birds

A black oystercatcher in south Oak Bay is pictured hunting for food between Victoria Golf Club and Kitty Islet. Waterfowl and raptors remain the wild bird groups at highest risk of avian flu, which has emerged in various species in B.C. since February. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Canada’s avian flu outbreak: Should the bird feeders go?

BCSPCA says feeders and baths pose risk, others prioritize poultry

 

Bald eagle populations in the southwestern part of the province are suffering (Courtesy Photo / Jack Beedle).

B.C. bald eagle nest success threatened amid avian influenza outbreaks

Province is monitoring troublesome conditions for eagles in southwestern B.C.

 

A baby red-tailed hawk, right, originally captured as live food for an eaglet, left, has become part of a family of eagles on Gabriola Island. The eagles are feeding and caring for it after the eaglet wouldn’t kill it when it was brought to the nest in early June. (Photo courtesy Sharron Palmer-Hunt)

Food becomes family member for eagles on Gabriola Island

Red-tailed hawklet brought to the nest as food instead gets adopted by eagles near Nanaimo

 

A great blue heron, which is listed on the Species at Risk Act, waits for breakfast on an early morning in South Oak Bay between Kitty Islet and the Victoria Golf Club. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Federal report deems dogs the greatest risk to migratory birds

Off-leash dogs, disturbed birds throughout Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary

A great blue heron, which is listed on the Species at Risk Act, waits for breakfast on an early morning in South Oak Bay between Kitty Islet and the Victoria Golf Club. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
Two sandhill cranes are pictured during a summer visit to Panama Flats in Saanich. They cranes are rarely seen on the ground in Greater Victoria due to the region’s lack of wetland habitat. (Courtesy of Geoffrey Newell)

PHOTOS: Sandhill cranes swoop back to Panama Flats

Species returns for summer wetland visit, frog feast

Two sandhill cranes are pictured during a summer visit to Panama Flats in Saanich. They cranes are rarely seen on the ground in Greater Victoria due to the region’s lack of wetland habitat. (Courtesy of Geoffrey Newell)
An image commuter Zahra Ahmdz says she took at the Stadium-Chinatown SkyTrain station on March 22, 2022 appears to show a pigeon dead inside a cage. (Credit: Zahra Ahmdz)

Dead pigeons in SkyTrain cages not neglect but caused by hawk killings: pest control company

More than 2,000 people have signed a petition over concerns arouund the dead birds

An image commuter Zahra Ahmdz says she took at the Stadium-Chinatown SkyTrain station on March 22, 2022 appears to show a pigeon dead inside a cage. (Credit: Zahra Ahmdz)
The B.C. Government has received reports of suspected avian flu in pelicans across the Cariboo. (Kelly Sinoski photo — 100 Mile Free Press)

Colonies of endangered pelicans in Northern B.C. test positive for avian flu

Reports of sick pelicans in the Cariboo at Williams Lake, Alkali, Puntzi and Bouchie lakes.

The B.C. Government has received reports of suspected avian flu in pelicans across the Cariboo. (Kelly Sinoski photo — 100 Mile Free Press)
FILE - A chicken looks in the barn at Honey Brook Farm in Schuylkill Haven, Pa., on April 18, 2022. An outbreak of avian flu is forcing farmers to cull their flocks and leading to concerns about even higher food prices. While it doesn’t pose much of a threat to humans, the outbreak is prompting a new wave of some of the same conspiracy theories that emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. (Lindsey Shuey/Republican-Herald via AP, File)

VIDEO: Bird flu hatches conspiracy theories amid COVID-19

Conspiracy theorists claim bird flu isn’t real and emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic

FILE - A chicken looks in the barn at Honey Brook Farm in Schuylkill Haven, Pa., on April 18, 2022. An outbreak of avian flu is forcing farmers to cull their flocks and leading to concerns about even higher food prices. While it doesn’t pose much of a threat to humans, the outbreak is prompting a new wave of some of the same conspiracy theories that emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. (Lindsey Shuey/Republican-Herald via AP, File)
Adam Ross, 13, leads bird census walks and talks with the Friends of Bowker Creek Society. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Oak Bay 13-year-old brings birding class to the shores of Bowker Creek

