Blue Jay, vol.75, issue 1

2017·6.1 MB·English

by  Saskatchewan Natural History Society

Ex
Libris
I UNIVERSITY OF T T
1 ALBERTA UNIVERSITATIS
Albertensis
Nature Conservancy of Canada scientist Dan Kraus On October 27, 2016, a Painted Redstart was Spencer Sealy summarizes anecdotal observations
shares information about, and calls for protection of, observed in Pinawa, MB. The bird aroused much of the behaviour of Cedar Waxwings that appeared
the world's most endangered ecosystem — one that interest, attracting an estimated 70 to 100 birders in the ridge forest at Delta Marsh, MB during the
is much closer to home than you may think. during the 12 days of its recorded stay. The Pinawa emergence of midges throughout the last days of
bird appears to constitute Canada's third record, after May and first days of June, and compares them with
a 43-year gap, and is the first to be recorded in the dates of typical nesting later in the season.
Prairie Provinces.
In this note, J. Paul Goossen, Curtis Wall and Ben Donald Stiles shares an interesting observation that Becky Quist, Nature Saskatchewan Office i
Ginter provide additional evidence of Loggerhead was e-mailed to him by Dick Stauffer, member of Coordinator, shares the beauty of A.E. Wilson Park
Shrikes nesting in the Pembina Valley Region of the Calgary Area Nestbox Monitors, on September in Regina in this issue's edition of Human Nature. I
south-central Manitoba outside of their current 14, 2016. While cleaning out nest boxes, Dick
core Manitoba breeding range. found a Tree Swallow nest that was built on top of
25 dead adult Tree Swallows.
WHAT'S INSIDE
5 Celebrating Nature 16 Loggerhead Shrike Family 28 A Belated Record of
Saskatchewan's Volunteer Near Morden, Manitoba Canada Lynx South of the
Stewards J. Paul Goosen, Curtis Wall, Boreal Forest During the
Rob Wilson Ben Ginter Mid-continental Irruption
of 1962-1963
6 Saving the World's Most 18 Nature Saskatchewan
Spencer G. Sealy
Endangered Ecosystem Starts Spring Meet 2017
at Home 30 Cats and Birds:
21 Hummingbird Recovers
Dan Kraus Save Birds' Lives
from the Cold
by Keeping Your Cats Safe
9 Painted Redstart at Pinawa, MB: Trevor Anderson, Kaila MacDonald
Marla Anderson
First Record for the Prairie and Margaret Anderson
Provinces 32 Cats and Birds:
22 Successful Quest for a
Peter Taylor A Year in Review
Second Saskatchewan
Sarah Cooper
12 Observations on Early-season Northern Pygmy-Owl
Courtship and Aborted Nest¬ Jan and Stan Shadick 34 Human Nature
building in Cedar Waxwings Becky Quist
24 Deanna Trowsdale-Mutafov:
Spencer G. Sealy
A Tribute to Her Life 35 Mystery Photo
26 Tree Swallow Nest Built Atop
Dead Adult Tree Swallows
Donald J. Stiles
2 BLUE JAY SPRING 2017 VOLUME 75.1
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dr. Branimir Gjetvaj • are caught unintentionally in a fishery
President, Nature Saskatchewan
• that is designed to catch other fish2.
: This is not only costly and dangerous
It appears we live in an increasingly : to fishermen, but represents a global
polarized society, where there is little : environmental problem. They found
understanding of opposing views : that fishermen primarily shared
and little interest in accepting other : information within their own social
perspectives. People tend to form : group. The information sharing was
groups exhibiting political views and : strongly correlated with the level
values similar to their own, which j of shark bycatch; fishermen that
Dr. Branimir Gjetvaj affects our beliefs, behaviours and j exchanged information with groups
decision making. Scientists call this • that have a lower shark bycatch also
type of interaction "homophily" ; exhibited a lower level of bycatch.
or "love of the same." Although : The study showed that biases toward
homophily makes communication : within-group communication could
easier and improves relationships, it : deter the dispersal of sustainable
can cause our social groups to become : behavior that can have a direct impact
segregated and tightly knit. The : on ecosystem health.
