additional species during the count period, so Regina wins the tie breaker. Population Trends The lack of snow is probably a major reason for the marked increase in several species (Table 7). The revived Coronach count notwithstanding, field-feeding waterfowl, namely the mallard and especially Canada geese, increased substantially. Perhaps in response to increased scavenging opportunities provided by the waterfowl, bald eagles were up 54 per cent over last year. Likewise, numbers of open- country horned larks and snow buntings were up 524 and 99 per cent respectively. Other species on the increase include a few of the finches whose populations are by nature cyclical. These include the pine grosbeak, both species of crossbills, and both redpolls. The expansion of the Eurasian collared-dove seems to have resumed after seeming to stall last year. Four new localities were added: Duval, Grenfell, Last Mountain Lake NWA and Shamrock. After a steady decline, the number of house fiches returned to those enjoyed 10 years earlier. Six new localities were added for the species including Endeavor and Nipawin, extending its winter range over 100 km to the northeast. New Species An astounding three new species were added to the all-time list: A king eider on the Ft. Qu'Appelle Count, a pine warbler on the Saskatoon Count (first seen on December 7, 201 5 and still present March 1 5 of this year!), and a scarlet tanager during the count period at Regina. The CBC list now stands at an amazing 191 species. Other Rarities A Pacific wren during the count period on the Cypress Hills P.P. count. This bird is assumed to be a Pacific wren as it was seen very close to the first confirmed provincial record of the species on June 24, 2015. The previous record was a bird also assumed to be a Pacific wren on the Ft. Walsh Count on December 18, 1999. A golden-crowned sparrow on the Morse count was the second of its kind for the provincial CBC - the previous record was of a bird seen during the count period at Broadview. The Morse bird was still present on March 1 0 of this year. A gray catbird also at Morse was only the third ever to be recorded on a Saskatchewan CBC. Count areas and participants (Names of compilers are in italics). 1. ARCHERWILL. Gerald Hiron, Susan Hiron, Audrey Hnetka, Perry Hnetka, Elaine Hughes, Dorothy Klettberg, Willie Klettberg, Judy Revoy, Stan Revoy. 2. AVONLEA. Alan Smith, Blaine Sudom. 3. BALGONIE. Jared Clarke, Ryan Dudragne, Bob Ewart, Fran Kerbs, Laurie Koepke, Maureen Lee, Jeannette Luther, Brett Quiring, Dan Sawatzky, Wendy Woodard, Mary Worel. 6 BLUE JAY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 4. BIGGAR. Mary-Jo Danychuk, Tammy Danychuk, Lorrie Sielski, Larry Sutherland, Guy Wapple, Marguerite Wapple, Rob Wapple, Sandra Wapple. 5. BIRCH HILLS. Margaret Mareschal, Maurice Mareschal. 6. BORDEN-RADISSSON. Heather Giroux, Kyron Giroux, Ron Jensen, Jennipher Karst, Stan Shadick, Phil Taylor. 7. BRIERCREST-DRINKWATER. Randi Edmonds, Alan Smith. 8. BROADVIEW. Doug Boivin, Barb Weidl, Don We id I . 9. CATER. Beverly Beland, Orval Beland. 10. CHATSWORTH S.D. Charles Dyck, Donna Dyck, Lisa Herminston, Robert Mess, Wionna Mess, George Murray, Laurie Murray, Marcel Pelletier, Kerri Rooke, Stewart Rooke, Carol Tangedal, Rudy Tangedal. 1 1 . CHRISTOPHER LAKE. Jeannie Walker. 12. CHURCHBRIDGE B. Bernard Petracek, Dennis Petracek. 13. CLARK'S CROSSING. Dave Cook, Louise Cook, Lome Duczek, Shelly Fisher, May Haga, Marilyn Haskins, Jeff Jensen, Ron Jensen, Gwen Klypak, Heney Klypak, Gordon Koshinsky, Margaret Koshinsky, Sylvia Raginski, Stan Shadick, Valerie Stacey, Marten Stoffel, MaryToews, Guy Wapple, Trent Watts, Michael Williams. 14. CORONACH. Ryan Dudragne, Chris Harris, Bob Luterbach, Dan Sawatzky. 15. CRAVEN. Karl Beaulieu, Dave Cameron, Stephane Canevet, Rhonda Chartrand, Jim Cummings, Ryan Dudragne, Chris Harris, Trevor Herriot, Aoki Hiroyuki, Dale Hjertaas, Louise Holloway, Phil Holloway, Cheryl Kelln, Fran Kerbs, Laurie Koepke, Bob Luterbach, Kent Lynn, Barbara Mader, Kim Mann, Val Mann, Amelia McDonald, Jarrod McDonald, Barry Mitschke, Dave Phillips, Curtis Pollock, Beatriz Prieto, Ed Rodger, Jim Rollins, Nicholas Selinger, Brian Sterenberg, Jeanette Taylor, Robb Taylor, Mary Worel. 16. CREIGHTON. Karen Prokopetz, Brenda Schmidt, Harvey Schmidt, Terry Smith. 17. CROOKED LAKE. Jaxon Finkas, Boyd Metzler. 18. CROOKED RIVER. Margaret Mehler, Morley Mehler. 19. CYPRESS HILLS PROVINCIAL PARK (Centre Block). Dwight Dobson, Nancy Dobson, Angela Litke, Wayne Litke, Brynne Martin, Mimi Martin, Melody Nagel-Hisey, Jenny Thompson, Duncan Willis, Sam Willis. 20. DENHOLM. Beverly Beland, Gerard Beland, Linda Beland, Orval Beland. 21 . DORINTOSH. Vicky Prior, Joe Twidale, Lorraine Twidale, Tim Wahl. 22. DUVAL. Ryan Dudragne, Linda Euteneier, Merv Hey, Lloyd Saul, Dan Sawatzky. 23. EASTEND. Roxie Binkley, Dwane Bristow, Kevin Bristow, Betty Davis, Robert Gebhardt, Allan Gorrier, Sherry Gorrie, June Higgins, Joan Hodgson, Harvey Johnson, Ed Sanford, Lome Scott, Mary Thomson, Claire Topham, Heidi Topham, Jane Topham, Jack Wilkinson, Jan Wilkinson. 24. EBENEZER A. Nancy Bird, Ivanna Kozie, Kenn Wood, Sarah wood 25. EBENEZER B. Harvey Wegner. 26. ENDEAVOUR. Ed Harris, Norman Harris. 27. ESTEVAN. Barry Dies, Marilyn Dies, Craig Palmer, Larry Preddy, Reid Walton, Rose Walton, Guy Wapple. 28. ESTUARY NORTH. Cathy Cocks, Dean Francis. 29. FENTON. Garman Dodge. 30. FLORAL. Nick Saunders, Guy Wapple. 31. FORT QU'APPELLE. Jean Ashcroft, Peter Ashcroft, Shawn Baldock, Linda Banman, Ryan Dudragne, Mark Geremia, Alice Isfan, Jack Lowe, Bob Luterbach, Jean McKenna, Alan Mlazgar, Denise Mlazgar, Paul Paulhus, Wendy Paquin, Florence Pearpoint, Dan Sawatzky, Keith Stephens, Colette Stushnoff, Jean Vindevoghel, Marcel Vindevoghel. 32. GARDINER DAM. Ryan Dudragne, Greg Fenty, Jennifer Fenty, Jeff Jensen, Ron Jensen, Nick Saunders, Marten Stoffel, Phil Taylor, Guy Wapple. 33. GOOD SPIRIT LAKE. Bill Anaka and Joyce Anaka (non-participating compilers), Dorothy Riesz, Ray Riesz, Lloyd Wilson, Marg Wilson. 34. GRASSLANDS NATIONAL PARK. Diana Charbros, Heather Facette, Dena Fischer, Samantha Fischer, Danielle Grant, Kathy Grant, Stepahno Liccioli, Kevin Moore, Joseph Naytowhow, Heather Olson, Nathan Young. 35. GRAYSON. Carina Helm, Gharles Helm, Daniel Helm, Linda Helm, Jeanette Zimmer, Karl Zimmer. 36. GREENWATER. Bill Gudjuonson, Birdie Krzak, Brian Shuya, Helen Toovey. 37. GRENFELL. Ethel Reiger, Barb Weidl, Don Weidl. 38. HARRIS. Bev Barker, Russ Barker, Ron Jensen, Nick Saunders, Phil Taylor, Guy Wapple. 39. HAZLET. Laurent Dudragne, Ryan Dudragne. 40. HUDSON BAY. Judy Block, John Daisley, Agnes Lewellin, Dennis Reimer, Elvina Rumak, Bev Soules, Nancy Steinbachs John Zolkavich. 41 . INDIAN HEAD. Kay Dixon, Irv Escott, David Gehl, Roberta Gehl, Sharon Hearn, Jim Jinks, Linda Jinks, Greta Kort, John Kort, Linda Kort, Peter Kort, Dan Loran, Dora Nichols, Raymond Schaeffer, Conrad Schreiner, Brian Scott, Glenn Scott, Lome Scott, Chris Skinner, Fred Skinner, Donna Thompson, Sandra Vanderschaff, Shirley Vandershaaf, David Yakimoski. SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 BLUE JAY 7 42. KENASTON. P. Lawrence Beckie. 43. KENOSEE LAKE. Jaxon Finkas, Boyd Metzler, John Pollock. 44. KETCHEN NORTH. Dallas Fairburn. 45. KINDERSLEY NORTH. Carla Harris, Jean Harris, Keith Harris. 46. KINLOCH. Don Forbes, Doreen Forbes, Carter Haroldson, Robert Haroldson, Clifford Logan, Doreen Wickstrom. 47. KUTAWAGAN LAKE. Valeriana Harris, Sheila Lamont. 48. KYLE. Glen Pederson, Marten Stoffel, Dan Zazelenchuk. 49. LA RONGE. Sid Robinson, John Schisler, Jan Shewchuk. 50. LAST MOUNTAIN LAKE NWA. Valeriana Harris, Sheila Lamont. 51. LEADER NORTH. Daisy Meyers. 52. LOVE - TORCH RIVER. Theresa Belliveau, Hal Birkett, Joan Birkett, Bert Dalziel, Joan Dalziel, Kari Dalziel, Nora Dalziel, Sara Dalziel, Scott Edwards, Elaine Inskster, Roseanne Kirkpatrick, Eilene L'Heureux, Lynn Matthews, Lillian Nesset, Audrey Schrader, Eric Schrader, Josh Turtle, Leonard Turtle. 53. LUSELAND. Estelle Finley, Graeme Finley, Kim Finley, Liam Finley, Valerie Finley. 54. MEADOW LAKE. Bill Caldwell, Bob Wilson, Ian Wilson. 55. MOOSE JAW. Jeff Mander, Alan Smith. 56. MOOSE MOUNTAIN. Tanis Dionne, Doyle Thomas, Val Thomas. 57. MORSE. Ryan Dudragne, Noel Enns, Stella Enns, Joel Priebe, Ken Priebe, Myrna Priebe, Randy McColloch, Lori Wilson. 58. NIPAWIN. Carol Blenkin, Vi Budd, Joyce Christiansen, Bert Dalziel, Joan Dalziel, Sara Dalziel, Rick Douslin, Jennette LeCuyer, George Lidster, Jeri McCleary, Peter McCleary, Fred Olfert, Doug Phillips, Shirley Phillips, Jazzlyn Wales, Bill Walter, Elaine Walter. 59. NISBET FOREST, NORTHWEST. Sandra Jewell. 60. NISBET FOREST, WEST. Kim Clark. 61 . ODESSA. Arden Curts, Denise Curts, Denny Curts. 62. OUTLOOK. Graham Thomson. 63. PIERCE LAKE. Marsha Hayward, Ted Hind march, Phil Shore. 64. PIKE LAKE. Adele Bittner, Donna Bruce, Dave Cook, Louise Cook, Yvonne Cuttle, Elsbeth Dormuth, Lome Duczek, Bob Girvan, Bob Godwin, Rhea Gooding, Mike Grisdale, May Haga, Alice Hiller, Kodi Hiller, Greg Hutchings, Jeff Jensen, Ron Jensen, Joan Kohn, Rolf Kohn, Audrey MacKenzie, Bill MacKenzie, Murray Morgan, Keith Paul, Sylvia Raginski, Brant Remenda, Naomi Remenda, Marc Sabourin, Beverley Schmidt, Ljubica Stuglin, Phil Taylor, Michael Williams, Dwight Young, Nancy Young. 65. PONTEIX. Ryan Dudragne. 66. PRINCE ALBERT. Jim Bahr, Doug Braaten, Marie Braaten, Kim Clark, Carman Dodge, Hamilton Greenwood, Ron Jensen, Sandra Jewel, Gwen Klebek, Justine Lofstrom, Laurel Lofstrom, Randell Lofstrom, Elizabeth Moar, John Rye, Vicki St Germain, Warren St Germaine, Phil Taylor. 67. QU'APPELLE. Jean Ashcroft, Peter Ashcroft, Melanie Beattie, Cory Bennett, Christine Blair, Lillian Longpre, Paul Paulhus, Colette Strushnoff, Richard Strushnoff, Frank Veresh. 68. QU'APPELLE VALLEY DAM. May Haga, Stan Shadick, Carl Siemens, Hollyce Seimens, Marten Stoffel, Guy Wapple, Michael Williams. 69. RAYMORE. Valeriana Harris, Sheila Lamont. 70. REGINA. Don Bjerkie, Maryanne Bjerkie, Lionel Bonneville, Stephane Bonneville, Jared Clarke, Lolamae Crawley, Ron Crawley, Jim Elliot, Ruth Englund, Bob Ewart, Jackie Fauth, Phil Fauth, Terry Ford, Shirley Friel, Chris Harris, Mark Harrison, Trevor Herriot, Dale Hjertaas, Dean Johnson, Fran Kerbs, Laurie Koepke, Rheal Laroche, Linda Langenbacher, Maureen Lee, Kaitlin Lindblad, Luciel Lipka, Mike Lipka, Gabrielle Logan, Sarah Ludlow, Bob Luterbach, Kim Mann, Val Mann, Kris Mutafov, Carolyn Pepper, Wayne Pepper, Brett Quiring, Chris Ratch, Ed Rodger, Daniel Sawatzky, Chris Selinger, Ken Selinger, Nick Selinger, Joanne Shurvin-Martin, Brian Sterenberg, Frank Switzer. Mary Switzer, George Wang, Bradley Yee. 71. ROKEBY. Clarence Bishop, Lloyd Liebracht, Eona Lockhart, Morley Maier, S. Newsham, Lome Niebergal, Fred Phillips, Martin Phillips, Kirk Screpnick, RayThies, Lome Tullvek. Allan Wheeler. 72. ROSCOMMON S.D. Bernice Althouse, Kate Althouse, Ruby Finnie, Brian Irving, Joan Lillibo, Peggy Olson, Dianne Sloan, Graham Sloan, Marguerite Sloan. 73. ROULEAU. Allen McGratten, Noreen McGratten, Patricia Sterzuk. 74. ROUND LAKE (Prince Albert Area). Crystal Frenette. 75. ROUND LAKE (Qu'Appelle Valley). Boyd Metzler, Mary Ward, Pat Ward. 76. SALTCOATS. Arden Bradford, Donna Brygider, M. Easton, Walter Farguharson, Dave Herron, Ron Knudsen, Fern Mckay, B. McLaren, D. Westburg. 77. SASKATCHEWAN LANDING PROVINCIAL PARK. Glen Pederson, Marten Stoffel, Dan Zazelenchuk. 78. SASKATCHEWAN RIVER FORKS. Carman Dodge, Don Weidl (non¬ participating compiler). 79. SASKATOON. Alexander Acton, Bruce Acton, Allison Baudru, Lou Baudru, Neva Bayliss, Jim Beveridge, Bruce Boldt, Jacquie Christensen, Louise Cook, Ewen Coxworth, Yvonne Cuttle, Laurel Duczek, Lome Duczek, Anne Dzus, Marlene Dzus, Melanie Elliott, Joshua Erickson, Joan Feather, Lesley Fell, David Forbes, Cathy Fry, 8 BLUE JAY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 Heather Giroux, Kyron Giroux, Bob Godwin, Mike Gollop, May Haga, Audrey Hall, Helen Hanbidge, John Hanbidge, Alice Hiller, Kodi Hiller, Kathy Holtslander, Mary Houston, Stuart Houston, Marlene Kalanack, Arlene Karpan, Robin Karpan, Gordon Koshinsky, Margaret Koshinsky, Don Loren, Janet Loren, Audrey MacKenzie, Bill MacKenzie, Priscilla Mah, Colleen Meldrum, Scott Mitchell, Tracey Mitchell, Hilda Noton, Ken Nyeste, John Patterson, Alison Phillips, Dorothy Riemer, Marella Rosta, Marc Sabourin, Craig Salisbury, Lorriene Salisbury, Trish Santo, Nick Saunders, Bob Scharf, Margie Scharf, Maureen Scharf, Doug Schmeiser, Irene Schmeiser, Laurie Slinger, Jan Solem, Jennifer Solem, Marten Stoffel, Margot Taylor, Phil Taylor, Lillian Thorpe, Mary Toews, Don Torrie, Guy Wapple, George West, Michael Williams, Jim Wood, Judy Wood, Sandy Woynarski, Stan Woynarski, Dianne Young, Norman Zlotkin. 80. SAWYER LAKE. Maureen Blight, David Wei man. 81. SHAMROCK. Hugh Henry, Milton Knudsen, Iris McNeill, Darwin Menke, Ken Priebe, Myrna Priebe. 82. SNOWDEN. Esther Chamberlin, Gus Fomradas, Don Friesen, Ed Hagel, Irene Hagel, Lillian Kuzniar, Linda Patton, George Pickett, Jack Pickett, Bill Thompson, Tim Thompson, Irene White. 83. SPINNEY HILL. Ed Driver. 84. SPRUCE HOME. Keith Walters. 85. SQUAW RAPIDS. Ryan Dudragne, Shelly Fisher, Valeriana Harris, Sheila Lamont. 86. SWIFT CURRENT. Karl Bazin, Sara Bazin, Jacguie Bolton, Stacy Bolton, Eunice Cammell, Norris Currie, Laurent Dudragne, Mary Ann Dudragne, Ryan Dudragne, Arnie Ens, Lorna Fast, Dave Green, Esther Green, Katie Hagman, Norma Hain, Hugh Henry, Kim Houghtaling, Vincent Houghtaling, Leonard Howes, Lois Howes, Stephanie Kadduck, Tommy Kirk, Verna Lynn Knipfel, Dot Letkeman, Rita McLaughlin, Kevin Moore, Janet Payne, Harold Steppuhn, Sue Steppuhn, Irene Stinson, Lloyd Thiessen, Sharlane Toole, Kae Walters. 87. THICKWOOD HILLS-SPIRITWOOD. Margie Fast, Kay Willson, Philip Wilson. 