Marshnotes - Spring 2013 - British Columbia Waterfowl Society

Oct 5, 2026

Marshnotes (Spring 2013) from the British Columbia Waterfowl Society presents sanctuary operations and community information, including circulation, publication frequency, submission instructions, issue deadlines, and staff and executive contacts. It also shares visitor-focused wildlife accounts, such as “A Bird Murder,” and provides educational content on winter roosting ecology, focusing on Northern Saw-whet Owls. The newsletter highlights visitor impacts, conservation awareness, admission details, and references supporting observed behavior and species knowledge.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLifestyle

FormatPDF

Pages24

Reading Time37 min

AccessFree to download

Marshnotes: Spring 2013

A Bird Murder

Winter Roosts of the Northern Saw-whet Owl

Contents and Page Listing

® BRITISH COLUMBIA WATERFOWL SOCIETY SPRING 2013 BRITISH COLUMBIA WATERFOWL SOCIETY Managers ofthe George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary Since 1963 -dedicated to the conservation and study of migratory waterfowl- Marshnotes: Editor: Kathleen Fry The contents of Marshnotes may not be reprinted without written permission of the Editor. Circulation: 2,400 . Published four times a year. The British Columbia Waterfowl Society, 5191 Robertson Road, Delta, British Columbia V4K 3N2 Telephone: 604 946 6980 Facsimile: 604 946 6982 Website: [www.reifelbirdsanctuary.com](www.reifelbirdsanctuary.com) Email: [bcws@reifelbirdsanctuary.com](bcws@reifelbirdsanctuary.com) Submissions, articles, photographs and letters for publication may be sent to the above address marked for attention of Marshnotes Editor. Please include your telephone number and the Editor will contact you. DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT ISSUE OF MARSHNOTES JULY 15th, 2013 Executive: President: Jack Bates Vice-President: George C. Reifel Treasurer: James A. Morrison Secretary: Barney W. Reifel Directors: Jack Bates John H. Bowles F. Wayne Diakow Hugh A. Magee James A. Morrison Gerald S. Oyen Douglas B. Ransome Barney W. Reifel George C. Reifel Kenneth I. Thompson Dennis Zentner Committee Chairs: Building/ Grounds: Barney W. Reifel Community Relations: George C. Reifel Interpretation/Education: F. Wayne Diakow Outreach: George C. Reifel Administrator: Robert Butler Staff: Sanctuary Manager: Kathleen Fry Gift Shop Manager: Varri Raffan Reception: Laura Jordison Biologist: Shanna Fredericks Maintenance: David McClue Hours of Operation: 9:00 [a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Every day. The](a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Every day. The) Sanctuary is wheelchair accessible. Admission: Members: Free Non-Members: Adults: $5 Children (2-14 yrs) and Seniors (60yrs +): $3 School Groups: Special discounts; Pre-booking required. About Our Covers Front Cover: Sandhill Crane and Egg on the 2013 Nest © Jim Martin Back Cover: Short-eared Owl Hovering Over the Marsh © Jim Martin Marshnotes, Snow Goose Festival and the Snow Goose logo are all registered trademarks ofthe British Columbia Waterfowl Society. A Bird Murder Louise and I arrived at the west dyke at 09:59 on March 29th, Good Friday, to check up on two American Bitterns spotted earlier in the week. We were disappointed that only one Bittern was hunting that day. It accurately speared two minnows in about 10 minutes and then it moved eastward towards higher reeds. It moved stealthily towards the reeds with its eyes looking higher than its normal fishing posture. Its head darted toward the reedsand when it turned towards us it had a Marsh Wren firmly in its bill. The Marsh Wren objected strenuously, squawking and beating its wings attempting to escape. The Bittern looked puzzled for a minute and then decided to drown the little Wren. The first dip in the water didn’t work so it tried again, this time more successfully. By 10:15 the Wren had disappeared down the throat of the Bittern. The Bittern then slowly marched out through the reeds and disappeared. Bird watchers are warned to be vigilant and report any suspicious Bittern behavior to the Manager. Text and photo: Glen Darou Glen trained as an accountant and is one of our regular Sanctuary birders, although he brings a big lens with him. Editor’s Note: For those who are amazed that an American Bittern would eat a Wren, in the southern United States, Finches and Buntings are in the list of incidental foods for this species, and biologists in the Prairies witnessed a Bittern eating a Sora Rail. Reference: American Bittern Depredates Sora. Jane E. Austen & Michael Vslivinski, 2000. Prairie Naturalist 32(1): 59-60. Contents Page 3 A Bird Murder Glen Darou 4 Winter Roosts ofthe Saw-Whet Owl Shanna Fredericks 6 Bob Harris and the Sanctuary’s Early Years Kathleen Fry 6 Volunteer Corner * 1nsert 1963-20

FAQs

What is the submission process for Marshnotes in the Spring 2013 issue?

Submissions, articles, photographs, and letters may be sent to the listed Marshnotes Editor address marked for the editor’s attention, and the submission should include a telephone number for follow-up.

When is the deadline for the next Marshnotes issue in 2013?

The deadline for the next issue is July 15th, 2013.

Why can watching Northern Saw-whet Owls disturb the sanctuary site?

The newsletter explains that attention often leads to high site disturbance, including habitat degradation where viewing areas are flattened and birds are disturbed by over-enthusiastic people.

Oct 5, 2026

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