danger is, if we get stuck within our I Have you noticed that Nature
own familiar group, this will impact j Saskatchewan meets always attract
our exposure to diverse viewpoints, j the same group of people? We gather
gathering of information and even our j within our own narrow social network,
learning processes. ; enjoy spending time in nature, and
Photo credit: Nick Saunders
People are turning away from : "preach to the converted." Have we
ON THE FRONT COVER
media such as newspapers and : tried to expand our network with
A Northern Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium gnoma)
television and turning towards social : people who might not necessary think
photographed near the kilometre 36 marker on
Highway 919 on January 28, 2017. Saskatchewan's media to get news and information. : or behave the same way we do? The
second recorded Northern Pygmy-Owl was In a 2015 paper published in the : upcoming Spring Meet at Candle
observed by Stan and Jan Shadick at this location
journal Science, Bakshy and co¬ : Lake in early June of 2017 is a perfect
on December 27, 2016, and a group of nine
birders returned to the area on January 28, 2017 to workers examined the type of news : opportunity to expand our little social
relocate the owl. Turn to page 22 to read Stan and
that millions of Facebook users share, j network. We are planning a program
Jan's story of their successful quest for this bird.
what information these users were j with diverse outdoor activities,
presented with, and what they were • suitable to families with children and
ultimately reading1. The authors found : people who love spending time in the
that Facebook "friends" were less ; outdoors, but have not been exposed
likely to share and read information : to the focused nature viewing aspect.
from sources that aren't aligned : I challenge you to invite a friend, a
with their own viewpoints. Why : neighbour, or a co-worker and his /
is this important? Isolation in like- : her family to join us for the Spring
minded social networks can inhibit : Meet. Let's paint our existing social
communication and exchange of : network with a little bit more colour.
knowledge between various groups.
Social network structures can also ; 1. Bakshy, E., S. Messing, and L. A. Adamic
Photo credit: Brenda Rutz
• (2015): Exposure to ideologically diverse
affect human behaviour, the primary
ON THE BACK COVER : news and opinion on Facebook. Science
force driving environmental change.
Brenda Rutz took this photo of a Gray Jay j 348:1 130-1132.
(Perisoreus canadensis) while camping at Beatty In a 2016 study of large-scale tuna
• 2. Barnes, M. L., J. Lynham, K. Kalberg,
Lake, north of Green Lake, Saskatchewan in early fisheries in Hawaii, scientists looked
June. "This was near a small slough close to the lake 1 and P. Leung (2016): Social networks and
at how social networks impact shark
. . . there was a small family of Gray Jay and I was ; environmental outcomes. Proc. Natl. Acad.
lucky to get this shot without too many branches in bycatch, which occurs when sharks : Sci. USA 113: 6466-6471. JL
the way," she says.
SPRING 2017 VOLUME 75.1 BLUE JAY 3
^€blue jay
SASKATCHEWAN
Blue Jay, founded in 1942 by
Main Office
Isabel M. Priestly, is a journal of Board of Directors
natural history and conservation for President Nature Saskatchewan
Branimir Gjetvaj 206 - 1860 Lome Street
Saskatchewan and adjacent regions.
Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 2L7
It is published quarterly by Vice President
[phone]
Hamilton Greenwood
Nature Saskatchewan. [email protected]
Secretary www.naturesask.ca
Nicole Dunn
Editor: Annie McLeod
Treasurer
3017 Hill Avenue
Ed Rodger
Regina, SK S4S 0W2 Publications
Past President
E-mail: [email protected] Donna Bruce Blue Jay Editor
Annie McLeod
Honourary President
Editorial Information Gary Seib Acting Special Publications Editor
Donna Bruce
Blue Jay welcomes all submissions, Conservation Director
Lome Scott
preferably by e-mail (although hand¬
written or typed manuscripts will be Directors
Contacts for
Amy Wheeler
considered to accommodate those Local Societies & Affiliates
Ken Ludwig
who do not have access to computer
Martin Boucher Fort Qu'Appelle Nature Society
equipment), polished or in need of Robert Wilson Keith Stephens
some editorial assistance. All items Vladimir Kricsfalusy
Indian Head Natural History Society
for publication should be sent to the Irv Escott
Office & Program Contacts
editor electronically (in a Microsoft Kelsey Ecological Society
Executive Director Kathleen Pitt
Word document) by e-mail or on CD.
