Stanley Park Explorer

Search     About the Site         Home

Month View <

Field Notes

BACK

March 9

Previous  |  Next

Places to Visit and Explore Nature in Stanley Park Ecosystem Guides: Freshwater Marsh Stanley Park Visitor Map: with Park Features, Trails, and Destinations Lost Lagoon

Red-winged Blackbird Red-winged blackbirds from the north and interior areas of the province winter in the lower mainland with the largest numbers gathering in the Fraser Estuary. Local birds likely join these winter residents as Redwings are absent from Stanley Park for much of the winter. The first male red-winged blackbirds return to Lost Lagoon (and Beaver Lake) around early to mid February. Females tend to arrive later, or, are simply far more quiet, and less conspicuous than the males. The return of the first male red-winged blackbirds is announced by their distinctive songs and calls. These are typically given in the early morning. Its at this time that I've noticed small numbers of male birds calling from the tops of tall, leafless deciduous trees that border Lost Lagoon along the foot of Chilco Street. It almost seems as if the males are practicing, and waiting, to see if its time to return to the marshes deeper in the park. It won't be long before their voices become a feature of the willow thickets around Lost Lagoon and the heart of the cattail marsh. The young male red-winged blackbird in the photograph has occupied, at least temporarily, a patch of cattails along the Causeway section of Lost Lagoon. Young males can be recognized by the rust brown edging of the feathers and the male Redwings signature red epaulets. I wondered if this young male arrived early to 'practice' his song skills and sharpen his mettle before the older, more experienced males return to claim and defend breeding territories in the marsh. The partitioning of the marsh by the dominant males into discrete territories will begin, in earnest, in a few weeks. Its still early and the marsh is only, just, starting to come to life. Insect and other invertebrate life that will sustain the next generation of red-winged blackbirds has not yet appeared in any large numbers.       Field Guide Entry: Red-winged Blackbird

Stanley Park Explorer http://www.stanleyparkexplorer.ca Produced by Peter Woods naturalist@stanleyparkexplorer.ca           Revised: May 20, 2011