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The Nanaimo Bird Alert
provided by
The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
To report your sightings phone
The Bird Alert at: 390-3029 or
The Store at: 390-3669
e-mail: thebackyard@shaw.ca

Please remember when reporting a sighting to leave your name, phone
number along with the date and location of your sighting.

Tuesday March 15, 2005:
Five TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS were seen along the Englishman River in Parksville.
A PACIFIC-SLOPED FLYCATCHER was heard at Roberts Memorial Park in Cedar.
A BARRED OWL and 50 to 100 PINE SISKINS are in a yard in the 1900 block of Carmel Place in Nanaimo.
A SANDHILL CRANE is still being seen in a field near Lakes and Trunk Road in Duncan, the crane has been in this location for the last six months and is attracted to a scare crow (a plastic bag on a stick).

Monday March 14:
Eight AMERICAN PIPITS and a NORTHERN SHRIKE were seen at the Nanaimo River Estuary in south Nanaimo.




Sunday March 13:
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were spotted along Korcan Road in Qualicum Beach.

March 13, 2005, Sunday Bird Walk: Nanoose Bay Estuary with thirty-six birders
We saw 46 species with a NORTHERN SHRIKE, a NORTHERN HARRIER, TURKEY VULTURES, a TREE SWALLOW and many VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS being the highlights.

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store presents Sunday morning bird walks. We meet at the store located at 6404 Metral Drive at 9:00 a.m. and go to a different birding location each week for about 2 or 3 hours. Everyone is welcome.

Friday March 11:
A male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was seen coming to feeders in the 5300 block of Hammond Bay Road in north Nanaimo.
A male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was spotted coming to feeders in the 2400 block of Cross Road in Nanoose Bay.

Thursday March 10:
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were seen in the Extension area of south Nanaimo.
A pair of BARRED OWLS are nesting at the north end of Jinglepot and Kilpatrick Roads in Nanaimo.
A DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT was spotted on Holden Lake in Cedar.

Wednesday March 09:
18,000 to 20,000 waterbirds and gulls were seen off the point at the Qualicum Beach viewing tower. 87 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were seen along the rocks near the viewing tower, 340 PACIFIC LOONS and 3400 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were spotted offshore.
A male YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER and over 25 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were seen at the Little Qualicum Fish Hatchery.
A VIRGINIA RAIL and a RINGED-NECK PHEASANT were seen in the marsh behind Wren Road in Parksville.
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were seen in along Lakeside Drive in Cinabar Valley.

Tuesday March 08:
A yellow variant HOUSE FINCH was spotted at feeders in the 100 block of Fire Dance Lane in Qualicum Beach.-

Monday March 07:
A singing ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen and heard at the Englishman River Estuary in Parksville.

Sunday March 06:
A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was sighted in a plum tree at Marina Way, Nanoose Bay.

Friday March 04:
An ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD is coming to feeders in the 5900 block of Sunset Road in Nanaimo.
A number of VIRGINIA RAILS were calling across the trails at Jinglepot Marsh off Third Street in Nanaimo.

For further information on these sightings or for help in identifying a
bird please call:

The Backyard Wildbird and Nature Store
@ (250) 390-3669
Toll Free @ 1-888-249-4145
e-mail: thebackyard@shaw.ca
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Nanaimo Field Naturalists Club
March 23rd/05--Monthly Meeting
7:30 pm at the Bowen Park Activity Centre, Nanaimo.

"Naturalizing Around B.C."
by BC Parks Head Naturalist
David Stirling

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Arrowsmith Field Naturalists Club
March 30/05--general Meeting
7:30 pm at the Springwood Middle School on Despard Avenue, Parksville.

"Ingenious Nature Videos"
by Bob Chappell of Victoria.

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This Sunday Bird Walk March 20, 2005 will be going to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo, (WEATHER PERMITTING).
Meet at the store, 6404 Metral Drive at 9:00 a.m. or at the parking lot of Buttertubs Marsh off Bowen Road at about 9:20 a.m.

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The seabird boat tour with Beachcombers Excursions aboard the 41’ M.V. Terry Wayne is going on Saturday, March 19, 2005. E-mail me, Neil Robins, at nmrobins@telus.net or call me at (250) 954-1928 for more information.

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Good Birding!
Neil Robins
Nanaimo
British Columbia