Vancouver Area Birds

Red-necked Grebes spend each autumn and winter foraging in the salty marine waters off Vancouver. In the spring, they move inland to breed in freshwater lakes as far away as Alaska or Saskatchewan. Good places to observe these birds are from the Iona Island South Jetty and from the Stanley Park seawall, especially in September and April. Here, you can observe them diving below the surface of the water for sculpins, Pacific herring, minnows, shrimp and other aquatic animals.

Vancouver owns a world record! More Western Grebes have spent the winter here than anywhere else in the world. Some years, up to 15,000 birds have been counted in English Bay just off Kitsilano Beach, strung out in a long line or feeding together in large, dense flocks. Small flocks can also be found around Stanley Park and in Deas Slough. Once in a while, a pair remains over summer to breed in the cattail marshes around the lower reaches of the Fraser River. The best time to watch Western Grebes feed is in the early morning. They dive for up to a minute at a time hunting for fish, which they grab with their long, sharp bills. All grebes also have the strange habit of swallowing feathers; the feathers aid to filter out skeletal parts of swallowed prey items, which are expelled as pellets.

Pairs of Double-crested Cormorants are sometimes found nesting on rocky break- waters and atop wooden pilings near the Tsawwassen ferry terminal—their large, bulky stick nests can be seen with binoculars. Winter, however, is the best time to see these birds—look for them on wood pilings and log booms in the mouth of the Fraser River. Unlike other water birds, the Double-Crested Cormorant has webbing on its feet that connects four toes instead of three. This adaptation allows it to cling to rocky cliffs and to pursue shoaling fish, such as Pacific herring and sand lance.

Great Blue Herons are often mistaken for Sandhill Cranes. These herons, however, are much more common around Vancouver, especially in open, short-grass fields or wherever there is shallow water. In winter, large numbers can be seen in knee-deep water over mudflats, especially off the causeway to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal. In summer, birders are attracted to the nesting colony in Stanley Park. This heronry, in the zoo and near Lost Lagoon, is the oldest in British Columbia. Whether standing in the water waiting for a fish to cross its path, or in a dry field waiting for a field mouse to come within striking distance, the Great Blue Heron is a patient hunter. It catches its prey, which may also include frogs, snakes, crabs and insects, with a lightening thrust of its bill. At times, when the prey seems longer than the heron is capable of eating, swallowing can take several minutes.

Long legs and a narrow body allow the secretive Virginia Rail to squeeze through even the densest vegetation of marshes and sloughs. In fact, it is so cryptic and well- camouflaged in its environment that birders are rarely treated to the sight of it. Those who are fortunate enough to encounter it, however, may comment that it looks Ike a strange cross between a small heron and a sandpiper. Your best chance of spotting a Virginia Rail is along shoreline vegetation of the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary. It is also common at Burnaby Lake and Deas Slough. Sometimes, if you clap your hands quickly three times in a row, it will respond with its descending wak-wak- wak call. The Virginia Rail builds a raised nest on water in dense vegetation using cattails, bul- rushes and sedges as nesting materials. If there is sufficient cover, it may also build a protective roof and a "runway."

These chicken-like birds (also known as "Mud Hens") possess lobed toes to aid them in swimming and walking on mudflats found around marshy lakes and sloughs. American Coots appear comical when they swim: their heads bob in time with their paddling feet. Autumn migrants begin arriving in late September, and numbers increase throughout October and into November, especially at Burnaby Lake and the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary. A few can also be seen on Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park where they breed and are found year-round. American Coots feed by diving and dabbling for waterweeds, small snails, aquatic insects and crustaceans in wetland areas. They build floating nests made of cattails and bulrushes among the vegetation near the edge of the water.

Originally from Europe and Asia, the Mute Swan was first introduced into B.C. in 1889 in Victoria. Today, feral populations exist on southern Vancouver Island, but in Vancouver it is only regularly found as a captive bird on Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park. Unlike our native swans, the Mute Swan is not very vocal, usually only making a hissing sound. It arches its wings over its back when displaying or behaving aggres- sively, and it holds its head in an S-curve with its bill pointed down while swimming. The Mute Swan builds a very large nest composed of grass, reeds and cattails, usually among cattails in shallow water along the shore. It is not wise to venture near nesting swans because they are aggressive at this time of year and have been known to attack and hurt people.