Jordan Ignatiuk
Hard copies and CDs can be mailed Nature Moose Jaw
Species at Risk Manager Lorna Arnold
to the editor at the address above.
Rebecca Magnus
Nature Prince Albert
Conservation & Education Manager Jim Bahr
Submission deadlines
Marla Anderson
Nature Regina
January 1 for the Spring issue,
Communications Manager Dale Hjertaas
April 1 for the Summer issue, Ellen Bouvier
Neudorf Trails &
July 1 for the Fall issue, and Office Coordinator Wild Bird Sanctuary Society
October 1 for the Winter issue. Becky Quist Keith Gerstner
For detailed information, please Habitat Stewardship Coordinator Saskatoon Nature Society
Kaytlyn Burrows Marten Stoffel
see the “Guidelines for Authors"
Habitat Stewardship Coordinator Southwest Naturalists
under the Publications section of the
Ashley Vass Janet Payne
Nature Saskatchewan website.
Habitat Stewardship Coordinator Weyburn Nature Society
Emily Putz Val Thomas
International Piping Plover Wolseley Nature Society
Census Coordinator Richard Solberg
Alan Smith
Yorkton Natural History Society
Turkey Vulture Tracking Program Geoff Rushowick
Dr. Stuart Houston
Yellowhead Flyway
Birding Trail Association
Martin Phillips
Meadow Lake 'Woodlanders'
Junior Forest Wardens
Neil Marsh
Friends of Wascana Marsh
Ramona Clarke
UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF ALBtRTA
4 BLUE JAY SPRING 2017 VOLUME 75.1
ownershlip by Alex Rendek, it was
known as Pope's Crossing (named
after a local homesteader) because
of a spot along the Red Deer River
that is suitable for fording. My
parents used that crossing. This
place therefore also has historical
significance to me.
Has this been a solitary
undertaking?
I have already mentioned others
who were interested and who
helped. Today the monitoring and
the volunteer labour is done by my
Rendek Elm Forest. Photo credit: Jonah Alain
wife, Gloria, and me.
CELEBRATING NATURE
Is there something about the
SASKATCHEWAN'S land that you wish to draw
to the attention of Nature
VOLUNTEER STEWARDS Saskatchewan members?
Those interested in visiting the
sanctuary are advised that currently
Name of Sanctuary: Rendek Elm Forest
it is nothing like it was in the late
Nature Saskatchewan Salutes Mo Alain
1980s and early 1990s. The elms are
present only as suckers. The Ostrich
Rob Wilson years later, other local naturalists Ferns, although coming back, are
Director, Nature Saskatchewan joined to form the Hudson Bay nothing like they were. Eighty-seven
Natural History Society. I was part of species of plants, some rare, have
that group. In 1991, the Rendek Elm in the past been identified. Today
How did you initially become
Forest Sanctuary opened and I, along we do not know how many species
involved as land steward on
with Don Hooper, became a steward survive. Once the diseased elms fell,
behalf of Nature Saskatchewan?
for Nature Saskatchewan. Our group the shade was removed allowing
In 1979, Don Hooper — a local
did volunteer work. This work was for early succession by thistles. The
naturalist — organized the purchase
particularly focused on construction fallen trunks have created a jungle
of the land from Alex Rendek. Twelve
of trails among the magnificent elm of deadfall rendering access to the
trees and spectacular Ostrich Ferns. area very difficult. In addition, due
I continue as the steward of this to current wet conditions, the access
sanctuary to this day. road is nearly impassable.
Why do you continue your Nature Saskatchewan is
involvement? responsible for seven parcels of
land that have been designated as
It is a beautiful spot. Shortly after
sanctuaries. Nature Saskatchewan
establishment of the sanctuary we
is working to improve its policies
discovered the first evidence of the
and processes with regard to these
presence of Dutch Elm Disease. By
land holdings. A voluntary steward
1992, the large elms of the forest
is found for each parcel. The
had been destroyed. Nature is now
taking a new course on the land as steward ",keeps eyes and ears open "
and periodically reports to Nature
a succession of vegetation exploits
Saskatchewan.
the new environment. I am curiously
Mo helping with Northern Saw-whet Owl banding watching nature take its course. Thank you, Mo Alain. You are
at Marten Stoffel's, Nature Saskatchewan Fall Meet.
