International Migratory Bird Day took flight in Labrador West on May 8.
Bird watchers from Labrador West and Happy Valley-Goose Bay gathered at the Labrador City Macdonald's in the early morning to plan areas they would cover around Labrador West and count different species of birds.
According Gordon Parsons, the leader of a loose group of bird watchers from Labrador West, the numbers and conditions of birds are read annually and entered into a database to study how different things, such as weather, affect birds and their migration patterns.
First celebrated in 1993, the IMBD website states that it is meant to educate people about migratory birds, their migrations, and their conservation, and the day is held across the Western Hemisphere year-round depending on the time when migratory birds pass through different areas.
"For me, it's (about) the enjoyment of being outdoors and the communication with nature," stated Parsons. "Also, to know that, in a way, I'm doing my part to get a handle on how the environment is affecting birds, and birds are a bellwether of how things go with regards to the environment. Birds in general warn of changes in the environment and some of them are not good."
"We're looking with a very worried eye towards the Gulf of Mexico now because of the gas spill down there," he added. "A lot of our birds pass through over winter in that area. It's possible if this disaster gets way out of hand, there'll be implications of that in the next four or five years in Labrador West."
Despite damage done by mining and a couple of minor oil spills on Little Wabush, Parsons thinks that the bird species are relatively stable in Labrador West, with some species doing quite well in the area compared to other parts of North America.
He said that some of they typical birds they see are ducks and song birds, but they occasionally get a rare bird such as the cackling goose they saw last year.
The grey-cheeked thrush which is occasionally seen in the area, he added, is on the danger list right now which shows how important conservation is world-wide.
"When we are aware of a decline in the numbers of birds, the next step is to find out why they're declining and take steps to prevent that," said Parsons.
For example, he recalled, the bald eagle used to be in danger due to pesticide use, and now that DDT has been eliminated, the specie has made great strides.
This time around, explained Parsons, the bird watchers didn't get a high count at 42 sighted species, but they did get a good one spotting crossbills, wax-wings, an owl, and ospreys.
At the end of the day, he hopes that the bird watchers got some enjoyment and a few stories to tell, as well as some good numbers for the database that can be used by researchers and scientists for years to come.
Canada Goose 233
American Wigeon 4
American Black Duck 35
Mallard 8
Northern Pintail 42
Green-winged Teal 68
Greater Scaup 66
Bufflehead 2
Common Goldeneye 16
Common Merganser 17
Spruce Grouse 1
Osprey 3
Bald Eagle 1
Northern Harrier 1
Red-tailed Hawk 4
Rough-legged Hawk 1
Merlin 1
Killdeer 2
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Wilson's Snipe 5
Herring Gull 263
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Glaucous Gull 2
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Mourning Dove 2
Boreal Owl 1
Northern Shrike 2
Gray Jay 2
Common Raven 27
Golden-crowned Kinglet 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 20
American Robin 81
European Starling 1
Tennessee Warbler 3
Nashville Warbler 2
Fox Sparrow 40
White-throated Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco 282
Pine Grosbeak 6
Purple Finch 3
White-winged Crossbill 2
Common Redpoll 5
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