The Trumpeter Swan's long, twisted windpipe acts like a resonating chamber, pro- ducing a distinctive, bugle-like call. It is the largest of all North American waterfowl, with an average weight of 12 kilograms and a wingspan of over 2.5 metres. During the winter months, many of us dream about flying off to a sunny tropical island, but the Vancouver area is the winter destination for many Trumpeter Swans. Although you are unlikely to find this swan in the urbanized areas of Vancouver, there is a good chance of finding it in the wetlands and agricultural fields in Delta and on Westham Island.

The wildlife spectacle of the year around Vancouver occurs each autumn when tens of thousands of Snow Geese return to the marshes of the Fraser River delta to spend the winter. Geese from Alaska to Russia begin arriving in October and reach peak numbers of up to 40,000 birds in November, when their clamour is deafening. The best place to view them is at the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, in fields along the road to the refuge or from the outer marsh trails. The Snow Goose's two colour morphs, "white" and "blue," used to be thought of as separate species. The blue morph is rarely encountered this far west. Occasionally, these birds' heads are stained a rusty colour from foraging in iron-rich mud for rootstocks.

The male Wood Duck is arguably the most colourful duck in the world; its iridescent, green head with white markings, its crest and its narrow red-and-white bill are unmistakable. Although less brightly coloured, the female is one of the most attrac- tively marked of the female ducks. Watch for Wood Ducks on any wooded lake or slough including Lost Lagoon and Beaver Lake in Stanley Park. As the name implies, Wood Ducks are often found in trees, and their toes possess sharp claws that help them grip tree branches and snags. They nest in tree cavities and nest boxes, and within hours of hatching, the young use their sharp claws to climb up the inside of their home and jump onto the ground. At one nest site in Stanley Park, a pair of Wood Ducks used a natural crevice high up in a Douglas-fir. On hatching, the ducklings fell 16 metres, bounced unscathed and quickly waddled after their mother to nearby Beaver Lake.

The Gadwall was not known to breed in Vancouver until J 966, when a few pairs with their young were found in the Fraser River delta. At present, the Vancouver area sup- ports a population of over 200 breeding pairs, and these birds can be found here year- round. The George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary provides excellent winter and nesting habitat for the Gadwall. Some Gadwall that breed in the interior of B.C seek the milder coast around Vancouver to spend the winter.

The Mallard is the most abundant and well known of Vancouver's ducks, and it readily adapts to people and urban environments such as Stanley Park The male Mallard is easy to identify—just look for its green head and iridescent, violet-blue speculum. The speculum, or coloured wing patch, is a trait common to all dabbling ducks (birds of the Anas genus), and it varies in colour from species to species. Some Mallards are present in Vancouver year-round. They are most abundant in winter, however, when populations may reach 30,000 birds. Sometimes, only their back ends are visible when they reach below the surface of the water for weeds and other vegetation, small insects and snails. Around Vancouver, the Mallard has a long breeding season, and the downy young can be seen as early as March and as late as mid-November.

Small flocks of Blue-winged Teals can be identified in flight by their small size, pale blue speculums and the sharp twists and turns that they execute with precision—they are renowned for their aviation skills. On the water, males are quickly recognized by the white "quarter moon" crescent in front of their eyes. Females, however, are so sim- ilar to female Cinnamon Teals in appearance that even expert birders usually cannot distinguish between the two species. Nesting occurs in grassy meadows or along the brushy margins of fields and wetlands. The marshes of the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary are the most reliable places to look for Blue-winged Teals, especially from mid-May to mid-August.

The male Cinnamon Teal seems to radiate among the duller, predominantly brown- and-grey dabbling ducks of Vancouver. Unfortunately, this gorgeous duck is one of our less common dabblers. Most are seen in spring feeding on shallow lakes, in wet- lands and in irrigation ditches in small flocks of two or three pairs. Burnaby Lake, Iona Island and the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary are among Vancouver's best locations to observe Cinnamon Teals, usually from mid-ApriI through July. During the summer nesting period, females disappear from view to quietly tend their eggs, and males are usually observed on their own. By mid-July, when young of the year have acquired their flight feathers and males have moulted their eclipse plumage, all members of the family may temporarily resemble the female.

