Birds of Fortune

144 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Fortune (Newfoundland and Labrador) since 2010, across 3,332 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Dark-eyed Junco, American Goldfinch and American Robin.

Fortune is backyard-bird country: 74% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. Dark-eyed Junco, American Goldfinch, American Robin and House Sparrow make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.

10 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Sharp-shinned Hawk, Hen Harrier and Merlin. A hawk that hunts feeder birds is among them, so set feeders about 10 feet from shrubs: close enough for cover, far enough that a cat can't ambush from it.

Records peak in June and are lowest in March — about 7.9 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.

Grand Bank, 4 mi to the north-east, has more species on record (155 against 144).

Daylight runs from 15 h 54 min at midsummer to 8 h 30 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:27 AM in mid-April and 5:17 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 Goldfinch

  Nyjer (thistle) · Hulled sunflower chips · Black-oil sunflower

• American Robin

  Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets

• House Sparrow

  Millet · Cracked corn

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts

• Blue Jay

  Peanuts in the shell · Black-oil sunflower · Suet

• Grand Bank4 mi north-east · 155 species
• Harbour Breton29 mi north · 67 species
• Burin30 mi east · 114 species
• Marystown33 mi east · 114 species
• St. Alban's55 mi north · 90 species
• Placentia88 mi east · 161 species