Chipping Sparrow / Spizella passerina

The day started very early for us on 3 June 2016, as a few regulars had been invited to visit the Square Butte Ranch for the very first time, to do a Bio-blitz. We had to be at the meeting place for 7:00 am for a day of exploration SW of Calgary. The sun was shining all day and the temperature was around 24C or 25C.

Our leader creates a highly detailed list of all the plants, birds, insects, fungi, lichen, mosses that were seen during the few hours we were there. Can’t forget to include wildlife seen – one Red Squirrel : ) This list is sent to the person who invited us there as well as to the participants. This was a new place for us to explore, though over the years, we had been to several other acreages not too far away. We strolled over grassy meadows with ponds, and through forest covered in deep, soft mosses. Everywhere was a carpet of Dandelions in bloom and in seed.

A few bird species were seen, including a Belted Kingfisher which landed at the top of a very tall coniferous tree, looking rather out of place so high up. Also this little Chipping Sparrow, seen way off in the distance.

"A crisp, pretty sparrow whose bright rufous cap both provides a splash of color and makes adults fairly easy to identify. Chipping Sparrows are common across North America wherever trees are interspersed with grassy openings. Their loud, trilling songs are one of the most common sounds of spring woodlands and suburbs." From AllAboutBirds.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chipping_Sparrow/id

List of birds seen, compiled by our leader:

Canada Goose-4 ad/10 juv
Mallard-1 f/1 juv
Common Merganser-1 m
Swainson’s Hawk-1
Red-tailed Hawk-1
Killdeer-1
Spotted Sandpiper-1
Great Gray Owl-reported by residents
Belted Kingfisher-1
Pileated Woodpecker, evidenced by extraction of Carpenter Ants
Gray Jay-2
Common Raven-2
Tree Swallow-4
Cliff Swallow-100+
Barn Swallow-6
Boreal Chickadee-1
Red-breasted Nuthatch-2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet-2
Winter Wren-1
Mountain Bluebird-8
American Robin-3
Tennessee Warbler-4
Chipping Sparrow-2
Clay-colored Sparrow-5
Savannah Sparrow-2
Song Sparrow-1
Brown-headed Cowbird-4
American Goldfinch-1 m

“In the 1990’s, developers started transforming 480 acres of rangeland in the Foothills of the Rockies into a recreational ranch property operated as a bare land condominium. Architectural guidelines ensured that all buildings were designed in a rustic, western style featuring log and timber structures with large front porches, wrap around decks and hitching posts. The vision was one of owners being able to enjoy the fun and excitement of a western ranch living without the headaches.”

www.squarebutteranches.com/