Canada Jays are a much-talked about survivor that plays by the rules of the bush and have become legendary in 🇨🇦folklore. They are always being up to something – even if it means getting the best of us every now and then. Have a listen to our latest 'Birds ofAlberta' podcast. linktr.ee/birdsofalberta

Our "Birds of Alberta" podcast streaming data is quite interesting. After hitting a milestone this week, our top 5 episodes: #1 Red-winged Blackbird #2 Great Blue Heron #3 Yellow Warbler #4 Osprey #5 Common Loon Try as I might - I don't see any pattern. linktr.ee/birdsofalberta

Up here in the north we only have hummers of past summer to enjoy. This male Calliope Hummer from this past June #YYC was a memorable, showboat standout!

At this time of year, Moose have grown into the icons they are meant to be.

This Red Fox from Prince Albert NP🇨🇦 and this Gray Zorro from Torres del Paines NP🇨🇱 both had facial injuries. The injuries may have contributed to the foxes being more assertive around visitors than otherwise. Both seemed healthy and the Canadian fox has been seen for 4 yrs and counting.

Like the Red Fox of NA, the Gray Zorro can be quick to take up mooching and begging from visitors to parks. They associate and scavenge from larger predators (in SA Pumas) so are quick to take up this bad habit when humans offer them treats.

Gray Zorro is such a better name than Argentinian Grey Fox. They are the carrier of the fine fox brand in South America.

If American Tree Sparrows migrated any earlier, they would no doubt be lost in the songbird crowd. But they are coming through right now, mostly in rural areas favouring abandoned homesteads caragana rows. #Alberta#Birds

Like the wayfaring Anna's Hummingbird, Alberta's nesting hummers (Calliope, Rufous and Ruby-throated) also discover August blooms after nesting. But unlike the Anna's these use the food sources as migratory pit stops and never seem to over extend their visits.

So now, to counteract territorial planting instinct, I remove artificial feeders at the same time the last of the flowers wilt. This year, I last saw my neighbourhood Anna's on Sept 23rd. Hopefully it shot off to the south / west where it might find the appropriate overwintering conditions.