Reflections - Spring so far...............

Here in Nakusp Spring continues and with it the mystery of migration.

The first flourish was weeks ago when, while snow and ice still covering the ground the first optimistic Robins flew in. They were the first guard only as since then hundreds upon hundreds have joined them and moved through this area. Back in 2009 American Robins were clearly one of the more common and widespread species as it was perhaps the only bird recorded daily throughout our three week visit however that experience could not prepare one for the numbers that are actually here. In spring the fields are full of them; again and again you see Robins; in the yards, by the roadsides. Counting Robins would be a full time job and then some.

And then more Robins come. And then more.

And they’re still here.

Poor photo of two beautiful birds

Dark eyed Juncos were the next wave to move steadily north-ward up the valleys and splash over the streets of. Their long white edged tails flicking and flashing their identity to every driver that passed until they found every yard in town and every bush had felt their tiny feet. Beautiful little birds they are too despite their rather somber colours. Many have since moved on but some have stayed to breed.

As the juncos arrived other flocks amassed to leave. Redpoll, their hundreds disguising the solo hoary spy within, again crowded the roadsides before finally leaving for fertile fields north. Pine Siskins, too, have either spread north or west or east into the forests to breed, abandoning their winter flocks for the relative solitude of mate and nest.

Tree Swallow

Swallows, first Violet Green and then Tree [not American Tree] arrive signaling for some true Spring and not the false Robin version. Now you can’t walk anywhere without hearing their cries from high. Rough winged and finally Cliff have joined them in particular in the fields around Nakusp; in Brouse and Crescent Bay Road.

Violet-green Swallow

Perhaps the most beautiful of the migrants and a bird whose name is in direct opposition to the emotion it brings is the Mountain Bluebird. The bright blue males arrive first followed a few days later by the first of the females. For a while they reside, working the fence lines and ridding the fields of the earliest invertebrates, but they will soon leave for breeding fields leaving many of the optimistically placed nest boxes empty and unused.

Yellow-rumped Warblers in small but ever increasing numbers joined the Bluebirds and pretended to be flycatchers along the fences; trying desperately to convince all that a warbler is a species of the open. The warblers are stunning generally and the yellow rumped particularly so and it’s not a surprise that other warblers take their time to arrive and so do not have to compete with the yellow rumps and their splendor. By the way there are two main kinds – subspecies - of the yellow rumpeds; Audubon warblers – once a specie in its own right – is the common one and has yellow not only colouring his [or her] rump but his throat and crown as well and the second, the Myrtle, he of the white throat and rare; preferring lands to the east of the Rocky Mountains.

'Audubon' Yellow-rumped Warbler [Gary Davidson's photo]

Sparrows have come too. Over winter the resident Song Sparrows survived in the occasional company of the few and the lost; White throated, White crowned and American Tree. The last three have left but the Songs have stayed their breeding song sounding early – even before the arrival of the first Robins.

Savannah Sparrows and Lincoln Sparrows have now entered our valley albeit in small numbers until this week when a new flock rolled into town; White crowned Sparrows. They are every where, attracting the attention of cats, accipiters and birders alike.

Savannah Sparrow [Gary Davidson]

The only slightly downside to all this is that I am trapped in classrooms during the day and I know what is happening outside. My friend Gary Davidson, who is retired, acts like my scout and, at the risk of frustrating me, each day adds new species to my frontier. Yesterday he added his first Orange crowned and Nashville Warblers, a Chipping Sparrow and in news that may even excite my children, his first-of-the-year Rufous Hummingbird.

White-crowned Sparrow

And so I know my plans for this afternoon and beyond.