88. TOGO. Betty Burback, Del Burback, Donna Dewores, Barb Elsasser, Doug Elsasser, Amanda Harper, Lyle Harper, Ed King, Louise King, William Koreliuk, Karen Leis, Barb Leppky, Jim Leppky, Phil Rezansoff, Mabel Skinner, Marty Skinner, Zane Woodworth, Zoria Woodworth. 89. WEYBURN. Cecile Burr, Tanis Dionne, John Ferrier, Dale Huff, Sandi Huff, Cyril Marcotte, Charlotte Payak, Don Payak, Joe Stephaniuk, Doyle Thomas, Val Thomas, Kim Thorson, Myrt Thorson, Dorothy Whitell, John Whitell. 90. WHITE BEAR. Glen Pederson, Dan Zazelenchuk. 91 . WHITEWOOD. Ken Aldous, Carole Armstrong, Cindy Ashfield, Joe Ashfield, Paul Ashfield, Grant Erickson, Joyce Kydd, Florence Luhtala, Sarah Manbourg, Boyd Metzler, Harry Michell, Marilyn Mitchell, Donna Mohr, Margaret Nieminen, Paul Nieminen, John Pollock, Tony Saltasuk, Carol Sawatzki, Doug Shepherd, Dawn Vennard, Diane Veresh. 92. WINGARD. Elizabeth Beam, John Beam, Rebecca Beam. 93. YORKTON. Allan Bailey, Crystal Bailey, Brian Beck, Lorna Bright, Vern Brown, Mae Ann Chilman, Warren Crossman, Jim Dicker, Gordon Flett, Joyce Gardner, Bob Graham, Lance Irvine, Sheldon Knoll, George Maben, Matt Montain, Gloria Rathgeber, Dorothy Riesz, Ray Riesz, Don Ruf, Geoff Rushowick, Dale Sharpe, Dorothy Skene, Stan Williams. King eider. Photo credit: Annie McLeod Figure 1. Location of 2015 counts (numbers correspond to those in text under Count Areas and participants). Natural Vegetation zones* A. Subartic Woodland B. Northern Boreal forest C. Southern Boreal Forest D. Aspen Parkland E. Mixed Prairie F. Dry Mixed Prairie G. Cypress Hills * Adapted from: Thorpe, J. 1999. Natural Vegetation. P. 133 in Atlas of Saskatchewan (K. Fung, ed). Univ. of Sask., Saskatoon SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 BLUE JAY 9 Table 1.1. Weather and Snow Cover. LOCALITY DATE MIN TEMP (C) MAX TEMP (OC) MIN WIND (KM/ HR) MAX WIND (KM/HR) MIN SMOW (CM) MAX SNOW (CM) SKY AM SKY PM Archerwill 30 Dec 2015 -20 -12 11 14 10 10 partly cloudy partly cloudy Avonlea 28 Dec 2015 -12 -9 0 2 4 4 overcast cloudy Balgonie 3 Jan 2016 -11 -3 5 15 0 5 clear clear Biggar 27 Dec 2015 -20 -15 10 20 0 15 overcast overcast Birch Hills 2 Jan 2016 -7 -3 5 10 10 15 partly cloudy mostly clear Borden-Radisson 16 Dec 2015 -7 -6 22 40 1 3 cloudy partly cloudy Briercrest-Drinkwater 2 Jan 2016 -5 -5 2 2 0 5 clear clear Broadview 24 Dec 2015 -13 -10 2 5 4 4 partly cloudy cloudy Cater 1 Jan 2016 -17 -5 0 15 5 10 clear clear Chatsworth S.D. 4 Jan 2016 -14 -5 10 15 10 20 partly cloudy partly cloudy Christopher Lake 23 Dec 2015 -13 -10 0 0 5 7 mostly clear partly cloudy Churchbridge B 31 Dec 2015 -15 10 15 15 20 mostly clear mostly clear Clark's Crossing 19 Dec 2015 -12 -10 5 22 2 15 cloudy cloudy Coronach 20 Dec 2015 -17 -4 0 15 0 5 mod. fog light fog Craven 19 Dec 2015 -11 -7 12 19 0 5 cloudy mostly clear Creighton 2 Jan 2016 -3 -1 18 29 55 60 mostly clear partly cloudy Crooked Lake 21 Dec 2015 -7 -3 2 5 1 5 light fog overcast Crooked River 29 Dec 2015 -11 -7 2 5 10 15 clear clear Cypress Hills P.P. 30 Dec 2015 -3 0 5 8 3 5 light fog partly cloudy Denholm 25 Dec 2015 -22 -16 0 5 0 2 clear clear Dorintosh 23 Dec 2015 -15 -9 0 3 i 5 cloudy mod. snow Duval 3 Jan 2016 -8 -12 0 15 3 35 clear mostly clear Eastend 4 Jan 2016 -9 0 0 0 0 11 partly cloudy partly cloudy Ebenezer A 30 Dec 2015 -18 -10 5 13 clear clear Ebenezer B 31 Dec 2015 -8 -6 15 20 20 clear clear Endeavour 21 Dec 2015 -13 -8 2 5 20 25 partly cloudy overcast Estevan 1 Jan 2016 -8 -2 15 22 0 10 clear partly cloudy Estuary North 4 Jan 2016 -2 0 10 mostly clear mostly clear Fenton 5 Jan 2016 -17 -13 2 6 10 clear clear Floral 15 Dec 2015 -6 -5 10 18 0 10 overcast overcast Fort Qu'Appelle 18 Dec 2015 -15 -12 13 16 2 6 overcast cloudy Gardiner Dam 21 Dec 2015 -6 -6 10 15 0 10 partly cloudy mostly clear Good Spirit Lake 31 Dec 2015 -4 -4 2 25 15 25 mostly clear mostly clear Grasslands N.P. 17 Dec 2015 -14 -7 3 9 0 10 overcast overcast Grayson 27 Dec 2015 -23 -12 0 15 1 10 mostly clear overcast Greenwater 3 Jan 2016 -14 -6 4 4 25 30 clear clear Grenfell 29 Dec 2015 -17 -15 2 2 4 4 overcast partly cloudy Harris 14 Dec 2015 -3 -2 10 20 0 10 overcast overcast Hazlet 26 Dec 2015 -20 -18 5 10 2 15 partly cloudy overcast Hudson Bay 27 Dec 2015 -14 -7 5 10 15 20 cloudy Indian Head 28 Dec 2015 -11 -6 0 0 2 2 cloudy cloudy Kenaston 14 Dec 2015 -5 -3 2 2 8 8 heavy fog mod fog Kenosee Lake 22 Dec 2015 -10 -6 0 5 2 10 overcast overcast Ketchen North 26 Dec 2015 -27 -17 2 5 17 22 overcast light snow Kindersley North -26 -21 2 2 3 10 clear clear Kinloch 30 Dec 2015 -18 -9 12 15 15 17 partly cloudy mostly clear Kutawagan Lake 27 Dec 2015 -14 -11 20 30 10 20 overcast overcast 10 BLUE JAY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 Table 1.2. Weather and Snow Cover. LOCALITY J s DATE MIN TEMP (C) MAX TEMP (OC) MIN WIND (KM/ HR) MAX WIND (KM/HR) MIN SMOW (CM) MAX SNOW (CM) SKY AM SKY PM Kyle 17 Dec 2015 -15 -9 6 19 0 4 overcast clear La Ronge 28 Dec 2015 -18 -16 0 5 10 10 overcast light snow LMLNWA 29 Dec 2015 -14 -12 6 20 10 20 light snow overcast Leader North 29 Dec 2015 -13 -10 0 15 ■■ ■ 2 5 partly cloudy Love-Torch River 27 Dec 2015 -31 -21 10 15 15 20 clear partly cloudy Luseland 26 Dec 2015 -27 -18 0 10 2 10 partly cloudy mostly clear Meadow Lake 26 Dec 2015 -21 -15 5 2 clear Moose Jaw 16 Dec 2015 -7 -5 30 30 5 5 overcast mostly clear Moose Mountain 4 Jan 2016 -9 -2 2 5 2 4 partly cloudy partly cloudy Morse 23 Dec 2015 -12 -9 2 5 5 30 mod. fog light fog Nipawin 23 Dec 2015 -16 -12 2 5 20 20 clear clear Nisbet Forest NW 26 Dec 2015 -18 -18 5 20 0 9 light snow mostly clear Nisbet Forest West 1 Jan 2016 0 -3 0 8 2 10 clear clear Odessa 28 Dec 2015 -10 -3 20 30 5 8 light fog cloudy Outlook 1 Jan 2016 -6 -4 20 27 0 5 Pierce Lake 30 Dec 2015 -18 -11 6 13 10 20 clear clear Pike Lake 2 Jan 2016 -13 -2 0 20 2 20 clear clear Ponteix 28 Dec 2015 -12 -7 10 20 0 5 cloudy partly cloudy Prince Albert 20 Dec 2015 -15 -12 10 10 overcast overcast Qu'Appelle 30 Dec 2015 -14 -11 6 11 4 6 overcast partly cloudy Qu'Appelle Dam 20 Dec 2015 -14 -8 5 15 2 15 partly cloudy mostly clear Raymore 25 Dec 2015 -29 -23 25 35 10 15 mostly clear overcast Regina 27 Dec 2015 -21 -12 30 40 0 4 partly cloudy cloudy Rokeby 20 Dec 2015 -10 -15 15 15 5 10 partly cloudy mostly clear Roscommon S.D. 28 Dec 2015 -16 -12 20 25 15 20 cloudy overcast Rouleau 28 Dec 2015 -12 laaaaBmmMMB -9 2 5 1 5 overcast partly cloudy Round Lake (PA) 5 Jan 2016 -7 4 mostly clear Round Lake (Q.V.) 14 Dec 2015 -6 -2 0 5 2 8 heavy fog light fog Saltcoats 26 Dec 2015 -29 -14 30 30 12 16 mostly clear Sask. Landing P.P. 4 Jan 2016 -9 -2 2 5 0 4 mostly clear partly cloudy Sask. River Forks 3 Jan 2016 -13 -10 2 5 10 10 mostly clear partly cloudy Saskatoon 26 Dec 2015 -25 -18 12 17 5 15 mostly clear clear Sawyer Lake 26 Dec 2015 -23 -17 15 35 20 partly cloudy Shamrock 28 Dec 2015 -14 -14 2 22 4 8 overcast overcast Snowden 4 Jan 2016 -10 -5 2 5 1 18 clear clear Spinney Hill 21 Dec 2015 -10 -8 5 20 0 20 overcast partly cloudy Spruce Home 17 Dec 2015 -12 10 2 5 5 7 cloudy cloudy Squaw Rapids 31 Dec 2015 -11 -6 15 30 10 30 mostly clear partly cloudy Swift Current 19 Dec 2015 -4 -2 10 20 5 10 partly cloudy mostly clear Thickwood-Spiritwood 18 Dec 2015 -14 -14 12 15 5 8 overcast overcast Togo 5 Jan 2016 -11 10 15 15 20 clear clear Weyburn 19 Dec 2015 -14 -11 8 10 2 4 cloudy light snow White Bear 31 Dec 2015 -17 -6 5 35 0 4 mostly clear mostly clear Whitewood 28 Dec 2015 -16 -15 20 29 6 14 overcast overcast Wingard 4 Jan 2016 Yorkton 29 Dec 2015 -14 -14 10 , 13 5 30 overcast cloudy AVERAGES -13 -9 7 14 6 13 SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 BLUE JAY 11 Table 2.1. Effort and Habitat Coverage. Wild Fruit: p=poor, f=fair, g=good, e=excellent. LOCALITY PARTICPANTS KM ON FOOT HOURS ON FOOT KM BY VEHICLE HOURS BY VEHICLE HOURS AT FEEDERS EVERGREEN FOREST MIXEDWOOD FOREST DECIDUOUS FOREST ASPEN GROVE/FARMLAND ASPEN GROVE/PRAIRIE Archerwill 9 4.5 2.0 32 0.5 30.0 25 Avonlea 2 13.0 4.5 102 2.0 0.5 20 Balgonie 11 20.0 7.9 485 15.0 2.0 15 Biggar 8 12.0 6.8 376 10.3 ' ■ 4.0 imrni 19 Birch Hills 2 1.0 0.5 94 8.7 1.5 5 40 Borden-Radisson 6 2.0 4.0 279 10.0 0.0 55 Briercrest-Drinkwater 2 2.0 0.5 135 4.5 0.0 Broadview 3 2.0 1-0 145 6.5 2.0 20 35 Cater 2 0.0 0.0 190 7.5 2.0 5 10 5 15 Chatsworth S.D. 12 3.0 9.0 80 3.0 2.0 80 Christopher Lake 1 15.0 3.0 0 0.0 0.0 60 30 Churchbridge B 2 0.0 0.0 3 0.5 8.5 c':-; Clark's Crossing 20 26.0 14.5 574 30.5 4.0 1 16 7 Coronach 4 4.5 2.8 222 6.7 0.0 Craven 33 23.0 12.0 654 23.0 13.5 25 Creighton 4 ,0 3.0 230 12.0 3.0 20 10 Crooked Lake 2 2.0 1.0 140 35 0.0 5 ! 20 ! Crooked River 2 3.0 1.0 0 0.0 6.0 40 Cypress Hills P.P. 10 8.0 5.0 15 1.0 0.0 40 40 8 Denholm 4 0.0 0.0 234 7.0 1.5 10 5 Dorintosh 4 20.0 6.0 60 2.0 2.0 60 Duval 5 9.5 5.0 288 10.8 0.0 . : 30 15 Eastend 18 15.0 15.8 238 10.5 ,0 5 ; 20 50 Ebenezer A 4 10.0 8.0 30 6.0 8.0 60 Ebenezer B 1 0.0 0.0 38 3.0 4.0 15 | 20 Endeavour 2 ,0 0.5 66 3.5 3.0 : 60 Estevan 7 10.0 5.8 173 5.0 5.0 | .. Estuary North , 2 4.0 2.0 / 4 3.0 0.0 50 Fenton 1 0.0 0.0 88 3.0 0.0 10 10 Floral 2 7.0 3.8 197 5.8 0.0 29 Fort Qu'Appelle 20 22.5 200 25 : 20 Gardiner Dam 10 30.0 18.5 413 14.5 0.0 5 Good Spirit Lake 4 0.0 0.0 145 6.8 5.0 j 30 Grasslands N.P 11 0.0 0.0 496 14.8 0.0 Grayson 6 7.0 2.0 110 4.0 3.0 5 35 5 Greenwater 4 3.0 2.0 95 5.5 10.5 5 27 7 12 Grenfell 3 1.0 0.5 135 6.0 2.0 15 15 Harris 6 17.0 9.8 180 7.0 2.0 21 Hazlet 2 1.0 0.8 221 6.5 0.0 >1 Hudson Bay 8 3.0 1.0 0 0.0 8.0 40 Indian Head 24 34.0 6.0 246 8.0 24.0 5 9 Kenaston 1 0.0 0.0 169 0.0 Kenosee Lake 3 i 2.0 1.5 149 3.0 1.0 30 10 5 Ketchen North 1 1.0 1.5 50 2.5 5.0 30 Kindersley North 3 Kinloch 6 3.0 4.0 84 4.0 0.0 10 30 30 10 Kutawagan Lake 2 | 0.5 0.3 196.7 7.0 0.5 10 5 I 10 5 3 15 5 10 30 30 70 50 25 5 30 10 35 50 10 25 43 10 28 5 35 5 5 40 5 80 20 25 5 10 5 50 5 5 5 5 10 95 2 18 23 25 1 15 55 5 5 5 5 15 20 25 5 40 5 50 20 40 20 2 5 70 5 5 40 5 30 10 10 5 5 15 <1 5 30 5 30 10 15 8 23 21 20 65 15 43 10 18 10 20 5 20 <1 41 10 11 30 40 5 25 5 15 5 5 10 15 5 10 40 5 4 15 25 10 15 39 10 30 80 5 5 20 40 75 5 5 1 75 25 5 50 20 20 20 10 20 60 10 10 35 33 5 10 30 Li g f 12 BLUE JAY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 ble 2.2. Effort and Habitat Coverage. Wild Fruit: p=poor, f=fair, g=goodf e=excellent. 1 1 [ I ? .OCALITY PARTICPANTS KM ON FOOT HOURS ON FOOT KM BY VEHICLE HOURS BY VEHICLE HOURS AT FEEDERS EVERGREEN FOREST MIXEDWOOD FOREST DECIDUOUS FOREST ASPEN GROVE/FARMLAND ASPEN GROVE/PRAIRIE NATIVE PRAIRIE TAME PASTURE FARMLAND FARMSTEADS URBAN OPEN WATER RIPARIAN SHIELD, BOG, SWAMP WILD FRUIT CROP Cyle 3 4.0 2.0 242 6.6 | 0.0 5 5 5 35 35 10 5 f .a Ronge 3 3.5 3.5 47 4.5 1.5 10 40 1 | 40 10 P .MLNWA 2 1.0 0.5 198 8.5 0.5 10 | 10 5 45 5 25 P .eader North 1 4.0 3.0 20 2.0 2.0 . 1 50 40 5 5 P .ove-Torch River 17 2.0 2.0 302 12.0 33.0 20 10 50 j j 10 10 f .useland 5 9.0 4.0 347 10.5 2.0 50 10 5 5 20 5 5 f Meadow Lake 3 5.0 121 4.0 50 30 20 g Moose Jaw 2 11.0 4.3 145 25.0 0.2 ■i 1 5 5 20 55 10 5 Moose Mountain 3 0.0 0.0 85 5.0 0.0 60 I 2 29 3 6 f Morse 9 4.0 1.5 576 2.5 2.0 3 90 7 f Nipawin 17 2.0 1.0 151 6.0 28.5 15 5 15 20 10 30 5 g Nisbet Forest NW 1 2.0 2.0 0 0.0 1.0 20 30 50 f Nisbet Forest West 1 2.0 2.0 110 2.5 2.0 10 30 10 40 10 Odessa 3 0.0 0.0 15.0 3.0 10 10 30 30 10 10 f Outlook 1 2.0 1.0 70 3.0 0.5 Pierce Lake 3 1.0 1.0 80 5.0 0.0 10 35 30 10 10 5 g Pike Lake 33 28.2 28.8 408 30.9 4.0 f Ponteix 1 2.0 1.0 275 7.0 0.0 <1 10 20 60 5 5 <1 <1 p Prince Albert 18 22.1 10.7 384 18.2 9.5 p Qu'Appelle 10 6.0 3.0 316 9.S 3.5 ■ 60 5 20 5 5 f Qu'Appelle Dam 7 7.0 6.2 347 11.3 4.0 44 7 10 33 6 6 f .. v. Raymore 2 0.5 0.3 174 9.1 0.8 25 5 30 15 25 f Regina 47 105.2 45.7 772 29.3 10.0 3 10 8 7 20 5 45 2 f Rokeby 12 0.0 0.0 120 6.0 15.0 2 95 3 Roscommon S.D. 9 0.5 1.0 82 6.0 28.0 30 60 10 g Rouleau 3 0.0 0.0 175 7.0 0.0 90 5 5 Round Lake (PA) 1 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 3.0 50 20 30 p Round Lake (Q.V.) 3 1.0 2.0 188 5.0 3.0 15 5 60 20 f Saltcoats 9 4.0 2.0 6 3.0 0.0 100 f Sask. Landing P.P. 3 5.0 1.5 374 7.5 0.0 | 5 10 45 15 25 f Sask. River Forks 1 1.0 0.5 72 3.0 0.0 15 20 L20 15 5 20 5 p Saskatoon 81 77.6 45.7 746 49.4 109.0 1 6 3 2 1 6 4 70 3 4 f Sawyer Lake 2 0.0 0.0 24 4.0 1.0 10 50 30 10 f Shamrock 6 2.0 1.5 331 15.0 1.0 3 5 80 7 5 Snowden 12 2.0 1 124 4.5 10 1 ; 30 50 10 p Spinney Hill 1 1.0 146 0.0 p Spruce Home 1 0.0 0.0 i 0 ; 0.0 2.0 90 10 Squaw Rapids 4 2.5 2.3 248 11.4 0.2 70 ! 5 5 20 p Swift Current 33 53.5 30.5 453 27.5 8.0 20 10 68 2 I Thickwood-Spiritwood 3 2.8 1.1 i 146 4.6 2.0 20 15 ; 25 1 25 5 5 5 p Togo 19 0.0 0.0 70 1.8 0.0 5 15 15 5 ; 20 40 p Weyburn 15 0.0 0.0 306 12.0 3.0 I 2 2 5 6 60 10 15 p White Bear 2 3.0 1.5 190 7.3 15 5 50 30 70 t Whitewood 21 5.5 5.0 465 15.0 36.0 10 5 15 p Wingard 3 50 1 Yorkton 23 4.5 1.5 122 ! 7.5 » 17.0 • 50 J J - 1 _ J g SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 BLUE JAY 13 Table 3.1. Species found on 6 or more counts; ( ) = seen during count period (CP). SPECIES ARCHERWILL 30 DEC 2015 AVONLEA 28 DEC 2015 BALGONIE 3 JAN 2016 BIGGAR 27 DEC 2015 BIRCH HILLS 2 JAN 2016 BORDEN-RADISSON 16 DEC 2015 BRIERCREST 2 JAN 2016 BROADVIEW 24 DEC 201 5 CATER 1 JAN 2016 CHATSWORTH S.D. 4 JAN 2016 CHRISTOPHER LAKE 23 DEC 2015 CHURCHBRIDGE B 31 DEC 2015 CLARK'S CROSSING 19 DEC 2015 CORONACH 20 DEC 2015 CRAVEN 19 DEC 2015 CREIGHTON 2 JAN 2016 CROOKED LAKE 21 DEC 2015 CROOKED RIVER 29 DEC 2015 CYPRESS HILLS P.P. 30 DEC 201 5 DENHOLM 25 DEC 2015 DORINTOSH 23 DEC 2015 DUVAL 3 JAN 2016 EASTEND 4 JAN 2016 EBENEZER A 30 DEC 2015 Canada Goose 35 920 22790 8 698 (1) Mallard 9741 8 96 Redhead 1 Lesser Scaup 7 4 . Common Goldeneye 58 10 32 Common Merganser 3 n.i y ; v $|,/v ;77 7 ';7 7V Gray Partridge 21 24 6 29 12 1 Ring-necked Pheasant * 26 Ruffed Grouse 1 4 3 3 8 1 1 2 (D Sharp-tailed Grouse (1) 2 25 35 15 11 34 19 24 5 5 - 35 31 1 Bald Eagle (D 2 (1) 8 1 2 2 3 0) 3 Northern Goshawk ■ M ■ . ■ 1 (D Rough-legged Hawk i 1 2 7 (2) (D Golden Eagle 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 BSKSSsg 1 Rock Pigeon 5 29 144 131 42 129 26 44 6 368 10 104 33 56 91 6 45 Eurasian Collared-Dove 16 : 35 yU mmm 6 mmm ; 1 57 3 iM 5 27 Mourning Dove 2 1 2 1 1 1 Great Horned Owl 1 3 2 • 1 1 9 2 2 S® 'l f: (D 1 1 3 1 Snowy Owl (1) 2 (D 2 2 7 1 1 2 Downy Woodpecker (D 7 2 5 ■MRS . ' 3 8 4 9 2 10 1 9 4 2 3 1 1 4 7 Hairy Woodpecker 3 1 1 5 8 1 4 2 10 1 2 7 10 2 2 3 (D 3 2 2 2 3 Northern Flicker •LW HHM 1 •As % &:• 2 1 (D Pileated Woodpecker (D 1 Merlin - h Hi • ■ L ; 1 Northern Shrike 1 (1) 2 1 1 i 3 1 Gray Jay 5 ■MBM : 1 " - ■V V;7V7 10 2 Blue Jay 13 (D 1 3 2 10 12 2 4 48 i 3 8 1 Black-billed Magpie 8 19 134 101 37 95 10 31 hHhSHB 33 20 Isflff 5 221 1 103 44 8 5 5 83 2 46 98 13 American Crow 3 (2) Common Raven 9 41 53 14 157 23 49 10 «Mwaaa 2 1 191 59 192 19 2 4 17 1 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 14 5 10 Horned Lark 4 3 1 72 428 6 4 Black-capped Chickadee 18 1 93 ! 