Emma Reader-Lee's Baillie Birdathon 2014

Emma Reader-Lee and her mother, Cathy Reader went out together in May to do their Baillie Birdathon day in support of RPBO.

At 14 years of age, Emma is one of our younger local bird enthusiasts. She has the good fortune that both of her parents are enthusiastic birders. Apparently she has always had a keen interest in the natural world. She began recording her birding observations at age 8 when her parents got her Volume 1 of the “Pacific North-west Birding for Children” colouring book by Bob Cockerel. As a result she continues to have a soft spot for ducks. Both Emma and her sister Rebecca began volunteering with RPBO in the last couple of years, particularly coming out to Pedder Bay to assist with Migration banding. At that point their interest in birds really surged. They are so enthusiastic and helpful and it’s pretty incredible that they are ready to get up before dawn to help us!

  

Emma and Cathy began their day at their home in the North Highlands, then went on to Todd Creek Flats, Viaduct Flats, Panama Flats, Esquimalt Lagoon and Royal Roads (missing the Purple Martins by a few days). They spent time looking for the Hooded Oriole in Metchosin to no avail, and continued on to the Langford Tim Horton’s (no Golden Eagle, but there was some badly-needed coffee and chicken-noodle soup), then to Goldstream Provincial Park and back home to rejuvenate and catch their reliable feeder birds, many of which they had missed earlier. After that they went up the Saanich Peninsula to Martinale Flats, Island View Beach, the Sidney waterfront, the Victoria Airport, Pat Bay and then back to the Highlands for a bit of owling. Father Warren and Rebecca (who had already Baillie “Birdathoned” in the Okanagan) joined them in Sidney. Cathy and Emma apparently wished they had someone along who was better at birding by ear but they had a wonderful day and learned a lot through their experience.

When I asked Emma to tell me about her Baillie Day, this is what she sent me:

We saw a total of 76 species. We started at around 4:30 am. Our first bird was an American Robin. Some highlights were:

·       A Sora at dawn (identified by sound at Todd Creek Flats) – we couldn't figure out what it was for a while

·      5 species of swallows

·      Sky Larks at dusk at the airport

·      Begging cries of baby Barred Owls (we got really creeped out, as we didn't know what they were at first. We had to ask someone)

We ended at around 10:30 pm, so it was a long day of birding! It was really fun though!