Birds of Beaumont

203 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Beaumont (Alberta) since 2010, across 14,980 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Black-billed Magpie, Canada Goose and Black-capped Chickadee.

The records split between backyard birds (57%) and waterbirds (38%), so a feeder in Beaumont sees the familiar Black-billed Magpie, Black-capped Chickadee and Red-winged Blackbird, while Canada Goose and others turn up on nearby water.

19 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Red-tailed Hawk and Swainson's Hawk.

Records peak in May and are lowest in January — about 19.2 times as many in the busiest month. Part of that is birds (migrants and breeding arrivals), part is people: more birders are out in good weather, so treat the curve as activity, not a census.

Devon, 13 mi to the west, has more species on record (225 against 203). Birds logged far more often around Beaumont than there include Rock Pigeon, Killdeer, Red-necked Grebe and American Wigeon.

At about 2,349 ft above sea level, Beaumont sits higher than most places in Alberta. Spring arrives a little later with height, and feeders matter more in cold snaps — keep a supply of high-fat food going through late winter and early spring.

Daylight runs from 17 h 0 min at midsummer to 7 h 30 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:36 AM in mid-April and 5:04 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.

• Black-billed Magpie

  Suet · Peanuts · Cracked corn

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts

• Red-winged Blackbird

  Cracked corn · Millet · Sunflower

• American Crow

  Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps

• House Sparrow

  Millet · Cracked corn

• American Robin

  Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets

• Devon13 mi west · 225 species
• Calmar17 mi west · 142 species
• Millet18 mi south · 149 species
• Ardrossan18 mi north-east · 233 species
• Fort Saskatchewan25 mi north · 240 species
• Wetaskiwin27 mi south · 161 species