There was a single juvenile Northern Goshawk at West Perth Wetlands this
afternoon. It was first seen chasing a Greater Yellowlegs which it pursued for
quite a time, trying to drive it to water level and to grab it. The yellowlegs
managed to escape so the goshawk chased sparrows unsucessfully for a while,
then perched on a small tree beside the largest cell. I had a chance to study
the bird through the scope. There was a large mixed flock of ducks in the
cell. Interestingly the ducks moved away from me and towards the goshawk.
However while the goshawk remained in the tree none of the ducks flushed off
the water. They seemed to recognize the goshawk as an aerial threat.
Steve Thorpe Stratford West Perth Wetlands are in Mitchell, about
20 km NW of Stratford. From Ontario Street (Hwy 8) travel south on Wellington
St. to Frank St. Cross the road and follow the gravel to the parking area.
_______________________________________________
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/
