LINK TO PDF NEWSLETTER DOWNLOAD
Want to know when the Hummingbirds will arrive in Alberta? Track their migration on line. When they are two weeks away, put your feeders out (if the nights are still cold, you may have to bring the feeder in for the night and then place it back out in the morning.
Many Hummingbirds spend the winter in Central America or Mexico, and migrate north to their breeding grounds in the southern United States as early as February, and to areas further north, like Alberta, later in the spring.
Hummingbirds fly by day when nectar sources such as flowers are more abundant. Flying low allows the birds to see, and stop at food supplies along the way.
The first arrivals in spring are usually males.
When preparing sugar water for Hummingbirds: only use white granulated sugar. Never use brown sugar, honey, powders or food colouring in the solution. These may cause a range of problems including rapid bacteria and fungi growth and the potential spread of disease.
The list of potential predators is long and spiders can be above hummers in the food chain. Because Hummingbirds use spider silk to bind their nests together, occasionally while acquiring silk, they get tangled and the spider strikes back. The most common predator (for all birds) is domesticated cats. Other threats include: hawks, other birds such as Blue jays and Crows, snakes, bees, wasps, frogs and fish.
Hummingbird Sugar Water
Bleach Solution for Disinfecting
1 part white granulated sugar to 4 parts clean, boiled water
4 teaspoons of bleach per quart of water (make sure bleach is suitable for surfaces not just for cleaning clothes)
Have you checked out the Merlin app? Would you like a demonstration on how they will help you to identify birds? Stop by The Wild Bird Store during regular business hours and staff will be happy to show you how the app will enable you to identify birds in various ways.
Identify Bird Songs and Calls
Identify Birds by your Photos
Save Birds to Your Life List
Explore lists of birds near your location
Wednesday April 27, 2022 5:00pm
THIS WILL BE A ZOOM PRESENTATION
Tickets: $15.00 +GST +fee Tickets available at Eventbrite.ca
Ticket must be purchased through Eventbrite.ca and are non-refundable
Mason bee stacking trays: Made of environmentally friendly corn material that stack to create 30 nesting tunnels. Just the right number to start your Mason bee population. The Quicklock nesting trays have matching grooves. When paired and stacked, the trays form nesting tunnels. The stacking design makes cleaning and harvesting a snap. In the fall, simply pop the trays apart and gently slide the cocoons out of the exposed grooves.
Mason bee house: Chalet holds one 30 quick lock tray. Front door opens for easy cleaning and removal. When the door is closed a small hole protects bees from predating Woodpeckers, mice and parasitic wasps.
Condo model available. Holds six quick lock trays. Features a ledge at the top to place cocoon boxes.
Made of cedar and built in Alberta.
Why are baby chicks and eggs a symbol of Easter?
Because baby chicks are born by hatching from an egg, they symbolize new life and fertility, which is strongly associated both with Easter and the spring season overall.
Contact Meadowlark Birding Tours (403)519-8703
gmckinnon-bird@gmail.com
Set-Date Tours
Set-date tours are scheduled many months if not years in advance to maximize enjoyment and birding opportunities. The group size for these tours can range between four and ten participants depending on logistics, focus of the tour and location. These tours can be viewed and booked anytime through our website.
Calgary Day Trips
Calgary day trips are tailored to fit your exact needs and circumstances as well as your personal goals. Do you want to spend a day of targeting specific birds you need for your life list? Maximize the number of species? Or even just a casual stroll through a local park? All of these can be arranged to fit your preferences and schedule.
RMERF Daily Spring Count Starting Soon
Please join RMERF for the 2022 Spring Count from March 1st to April 22nd with observers at the Mount Lorette site daily. This will be the 30th year of of vigilant recording!
For more information and the Mount Lorette site Observation map, please visit:
The Wild Bird Store is pleased to announce that we will be carrying the print edition of NATURE ALBERTA May 2022 in our store. This is the only place in Calgary to get a copy without a subscription. Look for it in-store May 1st.
In the Spring issue of NATURE ALBERTA magazine, Alberta’s waterways will be explored with paddling expert Mark Lund. Also, Biologist Lorne Fitch examines the strain irrigation expansion plans will put on southern Alberta’s river systems. And the spectacular wildlife photography of Rick Price practically flies off the page!
As always, the Nature Kids section is filled with info and activities to inspire the next generation of naturalists!
We offer a discount if you return your seed bags (sorry—not the Mother Nature bags which we cannot re-use), suet ball containers, if you bring your own container to fill or use a bag from our re-cycle bin. This discount is in addition to any other discount offered.