The Northern Shoveler owes its name to its large, spoon-shaped bill. As it swims, it generally keeps its bill partially submerged, moving it from side to side. The inside edge of the bill is serrated, which aids in sifting the surface water for plant food and small aquatic animals. Although it is a dabbling duck, it forages so efficiently on the surface of the water that it rarely needs to reach below the surface of the water to feed, as other dabblers do. Look for the Northern Shoveler on any shallow pond or lake or with other waterfowl in well-flooded fields. Good viewing spots include Beaver Lake in Stanley Park, Burnaby Lake, the Ladner marshes, all sewage lagoons and the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary.

The Northern Pintail looks graceful and elegant. Both male and female are easily rec- ognized in flight or from a distance by their long necks and long, "pin" tails. The species name, acuta, means "sharp," in reference to this bird's tail. The Northern Pintail is most abundant during migration, especially in late summer and autumn when both adults and juveniles pass through the Vancouver area in large flocks. At this time of year, tens of thousands of Northern Pintails can be found feeding on a variety of plants and small aquatic animals in marshes and fields sur- rounding the Fraser River delta. Only a few pairs stay in the Vancouver area to breed over summer.

Green-winged Teals are nervous ducks. Any sign of intrusion causes them to rocket up into the air where they are speedy and agile and keep flying until the threat is gone. They can be found year-round in a wide variety of habitats in the Vancouver area, including freshwater marshes, sloughs and flooded fields. During winter, small groups are easily seen resting or feeding in the tidal marshes of the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary. Large flocks are regularly observed off Crescent Beach, Iona Island and in Boundary Bay. In May, pairs can be seen performing breeding rituals before females disappear from sight to build their nests and incubate their eggs. Female Green-winged Teals will go to great trouble to conceal their nest among upland grass and brush, but some nests are inevitably discovered by skunks and raccoons.

Male Canvasbacks can be distinguished from afar by their "dark at both ends and pale in the middle" appearance. In both sexes, the long, sloping, black bill meets the fore- head with no apparent break in angle. Canvasbacks begin to arrive in Vancouver in October to spend the winter along estuaries, rivers and brackish lagoons. By December they are present in full numbers, and by early April, most have departed for their breeding grounds in central British Columbia. These birds are clumsy on land owing to their rear-set legs, and they require rapid pat- tering across the water to become airborne. They are most active in the early morning and evening, when they dive up to 10 metres for pond vegetation, small clams and crustaceans. During the day, most sleep in deep water with their heads tucked in their back feathers.

Like most diving ducks, the Greater Scaup has small wings, and its legs are placed well back on its body. These adaptations help it while it is swimming under the water, but they make takeoffs and landings awkward and walking on land clumsy. The Greater Scaup is a common sight on the sea from November through March, and it prefers deep, open water. It can be seen in most sheltered coastal areas; just off Stanley Park and Kitsilano Beach are good places to look The Greater Scaup and the Lesser Scaup are almost identical and are always a prob- lem to tell apart. The Greater Scaup has a more rounded head with a green gloss, and it is more common on salt water. In flight, the white wing stripe also extends through most of the Greater Scaup's wing.

Only the male Wood Duck rivals this brightly patterned duck for the titk of "best dressed waterfowl." The "Harlie," as it is affectionately known, is common in winter along rocky shorelines, and good places to find it are around Stanley Park and the mouths of North Shore rivers, such as the Capilano River. In April, a pairs may remain to nest on North Shore mountain streams, but most pairs fly to freshwa- ter streams in the interior of B.C., Alberta and the Pacific Northwest states. In June, males return to the shores of Stanley Park to moult their garish nuptial plumage, kav- ing the females on the fast-flowing streams to incubate eggs and raise the brood.

The largest of the ducks found in British Columbia, the White-winged Scoter fre- quents marine and brackish waters throughout the year and is often found with flocks of Surf Scoters. The peak movement to freshwater breeding grounds occurs in April; the return in autumn peaks in October and November. The White-winged Scoter is often seen in the calmer waters off Stanley Park, in Boundary Bay and off the cause- way to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal. In winter, it feeds by diving for clams, snails, barnacles, mussels and crabs, which are abundant along the coast. It uses its wings to propel itself during diving, and it prefers more shallow feeding sites than the Surf Scoter does.

