Bird watching trips in ontario

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

The Common Loon is Ontarios Provincial bird and leads the 473 species seen in the area. A characteristic call is a tell-tale sign that this bird is in a lake. Its leg muscles store oxygen for strenuous movement against water resistance and its eyes can focus both above and in water. It is a powerful diver and feeds of fish and other aquatic animals.

The Haldimand Bird Observatory is full of cow birds, sparrows, warblers and black birds. The Common Grackle and the American Goldfinch are available in large numbers. This is a prime Ontario destination for the avid birder and a good place if you have time for just one birding destination.

The Holiday Beach area in the south western part of Ontario is a favorite with migrating hawks and other birds of prey during autumn. A festival at the beginning of September celebrates this annual natural event with a host of field trips and educational services on hawks and bird watching in general. The Niagara Peninsula is another area for those interested in raptors to visit.

The Fingal area has woods, shrub land, tall conifers and ponds. Each of these forms an eco-system of its home and attracts distinct sets of birds. It is a great way to see the greatest variety of bird species and marvel at their adaptive diversity. Some species live in the area all year around, moving from habitat to habitat in search of food and shelter; others are seasonal guests at various times of the year.

The tall grass, savanna and woods of Ojibway Nature Center in Windsor are home to a large number of bird species, both normal residents and some rare migrants. Lewiss Woodpecker and the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron are amongst the birds from far away that have been sighted here.

Bruce County is geographically fortunate to be on the spring migration route of many southern hemisphere birds. The route is used again in reverse direction, between the start of autumn and Christmas. Different terrains in the county attract all kinds of birds. These include large cranes, owls and hawks not found elsewhere in Ontario.

Brighton hosts the Presquile Park that has 125 resident bird species and some 200 types of migrants as well. The Park is famous for achieving sighting of some rare shore birds for whom it appears to be a transit point of choice. Gulls and herons are seen in large numbers here. One has to visit before March or after September as human visitors are not allowed during the nesting season. It makes sense to visit just before March 10 or right after the same date in September, in order to have the most productive experience.

Wye Marsh is a must in every Ontario bird watching visit. The beautiful and majestic Trumpeter Swans that thrived in the Province until the turn of the 20th century, before being lost to hunting and urban development, have been reintroduced in the area during the recent past. It is too early as yet to claim success but a creditable effort sets a template for other areas that would like to conserve their natural heritage.