Write a Google review on your experience at The Wild Bird Store, and as a thank you, we will give you 100 customer loyalty points ($5.00 value). To get a promo code, kindly email info@wildbirdstore.ca
(one Google review per customer)
Earn 200 customer loyalty points ($10.00 value) by referring a friend, acquaintance or fellow birder.
Please visit the store to get a promo code.
No need for a card, just give your phone number. You earn $1.00 for every $20.00 spent (excludes “sales” items, books & optics) and can be used in-store and on Mobile Seed Truck. As a loyalty member our monthly promotions and in-store “specials” are automatically given at the cash register.
Combining our Seniors 10% discount with the Loyalty Program. (Excludes “sales” items, books & optics).
Discount for membership 10% discount for members of Fish Creek Park, AIWC, Priddis Golf Club, Nature Calgary, Sandy Cross Conservation, Springbank Garden Club and Millarville Horticultural Society. Must present valid membership card at time of purchase.
Discount for Military Members & Veterans 10% discount on
purchases in-store or on Mobile Seed Truck (sorry—excludes “sales”
items, books, optics and consignment items)
Options for shopping at the Wild Bird Store
Crowfoot YMCA/Arena
(corner of John Laurie Blvd. & Nosehill Drive NW)
Every Wednesday 2:00pm to 5:30pm
To ensure you get what you want, please have your order in by 5:00pm on Tuesday and we will set it aside for you
Text us @ (403) 701-4571 OR email us at orders@wildbirdstore.ca so we can put your order aside.
Earn and redeem customer loyalty points on
The Bird Seed Truck
DELIVERY: Deliveries will still be made on Thursdays ONLY. Please phone the store at (403) 640-2632 any day prior to 12:00 noon on the Wednesday before your delivery; place and pay for your delivery. Please phone with your order as early as possible to avoid disappointment. If you have any special instructions please do not forget to inform us when you place your order.
All participants on any bird walk must have purchased a ticket through Eventbrite.ca and present the ticket to Jim prior to the bird walk. The weather plays a big part in bird walks and Jim reminds participants to dress anticipating weather changes and to carry water to keep hydrated.
Saturday April 2, 2022 MALLARD POINT (Fish Creek Park)
(9:00am meet at the East end of Canyon Meadows Drive East of Bow Bottom Trail)
Ticket price: $6.00 +GST +fees
Ticket must be purchased through Eventbrite.ca—2022 WBS bird walks
Saturday April 16, 2022 Inglewood Bird Sanctuary
(9:00am meet at Inglewood Sanctuary 9th Avenue S.E.)
Ticket price: $6.00 +GST +fees
Ticket must be purchased through Eventbrite.ca—2022 WBS bird walks
Saturday April 30, 2022 Griffith Woods (Fish Creek Park)
(9:00am meet at the parking lot 160 Discovery Ridge Blvd. S.W.)
Ticket price: $6.00 +GST +fees
Ticket must be purchased through Eventbrite.ca—2022 WBS bird walks
Saturday May 14, 2022 Frank Lake Day Trip
(9:00am meet in parking lot at rear of Wild Bird Store). Approximately 5 hour trip—please bring lunch and water and dress for weather conditions
Ticket price: $6.00 +GST +fees
Ticket must be purchased through Eventbrite.ca—2022 WBS bird walks
Andrew Barnes
Purple Martin colony in Calgary
Wednesday April 6, 2022 6:00pm
Ticket Price: $15.00 +GST +fees
Tickets must be purchased through Eventbrite.ca and are non-refundable
Andrew Barnes has successfully established a Purple martin house behind his residence in New Brighton here in Calgary. He has put considerable research and effort to have the first successful PUMA colony in Calgary in 80 years and the most southerly one in Alberta.
www.purplemartin.org and click on the icon “Scout Arrival Study”
Chris Fisher
How wild birds have helped our mental health during the Pandemic
Wednesday April 13, 2022 6:00pm
Ticket price: $15.00 +GST +fees
Tickets must be purchase through Eventbrite.ca and are non-refundable
Chris delves into the popularity and importance wild birds have contributed to society’s mental health during these challenging times and will combine the topic with some local birding stories that have helped folks over the past two years.
Chris Fisher the best-selling co-author of popular field guide “Birds of Alberta”, filmmaker and television host shares inspiring storylines that connect audiences with skills that organizations value. Trained as a scientist and travelling the world as a lecturer, Chris explored and investigated universal strategies of success common to individuals, institutions and organizations.