The Long-tailed Duck, formerly known as the Oldsquaw, can dive to 60 metres and shares with the King Eider the title of "deepest diving duck in the world." Most water- fowl that overwinter here hug Vancouver's protected shores, but this tough sea duck prefers to ply deeper open waters; it is the ancient mariner of the Pacific ocean and can survive violent winter gales that would scuttle many boats. Fortunately for Vancouver birders, small rafts of Long-tailed Ducks regularly visit shoreline jetties, peninsulas and reefs that protrude into deeper water. The Iona Island ferry jetty, Tsawwassen ferry jetty and Stanley Park seawall regularly support small flocks of these birds during the winter. In March, Long-tailed Ducks may congregate at sea in the hundreds to feed on the glut of eggs available during the brief Pacific herring spawn. By the end of April, most birds have moved north to their arctic breeding grounds, although Boundary Bay occasionally harbours a s

This small diving duck arrives in large numbers in mid-autumn to overwinter. It is estimated that one quarter of all Buffleheads wintering in B.C. can be found in the greater Vancouver area. While here, they can be found on virtually any body of water—estuaries, rivers, lakes, sloughs, the sea and even outdoor swimming pools! Despite their apparent tameness, Buffleheads (unlike many other duck species) rarely accept handouts from humans. They dive for small snails, insects and animal larvae in freshwater habitats, or clams, snails, amphipods and worms in saltwater habitats.

The Common Goldeneye is a fast flier, and it has also been given the name "Whistler" for the sound its wings make as it speeds through the air. It is found in Vancouver throughout the year, but it is most abundant from November through April when it is often seen in small flocks along the coast. A few birds visit Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park each winter. In winter, before these birds fly to their freshwater breeding grounds, it is possible to observe the male's comedic courtship display. He rapidly arches his large, green head back until his bill points skyward, and he produces a seemingly painful kraaaagh. Apparently unaffected by his chiropractic feat, he continually performs this ritual, even though it is usually met with indifference from the females he is trying to impress.

The handsome male Hooded Merganser possesses a brilliant white crest bordered in black that is revealed in moments of passionate courtship or sudden exasperation. The remainder of the time the crest is held flat against the head, showing only a long, slick, black swipe. The female possesses a similar crest but hers is uniformly rufous in colour. These magnificent birds are present year-round in Vancouver. The best times to see them are between November and April. Some of the best places to look include the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Burnaby Lake, Boundary Bay and Beaver Lake. Like all mergansers, the Hooded Merganser feeds on fish, and its slim bill pos- sesses a serrated edge that helps to hold this slippery aquatic prey. Before enjoying its catch, it uses only its bill and slight tosses of its head to reposition the fish so that its meal can be swallowed headfirst.

This "saw-billed" duck is commonly mistaken for a male Mallard. Although males of both species have green heads, the Common Merganser is larger and more slender in profile, has a long, thin, red bill and its breast and sides are pure white. The female has a brown head with a conspicuous crest, a white breast and a grey back. The Common Merganser is present in the Vancouver area throughout the year, but it is most numerous from November through March. At this time, flocks of over a hun- dred birds can be found in river channels, on larger lakes and, during very cold win- ters when lakes are frozen, on the sea. A few pairs stay around to nest along mountain streams each summer.

Formerly known as the Marsh Hawk, this common bird of prey is found in open habitats, such as marshes, grass fields and log-littered beaches on the outskirts of Vancouver. It is present throughout the year but is most common from December through March. In fact, more Northern Harriers winter in the Fraser River delta than anywhere else in Canada. Northern Harriers feed on small mammals, birds and snakes. They build ground nests any- where that large tracts of cat- tails, tall grass or low bushes can be found. Eggs are laid in late April or early May and generally hatch around June.

Sharp-shinned Hawks can chase small birds through much denser vegetation than most birds of prey can because of their small size, and their long tails act as rudders to help them maneuver. In urban areas, they are typically seen in wooded areas and around bird feeders. They are quick to notice songbirds at feeders, so you should posi- tion feeders where smaller birds have escape routes into nearby bushes or trees. During autumn migration, Sharp-shinned Hawks can be seen along the mountains to the north of the city, where they take advan- tage of thermals to help them travel south. The Sharp-shinned Hawk is a rare nester in the Vancouver area. When you do find a "Sharpie" nest, it is usually made of twigs and built in a deciduous tree. Early in the breeding season, these hawks can be quite vocal around their nests, despite their normally secretive nature.

