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Cliff Swallow colony nests destroyed again at Pitt Lake

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You may remember that Cliff Swallow nests with chicks and eggs inside were destroyed and power washed clean at the Pitt Lake site in  2019. This also happened in 2009, 2013 and 2015. You can read my article on the past history at this site HERE Unfortunately, this year in July, my friend Larry Cowan and I noticed that out of the 30 nests at the site many had been knocked down. On July 5th there were 14 nests left up. I reported it immediately to federal wildlife enforcement at ECCC and the BC conservation service as this breaks the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act and the provincial BC Wildlife Act.  14 nests were still left up on July 5th -2023 On July 29th I returned to the site with several young birders and we noticed only 3 nests were left up and 2 of the nests had live chicks inside being fed by adults. A lone Barn Swallow nest with chicks was also destroyed.  Larry and I truly do not believe it’s a Barred Owl as in 30+ years of going there Larry has never see...

Newfoundland and St. Pierre and Miquelon 2023

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Atlantic Puffins have such interesting faces! - Photo: Melissa Hafting I recently led a birding tour to Newfoundland for Avocet Tours, just like I did last year  but this time with Chris Charlesworth. You can read about last year's trip HERE . This year was great as well and was sold out once again. If you are interested in joining this tour next year click HERE .  Also if you enjoy arctic tundra landscapes and have done NFLD before I have another tour going to Nome and Barrow in 2024. If you want to sign up for that click  HERE Newfoundland 2023 We got in to St. John’s a day before the tour started on July 8th a nd headed to Burton’s Pond, to look at the long staying Pink-footed Goose. Here we saw a rare for the time of year Eurasian Wigeon, some Common Terns and pure American Black Ducks and Hooded Mergansers. We went to Mundy’s Pond hoping for the Tufted Duck that was there on July 5th but it seemed just like the rare Black-tailed Godwit and Little Blue Heron, that was...