Middle school ornithologist leads walks for friends society

Adam Ross, 13, leads bird census walks and talks with the Friends of Bowker Creek Society. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Great blue herons are often seen in Saanich near wetlands, including at Swan Lake. (Photo by Robert Fraser)

Actions to protect feathered friends earn Saanich bird-friendly city status

Efforts by the municipality’s Saanich bird team recognized with Nature Canada award

Great blue herons are often seen in Saanich near wetlands, including at Swan Lake. (Photo by Robert Fraser)
One of Stanley Park’s first blue heron chicks of 2022 pokes its mohawked head out from its nest. (Courtesy of Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation)

Live camera captures first Stanley Park blue heron chicks of 2022

Winter weather, eagle raids made for tough nesting season, says Vancouver parks board

One of Stanley Park’s first blue heron chicks of 2022 pokes its mohawked head out from its nest. (Courtesy of Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation)
Officials are warning about several wild birds found dead - including bald eagles - that have tested positive for avian flu. (Black Press Media file photo)

Avian flu confirmed in bald eagle found near 100 Mile House

Wild birds across B.C. testing positive for H5N1 virus

Officials are warning about several wild birds found dead - including bald eagles - that have tested positive for avian flu. (Black Press Media file photo)
If you are a producer and want your flock safe, follow the guidelines to avoid Avian Influenza or bird flu.(Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

B.C.’s second case of domestic avian influenza confirmed in the Okanagan

CFIA confirms a small backyard poultry flock in Kelowna tested positive for the H5N1

If you are a producer and want your flock safe, follow the guidelines to avoid Avian Influenza or bird flu.(Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Cases of avian flu have been detected on certain poultry farms in six central Alberta counties. (File photo from flickr)

Avian flu in North Okanagan creates large control zone

Canadian Food Inspection Agency infected zone includes Grindrod

Cases of avian flu have been detected on certain poultry farms in six central Alberta counties. (File photo from flickr)
Cases of avian flu have been detected on certain poultry farms in six central Alberta counties. (File photo from flickr)

UPDATE: Avian flu confirmed at Okanagan farm

Canadian Food Inspection Agency tests came back positive

Cases of avian flu have been detected on certain poultry farms in six central Alberta counties. (File photo from flickr)
Shorebirds rest and replenish at the estuary on Combers Beach in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Parks Canada imposes seasonal dog ban at Combers Beach near Tofino

To protect migratory shorebirds, dogs are banned on Combers Beach from April 14 to October 1, 2022

Shorebirds rest and replenish at the estuary on Combers Beach in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. (Nora O’Malley photo)
An Anna’s hummingbird in care. (file photo, Wild ARC)

Hummingbirds can starve in the cold, says Island wildlife centre

MARS in Merville has had more than a dozen birds brought in already

An Anna’s hummingbird in care. (file photo, Wild ARC)
This snowy owl, popular on the Peninsula for its Sidney perch in public the last couple weeks, didn’t show itself for the annual Christmas Bird Count in Sidney/South Salt Spring Island on Dec. 19, but was spotted on Monday. (Photo by Christy Grinton)

Sidney’s snowy owl hides out during annual Christmas Bird Count

Victoria count includes rare Arctic bird sighting by Oak Bay team

This snowy owl, popular on the Peninsula for its Sidney perch in public the last couple weeks, didn’t show itself for the annual Christmas Bird Count in Sidney/South Salt Spring Island on Dec. 19, but was spotted on Monday. (Photo by Christy Grinton)
Perhaps a chestnut-backed chickadee will show itself during the annual Christmas Bird Count on Saturday (Dec. 18). (Ann Nightingale photo)

Christmas comes early for Greater Victoria bird watchers

The outdoor activity of birding has really taken off in the last year

Perhaps a chestnut-backed chickadee will show itself during the annual Christmas Bird Count on Saturday (Dec. 18). (Ann Nightingale photo)
At home, Thomas Dudley is co-owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in the Shelbourne Plaza. He is also a talented videographer who has filmed the documentary series Seeing Canada. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Saanich bird store owner’s documentary side gig airs on PBS, Amazon Prime

Tom Dudley travels cross country working on Seeing Canada

At home, Thomas Dudley is co-owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in the Shelbourne Plaza. He is also a talented videographer who has filmed the documentary series Seeing Canada. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)