This area also has a history. Prior to truly a "voice for nature." 4-
Photo credit: Gloria Stang
SPRING 2017 VOLUME 75.1 BLUE JAY 5
# ■
».
■■
SAVING THE WORLD'S MOS
STARTS AT HOME
tropical rainforests or coral reefs. It's
a different habitat. And one that is
much closer to home than you might
Dan Kraus There is no question that they are think.
Nature Conservancy of Canada threatened. We are continuing to lose Conservation scientists spend a
55 Wyndham St North, Suite 202 tropical rainforest, and coral reefs lot of time generating and gazing
Guelph, ON N1H7T8 are at increasing risk from pollution, at maps and data. Much of this
[email protected] rising water temperatures and information is used to help prioritize
ocean acidification (the latter two a important places for conservation.
Ask any Canadian kid to name the consequence of climate change). Places where conservation
world's most endangered ecosystem. Tropical rainforests and coral reefs could protect and prevent the
Chances are you'll hear one of the are also the focus of international endangerment of species and
following answers: 1) rainforests, 2) campaigns to protect biodiversity, habitats.
coral reefs, 3) leave me alone*. to protect "hotspots" of species Endangerment comes down to
Ignoring the last answer, there's diversity. I was brought up in an era risk. The risk of losing a species,
a good reason why kids, and most when every hamburger had a topping habitat or ecosystem for future
other people, think that these are of guilt that it was clearing Brazil's generations. When we look at the
the most endangered ecosystems rainforests. Many of the world's risk factors for endangerment: past
— the planet's most critical and biodiversity hotspots are within loss, current amount of conservation,
urgent habitats for conservation. tropical rainforests and coral reefs, potential for future loss — the
Tropical rainforests and coral reefs are and they are the focus of education winner (actually the loser) are
incredibly important for protecting and awareness campaigns that are temperate grasslands, including
the planet's biodiversity. They are a on Canadian news and in Canadian the good old Great Plains of Oh
cornucopia of millions of species and classrooms. Canada that stretch across southern
display the incredible and beautiful Now, what if I told you the world's Manitoba, Saskatchewan and
forces of life that create diversity. most endangered ecosystem isn't Alberta, and the grasslands of B.C.'s
6 BLUE JAY SPRING 2017 VOLUME 75.1 * Wetlands and oceans were also common responses to my informal survey.
Old Man on His Back, Saskatchewan. Photo credit: Branimir Gjetvaj
NDANGERED ECOSYSTEM
I interior. The world's most endangered to temperate grasslands has been the first jurisdiction in Canada to list
(ecosystem is right here at home. recognized for almost a decade, tallgrass prairie as an ecosystem at
Globally, temperate grasslands and they have been identified by risk.5-6 A 2010 report on the status
cover about eight per cent of the the International Union for the and trends of Canada's major habitat
Earth's land surface.1 They generally Conservation of Nature as the world's types found that our grasslands
exist in the interior of continents most endangered ecosystem.2 An are the only major ecosystem type
where there is not enough rain and analysis of global habitat loss and that is impaired, and continuing
snow fall to support forests. There conservation found that temperate to decline.5 A recent study found
are many reasons why temperate grasslands had the highest this continued decline is significant.
grasslands are endangered. They Conservation Risk Index compared Between 2009 and 2015, the annual
are the original breadbasket of the to all other terrestrial ecosystems.3 rate of grassland conversion in North
world. Over 50 per cent have been This high risk is a result of large scale America's Great Plains was two
converted to crops and other land conversion of and very few protected per cent, with some of the highest
uses.1 Much of the remaining are areas. A global analysis in 2016 conversion rates in Canada.7
intensively grazed, replacing what found that the greatest impacts and Protection of all ecosystems,
were some of the planet's greatest land use pressures to ecosystems are from tropical forests to coral reefs
concentrations of wild grazing found in temperate grasslands.4 to arctic tundra, is important.
