Lake Simcoe Update The male VARIED THRUSH that had been a regular visit to the backyard feeder of Gloria Braithwaite at 94 Tamarack Drive in Big Cedar Estates left this week. Gloria observed the bird on Monday, March 28th for the last time. She called me on Friday, April 1st with the update that the bird has not been seen since then and has left the area along with the male BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD. Both had wintered at her feeder.
The first winter HARRIS'S SPARROW at the home of Martha Sova at 4393 Fairgrounds Road just west of Orillia was at the feeder on Tuesday, March 29th then not seen for a few days but Martha called on Friday, April 1st to report that the bird was back at the feeder. It is best to park on the side of the road and walk up the right side of the lot along the line of spruce trees to the back of the house where you can view the feeder on the back deck. The bird does not always come to the feeder but can also be seen in and under the large White Pine trees in the front yard or in the line of White Spruce trees to the right of the yard. It is best seen in the morning and is usually with a small flock of American Tree Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos (Slate-colored and Oregon). Mike Pidwerbecki at the Siberian Inn Bed and Breakfast reports that the number of COMMON REDPOLLS at his elaborate system of bird feeders in his back yard (Line 10 of Oro-Medonte north of Old Barrie Road just southwest of Orillia) is still well over 1,000 with at least 2 HOARY REDPOLLS in these flocks. Others are now reporting Common Redpolls at their feeders but in much lower numbers. Only a few NORTHERN SHRIKES remain in the area while large flocks of both CEDAR and BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS have been reported this week. Killdeer, Tree Swallows, American Woodcocks now observed around the owl fields. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker seen on Wednesday. It has been difficult to determine what is happening with the GREAT GRAY OWLS this week in Simcoe County. Numbers were stable up until Tuesday, March 29th then dropped to very low numbers. Areas like Muley Point which had 12-16 birds last week dropped to 2-3 on Wednesday. Several American Crows have returned to the owls fields and were harassing the owls. It was difficult to determine if the owls have left and are moving north or just driven back into the woods by the crows. Numbers are still low this weekend with one or two owls reported in three or four locations. There have been no Great Gray Owls reported in Muskoka just north of us and I would have expected this if the owls had started to move north. They have moved to different locations but I only received about 12 reports late this week involving about 20 owls. This is down to about 10% of the reports I have been receiving this winter so feel that some owls have moved out. The bad news is that the number of Great Gray Owls killed by vehicle impacts is now up to 55 with reports of one hit at Midland and one at Muley Point Road on Friday. Roads are now bare and traffic is moving faster and has increased so the only thing that is going to save the owls from the traffic is if they move back to their forests in northern Ontario where there are fewer vehicles and road infrastructures. Bob Bowles Orillia, Ontario
