Greater Victoria birdwatchers flock to Saanich wetland to eye rare cranes
Victoria birdwatchers are flocking to Panama Flats after a pair of Sandhill cranes swooped in for a stopover.
The pair of rare cranes have been spotted feeding in the long grass of the Saanich wetland. Local bird experts say it is not uncommon for Sandhill cranes to migrate over southern Vancouver Island, but it is uncommon for them to land in the region.
“These guys are late and we’re quite surprised to see Sandhills still moving through the area,” said Rock Point Bird Observatory’s Ann Nightingale. “People may remember last fall Sandhill cranes were the big talk of the town because a couple dozen of them were in Metchosin, held up because of the fires (in the B.C. interior) and here we are lucky again to have Sandhill cranes here in Saanich.”
Nightingale says Sandhill cranes are a species that are quite common in Northern B.C., the Okanagan and in areas as far east as Saskatchewan. She says the birds are also more common on Northern Vancouver Island due to a small breeding colony located there.
“We don’t typically get a good look at them here, usually they’re just flying over our heads,” said Nightingale. “It is a treat for local birders because fall is usually the best time to see Sandhill cranes in the area (rather) than in the spring, so if they stick around like these two have it gives the birders a chance to get them on their 'year list.'”
The annual migration of the Sandhill crane takes it from as far north as the Yukon and Northern B.C to the southeastern United States. Nightingale says there may be a good reason why this pair has chosen to roost in Panama Flats on their flight north.
“What often happens is the non-breeders may not get all the way to the breeding grounds, so maybe these guys aren’t breeding this year,” said Nightingale. “They’re still moving north, but not in the same kind of hurry that a mated pair that intend to breed might be.”
Nightingale says it is unclear if the two cranes are a mated pair because it's common for Sandhill cranes to migrate in twos.
“You get birds travelling together, the old safety in numbers thing. They may be from the same flock and got separated from the main group or they could be siblings,” said Nightingale. “I don’t think they are off course. Because we have had such strange weather this spring we have seen a lot of birds in June that are not normally here in June.”
Nightingale says Panama Flats in Saanich has been hopping with rare birds in the past number of weeks. She says part of the reason for the sightings is the wetland still has water, which makes it a refuge for birds when they are migrating through the region.
“We see a turnover in birds here as they pass through,” said Nightingale. “It's a great feeding spot and a great resting spot for them.”
The pair of Sandhill cranes have been feeding in the long grass of Panama Flats for a few days and it is unlikely they will stay for much longer. Nightingale expects them to continue on their flight north in the next few days.
“They’re a bird that you can’t count on seeing and these are the first Sandhill cranes that have stuck around long enough that people can actually go to where the cranes are to try to get some good photos of them,” said Nightingale.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.