20 18 12 14 24 44 30 28 136 170 22 45 10 50 8 24 16 17 12 Boreal Chickadee (D 2 5 Red-breasted Nuthatch 11 3 - 7 3 1 20 8 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 2 4 1 2 1 3 6 (4) 1 3 23 1 1 4 Brown Creeper 1 1 1 1 ’ 7 -.V. Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 3 1 American Robin 1 1 1 ■ . «j|p 1 1 22 2 (D European Starling 56 121 3 30 2 20 20 183 32 205 18 11 Bohemian Waxwing 1 13 (25) 44 44 85 £ ' ■ : 67 134 (10) 148 50 Snow Bunting (1000) ! 228 1 2 200 4 25 24 2 412 12 Dark-eyed Junco 3 5 1 1 5 3 2 14 (1) 3 Pine Grosbeak 95 (4) 2 3 18 14 5 51 17 21 5 135 7 5 27 30 3 5 House Finch 2 53 61 (2) 52 5 3 28 Red Crossbill 24 18 (4) 21 White-winged Crossbill 4 8 15 31 25 Common Redpoll 174 8 385 766 137 611 50 714 216 219 56 36 555 168 750 125 139 8 2 611 30 277 22 36 Hoary Redpoll 4 5 2 14 (3) 6 5 26 (D Pine Siskin 6 12 5 9 4 Evening Grosbeak 47 28 22 33 7 1 House Sparrow 6 325 652 349 175 525 125 230 83 171 1305 361 296 83 15 (7) 76 502 290 48 TOTAL BIRDS COUNT DAY 398 475 1975 1638 507 1714 293 1402 560 544 133 89 4283 33676 2091 740 1039 59 100 878 97 1621 673 181 TOTAL BIRDS ONLY IN CP 1006 5 2 26 0 0 0 12 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 4 0 4 3 0 TOTAL SPECIES COUNT DAY 17 19 25 28 14 25 8 21 20 14 9 10 34 30 38 16 14 12 12 14 9 24 25 12 TOTAL SPECIES ONLY IN CP 7 2 2 2 0 0 0 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 4 0 3 3 0 14 BLUE JAY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 Table 3.2. Species found on 6 or more counts; ( ) = seen during count period (CP). SPECIES Canada Goose Mallard Redhead Lesser Scaup Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Gray Partridge Ring-necked Pheasant Ruffed Grouse Sharp-tailed Grouse Bald Eagle Northern Goshawk Rough-legged Hawk Golden Eagle Rock Pigeon Eurasian Collared-Dove Mourning Dove Great Horned Owl Snowy Owl Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Merlin Northern Shrike Gray Jay Blue Jay Black-billed Magpie American Crow Common Raven Horned Lark Black-capped Chickadee Boreal Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Golden-crowned Kinglet American Robin European Starling Bohemian Waxwing Snow Bunting Dark-eyed Junco Pine Grosbeak House Finch Red Crossbill White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll Pine Siskin Evening Grosbeak House Sparrow TOTAL BIRDS COUNT DAY TOTAL BIRDS ONLY IN CP TOTAL SPECIES COUNT DAY TOTAL SPECIES ONLY IN CP 1 7 2 21 12 ENDEAVOUR 21 DEC 2015 ESTEVAN 1 JAN 2016 ESTUARY NORTH 4 JAN 2016 FENTON 5 JAN 2016 FLORAL 15 DEC 2015 FORT QU'APPELLE 18 DEC 2015 GARDINER DAM 21 DEC 2015 GOOD SPIRIT LAKE 31 DEC 2015 GRASSLANDS N.P. 17 DEC 2015 GRAYSON 27 DEC 2015 GREENWATER 3 JAN 2016 GRENFELL 29 DEC 2015 HARRIS 14 DEC 2015 HAZLET 26 DEC 2015 HUDSON BAY 27 DEC 2015 INDIAN HEAD 28 DEC 2015 KENASTON 14 DEC 2015 KENOSEE LAKE 22 DEC 2015 KETCHEN 26 DEC 2015 KINDERSLEY NORTI 26 DEC 2015 KINLOCH 30 DEC 2015 KUTAWAGAN LAKI 27 DEC 2015 KYLE 17 DEC 2015 9615 6 1737 1667 110 12 617 CO CD 3545 4 57 150 1 HI | 1 | 4 5 1 2 5 10 ■ 5 | 1 62 145 311 7 j 3 777777 118 ; ' j (D 37 67 12 65 8 11 75 ! m 11 67 96: 8 '-"7770 7 62 | '77 :■ WHMW 1 j 1 i| (1) 31 ; 2 .. . , J (6) 3 10 j 5 1 im 4 102 . 24 : 1 I 661 1 42 49 ! 21 1 1 j j 8 109 3 1 1 11 m CD ! 3 1 _ _ 31 (D 6 i : (2) 1 ! 8 107; ! 30 1 I 2! 5 I 263 | 19 j 197 | ! 8 1 7 ! 3: 8 1 5 1 | 2 ! 2 1 \ | 1 I 2 | 3 J 1 I 7 25; (4) I ! ! j j 1 1 i j 71 10 1 1 S 6: 24 ; I 2! 6 6I 6 j 3 i 1 i 4 I I I i 0)! 5: 2 5 62 | 10! 1! 2 { 6 { 2! - 2 1 i 153 ! 6 2! 3 j 22 5 J 19 (1) (Dj 7 3 7 2 2 15 6 2 22 1 35 19 12 11 16 19 ■■ .. 3 20 29 33 53 103 145 29 30 36 55 15 55 40 (1) 54 8 HHaMB 30 24 35 17 36 41 6 1 6 27 136 61 16 24 27 21 17 ... 4 191 125 1 20 97 1 32 13 17 2 6 27 8 426 8 5 28 17 8 10 37 148 16 76 30 34 10 18 43 147 60 9 29 2 — 4 2 1 V!7::^-:7 . . ...... 3 22 1 BB - 1 8 5 1 23 3 3 2 2 8 , ......... 13 3 (2) 3 77777 7 1 ill - , ; 6 3 2 2 SSfiMfiMIfil 1 (D (2) 6 55 84 2 64 158 30 32 10 13 47 (2) 6 5 40 25 354 96 7 (17) (30) 91 50 5 4 (30) 2496 68 55 307 6045 100 15 900 250 (50) 335 410 2 5 16 2 3 ■ 18 4 11 33 10 4 21 10 7 35 112 7 172 6 8 35 41 2 2 9 55 6 14 ! 1j | 2] 19 1 58; 1125 1 195| 94: 40; 1181 I 1 153! 266! ! t 109 98; 546 287 10 7 4 1 j 60 : 2| 4 i 1 25 1 83 | 12 (1) 3 ! 8 8 2: i (D (D (D 36 85 300; 157! 189: 25 52! 13 339 (D 150 2! 0 35 1 21 -1 0 63 149 2 9 396 50 304 28 | 126 190 260 281 377 57 1 362 1 26 91 2 ! 50 8 237 660 CD OO 4221 9525 271 508 1730 544 709 963 7223 1322 1570 1251 404 648 254 564 1096 2005 0 40 0 2 4 ° 18 1 0 0 0 11 0 2 0 1 68 4 0 5 21 wlh'M 38 39 13 14 1 t? A 14 17 26 A 14 a 14 r 35 A 8 1 17 A 13 1 10 3 14 *5 13 A 20 r SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 BLUE JAY 15 Table 3.3. Species found on 6 or more counts; ( ) = seen during count period (CP). SPECIES LA RONGE 28 DEC 2015 LAST MTN LAKE NWA 29 DEC 201 5 LEADER NORTH 29 DEC 2015 LOVE-TORCH RIVER 27 DEC 2015 LUSELAND 26 DEC 2015 MEADOW LAKE 26 DEC 2015 MOOSE JAW 16 DEC 2015 MOOSE MTN. P.P. 4 JAN 2016 MORSE 23 DEC 2015 NIPAWIN 23 DEC 2015 NISBET FOREST NW 26 DEC 2015 NISBET FOREST W 1 JAN 2016 ODESSA 28 DEC 2015 OUTLOOK 1 JAN 2016 PIERCE LAKE 30 DEC 2015 PIKE LAKE 2 JAN 2016 PONTEIX 28 DEC 2015 PRINCE ALBERT 20 DEC 2015 QU'APPELLE 30 DEC 2015 QU'APPELLE DAM 20 DEC 2015 RAYMORE 25 DEC 2015 REGINA 27 DEC 2015 ROKEBY 20 DEC 2015 ROSCOMMON S.D. 28 DEC 2015 Canada Goose 2 2 500 40 85 150 815 2023 Mallard 200 f-tMW- . :m fti)S SSifwWS Stti 633 261 Redhead 1 Lesser Scaup - J: V" ' ' 0) Common Goldeneye 12 2 23 1 Common Merganser mm ■■ 13 10 1 Gray Partridge 6 21 (3) 105 9 20 6 101 32 21 Ring-necked Pheasant jHBBH 4 1 VVVliV . Ruffed Grouse 4 (2) (D 4 1 6 3 1 9 Sharp-tailed Grouse 4 5 ■BBS 4 24 iiiepi 15 80 44 17 37 ii Bald Eagle 2 1 1 1 2 5 2 3 1 7 i 3 Northern Goshawk HHH 1 1 MWB 1 1 1 ! HH Rough-legged Hawk 1 36 Golden Eagle suit 1 IBBB MM :'V.' -V "I Rock Pigeon 15 48 20 1 130 16 108 60 50 6 55 116 ■ 201 90 25 106 1480 148 3 Eurasian Collared-Dove - - 3 BHBB lass® 13 26 26 ■■ 3 mi ':/W; 3 m-cmi . 2 M'MiMr i ■ Mourning Dove 1 4 Great Horned Owl (D 7 : "v : ctv/ m mimm 'MX M- . 20 2 3 1 ■ - 1 1 (D 3 (D Snowy Owl 1 i 1 8 2 - 3 4 10 1 (1) Downy Woodpecker 1 2 i ii 2 1 2 2 (2) ... ...... ......... 5 2 1 3 1 46 MM&, 7 14 2 i 16 14 9 Hairy Woodpecker (D 9 i 2 1 2 2 2 4 2 27 7 9 3 1 19 13 Northern Flicker .V-V:'.' sm 1 WM&k ■■■ :: ■■■■■ 1 1 IHHRH 1 (1) ■ VVVW-'Wt Pileated Woodpecker 2 1 2 2 (1) Merlin mmm . ■ - (D mmm 4 BMH MMSMH MB 1 2 i ; Northern Shrike (D (D 1 2 (D (2) (1) Gray Jay 4 MUbS 5 3 toSMI ; . ' 5 MIBBH Blue Jay (1) 38 1 1 6 13 (6) 6 1 7 S 9 9 i 3 5 11 Black-billed Magpie 1 29 4 84 190 ' - 2 33 20 65 27 (2) 17 40 30 12 201 61 97 75 39 39 63 86 41 American Crow 6 Common Raven 228 8 2 117 12 ,-as 58 1 4 1 333 2 17 ... 30 31 21 124 276 132 12 69 195 116 21 Horned Lark 5 20 38 501 .. _ _ . _ 250 (2) 5 131 Black-capped Chickadee 18 2 3 113 5 11 11 31 35 12 17 20 2 22 515 94 89 23 8 130 82 59 Boreal Chickadee 1 8 (3) Red-breasted Nuthatch MBagftH 5 Bbww 2 2 4 1 5 t : MM;: 3 4 1 1 30 3 White-breasted Nuthatch 10 1 3 4 3 1 1 28 3 3 1 1 14 1 Brown Creeper H ' ■ . 1 0) Golden-crowned Kinglet (D 2 3 American Robin 12 3 1 3 1 (D European Starling 31 3 41 7 (100) 22 73 10 50 3 25 18 44 42 13 Bohemian Waxwing ■M v • ■ v • (21) (4) (17) 35 30 ®Iti 1011 5475 445 6 (36) Snow Bunting 570 164 44 50 349 25 30 283 1240 100 35 15 1564 95 1675 Dark-eyed Junco ; • . H . 5 4 1 2 60 Pine Grosbeak 27 222 8 10 99 (10) 19 6 287 164 2 46 39 2 16 156 House Finch ' 7 . 90 6 2 2 Hi 5 4 1 118 Red Crossbill 2 (6) 6 4 3 White-winged Crossbill : ■ :WV, 5 6 6 . 2 Common Redpoll 13 66 956 276 30 62 647 128 (12) 95 21 275 720 3 234 800 323 1019 996 i 294 196 Hoary Redpoll ■MM 5 ■ .-..A - ' . ;• • - 1 M 3 2 5 11 106 1 Pine Siskin 1 | 18 (4) Evening Grosbeak 14 253 : "i ' " : V) 1 29 (6) 32 5 13 House Sparrow 419 11 163 23 8 40 63 1385 60 4 70 372 740 332 162 233 104 2258 1 366 32 TOTAL BIRDS COUNT DAY 309 1155 38 2280 655 188 1070 231 3334 850 21 264 218 367 503 3899 2391 7060 1582 2817 1421 9589 1413 2260 TOTAL BIRDS ONLY IN CP 2 0 0 2 21 0 109 0 29 2 37 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 0 1 7 0 45 TOTAL SPECIES COUNT DAY 10 13 11 25 20 13 18 12 22 18 5 13 17 14 19 33 15 25 22 35 17 45 21 15 TOTAL SPECIES ONLY IN CP 2 0 0 2 1 0 5 0 7 1 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 1 7 0 7 16 BLUE JAY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 Table 3.4. Species found on 6 or more counts; ( ) = seen during count period (CP). SPECIES Canada Goose Mallard Redhead Lesser Scaup Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Gray Partridge Ring-necked Pheasant Ruffed Grouse Sharp-tailed Grouse Bald Eagle Northern Goshawk Rough-legged Hawk Golden Eagle Rock Pigeon Eurasian Collared-Dove Mourning Dove Great Horned Owl Snowy Owl Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Merlin Northern Shrike Gray Jay Blue Jay Black-billed Magpie American Crow Common Raven Horned Lark Black-capped Chickadee Boreal Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper 2320 56 2 1 LLI j LLi o 2ui ; ! yyLn j — 1 — j LD j Q-lti I LU cn lh Q LD OClti Q pjLH in | 25 ; — ‘5 ! us; =5 jO 1 ^o! Olt. j O'- i LD j LjjO Oo zo 1 OfM ! OCCM i OfN ! >-(N 1 fN ; RfN 5° O j o:r\i m CN >fN cco Or'1 luu : Qrsi ll nj : ! r\i LLlU LUU “ LLI Suu : : Zlu — ~ LLI -Q 1 1 i 5EQ XQ 2< oca °0 1 Ocn ; UlfN < If) CM ; tool : ; lcicm ! j on on | l-oo : h-uo | >r- >nn >fN >^t >-r\l ; 175] i , (3) | 10 j (20) ! ■J — Q I 1 1 1 ; i 135 ' 86: 48 I ! 33 j 23 S 1 9| 6 (1)1 2| 1 2 1 i ; i 2 4 2 8 3I 2 1 i I6; 25 j (d! 11! 1 ■ ; ; 20 ; I 14! 9! 5 61 4! 5 2 19 26 ’I ’I 4! 5 (7) 7 8 2 2 47 (2) 49 13 4 5 5 80 24 9 7 62 289 8 44 53 Mums 52 1 15 150 37 38 24 109 35 48 13 1 (6) 9 341 1 3 19 16 33 9 25 80 4 114 198 75 2 226 12 52 3 39 1 29 26 728 2 58 25 4 10 22 6 135 147 10 138 8 10 4 100 11 5 60 ; 1 20 1 10 (D 5 2 2 19 3 12 2 21 I 1 American Robin I ! i 37 j f 1 1 97 : 5j 20 European Starling 1 25 11 10 ! 19 148 1 71 j 96 30 1 21 56 2016 102 49 Bohemian Waxwing [ | 212 i 4 : ^ ! 1021 1 ! . : (62) , 20 I 9372 j 192! 25 Snow Bunting 400 70 221 ! ! 17 4012! 28 120 161 150 ! 525 j 125 24709 1110 53 Dark-eyed Junco -v.; ' . i 7 ■ 11 10 18; 216 1 ; 26 Pine Grosbeak 10 i 11 16 4 74 66 23 121 40 15 27 2 50 250 21 6 15 2753 14 63 House Finch 15 525: I 119 i 6 25! 1221 2 28 Red Crossbill i 137 ■ 1 _ 3 2 227 10 12 White-winged Crossbill m 115; 6 ! 228 ° 14 Common Redpoll 1 20 1 36 91 \ 260 70 494 16 186 204 30 35 211 53 70 207 ! 100 1 115 710 15 37 21870 12 j 86 Hoary Redpoll 40 \ 1 TO j 5 4 52 11 5 364 41 28 Pine Siskin 1 3 16 101 4 14 Evening Grosbeak ; 6 l 84 19 45; 20 929 6 23 House Sparrow 96 109 ! 50 j 130 ! 8 ; 1976 13 366 8 29 10 1748 37 70 1 330 570 313 50 245 , 22691 7 80 TOTAL BIRDS COUNT DAY 570 48 2863 324 758 165 9262 81 4993! 668 411 69 617 2953 408 1030; 1374 1089 1727 119 959 477799 1653; TOTAL BIRDS ONLY IN CP 1 0 0 0 6 0 2 23 oj 1 0 0 0 95 0 1 ; 0 0 1 0 0 1653 TOTAL SPECIES COUNT DAY 6 6 26 17 23 9 45 8 19: 15 17 9 24 31 17 17 21 11 27 9 18 1 88 43707 15468 12 28 1156 149; 1025 240: 97 1121 ! 153 9: 52 j 23: 163 | 8535 2 | 472 j 15 132 99 456 341 33; 14 20 26 59 ! 676 4337 25 4448 2383 4250 38 20 i 341 291 8 21 10 j 9 20 1 1 i lj 8 1 ; 5! 0 18 1 ! 9 i ! 4 Oj 0 4! 1 5; 3 4 3 3 6 2 j 8 8 10 3j 2 7 2 0 ( 4 0 6 1 1 TOTAL SPECIES ONLY IN CP 0! 0 0: 6 0 0 21 15 5 6 14 7| 30 10! 