Just want to report that there are about 3 Pine Grosbeaks that have been around the Wye Marsh visitor centre for the past week and half and one is a russet variant.
Also, I got a call at Wye Marsh late Tuesday from a man who said he had about four dead birds on his lawn and his neighbour's lawn. So I went over after work being the curios birder that I am. I ID one bird as a Bohemian waxwing, but did not see the other birds he spoke of as they had already been 'dealt with' He was worried about finding this many dead birds around his house. I am not a biologist by any means but I tried to think of some possible reasons for these dead birds - cats, maybe, but the birds had no outward markings. There wasn't a window they would have flown into. So, my theory is that they died from eating fermented berries. There are two big-mountain-ash trees on both of their front lawns and the birds were found directly underneath these trees, Has anyone experience this before and if so (or if not) do you think I am right or way out in left field? Curiously yours, Adam Zita Directions to Midland: North 400, past Barrie to Hwy 93. Follow until you are in the town of Midland. For Wye Marsh, follow tourist signs when you arrive at the corner of Hwy 93 and hwy 12 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