animals with cattle, goats and Canada's temperate grasslands What makes Canada's temperate
sheep. Around the world, temperate mirror the fate and state of this grasslands different is the urgency
grasslands are faced with continuing ecosystem around the world. Over of their conservation need. Yes, we
habitat loss, fragmentation and 70 per cent of Canada's prairie need to direct resources to places
desertification, impacting both grasslands have been converted.5 In like the Amazon rainforest, but
biodiversity and local people that some regions, including Manitoba's when we directly compare the loss
rely on healthy grasslands for their tallgrass prairie region, the losses have and conversion of rainforest to
livelihood. been over 99 per cent, prompting temperate grasslands, your feeling
The loss and continued threats the government of Manitoba to be of conservation urgency may shift
SPRING 2017 VOLUME 75.1 BLUE JAY 7
i
northward. While we have lost 20 per Grasslands can also showcase and helplessness. It can also be
cent of the Amazon rainforest, over how people and nature can co-exist. easy to think of it as someone else's
70 per cent of Canada's prairies are Many of Canada's grasslands have issue and that direct responsibility
gone. While the continued conversion a long history of sustainable cattle lies elsewhere. Here in Canada we
of the Amazon rainforest is grazing. This grazing has supported have opportunities to protect and
continuing, the continued conversion generations of prairie ranchers, can restore habitats that are important
of Canada's prairies is happening help to maintain grassland health for Canadians, and important for the
faster.7 We are witnessing the loss and benefits many species of prairie world. We have an opportunity to
of a core Canadian landscape in this wildlife. protect and restore our grasslands.
generation. The loss of Canada's prairies is
The endangerment of grassland also a loss for the world. One of 1. Henwood, WD (2010) Towards a strategy
for the conservation and protection of
habitat in Canada has cascaded into the last places on Earth to protect
the world's temperate grasslands. Great
the endangerment of many grassland grasslands at a meaningful scale are
Plains Research. Paper 1074. Retrieved
species. Over 60 Canadian species at the grasslands of North America's
from http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/
risk depend on this habitat, including Great Plains, and despite a loss of 70 greatplainsresearch/1074
species that symbolize our grasslands per cent, Canada has some of largest
2. International Union for the Conservation
such as Plains Bison (Bos bison and best sites remaining. A global
of Nature (2010) Towards a Conservation
bison), Swift Fox (Vulpes velox) and assessment of critical places for the Strategy for the World's Temperate
Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus conservation of temperate grasslands Grasslands. Retrieved from www.iucn.
org/sites/dev/files/import/downloads/tgcL
urophasianus urophasianus). The finds a place on the map here at
strategy_paper_2010.pdf.
2016 report on the State of North home, highlighting the importance of
3. Hoekstra, JM, Boucher TM, Ricketts TH,
America's Birds concluded that many our conservation efforts in Canada.2
and Roberts C (2005) Confronting a biome
grassland birds are rapidly declining, There is hope in the conservation
crisis: global disparities of habitat loss and
and some species have lost over 70 of our grasslands. We have already protection. Ecology Letters 8: 23-29.
per cent of their population in the last proven that cooperation and
4. Newbold, T, Fludson, LN, Arnell, AP, Contu,
40 years.8 The songs of birds such conservation can save prairie species.
5. De Palma, A, Ferrier, S, ... Purvis, A (2016). j
as Baird's Sparrow (Ammodramus From early efforts to protect the
Has land use pushed terrestrial biodiversity
bairdii), Sprague's Pipit (Anthus last wild Plains Bison that roamed beyond the planetary boundary? A global
spragueii) and Chestnut-collared the prairies in the late 1800s, to the assessment Science, 353(6296), 288-291.
Longspur (Calcarius ornatus) are establishment of "regeneration"
5. Federal, Provincial and Territorial
slowly dimming on our prairies. national parks+ to save Pronghorn Governments of Canada. 2010. Canadian
The loss of Canada's grasslands is (Antilocapra Americana), to the return Biodiversity: Ecosystem Status and Trends
2010. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Councils of
a loss for Canadians. In addition to of the Swift Fox in 1983, Canadians
Resource Ministers.
wide open prairies, our grasslands have shown a passion and ability to
also contain wetlands, lakes, rivers conserve and restore our grassland 6. The Endangered Species and Ecosystems
Act (1990, c. El 11). Retrieved from http://
and valleys. Canada's grasslands heritage. The Nature Conservancy of
web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/e111e.
support fishes, waterfowl and breath¬ Canada has protected over 80,000 ha
php.
