international day for biodiversity
(posted by markefrank)
(Image of this blackburnian warbler found here.)
Just a quick post on this day of celebrating biodiversity, even though it is almost over.
Like any nature geek will gladly tell you, spring is probably the most exciting time of year in temperate ecosystems. Everyday something new is showing up, and you are always aching to get outside and see what it will be.
The added bonus of being a nature-nut is that even rainy days are exciting. While everyone else around you is a little grumpy at feeling soggy and chilled-to-the-bone, the nature geek is giddy with thoughts of “what the storm brought in.”
Well, on Wednesday of this week, we had a nice morning of rain and wind. The skies were dark and cloudy, and the wind was blustery in just the right way. I went for a run at noon just as the storm was passing, and the sun was making its way out from behind the clouds.
And as usual, I was stunned at what the wind and rain had blown in.
The Park Jeanne-Mance was literally dripping with warbler song that is typically nowhere to be found in this neighbourhood. Black-and-white warbler (Paruline noir et blanc), tennessee warbler (Paruline obscure), blackburnian warbler (Paruline à gorge orangée), and a blue-headed vireo (Vireo à tête bleue) all within 20 metres of each other (to name but a few).
(Image of this black-and-white warbler found here.)
(Image of this tennesse warbler found here.)
The Park Jeanne-Mance isn’t great for birds, typically, especially when compared to what you can find on the mountain. But, a good storm will always help push the next wave of migration through.
I have a feeling that if you check on some of the Québec birding sites (this is the best one I know of), you’ll find that Wednesday and Thursday were good days for bringing in birds.
Of course, these birds are just passing through on their way to their breeding grounds north of us. But still it is great to hear such beautiful critters singing in your city.
Just another reminder that our cities are important for wildlife, even if we forget this. A city with poorly designed green spaces (i.e., not a lot of green space, or not a lot of connections and corridors between these spaces, and the countryside that surrounds the city) can act as an insurmountable barrier to migrating birds, bats, and other animals.
On another note, I have never heard any of these species in Mile-End, not even on the rainest, most migration prone day of the year.
We need to change that!
(Image of this blue-head vireo found here.)