27 44 36 9 j 9 20; 68 30 10 44 30 74 67 14 10 9 [ 18 14 5 82 j 31 80 8 34; 55 7 9 SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 BLUE JAY 17 Table 4. Species found in fewer than 6 counts. SPECIES LOCALITY AND NUMBER (*=COUNT PERIOD) Greater White-fronted Goose Coronach (4) Snow Goose Moose Jaw (1), Regina (4) Ross's Goose Coronach (1) Cackling Goose Coronach (6), Estevan (105), Qu'Appelle Dam (1) Tundra Swan Ft. Qu'Appelle (1), Qu'Appelle Dam (5), Round Lake (1) Gadwall Gardiner Dam (2), Indian Head (2), Round Lake (1) American Wigeon Coronach (1), Ft. Qu'Appelle (2), Gardiner Dam (2) Northern Shoveler Indian Head (1) Northern Pintail Gardiner Dam (1) Green-winged Teal Estevan (1) Canvasback Fort Qu'Appelle (3), Gardiner Dam (1), Greater Scaup Fort Qu'Appelle (16), Gardiner Dam (5) King Eider Fort Qu'Appelle (1) Harlequin Duck Saskatoon (1) Bufflehead Estevan (1), Ft. Qu'Appelle (1), Gardiner Dam (1), Indian Head (4) Barrow's Goldeneye Craven (1) Hooded Merganser Estevan (1), Indian Head (1), Squaw Rapids (2) Ruddy Duck Estevan (1*), Ft. Qu'Appelle (2) Spruce Grouse Creighton (3) Willow Ptarmigan Creighton (21) Turkey Vulture Ebenezer B (5) Northern Harrier Regina (1), Shamrock (3) Sharp-shinned Hawk Pike Lake (1), Regina (1), Roscommon S.D (1*), Whitewood (1*) Cooper's Hawk Denholm (1*), Estevan (1*), Regina (1) Red-tailed Hawk Odessa (2) American Coot Coronach (8), Estevan (37), Ft. Qu'Appelle (11), Indian Head (1), Round Lake Q.V. (3) Killdeer Gardiner Dam (2), Indian Head (2), Qu'Appelle Dam (2) Herring Gull Gardiner Dam (7) Glaucous Gull Gardiner Dam (2), Barred Owl Good Spirit Lake (1*), Squaw Rapids (1) Great Gray Owl Archerwiil (1 *), Endeavour (1 *), Pierce Lake (1), Sawyer Lake (1 *) Long-eared Owl Morse (1*) Short-eared Owl Ft. Qu'Appelle (1*), Luseland (1), Morse (6), Qu'Appelle Dam (1), Saltcoats (1) Northern Saw-whet Owl Denholm (1), Regina (1*) Red-bellied Woodpecker Regina (1 *) Black-backed Woodpecker Creighton (1), Love-Torch River (10), Nipawin (1), Sawyer Lake (2*) American Kestrel Regina (1) Gyrfalcon Clark's Crossing (1), Harris (1), Pike Lake (1), Regina (1) Prairie Falcon Coronach (1), Gardiner Dam (1), Saskatchewan Landing P.P. (1) Pacific wren Cypress Hill P.P. (1*) Townsend's Solitaire Clark's Crossing (1), Craven (2), Saskatoon (2), Spinney Hill (1) Varied Thrush Borden-Radisson (2), Odessa (4), Raymore (1) Gray Catbird Morse (1 *) Cedar Waxwing Balgonie (10), Ft. Qu'Appelle (6*), Pike Lake (2), Saltcoats (24), Saskatoon (101) Lapland Longspur Coronach (1), Hazlet (12), Kutawagan Lake (1), Weyburn (70) Pine warbler Saskatoon (1) Spotted Towhee Craven (1) Eastern Towhee Regina (1) American Tree Sparrow Avonlea (1), Ebenzer B (10), Odessa (50) Vesper Sparrow Morse (1*) Savannah Sparrow Kyle (1) Song Sparrow Saskatoon (1) White-throated Sparrow Chatsworth S.D (6), Eastend (1), Qu'Appelle (1), Regina (2) Harris's Sparrow Ft. Qu'Appelle (2), Qu'Appelle (10) Golden-crowned Sparrow Morse (1) Scarlet Tanager Regina (1*) Red-winged Blackbird Duval (8), Round Lake Q.V. (1) Rusty Blackbird Biggar (2) Brewer's Blackbird Saskatoon (1) Common Grackle Avonlea (1), Ft. Qu'Appelle (2), Regina (2), Weyburn (1) Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Hudson Bay (1*) Purple Finch Clark's Crossing (7), Ft. Qu'Appelle (8), Kenosee Lake (1), Thickwood Hills-Spiritwood (3) Cassin's Finch Endeavour (1) American Goldfinch Broadview (2*), Craven (34), Ft. Qu'Appelle (3), Prince Albert (12), Qu"Appelle (2) 18 BLUE JAY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 Table 5. Birds not identified to species. CATEGORY J LOCALITY AND NUMBER (*=COUNT PERIOD) Hawk sp. Morse (1) Gull sp. Swift Current (1) Woodpecker sp. ^ Saskatoon (2) Falcon sp. | Kindersley North (1) Table 6. New (in bold and italics) and tying high counts for individual species 2015. LOCATION 2015 COUNT SPECIES PREVIOUS HIGH LOCATION, YEAR Coronach 4 Greater White-fronted Goose 3 Coronach 2001 Regina 4 Snow Goose * Weyburn 1999 Coronach 1 Ross's Goose 1 Regina 1962, 1974 Estevan 105 Cackling Goose 50 Gardiner Dam 2011 Ft Qu 'Appel le 16 Greater Scaup 9 Gardiner Dam 2013 Ft Qu 'Appelle 1 King eider NEW Saskatoon 1 Harlequin Duck 1 Gardiner Dam 1990, Fort Qu'Appelle 1991 Craven 1 Barrow's Goldeneye 1 Squaw Rapids 1997, 2012; Saskatoon 2007, Ft Qu'Appelle 2013 Ebenezer B 5 Turkey Vulture 2 Grayson 1991 Shamrock 3 Northern Harrier - . . 2 V. Luseland 1994, Govenlock 2007 Gardiner Dam, Indian Head, Qu'Appelle Dam 2 Killdeer 2 Saskatchewan Landing P.P. 1998 Regina 36 Rough-legged Hawk 14 : - Govenlock 2003 Regina 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker (count period) 1 Regina 2001, Yorkton 2007, Crooked River 2010, Grenfell 2013 Love-Torch River 10 Black-backed Woodpecker 6 Squaw Rapids 1985, Snowden 1995 Cypress Hills P.P. 1 Pacific Wren (count period) 1 Fort Walsh 1999 Odessa 4 Varied Thrush 2 Saskatoon 2000, Odessa 2012, Swift Current 2012 (count period) Morse 1 Gray Catbird (count period) 1 Moose Jaw 2001, Yorkton 2002 Saskatoon 1 Pine Warbler NEW HNH Craven 1 Spotted Towhee 1 ; North to Turtle Lake and Saskatoon Regina 1 Eastern Towhee 1 Regina 2005, Candle Lake 2008, Rouleau 2010, Floral 2012 Morse 1 Golden-crowned Sparrow 1 Broadview 2014 Regina 1 Scarlet Tanager NEW Endeavour 1 \ Cassin's Finch 1 Fort Walsh, 1983; Saskatoon 2013, 2014 1 (count period) Rokeby 106 Hoary Redpoll 62 Cumberland House 1969 Table 7. Population changes in numbers of selected species in 201 5* compared to 2014 and the average for five years (201 0-201 4), based on the number of birds per party hour. A minus sign indicates a decrease from previous years. SPECIES % CHANGE FROM 2014 % CHANGE FROM 2010-14 Canada Goose 219 344 Mallard 92 92 Common Goldeneye 30 79 Gray Partridge 12 -13 Ring-necked Pheasant -15 -19 Ruffed Grouse -37 -9 Sharp-tailed Grouse -25 -14 Bald Eagle 54 70 Northern Goshawk -64 -33 Golden Eagle -25 7 Rock Pigeon -20 3 Eurasian Collared-Dove 12 26 Great Horned Owl -15 20 Snowy Owl -46 -38 Downy Woodpecker -34 -12 Hairy Woodpecker -37 -19 Northern Flicker -32 -20 Pileated Woodpecker -52 -27 Merlin -15 -6 Northern Shrike -26 2 Gray Jay -25 -28 Blue Jay -30 -19 Black-billed Magpie -29 -8 American Crow 14 7 Common Raven -40 -17 Horned Lark 524 308 Black-capped Chickadee -33 -13 Boreal Chickadee -33 -57 Red-breasted Nuthatch -17 -23 White-breasted Nuthatch -37 -6 Brown Creeper -68 -51 American Robin 84 58 European Starling -1 38 Bohemian Waxwing -3 24 Snow Bunting 99 58 Dark-eyed Junco -9 25 Pine Grosbeak 85 55 House Finch -17 23 White-winged Crossbill 358 -17 Common Redpoll 334 170 Hoary Redpoll 232 259 Pine Siskin 8 5 American Goldfinch -75 -38 Evening Grosbeak -31 -29 House Sparrow -19 1 _ 9 *As tremendous changes can occur in small sample sizes only those species recorded on an annual average of six or more counts are included. JL SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 BLUE JAY 19 WESTERN RED DAMSELFLIES FOUND AT TWO NEW LOCATIONS IN 2015 Lome Duczek 30 Birch Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 2P6 duczekl@sasktel.net On July 5, 201 5, western red damsel (Amphiagrion abbreviatum) damselflies were found in the Crooked Lake Fen, a Nature Saskatchewan sanctuary, at the calcareous pools in the northwest sector (N50. 65068 W1 02.84033). On July 8, 201 5, they were also found at a small spring near the east entrance (N49. 20542 W1 09.02536) of Old Man on His Back Conservation Area west of Claydon. Several mating pairs and individuals were seen at both locations. This species has only been found at widely dispersed locations in Saskatchewan. It was recorded near Roche Percee in the southeast in 1 980 and at two locations south of Maple Creek prior to 2005. It was discovered at a fen at Petturson's Ravine in Saskatoon in 201 31. The western red damsel is a small damselfly, 24-28 mm long, and its bright red abdomen distinguishes it from other small damselflies in Saskatchewan, which are mainly blue. It has very specific habitat requirements that include small springs and fens with open water and low vegetation. Adults may be present at these habitats from late June to early August. The western red damsel is a rare species as sightings are sparse across the prairies. Its presence at the Crooked Lake Fen and at Old Man on His Back might serve to highlight the conservation value of these natural landscapes. 1 . Duczek L, Taylor P, Salisbury C, Salisbury L (2014) Western Red Damsel at Petturson's Ravine in Saskatoon Saskatchewan in 2013. Blue Jay 72: 81-85. JL Photo credit: Lome Duczek Photo credit: Lome Duczek 20 BLUE JAY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 Cliff swallows gathering mud. Photo credit: Dan Loran WING-FLAPPING BY MUD-GATHERING CLIFF SWALLOWS: ADDITIONAL COMMENTS Spencer G. Sealy, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Spencer.Sealy@umanitoba.ca Dan Loran's photographs of cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) in the June 201 5 issue of Blue Jay] clearly show the birds fluttering their wings above their backs as they gather mud for their nests, in the tight flocks that are typical of this behaviour.2'3 Each bird raises its tail slightly above the horizontal and flutters its wings above the back while pecking mud into a pellet that will be added to the gourd-shaped nest that usually abuts adjacent nests, in dense colonies.2'4 Why do cliff swallows flap their wings while gathering mud? An early suggestion was that wing-fluttering prevents cliff swallows from sinking and sticking in the mud and soiling their feathers.5 This explanation does not extend to the solitarily nesting barn swallow ( Hirundo rustica), however, which also builds mud nests but does not similarly flap the wings when gathering the mud. More recently, Robert Butler proposed that wing flapping by mud¬ gathering cliff swallows facilitates avoidance of copulations forced on females while they are gathering mud.4 This hypothesis was based on data collected for male bank swallows ( Rlparia rlparia), another species of swallow that nests in dense colonies, but in burrows constructed in sand banks. Male bank swallows escorted their mates when away from the nests to guard against "promiscuous copulations". This behaviour was interpreted as "mate guarding"6, and that extra¬ pair copulations were attempted on the ground.7 In the cliff swallow, one member of a mated pair guards the nest while the other gathers mud3, which precludes guarding the mud¬ gathering female.4 Butler observing that wing- fluttering by mud-gathering cliff swallows became more freguent as flock size increased and during the onset of egg laying when females were most fertile. He tested the hypothesis by recording the frequency of "copulation attempts" by males on taxidermic models of cliff swallows placed at mud¬ gathering sites, some with wings extended above the back, the others with wings folded against the body.4 He predicted that males would attempt to land on the backs of models with folded wings more frequently than on swallows with extended wings. Although the results were not significant, fewer attacks were recorded on models of mud¬ gathering females whose wings were extended versus those with folded wings.4 1 . Loran, D (201 5) Cliff Swallows are gathering mud. Blue Jay 73:87-88. 2. Emlen JT Jr (1 952) Social behavior in nesting Cliff Swallows. Condor 54:177-199. 3. Emlen JT Jr (1954) Territory, nest building, and pair formation in the Cliff Swallow. Auk 71:16-35. 4. Butler RW (1982) Wing fluttering by mud¬ gathering Cliff Swallows: avoidance of "rape" attempts? Auk 99:758-761 . 5. Brown FA (1910) Cliff Swallows. Bird-Lore 12:137-138. 6. Beecher MD, Beecher IM (1979) Sociobiology of Bank Swallows: reproductive strategy of the male. Science 205:1282-1284. 7. Hoogland JL, Sherman PW (1976) Advantages and disadvantages of Bank Swallow ( Riparia riparia ) coloniality. Ecological Mongraphs 46:33-58. SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 BLUE JAY 21 Piping plover. Photo credit: Nick Saunders. 2016 INTERNATIONAL PIPING PLOVER BREEDING CENSUS Call for Volunteers in Saskatchewan Exact dates: TBD by the U.5. Geological Survey (expected to be the first two weeks of June 2016) Introducing Alan R. Smith, Saskatchewan Coordinator of the 2016 Piping Plover Breeding Census A native of Saskatchewan, Alan (Al) Smith is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan (Bachelor of Science Advanced). Most of his 45-year career has been spent with the Canadian Wildlife Service where he has studied waterfowl, seabirds, shorebirds, raptors and landbirds from the High Arctic to the Tropics. Although now "retired", he has continued to be involved in managing the Last Mountain Bird Observatory (LMBO); the only Saskatchewan Member of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network. He also coordinates the Christmas Bird and Mammal Count, Breeding Bird Survey, and Nocturnal Owl Survey for Saskatchewan. Al is the author of two books: the "Atlas of Saskatchewan Birds" and "Saskatchewan Birds", and the co-author of "Compact Guide to Saskatchewan Birds". Most recently, he has teamed up with Dr. Stuart Houston and J. Frank Roy to edit the two-volume "Birds of Saskatchewan", due for publication late in 2016. Al's favourite birds are the grassland birds of the Northern Great Plains with special interest in the ferruginous hawk. The International Piping Plover Census is the longest running shorebird census in North America to cover nearly the entire breeding range of a single species. This coming summer will mark the sixth such census, and Nature Saskatchewan will once again be coordinating the Saskatchewan portion. The 2016 census will be especially important as we hope to see a recovery of Piping Plover numbers from the 201 1 census, which had the fewest birds observed since 1991 . The piping plover is a small migratory shorebird that uses beaches of saline and freshwater lakes in southern Saskatchewan for nesting. It is readily distinguished from other plover species by single black bands on its breast and forehead, and by its back and nape which are the colour of dry sand. Nature Saskatchewan is looking for volunteers to census piping plovers at one or more basins in Saskatchewan. Surveyors will receive all of the necessary 22 BLUE JAY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 information to conduct the census, and piping plover hats will also be provided. Volunteers' expenses will also be offset by honoraria, pending funding. This is a great opportunity to contribute to the ongoing conservation of piping plovers while exploring Saskatchewan's great landscape. