Quebec’s emblematic bird is the Snowy Owl. A beautiful bird.
But we, in Dunany, do not have one even if our area dozens of species are found. So I figured we should have one and that you, my faithful readers, should select it. So I asked our ornithologist in chief Sylvie Robert to draw a short list. Timing was good as on Sunday May 17 she participated in Quebec’s Grand Défi Oiseaux. On that day, she and her partner Gilles Laperrière identified no less than 90 species of bird in the Dunany area.
So here are her candidates: Pine Warbler (top left), Red-breasted Nuthatch (top right) , the Black-throated Blue Warbler (bottom left), Hermit Thrush (bottom right). Why? What were her criteria? These birds have a more prominent presence in our area than others. That is because they are especially appreciative of our mixed forests: conifers and leafy trees.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0X3A65_F5q4/VV-pBdn6NzI/AAAAAAAALiQ/22Ck9-ZMucg/s144-c-o/Oiseaux%252520de%252520Dunany%2525202015.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116669546391099247746/20150522#6151821458608371506″ caption=”Oiseaux de Dunany 2015.jpg” type=”image” alt=”Oiseaux de Dunany 2015.jpg” ]
Here is a bit more information about each bird:
Pine Warbler: This bird nests in the giant pine trees that so represent Dunany. A bird that is quite rare elsewhere in Quebec, it is pretty common in Dunany.
Red-breasted Nuthatch: A favorite of our bird feeders, this bird can even be taught to eat in your hand.
Black-throated Blue Warbler: One of our most beautiful birds, anybody who has the opportunity to see it will appreciate its beauty. A small bird with a big voice. Its song can be heard all over Dunany from May to August.
Hermit Thrush: How can anybody resists the song of the Hermit Thrush. A beautiful fluting song that accompanies us all summer long.
Now, to vote click on Comments and let us known of your choice. You can also write in a bird not identified in this photo montage. Voting will end June 7. Dunany’s emblematic bird will be announced shortly thereafter.
I vote for the Pine Warbler as when I think of Dunany I always think of the big pines … on my point and the one that used to be on the 3rd hole (it was a pine wasn’t it?).
What a lovely idea, Jacques.
They are all so beautiful and unique.
The fact that it is rare elsewhere in Quebec and calls Dunany ‘home’, I suggest the pine warbler.
Thanks, Jacques.
Wendy xxx
I vote for the LOON
The tree on the third was in fact a rare species of omnivorous spruce noted for its appetite for golf balls.
I vote for the beautiful Pine Warbler!
Great idea!
I vote for the Pine Warbler.
The pine warbler.
The Hermit Thrush gets my vote . It has been our constants companion at the cottage since the thirties and has the most beautiful song of any.
Great idea Jacques. I vote for the Pine Wabler.
I meant Pine Warbler. (Senior Moment)
Because of its beauty I would go with the Black throated blue warbler:
http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-throated-blue-warbler
However, even if it is not as beautiful, the pine warbler is cute:
http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/pine-warbler
I am fine with either one.
I love the sound of the Hermit thrush! Anyone one ofmthe, would be a good emblem for Dunany! They love to turn up the volume when our chimes are ringing away….
I love the sound of the Hermit thrush! Anyone one of them would be a good emblem for Dunany! They love to turn up the volume when our chimes are ringing away….
I know it is trite but I vote for the loon.
Not so sure what happens on the other lakes but on Curran everyone is involved with the loons.
Blackie Chase
Loon for me. I loved hearing them in the mist. Very special. Love all the other choices too.
Love the sound of the Hermit Thrush…I hear it singing at the golf course, especially early evening.
the red breasted nuthatch is my favorite
I think they are all beautiful but if I have to choose one, then I go for the Pine Warbler. It has chosen Dunany as its special home like we have . It has great taste!
What a great idea!
My choice would be Hermit Thrush. Loons are also very present, but they are so common everywhere else that they wouldn’t seem distinctive to Dunany.
Pine Warbler gets my vote! But love the loons too!
red breasted nuthatch is my vote of the four; the most frequent visitors to my feeder.
Why are chickadees not included? they are such tough stalwarts in our Dunany winters and I would be happiest voting for them. Fun contest!
I’d love for you to post the sounds that the birds make. For a bit of a ‘bird’ novice, I know the sounds, but don’t know to associate them with the right birds (probably shouldn’t admit that) Just starting to re-hang traditional bird feeders. 🙂
I am not sure if this will work, but here is the song of the Hermit Thrush.
http://www.xeno-canto.org/sounds/uploaded/WOPIRNCCSX/XC179314-Hermit%20Thrush%20%28George%20Montgomery%20Bird%20Sanctuary-2014-05-18-10h09%29%20LS112743.mp3
Black-throated Blue Warbler:
http://www.xeno-canto.org/sounds/uploaded/CDTGHVBGZP/BTBW2010-5-4-3.mp3
Pine Warbler:
http://www.xeno-canto.org/sounds/uploaded/WOEAFQRMUD/XC135102-Dendroica%20pinus95-2.mp3
Although the pine warbler is very beautiful, we hear its tse-tse but we seldom spot it. Our choice is the red-breasted nuthatch because we often see them and they are easily identified running down our trees headfirst. Thanks to Sylvie and Gilles for giving us such a varied selection to choose from.