taking avian migration spectacles as of grasslands, including large intact
7. Gage, AM, Olimb, S., Nelson, J (2016)
millions of birds stop to rest and feed areas such as Old Man on His Back
In press. Plowprint: tracking cumulative
on their way to the boreal and arctic. in southern Saskatchewan, and there
cropland expansion to target grassland
In an ecosystem that is created by a is a key and immediate opportunity conservation. Great Plains Research. Retrievec
lack of water, grasslands are critical to conserve large areas of prairie and from https://c402277.ssl.cf1 .rackcdn.com/
publications/947/f iles/original/plowprint_
for allowing water to infiltrate into maintain local ranching economies by
AnnualReport_2016_Einal_REV09192016.pd1
the ground, providing base flow to protecting Community Pastures++in
rivers and streams, and holding water Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. 8. North American Bird Conservation Initiative
(2016) The State of North America's Birds
during floods. Grasslands are also Witnessing the rapid loss of
2016. Environment and Climate Change
important for carbon storage, with habitats and species at a global scale
Canada: Ottawa, Ontario. 8 pages. JL
intact native prairies proving to be can bring on feelings of both urgency
particularly effective at sequestration
and long-term storage in their deep
+Canada established four national parks in Saskatchewan and Alberta to recover populations
and extensive root networks. of Pronghorn antelope and Plains Bison. With the recovery of these populations, these parks
were delisted on July 17, 1947.
8 BLUE JAY SPRING 2017 VOLUME 75.1 tfln Saskatchewan alone there are almost 700,000 ha of community pastures.
PAINTED REDSTART AT PINAWA, MB:
FIRST RECORD FOR THE PRAIRIE PROVINCES
siskin-like call was heard on several
occasions, sometimes in extended
bouts of repeated calling, both while
perched and in flight.
Normal range and habitat
The Painted Redstart's breeding
range extends from parts of
southern Arizona and southern
New Mexico through Mexico to
northern Nicaragua. Breeding is
rare, local, and apparently irregular
in southern parts of California, west
FIGURE 1: The first day: Painted Redstart pauses briefly on a garden fence in Pinawa, MB, October 27, 2016. Texas, and possibly Nevada and Utah
Photo credit: Jack Frederick
(mostly in and near Zion National
Peter Taylor as Brandon and Minnedosa during Park).1’4 Northern populations are
P.O. Box 597, Pinawa, MB ROE 1L0 the 12 days of its recorded stay. mostly migratory, but small numbers
[email protected]
This number is small in comparison overwinter in southern Arizona.1
to a similar rarity in more populous Away from the known breeding
On the morning of October 27,
regions, but places it near the top of localities, 100+ records for California
2016, Pinawa residents Jack and Val
single-bird events in Manitoba. Most occurred primarily in fall and winter
Frederick twice observed a beautiful,
visitors were successful in their quest, months in the southern third of the
unfamiliar warbler in their garden.
and many residents willingly opened state.5
They photographed and identified
their backyards to help strangers Breeding and wintering habitats
it as a Painted Redstart (Myioborus
view the bird. The final sightings are mostly oak, oak-pine, and oak-
pictus) — an outstanding rarity
were on November 7; the bird was juniper woodlands, often in riparian
anywhere in Canada or indeed the
not located by intensive searching on settings, and tending to favour lower
northern U.S.A. They contacted Anita
November 8, nor on any subsequent elevations in winter.1
Drabyk, who relayed the news to me
visits.
