By Derek Cornet

Bird Count

Magpies moving to La Ronge could reduce bird numbers

Jan 31, 2019 | 11:29 AM

The arrival of black-billed magpies in La Ronge could lead to a reduction in the overall bird population.

That’s what winter bird count coordinator John Schisler stated as he noted several magpies, including a nesting pair, were spotted between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5 in the tri-communities. He added there were 19 other species of birds also recorded during that time, but he’s weary of the magpies because they can have a big effect on bird numbers.

“For 10 years, there wasn’t magpies then they started showing up,” Schisler, who has been organizing the bird count since 2004 said. “The last three years we’ve seen magpies up here. They’re moving in and that’s certainly going to have an impact on the bird population because they’re not really nice birds. They’re nest robbers. They’ll steal eggs and they’ll even take the baby birds.”

Black-billed magpies are part of the crow family and are widely found throughout Canada and the United States. They are commonly found in farmland and suburban areas, where they regularly come in contact with people. The bird is black with white shoulders, a white belly and dark blue-green wings and tail.

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Other species found during the bird count were the common and hoary redpoll, red-breasted and white-breasted nuthatch, downy and hairy woodpecker, black-capped and boreal chickadee, evening and pine grosbeak, common raven, blue jay, Canada jay, ruffed grouse, willow ptarmigan, common merganser, American robin, white-throated sparrow and red-winged blackbird. Of those, Schisler stated sightings of the American robin, white-throated sparrow and red-winged blackbird are rare to see in La Ronge during the winter.

“They were young birds and they just got tired of flying in the migration, and with the early onset of winter last year, they found feeders and decided to stay,” he said. “They were young ones and either they fell out of the flock or couldn’t keep up.”

The average number of birds recorded during the count was 762 compared to 540 in 2017 to 2018. Schisler also noted the region is an ideal place for bird watching because of the mix of bush and urban setting, as well as the Montreal River in Air Ronge.

Meanwhile, whooping crane sighting are on the rise in southern Saskatchewan. It’s estimated there are now roughly 650 in the wild, and the Wood Buffalo Aransas Texas flock migrates through the province twice per year.

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno