Birds of Sydney Forks

213 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Sydney Forks (Nova Scotia) since 2010, across 18,833 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are American Crow, American Herring Gull and Mallard.

The records split between backyard birds (59%) and waterbirds (37%), so a feeder in Sydney Forks sees the familiar American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee and American Robin, while American Herring Gull and others turn up on nearby water.

16 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Bald Eagle.

Records peak in May and are lowest in August — about 11.7 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.

Coxheath, 5 mi to the north-east, has more species on record (265 against 213). Birds logged far more often around Sydney Forks than there include Black-throated Green Warbler.

Daylight runs from 15 h 46 min at midsummer to 8 h 38 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:16 AM in mid-April and 5:09 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

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts

• American Robin

  Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets

• American Goldfinch

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

• Song Sparrow

  Millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn

• Blue Jay

  Peanuts in the shell · Black-oil sunflower · Suet

• Coxheath5 mi north-east · 265 species
• North Sydney10 mi north · 280 species
• Albert Bridge12 mi east · 192 species
• Sydney Mines13 mi north · 263 species
• New Victoria16 mi north-east · 240 species
• Reserve Mines16 mi north-east · 268 species