Humming Hummingbirds, None This Year

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 20:11:16 +0000

I guess I wasn’t the only one looking for them. Couple of weeks ago THE AURORAN, Week of July 26, 2011 published in the section Letters to the Editor, a letter from David Tomlinson ‘Had hummingbirds drop in on you lately?‘. This week David is asking for help again in his another letter to the editor, ‘Reader still looking for hummingbirds‘.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, Female, May 27-2010

The Aurora Wildlife and Naturalization Working Group over the last six years have been undertaking a survey of Aurora’s breeding bird population, as stated in THE AURORAN. The survey also includes hummingbirds, but seems like this year the Group is having issue finding them.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, Female, May 27-2010

Well I have the same issue. For the past five years hummingbirds have been visiting my garden. Our backyard and the neighbors backyards are filled with the trees and bushes that attract hummingbirds. I don’t have hummingbird feeder and I don’t know who does in the neighborhood. I have Red Horse Chestnut, Aseculus x carnea ‘Briotti’ as you can see on the photos. This is where she came. Yes, only she. Never seen two or more.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, Female, May 27-2010

This year I got a new camera and I was very eager to get more photos of them. The photos here are from last year’s unexpected photo shoot. They were coming everyday for the time of the blooming flowers, and May 27th was the best ‘light’ day for capturing these photos. Often, I spotted them sitting on the tree next to the Red Horse Chestnut tree. I hate to state, but this year the hummingbird photo shoot did not take place. Everyday at different times of the day I was looking for them. None.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, Female, May 27-2010

But wait this does not mean I have not seen them this year. In the early spring I spotted them in the Hamilton Park, a trail behind the soccer field along the hydro lines leading towards the St. Andrew’s golf course. That day I did not have my camera with me, but I have memories. I truly enjoyed the view of them hovering around the bush.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, Female, May 27-2010

I have been birding in Aurora since 2006, mainly taking photographs. In the past 5 years I have seen bird species shift from location to location. Every year I would come back to the same place and find something else instead. This may be due to the residential development or even the climate change.

I also noticed that in the Arboretum, a path which can be accessed from the Industrial Parkway/St. John’s sideroad, is always filled with Eastern Kingbirds, but this year definitely more of them. I had an opportunity to see few sitting on the wire fence, and not just one as per previous years. Not to mention flying over my head many times back and forth. The reason I mention the kingbirds here in the post, is that they have almost the same hovering ability as the hummingbirds. They often hover above the tall grass in the Arboretum.

And now, I shall do my part and call David Tomlinson about my observations.

Bear Sighting, Aurora Issues Bear Warning

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 10 May 2011 03:52:48 +0000

This morning I was reading The Banner, and found a little article that bears are back in Aurora around Bathrust Street and Handerson Drive. Okay that is still far from the area where I live, but because couple years ago they were found around Wellington Street, today I went out for our daily trip with a little fear on my back.

Well after tonight’s news on CP24 about the bear sighting (not just one, but two), and additional news from Town of Aurora website, Bear sightings in Aurora: Town cautions residents, and news from York Region Aurora issues bear warning, I may have to learn more about bears. It would be nice to photograph them, but no thanks.

Upon request we walked the Arboretum path from St. John’s sideroad and Industrial Parkway. I say upon request, because my three year old knows that the trail leads to the playground.

It was a beautiful day today, not just for us, but for all the birds. I saw at least 10 species of birds, and no bears (phew). Afternoon bright light is not the best for photographing birds, and sometimes I hate to adjust settings because lets face it, birds like to fly. However, if you don’t chase them, they will come to you. No real close up shots, but these photos should show you where each specie likes to hang out.

Eastern Kingbirds are definitely back. They can be easily mistaken for the Tree Swallow, but once you see them perching, definitely nice bird to observe. They also like to perch on the wire fences.

Eastern Kingbird

I think this year exceptionally many more Red-Wing Black Birds. I have so many photos of them, but this one was definitely calling for attention.

Red-Wing Black Bird

Oh these were always my favorite little birds – the Tree Swallows. They were flying every where, I had to follow their flying path to find where they land. Later in the walk I found one Tree Swallow going into the house, small corner. It looked like a nest, but when I zoomed it was a destroyed nest. What a terrible act to do? Well some people don’t like the nests, I guess. Growing up on a small farm many moons ago, we all knew that destroying nest of the swallow was a bad luck. We also knew that when the swallow fly close to the ground, the rain was in the forecast.

Tree Swallow

The bright yellow Gold Finches are never hard to spot.

American Gold Finch

The photo of the Cedar Waxwing didn’t really come out, but I guess I got him during his lunch. They like to eat berries.

Cedar Waxwing

It turned out to be a nice trip through the Aurora Arboretum. Our little trip, but not so little because lasted us 2.5 hours. Good news – no bears. Good news – no coyotes, since they been in the news couple of months ago. Good news – no foxes. My friend emailed me about her recent fox encounter in Aurora. While gardening her husband discovered two dead squirrel. Later they discovered it was a fox. My mother-in-law has a fox on her backyard too. It was more evident during the winter because of the footprints we found close to the patio door.

Sometimes it makes me wonder about the wild life in Aurora. The population of the Aurora is growing, more residential areas are added – and still I feel like there is more wild animals and birds in the area I am walking most of the time. What’s happening? I really don’t have the answer to that, but may be birds moved to the Arboretum or McKenzie marsh areas because of all the new subdivisions; or they simply adapting to us.

Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Eastern Kingbird

Humming Hummingbirds, None This Year

Bear Sighting, Aurora Issues Bear Warning