and a few other birders; altogether Vagrancy pattern
six of us saw the bird that day, and Identification Individuals have previously been
many more photographs were taken The Painted Redstart is a fairly found on rare occasions in fall
(Fig. 1). large, slightly long-tailed warbler; as far north as British Columbia,
News of the bird was posted the Pinawa bird was in unmistakable Montana, Minnesota, Michigan,
that evening to Manitobabirds, a adult plumage (sexes are similar). southern Ontario, Ohio, New
provincial online discussion group, Extensive white areas in the wings York, and Massachusetts, and in
after some discussion of the large and tail contrasted with the black spring in Wisconsin.1'6 As expected,
number of visitors it was likely plumage, especially in flight. The occurrence is more frequent in
to attract. Since it was evidently highlight was a large, rich red patch states adjoining the breeding range,
moving around the neighbourhood, on the lower breast and belly; a especially southern California but
general locality information was white fleck below each eye was including Kansas and Colorado, and
provided, rather than a specific also noted (Figs. 1 to 3). Moult from there is also a small cluster of records
address, to avoid undue pressure on juvenile to Basic I plumage is typically in the Gulf States and Georgia but
individual Pinawa residents. The bird complete by September, so it is excluding Florida.1'6'7 Curiously,
aroused much interest, attracting possible that this Painted Redstart there is a broad contiguous band
an estimated 70 to 100 birders and was a hatching-year bird.1 Though of states with no records across the
photographers from as far afield it was mostly silent, its characteristic entire continent from Oregon and
SPRING 2017 VOLUME 75.1 BLUE JAY 9
Washington through the Mississippi
Valley to the Carolinas and several
other Atlantic states.6
The first Canadian record of a
Painted Redstart occurred at the
community of Balsam, north of
Pickering, Ontario in 1971; the bird
was first observed on November 4,
captured on November 15, and
survived in captivity until at least
January 1972.89 In their account
of this record, Speirs and Pegg
Mi
cited previous northern records at:
Marblehead Neck, Massachusetts
on October 18-19, 1947; Madison,
Wisconsin on April 22, 1965; and
near Cleveland, Ohio on November FIGURE 2: The last day: Painted Redstart aglow in the sunshine in Pinawa, MB, November 7, 2016.;
Photo credit: Josiah Van Egmond i
15-22, 1970.8 The second Canadian
record was a multiple-observer
was seen at Clinton on November associated gardens, and a narrow,
sighting, supported by detailed
7-13, 1987 and documented with intervening buffer strip of natural
descriptions, at West Vancouver, photographs.17-19 A report from woodland. The estimated minimum
British Columbia on November 4,
Nevada, Missouri on October 19, size of this feeding area (polygon
1973.10 The Pinawa bird appears
1986 appears not to have been formed by outlying sightings) is 5 ha.
to constitute Canada's third record, accepted, because the species One attraction seemed to be
after a 43-year gap, and is the first to
is absent from the current state delayed leaf fall of several cultivated
be recorded in the Prairie Provinces.
checklist.20'21 trees (e.g., willow, Siberian elm,
New York State's first Painted Seven of the 10 accepted and silver maple) and vines (e.g.,
Redstart was discovered at a feeder
northerly records summarized above bittersweet), whereas leaf loss
at Dansville, Livingston County on
occurred between October 18 and was essentially complete in native
December 14, 1979 and survived
November 22. The Pinawa, Manitoba deciduous trees and shrubs. The
there for about six weeks; its
record (October 27 to November trees with persisting foliage appeared
depredated remains were discovered
7, 2016) fits this pattern exactly, to provide the best available foraging
on January 26, 1980.11 The first state
and is consistent with misoriented for lingering invertebrate prey
record for Michigan, at Gladstone
migration followed by establishment during the first week. The bird was
Bluff, Delta County on November
of a feeding area (see below). Given also noted foraging at all levels
12-13, 1983 was confirmed by
this known pattern of long-distance from ground to canopy in bare
photographs.12 Coincident with
vagrancy, the provenance of the trees and shrubby tangles, and it
the Pinawa bird, a Painted Redstart Pinawa bird is not in doubt, i.e., also perched frequently on roofs
was photographed near Marathon,
there is no evidence of, nor any need and eavestroughs. Its short-term
Wisconsin on November 1, 2016,
to invoke, prior captivity or human- prospects were greatly enhanced
furnishing (if ratified) a second
assisted migration. by unseasonably mild weather, with
state record.13 In Minnesota, a
daytime temperatures often well
single-observer sighting at Mille Observations on feeding into the teens and occasionally the
Lacs Lake on September 30, 1992 territory and foraging in
low 20s Celsius. Conditions were
was accepted by the state records Pinawa
generally cloudy for the first week
committee on the strength of a During its 12-day recorded stay, and sunny thereafter, with minimal
detailed sketch and description.14'15 this vagrant Painted Redstart was overnight frost. On November 4,
A second Minnesota sighting on observed repeatedly within a small Michael Loyd and others observed
May 25, 2007 was not accepted area of Pinawa, centred on two the Painted Redstart catch two
because of inadequate details.16 residential streets (Landsdowne housefly-sized insects during a sunny
Montana's first Painted Redstart Avenue and Stanley Avenue), spell. On November 6, Christian
10 BLUE JAY SPRING 2017 VOLUME 75.1