Local naturalist George Sirk was sick for the Cortes Island Spring Bird Count earlier this month, so bird watchers had to rely on a new app to help them identify species. This new app, called Merlin, is one of many topics that he and Nancy Kendel, from the Cortes Island Museum, discussed with Cortes Currents.
The conversation started out with Kendel (NK) giving an overview:
Continue reading Cortes Island 2023 Spring Bird Count & an app called ‘Merlin’Editor’s note: While the Bohemian waxwing is normally associated with colder climates, 8 were reported in Smelt Bay during Cortes Island’s ‘2021’ Christmas Bird count (possibly because of the severe weather.)
By Michael Potestio, Kamloops This Week, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A Kamloops man came across a strange sight on Tuesday (March 1), finding numerous dead birds downtown as he headed home from work.
Continue reading Did predatory bird lead to deaths of dozens of Bohemian waxwings in Kamloops?CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca
The results are finally in from the annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) held on Cortes Island on Jan. 5.
Despite the unseasonably cold weather, 29 people noted observations in the field or at their home bird feeder, collectively recording 2,963 individuals of 70 various species. Island resident George Sirk, whose naturalist-guide work has taken him Papua New Guinea to Greenland, said these numbers are right on the mark with the 21-year average.
Continue reading Christmas Bird Count results a hoot with naturalist George SirkThe final numbers for Cortes Island’s Christmas Bird Count, which took place on January 5th, 2022, are in.
One of the key organizers, George Sirk, described his personal high point as watching the birds at Christian Gronau and Aileen Douglas’ bird feeder.
Continue reading The 2021 Christmas Bird Count on Cortes Island
