[Ontbirds] Chimney Swifts in Port Perry
I stopped for a brief visit in Port Perry, where I saw and heard 3 Chimney Swifts actively hunting above the downtown intersection of Queen and Perry Streets. Judy Kennedy, EcoStewards, Cameron, Ontario ___ 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/
[Ontbirds] Yellow Rail on new Bluebird Ranch, Carden Plain
Hello Birders, On my way home from a meeting in Orillia this past Monday, I checked out Wylie Road and was pleasantly surprised to find a Yellow Rail on the new Bluebird Ranch, in the sedges, just south of the Windmill Ranch sign. I clocked the distance of the location and it is just 4/10ths of a km north of the corner of McNamee Rd and Wylie Road, on the west side. There is a little wet area on either side of the road here, where the sedge is growing. At the fence, on the west side, there are two gnarly, bare black shrubby trees growing up next to the fence and the bird was in behind the more northerly one. While it remained unseen in the sedges, it kept up a lively chat with my two clicking stones for several minutes. Hope someone can determine that this is, in fact, a second bird, and that it hadn't simply relocated to the Wren March for Ron Pittaway to find. I always stop here, because I always hear Soras here. I also heard a Virginia Rail on the East side, in reply to my clicking stones. Directions: Go north of Kirkfield on Kirkfield Road 6 past the liftlock to McNamee. Turn right then immediately left onto Wylie Road and go north, 4/10ths of a km of the west side. Cheers, Judy Kennedy ___ 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/
[Ontbirds] Barred Owls in the Altberg Wildlife Sancuary
Today, Robbie Preston and I had the pleasure of escorting the daughter of a friend and former employee of the late Rudolph Altberg around on the trails of the Altberg Wildlife Sanctuary , we were rewarded with the calling of two Barred Owls. One was high in the trees, just north of the junction of the orange trail and the east arm of the red trail, and the other was on the east side of the beaver ponds, bordering the eastern boundary of the reserve. Also heard and/or sighted were Least Flycatcher,Black Capped Chickadee, Ovenbird, Bluejay, Eastern Wood Peewee, Wood Thrush, Common Raven, Common Yellowthroat, Cedar Waxwing, Hairy Woodpecker, Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, Black White Warbler and American Robin. The Altberg Wildlife Sanctuary is on the south side of Monck Road, halfway between Norland and Kinmount. Follow Highway 35 north of Lindsay to Norland, then Monck Road East to #4164. Happy Haunting!:-}}} Judy Kennedy, Lindsay. ___ 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/
[Ontbirds] Robbins and Grackles in Lindsay
The Grackles that arrived yesterday were a welcomed sign of spring. Today, there are Robbins everywhere. I've been hearing a Northern Cardinal over the past couple of weeks and he finally found my feeder and the ample supply of sunflower seeds within the last week and greets me at my office window at the beginning of each day. The little Goldfinches are getting more yellow as each day passes, and are now accompanied by a gang of scrappy Pine Siskins, Redpolls, and a pair of Purple Finches. A pair of Downy Woodpeckers are still enjoying my homemade suit blocks and all is well in Pleasantview Park, until the Red Tailed Hawk cruises the neighbourhood. Pleasantview Park is at the north west corner of Hwy 35 and Penial Rd., north of the Municipal Airport. Cheers Judy Kennedy. ___ 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/
[Ontbirds] Dark Eyed Juncos
On Wednesday, Sept. 22, in the Pleasantview Park, north of Lindsay on Hwy 35, 3 Dark Eyed Juncos were seen feeding on the grass seed heads at the edge of my driveway. It would seem that they were just passing through, as they were only present for about half an hour and have not returned, even though finch seed was scattered in the area where they had been feeding. Cheers, Judy Kennedy ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Chimney Swifts in Lindsay
Hello Swift Watchers: Yesterday's early evening skys over the downtown parking lots in Lindsay were dotted with Chimney Swifts, performing their aerial antics in pursuit of dinner. The long range forecast says that temperatures are heading up and holding all next week in the low 20's, which will make for some really good sightings, during the SwiftWatch Workshop that Kawartha Field Naturalists are hosting at Fleming College on May 22, in celebration of International Biodiversity Day. Registrations are coming in daily, so if you are thinking of joining us, don't wait too long, or there may not be any space left. For more info, or to reserve your place, contact me, Judy Kennedy. at judykenn...@xplornet.com. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Kawartha Field Naturalists will host BSC's Ontario Swiftwatch Workshop on International Biodiversity Day, May 22, 2010