Nuthatch! A cute funny bird often upsidown!!!
White throated warbler is one of the most common and distinctive songs heard in Dunany. It gets my vote.
I vote vote for the hummingbird (Calibri)because they are magical!
I am not a birder so will write in a vote for what I know – the humming birds find their way back to Dunany every year. Interesting to watch their behaviour change. They used to hover, a few started perching, now all perch on the feeder. Even two at a time! Since this isn’t counting, I will throw in a word for our majestic Boyd Lake crane.
I am a nuthatch guy…I like seeing things from a different perspective (upside down!)
I think this is a great idea, Jacques. I have a favorite bird but do not know the name of it. The song it sings goes like this (on the piano)
C (next octave ?) C C C C B B
It reminds me of a child’s hymn – “Can a little child like me”. I hear this bird’s song around here on Black Lake all summer and it’s song is very distinctive. I have just listened to Sylvie’s Hermit Thrush and I don’t think that is it, so I am guessing it might be the Black-throated Blue Warbler. Maybe Sylvie can identify the song. Once you play it on the piano, you’ll recognize it.
Black capped chickadee….they tough it out all winter and the only bird that will eat out of my hand
Such a great idea Jacques…Bravo!
I love the Pine Warbler…
On sunny days while hanging clothes on the line, ( when I’m pretty sure that no one can hear me) I try and echo the Pine Warbler’s song . We sing to each other!
Sandra Laroche
I always see all four of these birds near my cottage every year, but I vote for the colourful pine warbler. Ellen
Oops – think the Boyd Lake crane might be a heron!
Jane, although I don’t play the piano, I’m guessing the bird you are refering to could be the White-throated Sparrow. Its song is very distinctive, and would be a good choice also for our emblem. The only reason I didn’t include it in the selection is because it is not more common in Dunany than elsewhere in Quebec. Here is the song:
http://www.xeno-canto.org/sounds/uploaded/KZYUWIRZVH/XC189064-SPARROW_Whi-thr%201x%20Luyben%20Mainline%20AR%20Liard%20H%20500m%20061514%201641.mp3
The Hermit Thrush.
Loon
Loon
The loon for me. It completes the stillness of the lake just by showing up when it wants to. Don’t know what to call its sound, but it makes us stop what we’re doing, especially as the sound travels into echoes down the lake. “Don’t disturb me, I’m thinking.”, it seems to say as it just sits there in its one spot and floats. It fits well with the cold, clear, clean water of our lakes.
Sylvie, that’s it! Thanks. The white-throated sparrow is the song that I hear at this end of Black Lake all the time. That is my vote.
The pileated woodpecker is my vote.
First a big thanks for setting this up.
Before I saw the list I was quick to vote for the White-throated Sparrow. I know it’s not unique to Dunany, but for over 20 years it’s been the voice of Dunany. Like Jane, we are also on Black Lake, but I’m sure it’s a common sound on the other lakes.
I was curious to know if there was any bird or birds whose presence in Dunany was particularly uncommon. Now I know it’s the Pine Warbler. Unfortunately, I have never identified one.
While I won’t be disappointed if the Pine Warbler wins, my personal choice from the list is the Red-breasted Nuthatch. They have been a constant presence every year, and it is so much fun to watch them work a tree.
A white-throated sparrow began to sing just as I sat down to vote!
I pick the red-breasted nuthatch.
Great idea to have our own emblematic bird! Thanks. I would have liked to vote for the Hermit Thrush because it has the most beautiful song of the 4 and we hear their songs even if we don’t have feeders. But then I also think that a bird which represents Dunany should probably be a permanent resident. The Hermit Thrush leaves later and arrives earlier but it still leaves. Does anyone know if the red-breasted nuthatch stays all winter?
I love the song of the Hermit Thrush, on a daily basis, so it gets my vote.
Yes, the Red-breasted nuthatch is a permanent resident, out of the 4, it is the only one that spends winted with us
Love them all from the chick-a-dee, dee, dee to the white throated sparrow to our lonely loon on Clear. Going with the Hermit Thrush for my vote whose song is haunting and one that I equate with Dunany. Could not identify song to bird until reading this post and listening to recording. Thank you Sylvie and others for your bird knowledge.
Great Idea!
My first choice would be a Great Blue Heron, as in the bird who makes his home on our pond (Boyd Lake). But since he’s not a candidate I would side with the ‘write in’ Loon.
If my vote will only count towards one of the four, then I would have to pick the Pine Warbler.
Rose-breasted nuthatch gets my vote; it comes to our feeder all year long.