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated, and is needed in 2016 more than ever. Please consider being a part of this important project! If you are interested in being a volunteer, here are a couple of points for your consideration: 1. Familiarize yourself with the species. It is very important that you are able to recognize piping plovers in the field by both sight and sound. Aside from numerous field guides, there are many online resources; one of the best being the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/ Piping_Plover/id For the tech savvy, there are also a number of apps available that make identification in the field a snap: http://blog.nature.org/ science/201 3/05/27/boucher-bird- blog-apps-smart-birder/ 2. Consider where you might want to survey for Piping Plovers. Although the Saskatchewan Coordinator will make the final decision, surveyors will be accommodated as much as possible, especially if they have a special interest in, or knowledge of an area. For more information about the 2016 census, or if you would like to participate, please contact Alan Smith, the Saskatchewan Coordinator at (306) 868-4554 or by email at pipingplover@ naturesask.ca. JL THE STEWARDS OF SASKATCHEWAN PROGRAMS WELCOME SUMMER STAFF FOR 2016 Each summer, the Stewards of Saskatchewan staff is busy connecting with land stewards, surveying for species at risk, and promoting awareness of our disappearing prairie and parkland landscapes and their biological diversity. This work is supported by hard working summer staff and, in 2016, we are very pleased to welcome Kris Mutafov and Shayna Hamilton. Kris Mutafov Hi! My name is Kris Mutafov, and I was born and raised in Regina with a love for nature and conservation. I am currently a 3rd year student at UBCO in Kelowna, BC, studying Ecology and Earth & Environmental Sciences. In the past I have worked in the Parks system in Ontario, and gained valuable insight working with naturalists and conservationists, most of whom were volunteers. On the side, I love to explore, backpack, do outdoor sports, and photograph our world. Through my life, I hope to contribute to protection in a way that will positively impact future generations of life on this planet. I strongly believe that we should not treat the natural world as but a factor in our lives; but instead treat it as our very livelihood itself. So much is at stake in our changing world, and I am very excited to be working with programs that Nature Saskatchewan manages, such as Species at Risk and Stewards of Saskatchewan. Here's to a great summer! Shayna Hamilton Hello everyone! I am currently an undergraduate student at the University of Regina, working towards my degree in Ecology and Environmental Biology, and this summer I will be a Stewardship Assistant! My love for nature started at a very young age. I grew up in the small town of Torquay, hunting and fishing with my family. My mother always tells me that when I was five I told her that I wanted to work with animals, and now my dreams are becoming a reality! In my spare time I enjoy camping, shooting my bow and shore fishing. I previously worked with the Water Security Agency on their piping plover program, so plovers will always hold a special place in my heart. I look forward to my summer with Nature Saskatchewan and not only getting to work with amazing people, but also the beautiful flora and fauna that Saskatchewan has to offer! SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 BLUE JAY 23 OWLS OF THE PRAIRIES Kaytlyn Burrows, Habitat Stewardship Coordinator, Nature Saskatchewan With spring on our doorsteps, we are all excited to feel the warmth of the sun and the return of our beautiful green landscapes and wildlife! The prairies are home to a variety of owl species including the great horned owl, the short-eared owl, and the burrowing owl. It is not uncommon for one of these species Photo credit: Shelly Fisher Burrowing owl • Small owl, approximately 9 inches tall • Long featherless legs • Mottled brown and white feathers • Bushy white 'eyebrows' and 'chin' with large yellow eyes • Nests underground in abandoned burrows • Can be seen from May to September of owls to be misidentified. The following information and photos can help you distinguish them as you head out into the great outdoors this spring. The short-eared owl nests on the ground, whereas the great horned owl nests in trees or caves, and the burrowing owl nests underground. The great horned owl is the largest of the three species at approximately 22 inches tall, while the burrowing owl is the smallest at 9 inches tall, and the short-eared owl is approximately 1 5 inches tall. The great horned owl is common to see year round, often perched on a tree branch or power Photo credit: Randy McCulloch Short-eared owl • Medium sized owl, approximately 1 5 inches tall • Boldly streaked breast • Light facial disks with dark black patches around the eyes • Small 'ear' tufts that are not always visible • Black 'wrist' marks on the underside of the wings • Nests on the ground • Can be seen year-round pole, while the short-eared owl and burrowing owl are less commonly seen. Burrowing owls, when spotted, are often standing on the ground next to their burrows or on a nearby fence post. The burrowing owl and short-eared owl are both federally listed as Endangered and Special Concern, respectively. So how can you help? If you see a burrowing owl or short-eared owl, please report it to Nature Saskatchewan through the toll free (SK and AB only) HOOT line at 1-800-667-4668, or 306-780-9833, or by email at obo@naturesask.ca. £ Photo credit: Randy McCulloch Great horned owl • Large owl, approximately 22 inches tall • Mottled gray-brown with a reddish brown face and white throat • Two prominent feathered tufts or 'horns' on its head • Most conspicuous at dusk • Nests in trees or caves • Can be seen year-round 24 BLUE JAY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 ANOMALOUS BILL ON RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD Craig Salisbury, Lorriene Salisbury 2232 Ewart Ave., Saskatoon, SK S7J 1 Y2 mrslate@shaw.ca On the evening of July 1 6, 2014, we were hireling in the area around the north end of Blackstrap Lake, southeast of Saskatoon. At about 20:00 h, we stopped at the intersection of Highway 663 and Township Road 334 (a location known to local birders as the 'four corners sloughs') for a final scan for waterfowl. On a stop sign across the road, a male red-winged blackbird (. Agelaius phoeniceus) made his presence known by singing and calling repeatedly. From our location it appeared that he was holding a black feather in his bill. We crossed the road for a closer look and discovered that the feather was actually a wafer-thin extension of his maxilla (aka upper mandible), that was more than twice as long and wide as his bill. The bills of birds consist of a bone structure covered by a keratin layer. The keratin layer grows continuously during the life of the bird, but normal wear maintains the shape and size. Recently, bill deformities were reported in 30 wild bird species along the northwestern coast of North America.1'2 The deformities resulted from accelerated growth of the keratin on the maxilla, the mandible, or both. The abnormal growth patterns reported included simple elongation as well as significantly curved and crossed bills. Affected birds were seen to have difficulty feeding, and were unable to preen themselves to maintain plumage quality and remove external parasites. One of the studies noted that a few birds with deformed bills exhibited a normal bill shape when later recaptured, suggesting that such deformities are not always permanent.2 Neither study reported the type of bill anomaly we saw with the red¬ winged blackbird. Other than the growth from the tip of the maxilla, the rest of the bill appeared to be normal. Although this blackbird appeared healthy, it seems likely that the growth would interfere with feeding, preening and other tasks. It may be that the extension periodically breaks off, allowing the bird to function in a normal manner. While much of the current research into this phenomenon is centred in Alaska, avian bill deformities have been reported worldwide. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada have asked Project FeederWatch participants in the United States and Canada to report affected birds,3 and Photo credit: Craig Salisbury in the United Kingdom the British Trust for Ornithology has asked Garden BirdWatch participants to do the same as part of their Big Garden Beak Watch project.4 Data from citizen scientists should help identify those species most affected and possibly reveal a geographical aspect. 1. Van Hemert C, Handel CM (2010) Beak deformities in northwestern crows: evidence of a multispecies epizootic. The Auk 4:746-751 . 2. Handel CM, Pajot LM, Matsuoka SM, Van Hemert C, Terenzi J, Talbot SL, Mulcahy DM, Meteyer CU, Trust KA (2010) Epizootic of beak deformities among wild birds in Alaska: an emerging disease in North America? The Auk 4:882-898. 3. Cornell Lab of Ornithology (2014) Deformed Bill Research in Alaska, chttp:// feederwatch.org/learn/articles/deformed- bills-alaska/> 4. British Trust for Ornithology (2014) Big Garden Beak Watch, www.bto.org/ volunteer-surveys/gbw/about/background/ projects/bgbw JL SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 BLUE JAY 25 SASKATCHEWAN SPRING MEET 2016 Friday, June 17 Dinner on your own 6:00pm — Registration and refreshments at Wolseley Town Hall. 7:00pm — Welcome to Wolseley 7:1 5pm — Speakers: KELSEY MARCHAND - Recent Margaret Skeel Graduate Student Scholarship award winner in 201 5 will be delivering a presentation on her research and work, focused on turtles living in Wascana Marsh. MARLA ANDERSON - A Nature Saskatchewan summer assistant will present on Important Bird Areas around Saskatchewan with a special focus on her photography. 8:30pm — Explanation of Tours RICHARD SOLBERG - (President, Wolseley Nature Conservation Society) Explanation of logistics and tours to take place Saturday. 2016 FALL MEET IN SASKATOON The 2016 Fall Meet will be held in Saskatoon from September 30 to October 2. Full details will be on the Nature Saskatchewan website as they become available, and watch for further information in the summer and fall issues of Blue Jay. Saturday, June 18 Breakfast on your own TOURS Qu'Appelle Ecological Reserve Tour (north of Wolseley) Reservoir/Marsh Tour (south of Wolseley) Groups will be divided, carpooling to destinations 8:30am — Departure for first leg of Tour 1 1 :30am — Departure for lunch at Wolseley Nature Conservation Society Trails in town 1:30pm — Departure for second leg of Tour 4:30pm — Return to Wolseley 5:30pm — Cocktails at Wolseley Town Hall 6:1 5pm — Dinner 7:15pm — Presentations/Speakers: Feral boar distribution in the Prairie Provinces RUTH KOST - (M.Sc. Candidate, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan) Wolf Ecology in Boreal Saskatchewan TOM PERRY - (M.Sc. Candidate, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan) Sunday, June 19 Breakfast on your own 9:00am — Annual General Meeting at Wolseley Town Hall Depart for home *Take time either before or after the AGM to explore the new Wolseley Nature Trails in town.* Accommodation Suggestions HOTELS/MOTELS: The Wolseley Motel 306-698-2499 (http://wolseleymotel.ca/) The Leland Hotel (306) 698-2000 Grenfell Homestead Motel (306) 697-2846 Indian Head - Sunshine Motel (306) 695-3366 (www.sunshinemotel.ca) BED & BREAKFAST: Banbury House & Inn (306) 698-2333 (www.banburyhouse.com) CAMPING: Sleepy Hollow Campground Randy at (306) 698-2984. 26 BLUE JAY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74. JUNE 17, 18 & 19 WOLSELEY, SASKATCHEWAN REGISTRATION FORM Nature Saskatchewan & Wolseley Nature Conservation Society Annual Spring Meet in Wolseley, SK June 17-19, 2016 Name: Address: Postal Code: Telephone: _ Email: _ Spring Meet Fees (see program description for detailed information). Early Registration Fee (prior to June 1 0): $75.00 $ Late Registration Fee (after June 10): $85.00 $ * Additional Banquet Tickets : ticket(s) at $25. 00/ticket (# tickets) $25.00 $ TOTAL AMOUNT $ NOTE: Do you have any dietary needs or allergies (please circle)? YES or NO IF YES, what are they? _ _ _ Mail, e-mail or call our office to register for the 2016 Spring Meet: (Make cheque payable to Nature Saskatchewan). SASKATCHEWAN Nature Saskatchewan 206 - 1860 Lome Street, Regina, SK S4P 2L7 info@naturesask.ca 1-800-667-4668 OR 306-780-9273 SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 BLUE JAY 27 IS NOCTURNAL BIRDING FOR YOU? Practising Mindfulness while Birding on Skis Rob Wilson Nature Saskatchewan Director I am, these days, contemplating "mindfulness" — a term defined as "giving thought or heed to". It calls for one to be present or to live in the moment. Extolled as state of mind that is advantageous to one's health and to a general sense of well-being, I embrace the concept. I believe mindfulness to be a desirable state that, when achieved, functions to assist with good psychological health. I also believe that bird watching, bird-experiencing or birding — specifically nocturnal birding — to be a helpful avenue to travel when attempting to place one's brain in a state of mindfulness. My nocturnal birding occurs in tandem with my love of cross¬ country skiing at night. Since western culture is described as a culture that places a high value on visual perception, let us begin by considering what one might see while gliding at night along a forested trail. The bird most likely to be encountered would be a grouse (either a ruffed or a sharp-tailed) — more about this below. You may also encounter one of a number of species of owls. A friend tells a hair- raising story of a great horned owl attempting to tear a muskrat hat off her father's head — more about owls in a moment. If the trails that you ski have a warm-up shelter complete with a bird feeder (many ski clubs provide free lunches for winter birds) you may, if you check quietly, be rewarded as I was the other night by a flying sguirrel methodically transferring black oil sunflower seeds from our club's feeder to its cheek pouches. Since these night squirrels do a kind of flying, I think that it is legitimate to consider them to be a "sighting" (if you ask "what's flying around?", it qualifies). I want to warn — while freely conceding that this can in no way be considered to be an avian sighting — that one could also spot a moose on a darkened and elongated downhill glide. However, there is a small danger that you might collide with it before actually seeing it as moose eyes and black hair are notoriously