American Coot

An American Coot forages for clumps of Chara (a branching alga) in the shallows of Jellicoe Cove, Marathon Harbour.

Some December irregulars

A White-throated Sparrow continues to frequent our feeders.

More surprising was this American Coot swimming near shore in Marathon Harbour since December 5.

This Gray Catbird is visiting a feeder on Sund Crescent.

Will these birds be around for the December 20 CBC?

Marathon CBC set for December 20

On December 20, volunteer naturalists will conduct Marathon's annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Birders of all skill levels are welcome to help count birds within a 24 km radius of town. Some parties will range out into the bush on skis and snowshoes while others will stay close to their vehicles, counting birds along the roadsides. Residents who maintain bird feeders will contribute by keeping a tally sheet of the species visiting their yards.

The CBC is the longest running Citizen Science survey in the world. Data collected by tens of thousands of participants throughout the Americas are used by scientists to help monitor our bird populations. Marathon residents have participated in most years since 1973. Over all years a total of 85 species have been recorded but for each year the average is 25 and no two years are the same. While a handful of common species - Herring Gull, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee and European Starling - are seen every year, waterfowl, raptors and winter finches are less predictable. Each year turns up a few surprises.

Bald Eagles are now commonly sighted in Marathon throughout the year but they only began appearing on the CBC in 1994 as the continental population rebounded following the implementation of restrictions on the use of organochlorine pesticides. Northern Cardinal, a very common species in the south, started appearing on our CBC in the late 1980s reflecting an ongoing northward expansion of its range.

Those wishing to participate in this year's CBC should contact Martha Allen at 229-1319.

Backyard birds

We were surprised when this first year Chipping Sparrow showed up a few weeks ago. The species is a common breeder in the region, ranging north through the Hudson Bay lowlands. Large numbers crisply depart Ontario in September to spend the winter in Florida, Texas and adjacent Mexico. If this bird lingers in our yard for another 19 days, it will be the first of its kind to be recorded on a Marathon Christmas bird count.

An immature Chipping Sparrow is the quintessential LBJ - little brown job - a nondescript little songbird characterized by a suite of relatively inconspicuous characters. It is most likely to mistaken for the American Tree Sparrow - a more probable December visitor. The Cornell Feeder Watch site offers a nice, side-by-side comparison of the winter ranges and field marks these two Spizella sparrows.

There's no mistaking the Northern Cardinal. At the turn of the century, the species was known only from the Carolinian forest of southernmost Ontario. Since then, it has exploited human-altered landscapes south of the Canadian Shield and in a few outlying northern settlements, including Marathon where a handful of individuals now haunt our residential neighbourhoods year round. This male shown below has been a regular visitor to our yard since he discovered our feeders a week ago. In October, a female showed up only a few times before moving on.

These two birds highlight an otherwise dull week for backyard birding.

Local hikes: Headland & Spirit Trails at Pukaskwa National Park

Directions: From Hwy 17, drive ~13 km south on Hwy 627, through the communities of Heron Bay and Pic River and across the Pic River bridge to the entrance gate of Pukaskwa National Park. During the 0ff-season, the road into the park is closed. One must park at the locked gate (48.60460, -86.28860) and walk a few km to the trail head at the Visitor's Centre at Hattie Cove. From there, one can proceed directly along the Headland Trail.

Distance: Approximately 6.5 km.

Degree of difficulty: moderate (3/5). Some upland rocky sections can be slippery when wet - wear appropriate footwear. Several flights of wooden stairs and landings ease the passage through deep gullies.

Natural Features: The trail passes through cool, moist boreal forest dominated by spruce trees and an ericaceous shrub layer. The trees are festooned with filamentous lichens (Bryoria and Usnea spp.) while the forest floor is carpeted in a diverse assemblage of moss, lichens, liverworts, ferns and club mosses (Lycopodium spp.). The rich lichen community and rugged terrain provide food and shelter for the endangered Woodland Caribou.
Horseshoe Bay features sand dunes that support a closely monitored population of the endangered Pitcher's Thistle.
Several viewing platforms at the tip of the headland provide commanding views of the undisturbed coast line. To the north one can take in the Pic River Mouth Sand Dunes, the largest dune complex on the north shore of Lake Superior.

To the south, the vista includes a sweep of the steep rocky coast as it has appeared for thousands of years.

Among the birds we saw and heard during our hike were:

• Bald Eagle: 1 (an adult sitting atop an islet at the mouth of the Pic)
• Pileated Woodpecker: 1 (heard)
• Hairy Woodpecker: 1
• Red-breasted Nuthatch: 3
• Common Raven: 4
• Black-capped Chickadee: 7
• Boreal Chickadee: 2
• Common Redpoll: (an unseen flock heard flying overhead)

Smooth Rocks

Sun setting over Lake Superior. Photo by Martha.

American Pipit