Update on Spring Migration !

Spring bird migration is peaking and luckily some parks in the region have remained accessible, allowing me to witness a variety of wonderful birds passing through. Most of these birds are stopping here to refuel on their northern bound migration to breed and raise young. One of the areas I've been spending lots of time at is Iona Beach Regional Park. This park hosts a variety of ecosystems including tidal flats, marsh, river estuary, and deciduous woodland. Numerous warbler species, with beautifully coloured plumage, that is often partly or fully yellow, can be found at this time of the year. Yellow-rumped Warblers arrive early in April and are the more common species. There are two subspecies of Yellow-rumped Warblers, the Myrtles of the East and Audubon's of the West. Although the Myrtles are more common in the East, it isn't uncommon to find them in the West. The Audubon's subspecies is distinct as it has a bright yellow throat that the Myrtles lack. Along with warblers, many other songbirds are singing their hearts out in hope of attracting a mate. Some of the more vocal birds at the moment include Marsh Wrens, Red-winged  Blackbirds, Spotted Towhees, Song Sparrows, American Robins as well as the locally uncommon Yellow-headed Blackbird. Purple Martins, a large member of the swallow family, are arriving back to claim their nest boxes on the Fraser River. Breeding populations of these long distant migrants had once dropped to very low numbers in southern British Columbia. Thanks to conservation efforts, including the creation of nesting boxes, there has been a steady recovery of the local breeding population. Also benefiting from nesting boxes are Tree swallows. These brightly coloured birds continue to collect materials for their nest boxes while displaying their acrobatic flight as they pursue flying insects. Shorebirds, including Dunlin, are stopping to refuel on the food rich tidal flats of the Fraser River Delta, in flocks of thousands. Many of these birds will migrate to Alaska and northern Canada to breed with some species breeding above the Arctic circle. In high latitudes,  they can take advantage of the abundant food and longer days in which to forage.
In the city, Cherry blossoms are now losing their petals, carpeting streets and sidewalks with pink snow!