Warm, dry weather has been excellent for the land birds
The bird on the right is starting to replace its juvenile plumage with the dark, white-tipped feathers that makes it easy to identify starlings. The brown bird on the left is still in full juvenile brown plumage.I hope we are all soaking in the heat of mid-summer. This is the weather we dreamed about while living day-to-day, not so long ago, back in the cold month of February.
The juveniles keep this plumage for about a month after leaving the nest. By late summer, they will moult their body feathers and grow a new set of feathers, making them look identical to the adults.BRUCE MACTAVISH: Unexpected marathon drive to see an historical first yields yet another epic Codroy Valley birding story
Starlings are king of the lawns. They march over the grass, probing into the soil, seeking out all manner of grubs and insect life. Much of what they eat is harmful to lawns, especially the infamous leather jacket. For this, the starling should be considered a friend of mankind, though most of us would rather the European starling was never brought over from Europe to North America back in 1890. Starlings are aggressive around bird feeders and compete with native North American birds for nesting holes in trees.
The spectacular rugged sea cliffs interspersed with small gravel beaches was an eagle paradise. We counted an incredible 132 bald eagles! Northern gannets at Cape St. Mary’s are being hit hard. Common murres at Cape St Mary’s and the Witless Bay seabird island are also being hit hard. Some puffins, razorbills, kittiwakes and a few gulls are also dying.
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