Question:
My friends and I love feeding the birds, but lately we have had complaints from neighbours in our condominium stating that our hobby is responsible for mouse invasions in their home. What are your thoughts on this matter?
Answer:
I am sorry to hear that you and your friends are getting grief from your fellow residents trying to blame mouse invasions on your bird feeding activities. I can tell you that whether one feeds birds or not, mice will always try to enter buildings to accomplish two things, that is getting out of the cold weather and looking for food sources. And I must honestly say, that finding mice inside one’s domicile is not a good thing. In fact, we have had them appear in all three houses we have lived in over the last 30 years and I take them very seriously, basically resorting to killing them with snap traps, which are very effective. I do not think that halting your feeding activity will stop the mice from entering your condos. Here is what I would do. First, I would look for any kind of entry holes, however small and plug them up. Second, make absolutely sure that your feeders cannot be accessed by mice, by hanging them or putting them on poles with baffles to keep the mice from climbing up. Third, it is always a good idea to make sure that your feeders have seed trays installed on them to prevent seed from falling on the ground. Fourth, consider offering only sunflower chips so that no hulls fall to the ground. And think about using my favorite Squirrel Buster feeder, the one that offers shelled mixed nuts. Not only do the nuts attract lots of birds, they stay on the feeder longer, the nuts last longer, and there is no mess below the feeder. Fifth, sweep the area below the feeders often to remove debris tasty to mice and keep the lawn cut short to prevent the mice from hiding in the long grass. Sixth, store your seed in a mouse-proof container. I use a galvanized garbage can with a tight lid and I place a heavy rock on it to keep out the raccoons. And finally, try to sit down with your neighbors and calmly discuss how important feeding birds is to you in terms of enjoying life and try to understand their concerns too.
David M. Bird, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of Wildlife Biology, McGill University www.askprofessorbird.com
David M. Bird is Emeritus Professor of Wildlife Biology and the former Director of the Avian Science and Conservation Centre at McGill University. As a past-president of the Society of Canadian Ornithologists, a former board member with Birds Canada, a Fellow of both the American Ornithological Society and the International Ornithological Union, he has received several awards for his conservation and public education efforts. Dr. Bird is a regular columnist on birds for Bird Watcher’s Digest and Canadian Wildlife magazines and is the author of several books and over 200 peer-reviewed scientific publications. He is the consultant editor for multiple editions of DK Canada’s Birds of Canada, Birds of Eastern Canada, Birds of Western Canada, and Pocket Birds of Canada. To know more about him, visit www.askprofessorbird.com or email david.bird@mcgill.ca.
DONATIONS
Located at The Wild Bird Store (near the seed bins). We collect your cash as well as “wishlist” donations and arrange to deliver them to local wildlife organizations including Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation, Alberta Institute of Conservation and Ellis Bird Farm.
We ask for your support quarterly for each of these organizations.
For March, April and May 2022 your donations will go to:
Alberta Institute For Wildlife Conservation
ALBERTA WINTER BIRDS
Horned lark
The Horned lark is the only member of the Lark family that is native to the new world.
These birds return to their birthplace after every migration (a characteristic known as “philopatric”).
They are early nesters with nests found in February even in the colder climates.
A group of Larks has many collective nouns including “ascension”, “chattering”, “exaltation”, “happiness”, and “springul” of Larks.
In wintertime, flocks of Horned larks, often mixing with other birds of open ground, can be seen along roadsides, in feedlots, and on fields spread with waste grain and manure.
A nesting female conceals her location by leaving the nest stealthily and flying silently near the ground; she is reluctant to return while potential predators lurk nearby. If repeatedly flushed from her nest, she performs a distraction display, fluttering up and landing about a foot from the nest in a crouched posture with her wings spread, sometimes uttering soft distress calls. If she is followed, she walks rapidly away from the nest before flying.
On hot days, foraging individuals follow the shade of tall objects such as power poles and fence posts; females stand over the nest with wings held away from their bodies to shade the eggs or chicks from the sun.
Good Friday Friday April 15, 2022 CLOSED
Easter Sunday Sunday April 17, 2022
Calgary, AB T2H 1K3 CLOSED Sundays and ALL Statutory holidays for Faith, Family & Friends
Phone: (403)640-2632 Showroom is open with some restrictions. We still offer curbside pick up
Web: wildbirdstore.ca every day and delivery service on Thursdays
email: info@wildbirdstore.ca
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