If Vancouver's songbirds dream, the Cooper's Hawk must be the subject of some of their most frightening nightmares. This for- est hawk hunts songbirds silently, using surprise and speed to capture them. Bursting from an overhead perch, a Cooper's Hawk will pursue a songbird at high speed along the edge of a forest or around a yard until it can use its long legs and sharp talons to snatch its quarry in mid-air. Sometimes it plucks songbirds from hedges. This crow-sized hawk can be found in a wide variety of woodland habitats. Like the smaller Sharp- shinned Hawk, the Cooper's Hawk can be found hanging around backyard birdfeeders, waiting for the chance to prey on unsuspecting songbirds.

The Red-tailed Hawk is a generalist—it thrives in a variety of open and semi-open habitats where it can prey upon a wide variety of small animals. This adaptation has allowed it and other generalist birds of prey, such as the Great Horned Owl (p. 89), to adapt well to human-altered environments, which tend toward open, fragmented landscapes. Conspicuous year-round, the Red-tailed Hawk is the most common and widespread hawk in the greater Vancouver area. It is most frequently seen perched on the exposed limbs of trees, on fence posts or on utility poles overlooking open fields. During spring courtship, pairs of Red-tailed Hawks dive at each other, sometimes locking talons and tumbling through the air together before breaking off at last minute to avoid crashing into the ground.

Formerly known as the Pigeon Hawk, the Merlin is a small, dark falcon with long, pointed wings. The birds around Vancouver belong to a race that breeds along the west coast of British Columbia and is darker than the race that is common in the rest of Canada. The coastal race does not have the typical "moustache" marks of other falcons, nor the bold plumage patterns. The Merlin is the most adaptable of the four common species of falcons found around Vancouver. It is as much at home in the mid- dle of the city chasing birds at feeders as it is hunting shorebirds along beaches. Keep your eyes open because you may only catch a fleeting glimpse of a Merlin passing at high speed. Similar Species: American Kestrel : dark "tearstreak"; dark "side- burn." Peregrine Falcon : much larger; distinctive, dark hood. Sharp- shinned Hawk (p. 54) and Cooper's Hawk (p. 55): short, rounded wings; horizontal streaking on breast.

9 Originally from Asia, the Ring-necked Pheasant was introduced in 1880 to farmlands south of Vancouver as a sporting bird. Additional introductions occurred until 1950. Today, the spectacular plumage of the male Ring-necked Pheasant is a familiar sight in the fields around the edge of the city, and it may even be seen in tidal marshes, secluded woodland parks and the shrubby areas around golf courses. During the spring breeding season, males collect harems of up to five hens, which they attempt to protect from the advances of male rivals. Each female incubates 9 to 13 olive brown eggs in a grass-lined depression in the ground, often located under a bush. Occasionally more than one female will lay in the same nest, causing the nest to literally overflow with eggs—in B.C. the record is 28 eggs in one nest!

You will have to travel south of the city to the mudflats and fields of the Fraser River delta to see a Black-bellied Plover. Plan your visit at high tide when the plovers are pushed closer to shore. You may hear the plaintive pee-u-wee calls that help to keep flocks loosely together. Black-bellied Plovers are most common during migratory periods from late April through early May and from early August through September. Up to 1000 birds may remain over winter, but they are generally difficult to find. Like many other shorebirds, the Black-bellied Plover feeds in a typical stop-run-pick manner. On its arctic breeding ground it feeds mainly on insects, but its diet expands to include worms, small clams and crustaceans during migration.