difficult to see in the dark. It is also difficult to stop those damned skis once they commit themselves to a downhill slope. Let's consider a second sense — hearing. Achieving a state of mindfulness requires concentration. One must be focused and alert to separate rustlings of "things that go bump in the night" from the rhythmic and gentle scrapings of one's ski wax against the snow. You may note calling owls — great horned, barred for certain, and possibly a great gray. In early fall and spring you may hear the echoing cries of migrating geese. You are certain to hear the yipping of coyotes and, if lucky, the howling Great horned owl. Photo credit: Nick Saunders 28 BLUE JAY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 Ruffed grouse. Photo credit: Nick Saunders of timber wolves. Again, these are not technically birds; however, they may cause you to take flight so, to my mind, it is legitimate to mention these canines. An activity to really get you into the moment while skiing is to practice bird calls. You can try the great horned owl ("who . . . who . . . who who who") or the barred owl ("who . . . who . . . who cooks for you?"). An alternative attempt to mimic the barred owl may surreptitiously arise if you suddenly and unexpectedly encounter a fellow skier in the dark. You might consider blurting "Wh ... Wh .... Who are you?" I advise that you work diligently to remove panic and fear from your phraseology as any nearby owl may detect those nuances and fail to respond to you. I also advise you to omit blurting "Who the hell are you?" as your call will no longer onomatopoeically resemble the questioning of a barred owl. Another spontaneous opportunity may arise if you become separated from your ski companions in the dark. Remembering or struggling to control potential panic and fear inclinations, you might attempt to contact your friends (and that nearby pack of coyotes) by calling "Wh ... wh .... Where RUUUUUUUUU???" I realize that this is not really a bird call, but your mind is certain to be full as you try to reunite with your birder friends. Permit me, as I conclude, kind reader, to attempt to more tightly fuse nocturnal birding with your efforts to achieve mindfulness. Try focusing for the moment upon how you feel — you may for example, if the temperature is below minus 24 degrees Celsius, feel cold (pay special attention to your thumbs, fingers, nose and toes). Take a moment to check your consciousness to determine if you are experiencing wonderment. If the coyotes or wolves are vocalizing at the moment, you might ask "I wonder if I will make it back to the truck?" You may experience stimuli, which can have the effect of rushing your brain into mindfulness, that are actually explosive. An example would be unexpected and unforeseen slapping or scratching of your face as you fly past that over-reaching branch. This can really get your attention! Even more exciting is the bursting, from beneath the snow and between your skis, of a ruffed or sharp-tailed grouse accompanied by a surreal whirring of wings in the dark. You might find that you spontaneously utter a call — "Aiiiiiiiiiiii! " Note that I have not been able to locate, to this point, any bird vocalizations that resemble this call, which leads me to conclude that it is likely to be a primordial utterance. A grouse-between-the-skis-in-the- dark-while-skiing-downhill encounter could provide an unexpected and unplanned opportunity to practice wonderment (I wonder which tree it flew into as it blasted into the forest?). Such an incident may also provide insight — once your heart and blood pressure stats subside, you realize that you are "just as chicken" as the escaping fowl. I invite you, intrigued reader, to share any nocturnal birding stories that you possess. I have not been able to adapt my skis to spring and summer conditions and, therefore, do not have stories from those seasons. I also harbour a chronic fear of bears that exerts a restraining influence on nocturnal wanderings at these times. With your kind assistance, together we may be able to encompass and expand the joys of nocturnal birding to all of the seasons. JL SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 BLUE JAY 29 43 RD ANNUAL SASKATCHEWAN CHRISTMAS MAMMAL COUNT - 2015 Alan R. Smith, Box 154, Avonlea, SK, SOH 0C0 alanrandi@sasktel.net Eighty-five Christmas Mammal Counts were conducted this winter - up four from last year. The 2,458 mammals seen or heard were up 27 per cent over last year's 26-year low of 1 ,937. The slightly greater coverage notwithstanding, most of the increase was a result of an increase in the numbers of two ungulates: White-tailed deer and pronghorn. White-tailed deer Moose. Photo Credit: Randy McCulloch Mule deer. Photo Credit: Randy McCulloch numbers rose from 598 last year to 758 this winter, while pronghorn rose from 66 to 223. Interestingly, mule deer numbers stayed much the same (486 vs 490). Squirrels did well again this year. The 1 34 eastern fox sguirrels on the Regina count smashed the previous record of 61 set in the Queen City only last winter. Its expansion also continues with the first CMC record from Yorkton. Greenwater set a new high for northern flying squirrels at five, the previous high was four at Togo in 2001, 2002, 2011,2012 2013, and 2014. Canids did well too. A pack of four wolves north of Kindersley on December 14 was well south of their usual range in the boreal forest, while a count of 35 coyotes on the Morse count set a new high for the species. With 1 1 species seen or heard, Odessa edged out perennial winner and runner-up Indian Head with 10. No new species were added this winter, so the all-time provincial total remains at 51 species seen or heard (plus three species found dead and two others recorded only on the basis of tracks). For information on participants, weather, coverage and location of CMCs, see the CBC summary in this issue. Explanation of entries in Table 1 The number of mammals actually seen or heard on count day is treated separately from those recorded by other means, or those recorded during count period (December 14 to January 5) but not on count day. Numbers of individuals seen or heard are given in Table 1 and are tallied in the first line of totals at the bottom of the table. The number of species they represent is given in the second line. For species only detected by tracks or by other means, or that are seen or heard only in the count period but not on count day, no numbers of individuals is given in Table 1 . Species detected only by tracks are indicated by 't' in the table; those detected only by other means - dead animals 'm', more clearly identifiable chewing or digging 'd', dens or lodges 'L' (including muskrat push-ups) and by smell 's.' Species detected by any means during the count period, but not on count day are indicated by 'c' in the table. These additional species are tallied in lines three, four and five at the bottom of the table. If a mammal is reported as member of a species group (i.e. mouse species, deer species), it is counted as a species only if no other species in this group has been definitely recorded. The columns at the end of the table give totals for each species. 30 BLUE JAY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 Table 1.1. 43rd Saskatchewan Christmas Mammal Count - 2015. SPECIES ARCHERWILL, 30 DEC 2015 AVONLEA, 28 DEC 2015 BALGONIE, 3 JAN 2016 BIGGAR, 27 DEC 2015 BIRCH HILLS, 2 JAN 2016 BORDEN -RADISSON, 16 DEC 2015 BRIERCREST, 2 JAN 2016 BROADVIEW, 24 DEC 2015 CATER, 1 JAN 2016 CHATSWORTH S.D., 4 JAN 2016 CHRISTOPHER LAKE, 23 DEC 2015 CHURCHBRIDGE B, 31 DEC 2015 CLARK'S CROSSING, 19 DEC 2015 CORONACH, 20 DEC 2015 CRAVEN, 19 DEC 2015 CREIGHTON, 2 JAN 2016 CROOKED LAKE, 21 DEC 2015 CROOKED RIVER, 29 DEC 2015 CYPRESS HILLS P.P., 30 DEC 2015 DENHOLM, 25 DEC 2015 DORINTOSH, 23 DEC 2015 CD ; * — : o _Tr\i ! I Q m EASTEND, 4 JAN 2016 Shrew species | i t J t ; j Nuttall’s Cottontail ; RSI 1 | t t j ! t 2 Snowshoe Hare t t t t t | t t j t t t 1 t White-tailed Jack Rabbit c 5 t 1 | t | t t ! t ! ' , ; c ! t Eastern Grey Squirrel 3 7 Eastern Fox Squirrel 5 17 ! 5 - . . : ‘Ji 8 3 American Red Squirrel 3 1 2 2 i 4 4 2 | 3 6 7 1 4 1 Northern Flying-Squirrel j 1 Northern Pocket Gopher ! .. American Beaver L L L L I HBawMwawi / ; ' , L L Deer Mouse t Muskrat L <• *■ L j L L Gapper's Red-Backed Vole 1 Meadow Vole ; :: mmm 2| rmnm. Vole species t t t t t t House Mouse .. ,,i ; gaawBHaa ■; . wwimwwva : Mouse species t t t t t t t American Porcupine t wm iM- 1 f . ' 58 1 c Coyote c 1 1 1 i 1 c t 1 2 1 t 5 t 2 2 Gray Wolf . I: pf 85 ":V': t Red Fox c 1 t t c t c t Raccoon c ■ It 1 t BBWwmiirir mmms sat American Marten c Fisher , ; ' i • v.,-:,- "a ■■■ mam m t Ermine 1 t t Long-tailed Weasel WtsSKSWB : ■ : :m ■■ v ■ t 1 t c t Weasel species C t American Mink 1 t t t !i-W€ n 1 American Badger ■ - - - - Striped Skunk VV: CVVO'-V . - t s River Otter t . Mountain Lion " ■1 t Canada Lynx t Mule Deer . 7 20 i t - ! If - 12 c 57 White-tailed Deer 5 9 5 t t t t 10 t t 9 38 13 3 9 4 123 4 33 Deer species BttH&naf : t ;j ; t Moose 1 t t t 2 8 t 2 1 Elk t : - " Pronghorn i American Bison 1 ; ! TOTALS SEEN/HEARD ON COUNT DAY 10 15 40 21 3 3 2 7 6 22 4 3 10 40 49 ! 7 4 ' 1 0 13 ■ 14 ; 124 ; 9j 96 TOTAL SPECIES SEEN/HEARD 4 3 8 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 1 2 2 8 I 1 2 0 2 6 2 ! 3 1 6 TOTAL SPECIES RECORDED BY TRACKS 1 i 0 3 5 6 0 0 10 5 o ; 2 . 4 4 3 3 | 1 11 4 | 1 2 i | 1 oj 3 9 0 TOTAL SPECIES OTHERWISE RECORDED 0 ! 0 0 1 2 0 0 2 j 2 i 0 0 1 V 0 0 0 o 2 0 0 * i i i : 1 I 3 | 0 SPECIES RECORDED COUNT PERIOD 6 0 0 o j 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 1 0 0 1 0 j 0 ; ! <• I 1 0 0 ! 0 1 4 vy'i o ; 0 1 TOTAL SPECIES COUNT PERIOD AND DAY 11 3 11 : 8 10 i 2 j 2 15 i 9 | 4 | 5 5 j 5 5 ’j 13 5 4 ! 4 j 11 j 5| ; ! 13 i 7 SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 BLUE JAY 31 Table 1.2. 43rd Saskatchewan Christmas Mammal Count - 2015. ; DC o lu r\i : Mu SPECIES Shrew species Nuttall's Cottontail Snowshoe Hare White-tailed Jack Rabbit Eastern Grey Squirrel Eastern Fox Squirrel American Red Squirrel Northern Flying-Squirrel Northern Pocket Gopher American Beaver Deer Mouse Muskrat Gapper's Red-Backed Vole Meadow Vole Vole species House Mouse Mouse species American Porcupine Coyote Gray Wolf Red Fox Raccoon American Marten Fisher Ermine Long-tailed Weasel Weasel species American Mink American Badger Striped Skunk River Otter Mountain Lion Canada Lynx ; % £ < O in o_ us Oin i .52 I oi^oi^o i^fN,2 I-HJ !K 0;<0:5«-' O i -O Zrsl ^fN;- *fN;0/ fN Z fNI | 2° §Q 8< o° 2° j t j t ! t 7 I 10 i t 1 t 3 t i t j 2 | 5 j 14 10 t | t 42 5 134 d 5 i t j t 1 1 t ! 1 | 35 i I ! c 1 m 1 1 1 i 2 | 1 I 3 5 t : 1 2 t j t I 3 t 1 1 3 4 t t t 2 i t t i 8 t 1 t t t t t t Elk Pronghorn American Bison TOTALS SEEN/HEARD ON COUNT DAY TOTAL SPECIES SEEN/HEARD TOTAL SPECIES RECORDED BY TRACKS TOTAL SPECIES OTHERWISE RECORDED SPECIES RECORDED COUNT PERIOD TOTAL SPECIES COUNT PERIOD AND DAY 18 52 22 7 j 9 ; 3 94 20 0 8 50 10 5 | 6 5 ! 4 3 3 2 | 6 3 0 2 0 4 | 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 | 0 2 6 6 ! 11 1 4 3 I 5 2 11 3 3 5 n 3 1 I 0 j 4 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 6 11' 7 0 2 0 1 | 0 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 | 0 0 9 10 9 16 6 6 10 American Badger d i d d Striped Skunk c s 1 m c s s River Otter t Mountain Lion - Canada Lynx Mule Deer 15 5 i 15 18 2 14 t 3 43 8 6 3 White-tailed Deer 2 6 34 12 3 39 10 c t 14 7 6 12 t 11 3 5 3 10 t Deer species t t t t Moose 2 t t 1 1 1 4 3 1 23 j 28 | 111 30 55 j 6 j 194 j 35 j 4 13 4 3 2 9 6 2 6 6 2 4 6 5 9 5 i 0 1 5 9 0 5 2 0 2 0 0 0 15 2 11 SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 BLUE JAY 33 Table 1.4. 43rd Saskatchewan Christmas Mammal Count - 2015. SPECIES SASK. LANDING P.P., 4 JAN 201 6 SASK. RIVER FORKS, 3 JAN 2016 SASKATOON, 26 DEC 2015 SAWYER LAKE, 26 DEC 2015 SHAMROCK, 28 DEC 2015 SNOWDEN, 4 JAN 2016 SPINNEY HILL, 21 DEC 201 5 SQUAW RAPIDS, 31 DEC 2015 SWIFT CURRENT, 19 DEC 2015 THICKWOOD HILLS, 18 DEC 2015 TOGO, 5 JAN 2016 WEYBURN, 19 DEC 2015 WHITE BEAR, 31 DEC 201 5 WHITEWOOD, 28 DEC 2015 WINGARD, 4 JAN 2016 YORKTON, 29 DEC 2015 # INDIVIDUALS SEEN/ HEARD COUNT DAY # COUNTS SEEN/HEARD # COUNTS RECORDED AS TRACKS # COUNTS RECORDED AS OTHER # COUNTS, COUNT PERIOD # COUNTS, COUNT PERIOD & COUNT DAY HIGH COUNT Shrew species t t '1 1 5 0 1 7 j 1 Nuttall's Cottontail 1 t 1 1 10 6 7 0 0 13 3 Snowshoe Hare 1 c t 5 4 t 13 8 28 0 1 37 4 White-tailed Jack Rabbit 1 1 tj t 1 1 | t 64 13 21 0 2 36 42 Eastern Grey Squirrel 40 1 59 5 0 0 0 5 40 Eastern Fox Squirrel 14 8 2 205 14 1 0 1 16 134 American Red Squirrel 6 6 c 9 6 | 9 2 4 4 1 161 37 3 0 1 41 14 Northern Flying-Squirrel c 3 I ' 6 2 0 0 2 4 5 Northern Pocket Gopher d 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 American Beaver c L j L 2 2 0 16 1 19 1 Deer Mouse t 4 2 6 0 2 10 2 Muskrat L L ! S | 2 2 0 24 0 26 1 Gapper's Red-Backed Vole 9 4 0 0 0 4 6 Meadow Vole 1 1 t 2 1 2 0 0 3 2 Vole species t t t t t t 1 1 22 0 0 23 1 House Mouse t J 8 1 1 0 0 2 8 Mouse species 1 t t 4 2 16 0 0 18 3 American Porcupine t | j 1 11 10 9 0 1 20 2 Coyote t 2 3 t 6 t 4 t t ! i 5 j t 2 149 48 15 1 3 67 35 Gray Wolf t 1 1 0 0 6 0 1 7 0 Red Fox t 2 2 t 3 | 2 t 1 15 9 17 0 6 32 5 Raccoon J 8 2 5 0 1 8 5 American Marten 1 j 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Fisher t 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 Ermine t 1 j 3 3 7 0 0 10 | ■ 1 Long-tailed Weasel t 2 2 5 0 1 8 1 Weasel species 1 t 1 1 6 0 1 8 ; 1 American Mink t 2 5 4 8 0 1 13 2 American Badger d j d 1 1 1 5 0 7 1 Striped Skunk m m 1 i s 1 1 2 10 2 15 1 River Otter t t 0 0 4 0 0 4 0 Mountain Lion 0 0 1 0 0 1 o Canada Lynx . 