Hello Everyone, The 2023-2024 Winter Listing season finished on February 29, 2024. We got a bonus winter list day this year. For the 2023-2024 winter season a total of 226 species were reported in Ontario. This species total is higher than the 17 year average of 208. The median value is 203 for those 17 years. 226 is the second highest record in the 17 years of the winter list. The highest year was 2021-2022 with 229. The third highest record was 2011-2012 with 223. The lowest season was 2009-2010 with 189 species.
Since my last update to Ontbirds on January 31, new species added are: Bullock's Oriole found by Donald Taylor on Feb 23 in High Park, Toronto; Eurasian Wigeon in Erieau, found by James Burk on Feb 25; an "Audubon's" Yellow-rumped Warbler since December 1, 2023 hanging out at Rondeau Provincial Park; the "Eurasian" Green-winged Teal that is being seen in Hamilton found by David Moffatt; a Sanderling was reported by Jo Li at Presqu'ile Provincial Park; and American White Pelicans have been seen from Holiday Beach Conservation Area in Essex, the earliest record I found on eBird was from Leon Barlow on Feb. 23. A roll call of rare birds seen this year includes: - Ruby-throated Hummingbird (seen for the first time this season after 17 seasons tracking); - Limpkin (seen for the first time this season); - Ancient Murrelet (seen for the first time this season); - Philadelphia Vireo (seen for the first time this season); - Fieldfare (seen for the first time this season); - Bullocks's Oriole (seen 3 out of the last 17 seasons); - Western Tanager (2/17); - Prairie Falcon (2/17); and - Black-headed Grosbeak (2/17). The list can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/myyulvs. Please check out the OFO website for upcoming trips and events http://www.ofo.ca/site/tripsupcoming. There are going to be many exciting outings this spring. The OFO also has a discord group with a Winter bird channel. A link to the OFO discord group is here: https://discord.gg/npbCzXVhZ2. Winter Listers can also communicate on the Ontario Birds Discord Server which can be found here:https://discord.gg/EhvgAc2fwb. As always, please send me an email if you know of a sighting of a missing species observed between December 1, 2023 and February 29, 2024, or if you see any errors in the spreadsheet either from this winter or from winters past. Thank you to everyone who has reached out to help correct the list. Looking forward to spring, Todd -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. Birdnews is reserved for announcements, location summaries, first of year reports, etc. To post a message on Birdnews, send an email to: [email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Birdnews Moderators by email at [email protected]. Please review posting rules and guidelines at http://ofo.ca/site/content/listserv-guidelines During the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario birders should be taking extra precautions and following local, provincial, and federal regulations regarding physical distancing and non-essential travel. To find out more about OFO, please visit our website at ofo.ca or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists.
