White-bearded Manakin snapping his wings

The Manakins are a fascinating family of birds. They often have an interesting display where they males group in an area to dance for the females. This is called a lek. When White-bearded Manakin are in an area of the rainforest, you often hear a snapping sound. If you follow that sound you will see that it is produced by the males who snap their wings in an effort to impress the females.

White-bearded Manakin, Manacus manacus

White-bearded Manakin, Manacus manacus

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Belted Kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon

While on Vancouver Island in the Tofino area, I would take my morning cofee and sit by the sea, watching the world come awake. Its a tough job but I managed it.

A few morning I would witness two Belted Kingfishers chasing each other about. I think it was a territory thing between two males. I finally roused myself to take the image above,

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Displaying male Blue-Black Grassquit

Although it is a very small bird, the Blue Black Grassquit has a big display for the plain brown female. Heleaps up from a favored perch and flutters straight back down, calling the whole time.

This species is part of the very large bunting family which includes familiar North American species like the Song Sparrow. It is found from Mexico down through all of the South American countries.

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Trumpeting Sandhill Cranes

This is the time of year when our local pairs of Sandhill Cranes return to their territory and I like to make an early morning visit in the hope of seeing them. I often hear them as well, a wonderful sound.

This pair was in the company of another bird, likely its offspring from last year. They will likely drive it off shortly as is this species habit.

I was able to make a few video clips of this pair which you can see at the following link:

Sandhill Cranes

I am hoping to film their mating display which is wonderful to watch.

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It has been a very hard winter here in Ontario with snow and cold weather coming early and staying late. However now that it has finally broken, I know that I can look forward to my favorite time. The next six weeks will see the migrants coming through. One of the leaders of that wave is the Red-winged Blackbird. The males arrive first, chase each other about, sing and look for females. Hmm, sounds like Friday night at the local pub.

Hooray!!

Over twenty years ago, I visited the Greater Prairie Chicken lek in Attwater, Texas.As I watched their displays, subtle, intricate,I realized something very fundamental . This was another nation, one which had developed its own set of rules over hundreds of thousands of years, and thousands of generations.And while I was lucky to catch a glimpse into this society, I was never going to fully understand it.

I was reminded of this recently when I was able to visit one of the Sharp-tailed Grouse leks which is situated on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. Since the car ferry doesn’t operate this early in the year, getting to Manitoulin Island from my home in southern Ontario involves a seven hour drive around Lake Huron, picking up the Trans Canada highway at Sudbury, to reach the island itself. It is, however, a beautiful route at any time of the year, the scene of thousands of blue lakes and rock formations spread out amongst a vast stretch of forest.

The display area is located on the Gore Bay airport. It has been known of for over ten years and its had the good fortune to be looked out for by some dedicated local volunteers, as well as The Friends of Misery Bay. Each year an excellent blind is set up for visitors.

Manitoulin Island has many other attractions for the photographer and nature lover. Raptors are well represented, including Rough legged Hawk, Short-eared Owl, Bald Eagle and Osprey. Sandhill Cranes are common. Fox and Coyote are joined by the occasional Timber Wolf. White Tailed Deer are very common, perhaps even a problem. The area also has a couple of accessible waterfalls, High Falls and the Bridal Veil.

Accommodations are close by and reasonable, and they are used to catering to birders. I stayed at Gordon’s Lodge in Gore Bay, 10 minutes from the airport.The best time to visit for the Sharp Tails is April and May.You will find a slideshow here.

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