Birds of Shad Bay

203 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Shad Bay (Nova Scotia) since 2010, across 14,633 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are American Herring Gull, American Crow and Song Sparrow.

The records split between backyard birds (58%) and waterbirds (37%), so a feeder in Shad Bay sees the familiar American Crow, Song Sparrow and Black-capped Chickadee, while American Herring Gull and others turn up on nearby water.

14 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Bald Eagle, Osprey and Turkey Vulture.

Records peak in May and are lowest in October — about 3.6 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.

Harrietsfield, 8 mi to the north-east, has more species on record (288 against 203). Birds logged far more often around Shad Bay than there include Common Pheasant, Harlequin Duck, Bufflehead and Willet.

Daylight runs from 15 h 33 min at midsummer to 8 h 49 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:32 AM in mid-April and 5:29 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 Robin

  Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets

• Blue Jay

  Peanuts in the shell · Black-oil sunflower · Suet

• Dark-eyed Junco

  White proso millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn

• Harrietsfield8 mi north-east · 288 species
• Beechville9 mi north-east · 282 species
• Timberlea10 mi north · 238 species
• Spryfield10 mi north-east · 307 species
• Hubley11 mi north · 207 species
• Herring Cove11 mi east · 339 species