Blue Sky Birding – by Martin and Kathy Parker

A weekly column on bird watching in the North Bay Region which appears in the North Bay Nugget. This column was published in the August 14, 2009 edition. © Martin and Kathy Parker

Great Egret Spotted Soaring Over Area

The great egret resembles a great blue heron in shape and size. The heron is a common wetland species of bird in the region. The egret on the other hand is usually spotted once or twice annually,

On August 8 Sheldon MacGregor spotted a great egret flying over Mashkinonje Provincial Park, south of Lavigne. The individual then flew to the north.

The great egret is a tall wader with completely white feathers. It’s bill is yellow with dark black legs. It is a very familiar bird to visitors to the southern states.

The great egret has been expanding its range into Ontario over the last fifty years. The recanting compiled Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario documented that from 2001 and 2005, the known nesting colonies in Ontario were located on the islands of western Lake Erie, around the Bruce Peninsula, and southern Georgian Bay, Toronto waterfront, Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Luther Marsh and one location along the St. Lawrence River.

The Blue Sky Region is well north of these known nesting locations. This is one species of bird well known for northward dispersal after the breeding season.

The great egret was a species threatened with extinction in the late1800's. The long plumes which are present on breeding birds, and are part of the courtship display, were prized for women’s hats. Egrets were shot by the thousands on the nest so the feathers could be collected and sold the hat trade. A public campaign to stop this hunt resulted in the species being saved. It also resulted in the creation of the National Audubon Society in the United States.

Population of great egrets stabilized and then recovered once the hunt ended. They have also expanded their range northward to new breeding areas.

One should watch for this white long legged waters in the wetlands around the western end of Lake Nipissing.

Angela Martin visited the lagoon near Verner on August 7 and reported that several shorebirds were present. She noted the a pectoral sandpiper was present, the first report we have receive of one this fall migration season.

The Powassan lagoon was visited on August 10 by Steve O’Donnell and Martin Parker, and contained only two species of migrating shorebirds, lesser yellowlegs and least sandpipers. The summer resident spotted sandpiper was present.

On August 10 there were about 25 blue-winged teal present. This species has been absent on the lagoon for the past few months. They are probably birds which have bred further north and are stating their southern migration.

Unfortunate for August birders the waterfowl are in their eclipse plumages. The distinctive and colourful plumages of the winter and spring males has been replaced by a plumage which resembles the female bird. Birders have to take more care to distinguish between the two species.

O’Donnell reports that Bonaparte’s gulls have returned to Lake Bernard at Sundridge. This small gull breeds in the boreal region north of the watershed. They pass through our region each May. They are now stating their slow migration to the wintering grounds. They will remain in the region until November.

The Bonaparte’s gull has a very swallow like in flight, swooping over the open waters of Lake Nipissing and the larger lakes of the region for aquatic insects, small fish and other food. They are the smallest gull which occurs annually in the region. The most distinctive field mark in the fall is the bright white triangle shaped areas on the tip of the wings.

Evening grosbeaks are now common in the South River and Sundridge area. Daily small flocks can be detected flying over. They are primarily visiting groves of choke cherries and feeding on the ripening berries.

There are several upcoming events of interest to bird watchers in the region.

On Tuesday, August 25 the Birdwing Group will be holding its monthly meeting. This meeting will be an outdoor walk on the Cranberry Trails at Callander under the leadership of Martin Parker. The group will be utilizing the trails in order to observed the fall migrants. Meet at the North Bay Information Centre at 6:30 p.m.

Gulliver’s will be hosting a book signing and reading on Wednesday, August 26 from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. which will appeal to birdwatchers, naturalists, environmentalists and those enthusiastic about our northern Ontario wilderness.

Soren Bondrup-Nielson will be reading from his account on this research on the boreal owl. This small northern owl is a regular winter visitor to the region, although difficult to detect. A few may remain for the summer months. Bondrup-Nielson will be discussing his adventures as a young researcher who camped in the winter wilderness in order to devise ways to record the then unknown songs of the boreal owl and its behaviour. He now a professor of biology at Acadia University.

Hap Wilson is a well-known wilderness guide and naturalists from the Temagami Region. He will be signing copies of his latest book, Trails and Tribulations which relates stories from his years as a guide facing animals attacks, forest fires and other challenges while on the trail. The book is graced with his lovely drawings.

We welcome your observations of the fall migrants for future columns. Please submit your observations to mkparker@ontera.net