The lead-up to the Waterfowl Festival at Presqu'ile Provincial Park,
which begins on March 10 and continues for the next two weekends, has
been a period of anticipation mixed with apprehension. There certainly
are enough waterfowl present already to keep anyone happy, but the ice
conditions change by the hour, depending on the wind direction, and that
will determine where the best viewing locations will be. Often, the
greatest concentrations of ducks and other waterfowl are at the leading
edge of the ice, where newly exposed feeding opportunities exist.
It is easy to distinguish the Canada Geese that have wintered in the
area from those that are just returning. The former fly around low over
the peninsula from one feeding area to another, whereas the newly
arriving migrants pass high overhead in "V" formation. It is expected
that the imminent shift of winds from northerly to southerly will
precipitate the first of these eagerly awaited flocks. On March 3, a
Gadwall was sitting on the ice off the end of Langdon Avenue, apparently
the first of the returning dabbling ducks. Others will not be far
behind and are expected this weekend. There are now well over 100
Canvasbacks and Redheads and a few Ring-necked Ducks in Presqu'ile Bay.
Closer to the lighthouse there is usually a White-winged Scoter, as well
as the Barrow's Goldeneye that had apparently disappeared in the wake of
the storm last Thursday night but re-appeared on March 8. There will be
scopes and volunteer interpreters at the lighthouse from 10 a.m. to 4
p.m. on Saturday and Sunday to assist in the search for that rare duck.
On March 3, two Hooded Mergansers were near the calf pasture and five
were there on each of the next two days. An American Coot was there on
March 4 and one on the next day. That is also the best vantage point
for finding Common Mergansers, but Red-breasted Mergansers are more
likely to be seen from the lighthouse, where they have been all winter.
It is not only the birders that keep an eye on the ducks but also the
Bald Eagles, two of which (an adult and an immature) were sitting on the
ice off the calf pasture on March 4. Another, or perhaps one of the
same two, was near the lighthouse two days later. When large numbers of
ducks suddenly take flight, it is wise to look around for a flying
eagle, which may be the cause of the disturbance. A Red-tailed Hawk was
being pestered by American Crows near the calf pasture on March 4.
The persistence of northerly winds through much of the past week has
delayed the arrival of most of the songbirds that normally appear early
in March. A possible exception was an American Robin at the lighthouse
that did not appear to be part of the wintering flock. The first Purple
Finch of the spring in the Park appeared briefly at a feeder at 186
Bayshore Road on March 7.
To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from Brighton.
Locations within the Park are shown on a map at the back of a newly
printed tabloid that is available at the Park gate. Access to the
offshore islands is restricted after March 9 to prevent disturbance to
the colonial nesting birds there.
Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be
directed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road,
R.R. #4,
Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0
VOICE: (613) 475 5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park.