0 0 2 0 1 3 0 Mule Deer 37 54 j t j 6 c | 13 \ 490 28 4 0 1 33 57 White-tailed Deer 50 2 7 c 2 3 | t j 3 11 3 22 | 12 1 7 t 758 56 11 0 2 69 123 Deer species t t t 0 0 11 0 0 11 0 Moose t c t t 37 16 10 0 3 29 8 Elk t t 8 3 3 8 1 7 0 1 9 8 Pronghorn 19 1 | j 15 62 ; 223 6 o 0 1 7 105 ( American Bison j - ‘ 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 TOTALS SEEN/HEARD ON COUNT DAY 108 10 20 0 64 12 7 12 80 5 47 16 95 26 5 5 2458 TOTAL SPECIES SEEN/HEARD 5 3 7 0 4 2 2 | 2 7 2 8 | 3 6 j 5 3 3 32 TOTAL SPECIES RECORDED BY TRACKS 5 1 ■ 4 10 2 \ 2 | 3 1 5 i ! ! 2 4 3 0 3 j 6 0 3 27 TOTAL SPECIES OTHERWISE RECORDED 2 1 1 0 o o o 0 1 o ! o 0 j 5 0 0 6 SPECIES RECORDED COUNT PERIOD o 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 \ 0 0 j 0 0 0 23 TOTAL SPECIES COUNT PERIOD AND DAY 12 5 10 14 6 4 5 6 1 1 1 10 7 13 | 3 9 16 3 6 36 A 34 BLUE JAY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 THOUGHTS FROM ARTS CARES VOLUNTEERS During the February break, Nature Saskatchewan was pleased to once again participate in the ARTS Cares program through the University of Regina. The program fits an estimated 50 students interested in volunteering for not-for- profits in their area of interest, and the students commit to volunteering a total of 15 hours each. As always, the students who arrived were intelligent, eager, and made a valuable contribution during their time working with us. Nature Saskatchewan would like to thank Fla i ley Rudniski and Tiffany B lam pied for all of their hard work. We asked Flailey and Tiffany to each write a short article about their time with Nature Saskatchewan. Tiffany Blampied 3rd year Biology student During the February break, I participated in the Arts CARES program through the University of Regina and I was placed at Nature Saskatchewan. I did not really know what to expect, but went in with low expectations. During the week my expectations were exceeded and I was able to connect and work on tasks that were interesting, engaging, and relatable to my field of study in Biology. The Nature Saskatchewan team is a wonderful, inviting group that creates a very comfortable atmosphere to be around. I was warmly welcomed and felt appreciated during my 1 5 hours of volunteer service. I was able to do many interesting things such as research and create a Monarch butterfly factsheet, create Piping Plover jokes, and create yard maps for several Regina schools. These tasks were very meaningful and engaging and I felt like we were really able to help out the staff. I would recommend to others to get involved with this organization as they really strive to get people involved through their various programs such as Nature Quest and Stewards of Saskatchewan. I would like to stay in contact and volunteer with them in the future to promote conservation and conservation education. As well, I am hoping to go out with them on their Spring Meet in June. Nature Saskatchewan is a great organization and I felt my time was very productive and well spent. Thank you for having me for the week! Hailey Rudniski 4th year Environmental Biology major Volunteering for Nature Saskatchewan was a rewarding and insightful experience. I originally expected to be treated with strict professionalism and to be doing menial tasks, such as filing or organizing. I was pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome Tiffany and I received and with how comfortable it was talking with our supervisors, Becky Quist and Ashley Fortney. They took a direct interest in who we were and what we were aspiring to do. It made us feel more like equals rather than just volunteers. The tasks they gave us were more meaningful than expected. I prepared and put together the 2016 Plantwatch newsletter that covered the 201 5 spring season. It was interesting to see how the program worked and to read the reports submitted by PlantWatchers across Saskatchewan. It showed that a lot of people cared and wanted to help in Nature Saskatchewan's conservation efforts. The amount of effort that went into the newsletter was a great example of how much the employees care about these stewardship programs and the people who participate in them by putting in article summaries of relevant topics, poems about nature, and highlighting a particularly interesting plant of Saskatchewan, catering to a wide variety of interests. On the Thursday, Becky and Ashley took us out in the afternoon to show us how ground-truthing worked and why it was necessary. Ground-truthing is to test how accurate their online maps are in regards to the identifications put in by a person. This required us to visit the site being assessed with a printed copy of the map and correcting any incorrect or missing information. It was great to get outside and stretch our identification skills out. It was difficult identifying plants in the winter but it was fun taking educated guesses and bouncing ideas off of one another. Overall, my time with Nature Saskatchewan, although short, was wonderful. Between the fantastic people we met and the insightful tasks left to us as volunteers, I have come out of this experience with a better understanding of the work Nature Saskatchewan does and of the importance of volunteers to organizations such as this one. Without volunteers, Nature Saskatchewan would work at a significantly lower capacity, if at all. Whether they are citizen scientists volunteering to watch plants or volunteers helping where they can at the office, Nature Saskatchewan and its entire staff value all the work volunteers do with warmth and great gratitude. A SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 BLUE JAY 35 A male mountain bluebird. Photo credit: Lome Scott MY LIFE WITH BLUEBIRDS Lome Scott Box 995, Indian Head, SK SOG 2K0 lorne.scott@sasktel.net I was born in Indian Head, Saskatchewan and raised on a mixed farm south of town in the Aspen Parkland region of the province. When my grandparents settled on the farm 100 years ago in 1915, the aspen bluffs were much smaller in size and maturity, as frequent prairie fires prevented the trees from getting well established. However, with settlement and cultivation, widespread grass fires were greatly reduced, allowing the aspens, willows and other shrubs to become established and reach maturity within a few decades. Aspen poplar, sometimes called "the walking tree," spread by new saplings growing up and out from the existing bluff. The ability for aspens to spread is clearly evident where whole parcels of land that have never been broke are now pretty well covered by an aspen forest. Fifty years ago and beyond, farming was much more in harmony with nature. The aspen bluffs, shrubs, wetlands and fragmented remains of native grass interspersed by cultivated fields provided a rich and diverse landscape. The existing bluffs and wetlands were left untouched as open grassy areas were plowed for the growing of crops. Bluffs provided fire wood and fence posts, and the sloughs (wetlands) provided hay for winter feed and grazing, as did the remaining patches of grasslands. Winter brought daily chores and the harvesting of furs such as weasel, muskrat, rabbit and coyote. Each season brought its own sights and sounds on the farm. Spring saw the return of many birds, some of which stayed to nest. Summer brought an array of wild flowers, such as cowslips (Hoary Pucoons) growing along well-worn paths followed by the cows coming home for the twice-daily milking. Fall was harvest time for garden produce, field crops and wild game. Historically, both eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) and mountain bluebirds (S. currucoides) were relatively uncommon at Indian Head and in the vicinity of the Qu'Appelle Valley. The lack of nesting sites available prior to 1940 no doubt limited their numbers. In Manley Callin's book, Birds of the Qu'Appelle 1857 - 1979, observations of both bluebird species are documented as rare, irregular and a relative new comer prior to 1 940. The early homesteads and equipment often contained nooks and crannies suitable for bluebird nesting sites, and it was considered a good omen to have bluebirds nesting close to one's home. Perhaps the most frequently used bluebird nesting site was the twine box on the old binder used for cutting sheaves. By 1950, the arrival of non-native and aggressive house sparrows and European starlings began to take over bluebird nesting sites. Remaining bluebirds were driven away from farm yards, and nested in woodpecker holes and rotted aspen snags. My first recollection of bluebirds was around 1960, before I kept records. A pair of mountain bluebirds was nesting in the twine box on the binder, and as I went near their nest, they would dive bomb me in an attempt to scare me away — and it worked. My first recorded observation of mountain bluebirds was on April 11,1 963. Since then, I have recorded the spring arrival dates of the first bluebirds each year. The earliest spring arrival was February 22, 2000. A lone male was seen by my Uncle Hartley Scott and friend, Cliff Kenney, on the outskirts of Indian Head. I saw my first single male on March 4 that year. The latest arrival date documented was April 13, 1975. It was recognized that bluebirds would use nesting boxes, and over the years people across North America built tens of thousands of boxes for all three species of bluebirds. Dr. T.E. Musselman of Illinois is credited as being the first person to set out a number of nest boxes along a country road side. Thus, in 1934, the concept of a "Bluebird Trail" was established. In Canada, John and Nora Lane at Brandon, Manitoba formed the Brandon Junior Birders in 1959 and subsequently set out thousands of bluebird nest boxes. Over the next few decades eastern, mountain and western bluebirds (S. mexicana) all benefited from the efforts of dedicated individuals and organizations. Bluebird numbers increased substantially in those 36 BLUE JAY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 Male mountain bluebird bringing food to young in a twine box on an old binder. Photo credit: Myrna Pearman Number of mountain bluebirds, eastern bluebirds and tree swallows banded from 1969 to 2015. YEAR MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS EASTERN BLUBIRDS TREE SWALLOWS 1969 395 5 600 - 1970 601 849 1971 700 1450 1972 684 1396 1973 682 15 1794 1974 900 1698 1975 792 7 . ' 2299 1976 169 2 1977 243 5 179 1978 262 515 1979 136 . 300 1980 147 38 1981 189 ' .' ''"Wv. ■' 4 1982 1983 1984 1985 76 152 1986 48 4 144 1987 23 166 ' . 1988 166 9 70 1989 126 5 1990 179 1991 192 4 1992 116 4 1993 194 9 1994 190 77 1995 152 2 78 1996 73 117 1997 43 ■ ■■ . 147 1998 94 6 36 1999 54 89 2000 131 4 178 2001 26 235 2002 40 124 2003 39 212 2004 51 137 2005 16 188 2006 110 181 2007 76 176 2008 62 138 2009 32 183 2010 10 209 2011 6 216 2012 9 208 2013 3 259 2014 6 310 2015 322 TOTAL 8,243 70 15,545 areas where bluebird trails were established across North America. I made my first nest box in 1 963 at the age of 1 5. My first boxes were placed around the farm yard and I was quite happy to have house sparrows occupy them. As I recall, the sparrow population was higher back then than it is today. In 1965, I placed some boxes along fence lines out in the fields away from the yard. May 24, 1965 was one of the most thrilling days of my life when I discovered a pair of mountain bluebirds using one of my nest boxes. The excitement was short-lived as a few days later, a road construction crew removed the post and box and left them laying on the ground. A second pair of mountain bluebirds was discovered in a box on June 21, but a domestic cat destroyed the nest and young. At last, on July 10, a pair of bluebirds raised five young in a third box. I also found two pairs of bluebirds nesting in old woodpecker holes in aspen trees that summer. An additional 60 nest boxes, mostly made from hollow trees, were set out in 1966 along road sides and neighbours' fence lines. Six pairs of mountain bluebirds and two pairs of eastern bluebirds successfully nested. I had access to scrap lumber from a construction site and had some 200 nest boxes ready to set out in the spring of 1967. At least 19 pairs of mountain bluebirds nested in them. On May 1 , 1 967, I began to work at the Saskatchewan Museum of Natural History (Royal Saskatchewan Museum). The following winter, I was given permission to use the carpenter shop at the Museum after hours to build nest boxes, if I supplied the lumber. About 200 nest boxes were ready to set out in the spring. I joined my bluebird trail at Broadview, Saskatchewan where it connected with John Lane's trail from Brandon, Manitoba. At least 50 pairs of mountain bluebirds nested in my boxes in 1 968. In 1969, I had obtained my own federal Bird Banding Permit, thanks to the references from renowned bird bander, Dr. Stuart Houston, and long-time naturalist and Western Producer columnist, Doug Gilroy. More than 100 pairs of mountain bluebirds and two pairs of eastern bluebirds nested that year, with 395 mountain and five eastern bluebirds being banded. On April 5 of the following year, I joined my bluebird trail at Raymore, Saskatchewan, with the Saskatoon Junior Naturalists' trail led by Stuart and Mary Houston. This addition completed the longest bluebird trail in the world, with John and Nora Lane's trail based in Brandon extending from near Winnipeg, SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 BLUE JAY 37 west to Broadview, and my trail joining their trail at Broadview and extending west to Raymore, where it linked up with the Saskatoon Junior Naturalists' trail. The Junior Naturalists' trail extended westward from Saskatoon towards North Battleford, Saskatchewan. During the 1970s, which was the peak operation of this longest bluebird trail in the world, thousands of nest boxes were spread over many hundreds of miles. It is estimated that 5,000 mountain bluebirds and 10,000 tree swallows fledged each year from this trail. For various reasons, the trail eventually fell into