'l'he Killdeer is a year-round resident of Vancouver and is the most widespread of all the shorebirds within the city. A relatively large plover, it is readily identified by its two black breast bands and by its kill-dee kill-dee call after which it was named. Its Latin name, vociferus, is no misnomer; this shorebird can be heard throughout the year and spends a great deal of time calling. The Killdeer breeds on old industrial sites, gravel rooftops, unpaved roads and around any relatively open area, including city gardens. It does not build a nest as such, but digs out a small scrape in the ground, which it decorates with small stones, wood chips, and pieces of plants. The Killdeer is skilled at the art of deception when it comes to protecting its nest. By trailing a wing or dragging a leg, it will try to fool a predator into believing that it is injured, only to fly or run off at high speed once it has led the predator away from its nest site. It may even settle on

This large sandpiper sports its characteristic long, yellow legs whatever the season. It can be confused only with its smaller relative, the Lesser Yellowlegs (T flavipes), whose bill is shorter and about equal to its head in length. The Greater Yellowlegs is more likely to be seen on its own or in small flocks, while the more gregarious Lesser Yellowlegs is found in flocks that can number in the hundreds (although sometimes the two species are found resting or feeding together). The Greater Yellowlegs is most abundant during spring and autumn migration. It is often seen feeding on small invertebrates as it wades in the shallows of lakes, ponds, wet fields and tidal mudflats. On cooler days, it may hop along on one leg, with its other leg tucked up in its body feathers to reduce heat loss. Like many shorebirds, it will let you get quite close.

The best way of identifying the Spotted Sandpiper is by watching for the peculiar way it bobs its whole body all of the time. Its flight is also distinctive: it holds its wings slightly downward and flies with very stiff, short, rapid wingbeats. When disturbed, it usually gives a short wheat, wheat, wheat call and flies out over the water to land a Iit- tle farther along the shore. The best places to look for the Spotted Sandpiper are along the shores Of ponds, lakes and rivers and on grassy beaches. The Spotted Sandpiper is the most widely distributed of all the wading birds in Canada. It is most abundant around Vancouver during the breeding season, but it is present in small numbers over the winter. Its spotted breast is only present on its breeding plumage; in winter, its breast becomes a dull white.

This stocky shorebird is striking in its breeding plumage, which is generally all black with the exception of a snow white belly. In flight, its wings and body flash an intri- cate black-and-white pattern, making a wheeling flock a spectacular sight. Its rattling call advertises its presence and helps to keep flocks together. The Black Turnstone is a common visitor to Vancouver's rocky shores and pebble beaches—the tips of rocky jetties near Stanley Park, the Tsawwassen ferry terminal and around bridge abutments are common places to find it. It can be difficult to spot against the dark background of rocks, however, as it searches for barnacles and limpets. Sometimes it hammers at their shells with its bill.

Many Western Sandpipers stop to feast on marine invertebrates along Vancouver's shores before flying nonstop to their breeding grounds in Alaska. They are most often seen foraging on mudflats, huddled together in dense groups above the high-tide line or in wet agricultural fields. The coastal mudflats of Boundary Bay, Sea Island, Lulu Island and Westham Island attract hundreds of thousands of birds each year. Occasionally, mesmerizing, synchronous flocks of up to 100,000 Western Sandpipers are reported during the peak of migration at Iona Island and Robert's Bank.

Some Least Sandpipers migrate almost the entire length of the globe twice each year, from the northern Arctic to the southern tip of South America and back again. Many of these birds, and even those that winter in the southern United States and Central America, stop along the shores of Vancouver to rest and eat. Along the mudflats and beaches of Iona Island, Sea Island and Boundary Bay, Least Sandpipers search for invertebrates by probing the soft mud, checking under stones and picking through beached marine vegetation near the high-tide line.

they are in breeding plumage during spring migration, Dunlins' Had lies and legs make them look as though they have been belly-deep in of ink Tney are most abundant during autumn migration. when flxks Sisting of tens of thousands of birds flash dull grey-and-white plum+ as they fly over the mudflats of Boundary Bay and the Fraser River deåtz Within massive flocks, Dunlins fly wing tip to wing tip, courg though they were a singe entity. Dunlins forage for invertebrat5 buried in mudflats along shorelines as the tide advances and recedes. Small groups feed on sandy beaches and rocky shores and ffen retreat to roosting sites on dry peninsulas, dykes, breakwaters and Jog booms to rest.

