Merganser Chicks

Merganser Chicks - Mergus merganser

The first chicks I reported this year were on June 2. A mother and nine chicks swam out of Merganser Inlet. During the winter and spring, I commonly see male and female mergansers on the pebbled beach in this location. The inlet is on the South side of the Elbow across from my customary hike.

These two adolescents in the photo below were from a family of six in Curly Creek on July 13th.

The following three photos of adults are spring photos from the area around Merganser Inlet. Perhaps some are the parents of the chicks above. 

Female Mallard

Female Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos

Male mallards have not been around for over a month. Mostly I see females either alone or tending ducklings of various ages. Mallards are single brooded and the 10 to 12 eggs are incubated by the female alone for 26 to 29 days and the ducklings are tended by the female and fledged at about 7 or 8 weeks of age. 
These two photos were taken moments apart and the difference that interested me is how the reflected image changed in the ripples.

References

The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Alberta. Federation of Alberta Naturalists. 2007.

Baicich PJ, Harrison CJO. Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds. Princeton UP. 2005.

Fisher C, Acorn J. Birds of Alberta. Lone Pine Publishing. Edmonton. 1998.

Sibley David A. The Sibley Guide to Birds. Alfred A Knopf, Inc. New York. 2000.

Sibley David A. The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior. Alfred A Knopf, Inc. New York. 2001.

Female Common Goldeneye

Female Common Goldeneye - Bucephala clangula

The male goldeneyes left several months ago. After performing their courtship display continuously for several weeks, the males mated, and then left. Goldeneyes are single brooded, and when the male has fulfilled his brief but necessary role, the female incubates 6 to 11 eggs for 27 to 32 days, and then tends the young until the ducklings fledge at 51 to 60 days.

The nests are in natural cavities in trees or stumps, usually 6 to 60 feet up, and the newborn chicks drop unharmed to the ground within hours of hatching. 

Goldeneyes winter along the Elbow River and I saw up to a dozen male-female pairs this spring but I never saw a pair in one area consistently enough to imply nesting, and so far this summer I have seen only a solitary duckling, which might well have come from much further upstream. Perhaps there are not very many suitable nesting cavities along this part of the Elbow River?

References

The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Alberta. Federation of Alberta Naturalists. 2007.

Baicich PJ, Harrison CJO. Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds. Princeton UP. 2005.

Fisher C, Acorn J. Birds of Alberta. Lone Pine Publishing. Edmonton. 1998.

Sibley David A. The Sibley Guide to Birds. Alfred A Knopf, Inc. New York. 2000.

Sibley David A. The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior. Alfred A Knopf, Inc. New York. 2001.

Song Sparrow Photo Shoot

Song Sparrow Photo Shoot - Melospiza melodia

Met up with the Song Sparrow just after brunch. 

"Give me a left profile hidden in those bushes."

"Turn around quickly." 

 "Right profile, please."

"Now face me."

 "Turn your head a bit to the left."

"Pretend you're speaking politely to another bird."

"Get angry at that bird."

 "Face me again."

"Final shot, left profile, look casual."

"Terrific shoot. I'll post these photos later today."

Swamp Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow - Melospiza georgiana

Until July 30th, I had no idea that Swamp Sparrows nested close to my customary hike. At the far end of the Glenmore Runoff Reservoir there is a marshy area where ducks nest. I can just see this area with my binoculars but usually the birds are too far away for me to identify. The western shore is a dense forest and until July 30th, I never attempted to bushwhack through this area. Took me 1.5 hours to circumnavigate the reservoir and most of this time was spent threading my way through brush so dense there were no deer trails. The reservoir bends into a narrow area lined with cat-tails and bull rushes that is not visible from the distant vantage point along my customary walk. The air was thick with humidity and bugs. The water was still and shallow. Swampy. Made perfect sense to see these sparrows.

Swamp Sparrows are double brooded and build their nests about a foot off the ground in the grass or cat-tails that surround marshy areas. The reservoir water rose only modestly with the flood, which I hope, allowed their first brood to survive. 

These sparrows eat more insects than seeds and their jaw muscles are less well developed and their bills are smaller than other Melospizza species such as the Song and Lincoln Sparrows.The legs are longer, which allows the Swamp Sparrow to wade in shallow water. 

References

The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Alberta. Federation of Alberta Naturalists. 2007.

Baicich PJ, Harrison CJO. Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds. Princeton UP. 2005.

Beadle D, Rising J. Sparrows of the United States and Canada. Princeton UP. 2003.

Fisher C, Acorn J. Birds of Alberta. Lone Pine Publishing. Edmonton. 1998.

Sibley David A. The Sibley Guide to Birds. Alfred A Knopf, Inc. New York. 2000.

Sibley David A. The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior. Alfred A Knopf, Inc. New York. 2001.