Greetings from the sunny, but cold southern Ontario! I was first alerted to the presence of a Northern Shrike hanging around the Visitor Centre parking lot on Monday by local birder, Brad Ouellette. I kept my eyes peeled while entering the parking lot, but didn't see anything. However, later Monday afternoon, the shrike blasted past my office window in hot pursuit of a sparrow (a new species for my office list). I saw the bird once more on Monday and didn't see it at all yesterday, so I figured it had moved on. I was pleasantly surprised this morning when I found it again while driving into the parking lot. It seems to be favouring the area around the same gravel overflow parking lot to the west of the Visitor Centre, but have seen it in the smaller trees along the edge of the main parking lot. A nice Pelee birder.
There is also a Red-shouldered Hawk hanging around the park. I saw it last week flying low right in front of the Visitor Centre and regularly see it between the Visitor Centre and DeLaurier. We had a successful Owl Prowl program last week, with more than eight Screech-owls calling back each night and Great Horned Owls on both evenings as well. I'm still hearing reports of Long-eared Owls roosting in spruce trees on E Concession just north of the park. Looking forward to spring! Good Birding Everyone! Sarah ps - the 25% off Annual Pass Sale is on now, until March 31st. Get your annual pass renewed now and save! Call 519-322-2365 for more information Sarah Rupert Sr. Park Interpreter, Interpretation Coordinator Interprète de parc principale, Coordinatrice d'interprétation Point Pelee National Park/Parc national de la Pointe-Pelée Parks Canada/Parcs Canada 519.322.5700 ext/poste 223 519.322.1678 (fax/téléc) sarah.rup...@pc.gc.ca www.pc.gc.ca _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
