Birds of Ladysmith

234 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Ladysmith (British Columbia) since 2010, across 124,079 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Dark-eyed Junco, American Robin and Spotted Towhee.

Ladysmith is backyard-bird country: 70% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. Dark-eyed Junco, American Robin, Spotted Towhee and Anna's Hummingbird make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.

20 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture and Red-tailed Hawk.

Records peak in April and are lowest in August — about 3.3 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.

Saltair, 4 mi to the south-east, has fewer species on record (218 against 234). Birds logged far more often around Ladysmith than there include American Wigeon, Eurasian Teal, Northern Pintail and Northern Shoveler.

Daylight runs from 16 h 12 min at midsummer to 8 h 14 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:25 AM in mid-April and 5:10 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

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

• Dark-eyed Junco

  White proso millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn

• American Robin

  Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets

• Spotted Towhee

  Millet · Sunflower chips

• Anna's Hummingbird

  Sugar water: 1 part sugar to 4 parts water

• European Starling

  Suet · Cracked corn

• American Crow

  Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps

• Saltair4 mi south-east · 218 species
• Cassidy5 mi north-west · 257 species
• Chemainus7 mi south-east · 222 species
• Cedar9 mi north · 274 species
• Crofton11 mi south-east · 248 species
• Gabriola13 mi north · 287 species