Category Archives: Birds

Ground-nesting birds – let’s talk habitat 9Jun2024

By The Bird Team: Joshua Barss Donham, Fulton Lavender, Cathy Smalley, Katie Studholme. Photos by Joshua Barss Donham June 9, 2024 Over the past few months, we’ve been sharing about ground nesting birds that call the Backlands home. So far … Continue reading

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“Song bird season has truly begun” JBD 27May2024

Wrote JBD recently (May 27), with photos and videos attached… Click on images for larger versions “It has been such a pleasure to watch the return of warblers to the Backlands! The first warbler I crossed paths with in the … Continue reading

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Have you heard a thin, high-pitched rocking sound like a squeaky wheel in the woods lately? 17May2024

By The Bird Team: Joshua Barss Donham. Fulton Lavender, Cathy Smalley, Katie Studholme Have you heard a thin, high-pitched rocking sound like a squeaky wheel in the woods lately? The Black-and-white Warblers are back in town! Another ground nesting bird … Continue reading

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Spring in the Backlands 24Apr2024

By Joshua Barss Donham, Apr 21, 2024. April is such a wonderful time of year with the broom crowberry and Mayflowers in bloom, the spring peepers calling, and migrant birds returning from the south (should see Yellow-rumped Warblers, Palm warblers, … Continue reading

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Staying on the trail protects ground-nesting Dark-eyed Junco 18Apr2024

This cutie is a juvenile Dark-eyed Junco – you can help ensure they grow into an adult by staying on trails when you’re hiking in the Backlands & other wilderness areas. How does keeping your feet (& your pet’s feet) … Continue reading

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Ground-Nesting Birds 2024: American Woodcock 1Apr2024

This funny little feathered friend would like to thank you for sticking to the trails while they’re nesting – contrary to what we often think about birds, the American Woodcock makes its nests right on the ground. Woodcocks are secretive … Continue reading

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Ground-Nesting Birds 2024: Dark Eyed Junco 1Apr 2024

Its nesting season for the Dark-eyed Junco & you can help… With nests at ground level rather than in trees, Dark-eyed Juncos could really use a bit of cooperation from us 2-legged visitors to the wilderness – from March 20th … Continue reading

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Ground-Nesting Birds 2024: Intro 1Apr2024

INTRO (Apr 1, 2024) Spring is in the air… and underfoot That’s right, we said “underfoot” and we’re not talking about a budding crocus… Over the next few months, we will be sharing profiles of four ground-nesting bird species found … Continue reading

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A misty walk at East Pine Island Pond on Canada Day 2023

Photos by Joshua Barss Donham and Rosa Barss Donham at East Pine Island Pond in the Purcells Cove Backlands on Canada Day

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A Retrospective of Winter Birding in the Backlands

Joshua Barss Donham  produced a 9 minute YouTube video highlighting some of his winter birding sights in the Backlands over the winter of  2022/2023. It features some really beautiful Backlands scenery, in the air, on trees, on the water and … Continue reading

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