The Long-billed Dowitcher is extremely difficult to distinguish from its close relative, the Short-billed Dowitcher. These two similar-looking species are best identified by their distinct calls: Short-billed Dowitchers give a lower-pitched toodu or tututu call, and Long-billed Dowitchers give a loud, high-pitched keek alarm call that is occa- sionally given in series. Long-bills generally prefer freshwater habitats, including flooded fields, small ponds, reservoir edges and sewage lagoons, while Short-bills pre- fer brackish marshes and tidal mudflats. Reifel Island, Burnaby Lake, Blackie Spit and the sewage lagoons on Iona Island are good places to look for foraging flocks of Long-billed Dowitchers, particularly in October. They probe shallow water and mudflats with an up-down "stitching" motion as they search for invertebrates such as insects, mollusks and freshwater shrimp.

Although widespread, the Common Snipe is secretive and solitary in its habits and is rarely seen in the open. It frequents damp, marshy places around the city where its heavily streaked plumage provides good camouflage. Quite often, you will not even know of a Common Snipe's presence until you hear its sharp skipe call, as it takes to the air, zig-zagging away at high speed in an evasive manoeuver designed to confuse predators. Early in the spring, the male performs a breeding display, termed "win- nowing," where he glides steeply down through the air from a considerable height while fanning his tail, producing a strange who-who-who sound. The Common Snipe feeds on small animals in the mud, probing for them with its long, sensitive bill. It nests near damp, marshy places, among tufts of vegetation. If it believes its nest is threatened, it crouches low down, raising and spreading its tail to show off its plumage in a distractive display.

These small gulls, named after one of their calls, pass over quick and convenient human leftovers for natural foods. They are seldom found very far offshore, and they search for fish and marine invertebrates in sheltered bays, inlets, lagoons and along tide lines. Most Mew Gulls breed in northern British Columbia, Alaska and Siberia. The few birds that remain in Vancouver over summer do not breed here. You do not have to go far inland, however, to find breeding birds—they can be found as close by as Harrison Lake, 100 km to the east of Vancouver. Like many other marine birds, the Mew Gull has specialized glands near the base of its bill that help it eliminate some of the salt it ingests when drinking salt water. These glands extract salt from the blood to produce a concentrated, salty liquid that drips from their bill.

The Ring-billed Gull is the gull that you are most likely to see within the city. Many parks, beaches, golf courses and even the parking lots of malls and fast-food restau- rants can seem to be inundated by these gulls as they look for food handouts or feed on litter. Boundary Bay, Sea Island and Westham Island are also common haunts. Many of the individuals that overwinter here breed in the western provinces and states of Canada and the U.S.

Of the gulls found year-round in coastal B.C., the Glaucous-winged Gull is the most common. It can be found in large flocks in bays, estuaries, freshwater lakes, garbage dumps, agricultural fields and generally anywhere that we inadvertently provide food. In May, it uses grass, seaweed and other marine debris to build its nest, which may be found on city buildings or barges, in shipyards and around offshore islets and break- waters. About 28,000 pairs breed in B.C. each year. A rewarding exercise for novice birders is to glance over at a flock of 50 or so gulls. Within a few minutes, even the most inexperienced birder will begin to sort out the gulls based on their size and the colour of their eyes, wing tips and legs.

The Caspian Tern is the largest tern in North America, weighing about 0.7 kilograms. Because of its large size, it exhibits slower, heavier wingbeats more typical of gulls than of other terns. Terns superficially resemble gulls in body and form, but their behaviour differs dramatically. They rarely soar in the air, and they are rarely seen resting on the water. While flying, terns usually have their bills pointed toward the ground, and their forked tails are usually visible. The Caspian Tern is a common summer visitor to the Fraser River delta region, with most observations coming from the mudflats of Boundary Bay, Robert's Bank, the Tsawwassen ferry terminal and Iona Island. These mudflats and sheltered bays pro- vide shallow marine waters where Caspian Terns hunt for surface-dwelling prey, plunging headfirst into water to snatch small fish. Rocky jetties, mudflats, beaches and sandbars provide roosting habitat. A few pairs nest in the Fraser River delta.

