At "Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in Grimsby. Every year on this day, rain or shine, sleet or snow, volunteers with the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch host this special day of activities with chances to see raptors (hawks, owls, falcons, vultures and eagles), way, way up - or if we are lucky, close, close up."
Since the spring of 1975, volunteer birdwatchers have assembled at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area to count the passing raptors during the spring migration (March 1 to mid May). In 1990 they formalized their merry band of volunteers to become the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch, and for many years they have been hosting this Good Friday Open House." (taken from their website)
One of my girlfriends and I decided to drive down and see what we could see. In this post, I'll talk about the birds, and will do another one on the scenery!
The Canadian Raptor conservancy was there. This is an amazing group - website - Their mission statement is as follows; "The Canadian Raptor Conservancy is involved in many different projects relating to Birds of Prey, Wildlife and Habitat. Our primary focus is to educate the general public about Birds of Prey and their continuing important role in our natural world."
I have seen this group many times - most especially at the Western Fair here in London every year - it is one of the main reasons I continue to go to the fair! I am always fascinated and moved by their dedication and passion when they are talking about and showing their birds.
This is a Merlin (Falco columbarius)
These birds are actually small falcons. They are migratory, and live both in North America and in Europe. They eat other birds, insects and small mammals. They are known to be great hunters, and most other birds of prey leave them alond due to their agility and aggressiveness! This bird was left abandoned, and is the favorite of the lady doing the presentation. They assume it was initially kept as a pet but then when the people that had it realized how vocal it is they probably got rid of it!
They also had a Broad Winged Hawk..
Broad Winged Hawks (Buteo platypterus) are a small hawk of the Buteo genus. The Buteo geunus of hawks live and hunt in the forest. The Broad wing, in particular, sticks almost exclusively to the woods. They hunt in what has been described as a "cat like" manner - sitting patiently, waiting for prey, then swooping down to catch it. Their diet consists mainly of small mammals, and they will also eat amphibians, reptiles and insects.
These birds also migrate, and can been seen in huge kettles like this one
Another bird was the Red Tailed Hawk. This is probably one of the best known birds, as it is very common almost everywhere in Canada - I know it is the bird I see most often!
The Red Tail (Buteo jamaicensis) - is also a member of the Buteo family. As I mentioned, this bird lives almost everywhere in Canada. Some do migrate, but a lot of them are here in Southern Ontario year round. They live almost everywhere, and seem to be very adaptable. They are opportunistic feeders that primarily eat small mammals, other birds and reptiles. I have seen them eat everything from pigeons to snakes.
As I mentioned, I always go to the fair to see the Raptor Conservancy, and the guy that always does the shows here is named James Cowan. He is passionate, dedicated and no matter how many times I've seen him talk, he is just as enthusiastic as the time before. One of the things he always talks about is the fact that Canada has no national bird. Most people think it's the Canada Goose, but there is actually no official bird. He is always campaigning for the red tail to be made our bird. He doesn't really like the fact that people think it's the Canada goose - and that Bald Eagles eat Canadian geese! Here is a link to their website, where he talks about the petition they have set up to designate a bird to represent Canada. Although James would like this bird to be the Red Tailed Hawk, and his argument is pretty persuasive, they have left the option open for you to pick the bird you would like to see receive this honour.
Another bird they had was the Barn Owl (Tyto alba) Although this is one of the most common owls in the world, their numbers have decreased drastically here due to habitat loss, the use of DDT and more recently from rodenticide. This is really too bad considering that barn owls are one of the most effective "methods" of rodent control. One barn owl eats 1-2 rodents per night, and a family of them can eat up to 1000 rodents per year - for free! The Conservancy is doing a lot of work to promote people putting nesting boxes on barns to encourage their return. These boxes must be placed in such a way though to stop raccoons and cats from being able to get into them and eat their babies.
In Canada, Barn owls are listed as endangered species. In southern Ontario, they are listed as a critically endangered species, with only one breeding pair left in the wild. The conservancy does not release their owls, figuring that if there is no habitat, there is no point!
Luckily, there was a reporter in attendance who had asked them to bring this particular bird...
The eagle ((Haliaeetus leucocephalus)) actually does a lot to make me feel better about the environment and that there might be hope for other birds like the barn owl. Some eagles migrate, but the ones I know stay here all year. These amazing birds are making a big comeback in Southern Ontario. I personally know of at least two breeding pairs in London, and have heard many numerous reports of them nesting along the great lakes. Being at the top of the food chain, they are an excellent indicator of the health of our lakes and rivers. Eagles eat mostly carrion, and will scavenge from human waste sites. They also eat fish, small to medium sized mammals (rabbits, raccoons, beavers and deer fawns), they will also eat grebes, ducks, egrets and geese (I personally wish they'd eat more of those geese!)
An interesting fact is that bald eagle nests are the largest nests of any bird in North America. They will re-use the same nest each year and add new building material to it each year. They can end up weighing about a ton! If you're ever lucky enough to see an eagle nest, you'll know it! Although they are pretty elusive and generally stay well away from people, you might just get lucky some day!
The last bird they had was a Swainson's hawk, (Buteo swainsoni) - also a buteo hawk. These birds migrate as well and are not ones that you would see in Southern Ontario, they live on the prairies. It loves to eat grasshoppers! They grab them out of the air and eat them right away. They have a very gentle looking face compared to the other birds of prey.
All in all, it was a fantastic day. The volunteers that run the hawkwatch are VERY dedicated and are there all day, everyday for the whole migration season. I subscribe to a list called ontbirds that lists reports from birders all over Ontario and these guys have a report every day. The day we were there, they reported 45 Turkey Vultures, 1 Osprey, 6 Bald Eagles, 171 Sharp Shinned Hawks, 4 Coopers Hawks, 2 Red Shouldered Hawks, 1749 Broad Winged Hawks, 29 Red Tailed Hawks, 2 Rough Legged Hawks, 1 Kestrel and 1 Merlin! Wow! Here is a link to learn more
Many thanks to these great groups of dedicated people who work so hard to educate us and protect and help these magnificent birds!
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