disrepair and no longer exists as it once did. However, many other individuals picked up the challenge and have placed thousands of nest boxes throughout Saskatchewan and the prairie provinces in an effort to assist bluebirds. By 1975, I had made and placed some 2,000 nest boxes along many miles of road. I would check all the boxes four times a year, each trip covering 800 kilometres (500 miles) and taking four days to complete. The first trip was to record and band nesting bluebird females. On the second trip, young bluebirds and nesting adult female tree swallows were banded. Trip number three was to band young Tree Swallows. A final trip in the fall was made to clean out the boxes. Big changes occurred in 1976, when I opted to move to my uncle and aunt's farm to do my own farming along with continued employment as the Park Naturalist at Wascana Centre Authority in Regina, which made for a 160-kilometre round-trip daily commute. I also got married that year. Needless to say, priorities dictated that I would not be able to maintain all my nest boxes. Fortunately, volunteers monitored and maintained portions of my trail and added their own nest boxes. By the late 1970s, changes were evident on the landscape as aspen bluffs and natural grasslands were being increasingly cleared and plowed under. Raccoons had arrived and became a new predator that bluebirds and trail operators had to contend with. I found that in the early 1980s, these intelligent animals FIRST OBSERVED ARRIVAL DATES OF MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS BETWEEN 1963 AND 2015: 1970 March 27 1980 March 25 1990 March 3 2000 February 22 2010 March 13 1971 March 13 1981 March 3 1991 March 19 2001 March 17 2011 March 18 1972 March 11 1982 March 16 1992 March 12 2002 March 30 2012 March 10 1963 April 11 1973 March 4 1983 March 29 1993 March 22 2003 March 29 2013 March 29 1964 April 1 1974 April 9 1984 March 26 1994 March 13 2004 March 23 2014 April 5 1965 i April 8 1975 April 13 1985 March 14 1995 March 14 2005 March 27 2015 March 30 1966 March 12 1976 March 22 1986 March 13 1996 April 8 2006 March 28 1967 March ! 23 1977 March 17 1987 March 27 1997 March 22 2007 March 11 1968 March ! 5 1978 March 25 1988 March | 2 1998 March 25 2008 March 16 1969 March ! 23 1979 March : i6 1989 March 25 1999 March | 14 2009 March 20 38 BLUE JAY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 would sometimes retrace my steps to each nest box where they would feed on nesting females, eggs and young. Because of their predation, I chose not to visit or band any bluebirds or swallows between 1982 and 1984. In an attempt to reduce raccoon predation, boxes are now retrofitted with a wire mesh raccoon guard around the entrance. The guards work with some success. These strong predators are sometimes able to rip apart older nest boxes in order to get at the contents inside. Over the past 30 years, I have continued to maintain, monitor and band birds in boxes around the farm and nearby areas. A friend also maintains a short trail nearby where we continue to band bluebirds. Unfortunately, the number of mountain bluebirds nesting on the farm has declined over the past 20 years. This decline is puzzling, because my farm is one of the few places where the natural landscape has been preserved and the number of available nest boxes has actually increased. It appears to me that the bluebirds are simply not returning in the spring. During the peak years in the 1970s, 25 to 30 pairs of mountain bluebirds nested on the farm each year, and the numbers were still fairly good in the 1980s. However, there was evidence of decline in the 1990s. The following information is a sobering reality: In 2008, 10 pairs nested on the farm. In 2009, six pairs nested. Only three pairs nested in 2010. Two pairs nested in 201 1 and again in 201 2. One pair fledged three young in 2013. One pair nested in 2014 and a raccoon ripped open the nest box devouring the young. For the first time in 50 years, no bluebirds nested on the farm in 201 5. The numbers of mountain bluebirds observed in the spring has also declined significantly. In 201 5, Male eastern bluebird. Photo credit: Fred Lahrman I visited familiar bluebird migration haunts several times looking for these harbingers of spring. I finally saw a lone female on March 30 and a lone male later in April. Other bluebird trail operators in Saskatchewan have also noted a big decline in the number of nesting bluebirds. Myrna Pearman at the Ellis Bird Farm near Red Deer, Alberta has also noted a significant decline in nesting mountain bluebirds in the area northeast of Red Deer. Ironically, they seem to have increased in other local areas, such as the Lousana area southeast of Red Deer. The cause of the decline is likely due to a number of factors including late spring snow storms, habitat loss and food supply. Each year I set out a few more nest boxes on the farm and the natural habitat will be protected in perpetuity through a Conservation Easement with the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation. I will eagerly be looking for the first bluebirds arriving on a mild south breeze in March. Maybe a few will return to nest? JL iff mfstmv, ia*5bf?8«feTSt8. Some 200 nest boxes built over winter and ready to set out in early spring. Photo credit: Lome Scott SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 BLUE JAY 39 CHANGES TO OUR PUBLICATIONS AND MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE To our devoted membership and long-time supporters, we would like to share our excitement with you in the fresh, newly refurbished Blue Jay. We hope you enjoy the result of the many collaborations and efforts that have brought it to life. With this change of format of the Blue Jay, we will be able to offer an electronic version to our members in the very near future. The electronic version, once available, will be in full colour. Once our website is equipped (tentatively July 2016), members will be able to login with a personalized ID and password to be able to view the material. Recognizing the increased costs in serving our members (printing, postage and no membership fee increase in over 20 years), the Nature Saskatchewan Board of Directors will be presenting to the membership a proposal to change membership structure and fees at our upcoming Annual Meeting on June 19 in Wolseley. Any changes in membership fees must be ratified by the membership at an Annual meeting. If the membership approves the proposed membership fee structure at the Annual Meeting in June, annual membership fees will remain at the current rate until November, 2016. Memberships received after November 1 will be enrolled under the new fee structure and receive a 14-month membership. All existing three and five-year memberships will be honoured until they expire. If the new membership fees are adopted at the June Annual Meeting, three and five- year memberships will not be offered. If there are any questions or concerns, or if you are seeking more information, please contact Nature Saskatchewan at 1-800-667-4668 (toll-f ree)/(306) 780- 9273 or info@naturesask.ca The following are the proposed changes to be discussed and ratified in June: All memberships will be based on an annual subscription from January 1 to December 31 of the calendar year. 1 . With the transition to an annual membership, three and five-year memberships will be phased out. 2. Existing Life memberships will endure and remain unchanged. 3. New Life memberships will be offered at an increased fee pending board approval. 4. Student and Senior memberships will be offered at a discounted fee for the print version. Individual and Family will remain separate categories. 5. The fee structure will be based on being an "electronic" subscriber ora "print" subscriber. "Print" members fees are based on print and postage costs. 6. Institutional and Foreign membership costs will increase. 7. Fee changes are as follows: • Individual $25/yr — Electronic Individual $40/yr - Print • Family $30/yr - Electronic Family $45/yr - Print • Student $25/yr - Electronic Student $35/yr - Print • Senior $2 5/yr — Electronic Senior $35/yr - Print • Organization/Institution $30/yr- Electronic Organization/Institution $60/yr- Print • Foreign/Outside Canada $30/yr- Electronic Foreign/Outside Canada $60/yr- Print 40 BLUE JAY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 www.naturesask.ca www.facebook.com/naturesask www.twitter.com/naturesask info@naturesask.ca #206 - 1860 Lome St Regina, SK S4P 2L7 S A S K ATC H E WA N The Voice of Mure FOR SASKATCHEWAN Without your voice, ours becomes a whisper. Help us protect Saskatchewan’s ecosystems and wildlife. NAME: _ ADDRESS: _ CITY: _ PROVINCE: _ POSTAL CODE: _ PHONE: _ EMAIL: _ Would you like to subscribe to all electronic communications? D Yes □ No Would you like to receive our e-newsletter? ^ Yes d No I wish to become a monthly donor & join the Nature Savings Plan (Income tax receipts are issued annually) Amount: $ I wish to show my support through a one time tax-deductible donation (Income tax receipts are issued immediately) MY DONATION IS IN SUPPORT OF: n General Programs □ 1 I Scholarship Fund □ 1 1 Nature Legacy Fund □ Last Mountain Bird Observatory Stewards of Saskatchewan Programs (OBO, POS, SFS, RPR) Land Conservation Fund I wish to enroll/renew my membership CATEGORY Individual Institution Family Senior 64+ Student Outside Canada Life ONE YEAR □ $25 □ $30 □ $30 n $20 □ $15 □ $30 THREE YEARS □ $65 □ $75 □ $50 □ $75 FIVE YEARS □ $95 □ $115 □ $75 □ $115 □ $600 (You will receive a tax receipt for $575) FEE TOTALS: Nature Saskatchewan Membership $ _ Nature Saskatchewan Donation $ _ TOTAL $ _ I wish to pay by: Cheque/Money Order payable to Nature Saskatchewan Visa MasterCard Cardholder’s Name: _ _____ Signature: _ Card Number: _ _ Expiry Date: _ SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 BLUE JAY 41 The Frenchman River between Ravenscrag and Eastend. Photo credit: Annie McLeod HUMAN NATURE Annie McLeod, Blue Jay Editor Living in Saskatchewan, it is quite easy to find beautiful places that connect a person to all that is around and beyond. But even once so many of these places have been discovered, there are always those few spots that particularly stand out — those gems that deeply solidify that it is indeed human nature to love, and be at one with, nature itself. Between Eastend and the ghost town of Ravenscrag lies what I consider one of the most enchanting places in the province. The gravel road connecting the two towns — Ravenscrag Road — runs along the Frenchman River, and to either side are hills marked with bands of white mud. The numerous layers visible within these hills reveal the history of the land throughout the ages, dating back to a time when dinosaurs roamed our planet, and instill a sense of wonder at everything this land has seen throughout the years. The Frenchman River cuts through grasslands that stand still together or sway in a series of waves, dancing with the wind as it makes its way through the valley. The air smells sweet and fresh from the grasses and wildflowers, and the wind sounds as though it is carrying messages that perhaps only the creatures on this land can comprehend. Turkey vultures can be seen teetering in the air as they circle overhead scavenging for food. Taller shrubs reveal birds such as yellow warblers, and grouse forage within the lush landscape. In the evening, ring-necked pheasants appear on the old rail lines and rise from the grasses to cross Ravenscrag Road — cocks traveling ahead, safely leading the hens. One of the mud-lined hills that can be seen from the road is Jones Peak. From here, you can stand on the valley rim and stare out at the view that was perfected over millions of years. The air is clean and crisp to breathe in as the sun and wind kiss your face, and various birds — from raptors to swallows and bluebirds — can be heard and seen moving across the sky above and the land below. Everything between Eastend and Ravenscrag is in front of you at once, and while a picture may hope to capture the beauty seen, only your mind and soul can capture what you feel. While many spots in Saskatchewan are special to me, this section of the Frenchman River — and the area that surrounds it — is somewhere I yearn to be a part of, year after year. Whether standing on the valley floor or on top of Jones Peak, I can't help but become abundantly aware that all my senses are working together in unison, causing me to stop thinking and to only feel. At this time I am fully present — not only am I in nature, but I am at one with nature. Human Nature is a new series for Blue Jay. In each issue, we will feature someone's favourite nature spot in Saskatchewan. Please contact Annie McLeod if you are interested in this opportunity. JL 42 BLUE JAY SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 Photo credit: Kerry Hecker Mystery Photo December 2015 (left) ANSWER: This photo has all the elements of a murder mystery. A weasel has ventured across the open ice of a dugout, and disappears midway. Meanwhile, it is known that a Great Horned Owl has been hunting in the area. - David J. Larson Mystery Photo Spring 2016 (above) THE QUESTION IS: To which bird do these feathers belong? Please send your answers to Blue Jay editor Annie McLeod at bluejay@naturesask.ca Those with correct answers will be entered into a draw for a prize from Nature Saskatchewan. Have you taken a picture that may make for a good mystery photo? Send it to Annie at the email address above. SPRING 2016 VOLUME 74.1 B ,Y Coyote near Climax, Saskatchewan. Photo credit: Randy McCulloch <2 SASKATCHEWAN 206 - 1 860 Lome Street Regina, SK S4P 2L7 ** TON 9Z0 EDMONTON AB FWD 13/3 Pub #43189012 U of A Library 5th Floor Cameron Edmonton AB T6G 2J8 FSC www.fsc org MIX Paper from responsible sources FSC* C008167