The Common Murre spends most of its life floating on the ocean surface and swim- ming underwater in pursuit of small, schooling fish. Even during violent winter storms, Common Murres merely seek out the more sheltered waters of inlets and bays. This bird is less common along the mainland coast than it is around coastal islands. The best chance of seeing a Common Murre is on a ferry ride to Vancouver Island or from the Iona Island south jetty. Occasionally, it is also sighted in Burrard Inlet, from the tip of Lighthouse Marine Park or from the shores of Stanley Park. The black-and-white coloration of the Com- mon Murre is a perfect example of counter- shading camouflage. To avian predators, the dark back blends with the dark steely sea, while marine predators, such as orcas and sea lions, have difficulty distinguishing the light-coloured belly of the Common Murre from the bright, often cloudy sky.

The Pigeon Guillemot's sleek, black breeding plumage, accented by a bright white wing patch and brilliant red legs and feet, makes this sea bird popular with birders. The sheltered waters of Howe Sound, English Bay and Burrard Inlet support small, loose flocks year-round with most sightings occurring between March and October. In the last weeks of April, Pigeon Guillemots proceed to the rocky cliff face at Prospect Point in Stanley Park to prepare for nesting. After performing courtship dis- plays on the water involving mutual circling and bill-touching, paired adults select a burrow or rock crevice to protect their eggs and young from crafty bird and mammal predators, such as ravens, crows, raccoons and rats. Near the end of the breeding sea- son, young can be observed with adults hunting for fish under the Lion's Gate Bridge.

Lighthouse Marine Park and Stanley Park are the best vantage points from which to view Marbled Murrelets foraging for small fish and crustaceans alongside Common Murres. Marbled Murrelets can also be seen in pairs or small groups in the shallow, protected waters of Burrard Inlet and English Bay. Their "barrel-roll" flight style dis- tinguishes them from similar-looking Ancient Murrelets, which have a "bee-line" style of flight. For over a century, the Marbled Murrelet baffled North American ornithologists who strove to discover where it nested. Finally, in 1974, an attentive amateur discovered a nest high up on the mossy limbs of a mature coniferous tree—an unexpected nesting site for a bird so well adapted to life on the open water!

The Rhinoceros Auklet has an overall bulky appearance and a characteristic "horn" at the base of its bill in summer. Like other alcids, it uses its wings to propel itself under- water as it pursues small, schooling fish. In fact, it is so comfortable in the water that it drifts confidently among enormous, swelling waves during violent storms. This bird is relatively uncommon along the mainland coast, but late June through September is the best time to see the Rhinoceros Auklet in Vancouver's sheltered bays and inlets. At this time of year, breeding adults are unmistakable. Later in the season, the adults begin losing their breeding plumage and are more difficult to distinguish from the young that join them to forage in the rich marine waters farther from shore.

As suggested by its great abundance in Vancouver, the Rock Dove has adapted well inner-city living. This year-round breeder may adopt the ledges of older buildings and bridges in place of the rocky cliffs that it uses for nesting in its natural habitat. It feeds largely on human waste, from food scraps left in city parks and seashores, to waste grain in cultivated fields. As with other members of the dove family, adults feed the young "pigeon milk"—a liquid produced in the crop of the adult from predigested food. The main predators of Rock Doves are hawks and falcons.

The Mourning Dove is a swift, strong flier, and its wings often whistle as it cuts through the air at high speed. Its slow, plaintive call, which is commonly heard along the rural outskirts of Vancouver, is often confused with the hooting of an owl. It forages for seeds and grain in nurseries, wooded field margins, farmyards and open parks. It also occasionally swallows small gravel to aid in digestion. In winter, cotton- wood trees growing next to rivers and wetlands provide excellent roosting habitat for small concentrations of doves.

The monkey-like face and small, pierc- ing, black eyes of the Barn Owl can give it a haunting look. In fact, the eerie look of this formidable owl, which roosts in the dark corners of barns and abandoned buildings, has inspired many superstitions among farmers and Other people who have crossed its path. This dedicated hunter, however, is an invaluable tenant that feeds mostly on small rodents. The Barn Owl was unknown in B.C. until 1909, when the first individual was observed near the mouth of the Fraser River. With the conversion of woodland to farmland, population num- bers grew. Today, it is found mainly in agri- cultural areas where old barns and silos are still standing. A few birds nest on bridges in the inner city. A vulnerable species, its population is being affected by the use of rodenticide to con- trol pests, the loss of habitat associated with increasing urbanization, and car traffc.