(This is not a sighting report, but since it has much to do with birding with BSC, I'm hoping you will post it. Thanks.) Hello fellow birders and nature watchers: Please pass this on to fellow birders, club members, co-workers and friends who may be interested in attending. In celebration of International Biodiversity Day, May 22nd, 2010, Kawartha Field Naturalists has partnered with Bird Studies Canada, Toward Balance Support Network and Fleming College Frost Campus in Lindsay to host a FREE, 1 day training workshop and tour of downtown Lindsay roost and nest sites, for volunteers interested in joining OntarioSwiftWatch. This volunteer-based monitoring program-currently gearing up for its second full season - is designed to gather information on Chimney Swift Abundance, distribution, behavior and habitats across the province. The results will help scientists determine how and where to focus conservation efforts on this Threatened Species. This is an opportunity for you to learn about the importance of preserving a Species at Risk and how you can help, through the monitoring and reporting of nesting and roosting activity in your chimney and/or your community. Led by Elizabeth vanStamm,BSC's Ontario Project Biologist, the workshop will begin at 10 AM, for approximately 3 hours of classroom presentations and instruction, followed in the afternoon by 3 hours of field study, surveying the city for potential nest and roost chimneys. During this event you will learn:- The symbiotic relationships between birds, insects and humans. How preservation of this species can help reduce the threat of West Nile Virus in Urban Communities. How to recognize, evaluate and determine the size of suitable Chimney Swift Habitats. How to create survey routes. How to use the SwiftWatch monitoring protocol. How to submit data using the NatureCounts website Attendance is limited to 40 participants, so reserve your space today. For those who plan to attend and stay for the rest of the holiday weekend, there are several motels within close proximity, as well as College Residence accommodation at a very reasonable rate, if you are single and don't want to share. Please contact Judy Kennedy, Species at Risk Project Co-ordinator, Kawartha Field Naturalists for more info email: judykenn...@xplornet.comphone: 705-878-8575 ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Horned Larks in Little Britain
Hello folks: This morning, as I drove south from Oakwood on Eldon Road, 5 Horned Larks flew across the road and landed on the shoulder, just north of the Baptist Church. Oakwood is on Highway 7, east of Highway 12 and Manila. Eldon Road is the main intersection in the center of Oakwood and runs north and south. The Horned larks were about 4 km's south of Oakwood, north of Little Britain. Cheers, Judy Kennedy. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Chimney Swifts in Lindsay
This evening, at sundown, between 8:55 and 9.04 PM I watched 41 Chimney Swifts tumble into the tall chimney beside the rear hall entrance of St. Paul's Anglican Church in Lindsay. St. Paul's Church on Russell Street, on the south side, just east of the Post office at the corner of Russell and Cambridge Streets. Judy Kennedy, Kawartha Field Naturalists. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Chimney Swifts in Downtown Lindsay
Hello birders: On Thursday evening, June 4th, Robbie Preston and I watched from the LCBO parking at the south west corner of Russell and William Streets as several Chimney Swifts hunted above downtown Lindsay. There were at least four pairs, flying together and one pair was seen V-ing. Occasionally, single birds would join the pairs in a trio. Promptly at 9:00 P.M., a single pair literally fell into the chimney on the south end of the Midtown Mattress store, which is located on the north east corner of William and Russell Streets. I informed the store owner, who was very interested and pleased with my discovery and granted permission for me to monitor it for Swiftwatch. At the same time, there were about a dozen Swifts overhead, chippering loudly as they headed south east, towards Lindsay and Glenelg Streets. We were unable to determine where they went, but a search of this area revealed a second nesting chimney in a private residence, which I am unable to disclose at this time, without permission from and in consideration for the homeowner. However, you may be able to spot it yourself, as it is quite active. Happy hunting, Judy Kennedy Robbie Preston, The Chimney Swift Project, Kawartha Field Naturalists www.kawarthafieldnaturalists.org Directions: Lindsay is on Highway 35, approximately 3 km north of Highway 7. Highway 35 becomes Lindsay Street as you enter the south end of town. Pass Tim Horton's and KFC/Taco Bell and turn left on Russell Street. William Street is 1 block west of Lindsay Street. The LCBO is on the south west corner of Russell and William Streets and is an excellent vantage point to view the chimney on the Midtown Mattress store. The chimney is on the south end of the building adjacent to Russell Street. One of our replica chimneys is located on George Street, four blocks south of Russell, in the back parking lot of the Boys and Girls Club. Another is located on Victoria Street, north of the Library, tucked in between the Chamber of Commerce and Lindsay Police Buildings. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
