Spring Birding at Presqu'ile Provincial Park

Migrating Flocks Bring Waterfowl to Presqu'ile and Brighton Region

Feb 24, 2009

Bird watching along the shores of Lake Ontario during spring migration offers rare opportunities to add exciting migrants to your birding list.

In spring, both birds and bird watchers flock to the shores around Presqu'ile Provincial Park, located south of Trenton, roughly midway between Toronto and Kingston.

Waterfowl

The Friends of Presqu'ile hold an annual Waterfowl Viewing Festival and 2009 will mark the 33rd year of this event.

Park Naturalist David Bree calls it a "world-class birding spectacle," adding that of the many locations of Lake Ontario shorelines that enjoy high migration bird numbers, Presqu'ile has "some of the greatest concentrations, and has easy access to good viewing locations."

Thousands of migrating ducks, geese and swans can be seen en route to their northern and western nesting areas.

The Waterfowl Festival runs on the weekends of March 14-15 and March 21-22, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The $9.00 parking fee is the only cost involved. The Lighthouse Centre in the Park provides indoor washroom facilities, hot drinks, snacks and gifts.

A special feature this year is a guided walk on March 22nd at 11 a.m. focusing on the birds of late winter that reside in the park and how they survive winter conditions. Ornithology student and seasonal park naturalist Allyson Parker leads the walk.

Early Bird Sightings

According to postings on the sightings pages of the Ontario Field Ornithologists' ONTBIRDS listserve, the Presqu'ile area boasts many early spring arrivals beyond waterfowl.

Not uncommon February sightings in and around Presqu'ile include many birds of prey, among them a Cooper's Hawk, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Snowy Owl and Barred Owl. Also seen are Wild Turkeys, Pileated Woodpeckers, Northern Shrikes, Common Raven, Pine Grosbeaks, Common Redpolls, Pine Siskins, Hoary Redpolls, Brown Creepers, American Robins, Snow Buntings and Golden-crowned Kinglet.

Other Special Events at Presqu'ile

As a major migration flyway, Presqu'ile is abuzz through the late spring and early fall. On the May long weekend, welcome incoming songbirds with the Friends of Presqu'ile as they host Warblers and Whimbrels (May 16-17, 2009).

And when the kids go back to school, the birds, butterflies and even dragonflies begin their flights south and the park once again celebrates with a Monarchs and Migrants Weekend on Labour Day weekend.

Birdwatching Basics

Novice birders need not be intimidated. Researching the rudimentary tips on birdwatching will have you identifying birds in no time.

Directions

To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from Brighton, Ontario, south of Highway 401. Locations within the Park are shown on a map at the back of a tabloid that is available at the Park gate.

Ontario Field Ornithologists, ONTBIRDS Listserve http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php

The copyright of the article Spring Birding at Presqu'ile Provincial Park in Bird Watching is owned by Pat Maitland. Permission to republish Spring Birding at Presqu'ile Provincial Park in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.