Birds of River John

219 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of River John (Nova Scotia) since 2010, across 26,977 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are American Crow, Song Sparrow and Black-capped Chickadee.

River John is backyard-bird country: 64% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. American Crow, Song Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee and American Goldfinch make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.

17 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Bald Eagle and Hen Harrier.

Records peak in May and are lowest in February — about 11.3 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.

Pictou, 17 mi to the east, has more species on record (259 against 219). Birds logged far more often around River John than there include Bobolink, Hen Harrier and Wilson's Snipe.

Daylight runs from 15 h 43 min at midsummer to 8 h 40 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:28 AM in mid-April and 5:21 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

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

• American Crow

  Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps

• Song Sparrow

  Millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts

• American Goldfinch

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

• European Starling

  Suet · Cracked corn

• American Robin

  Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets

• Pictou17 mi east · 259 species
• Westville20 mi south-east · 246 species
• Trenton22 mi south-east · 254 species
• Truro28 mi south · 228 species
• Stratford32 mi north · 221 species
• Cornwall34 mi north · 215 species