Hi Fellow Birders, What a show this afternoon at 4:45 P.M. in the shallow entrance of Duffin Creek into Lake Ontario. Among a large flock of Ring Billed Gulls the avocet was very industrious. With its black and white striped wings, bright eyes, and long upcurved bill, the American Avocet was among the most beautiful and graceful of gulls, shore birds, geese & ducks of North America this afternoon. The rusty head and neck were missing and had turned whitish since it was after the nesting season.
The Avocet's bill is truly one of nature's masterpieces, both in its elegant design and in its utility as a hunting and fishing tool. The bird was using it with great speed and precision to catch insects underwater. Dipping its head downward, the avocet was sweeping its bill from side to side along the bottom of the flooded marsh, much like an old-time farmer scything a field. As the bill was stirring up mud and sand it appeared to be dislodging food and anything else that happened to be there. the water became cloudy that it was impossible to see anything. But that posed no problem for the Avocet. Its versatile bill is so sensitive to differences between the edible and the inedible that as an Avocet can make the right choice even though the food cannot always be clearly seen before it is consumed. This was the second Avocet I have seen in Southern Ontario. Approximately 5 years ago I sighted one by Newcastle in the Kaitlin subdivision. They are very rare in this part of the country. Their range east of the Mississippi River is very limited. Each spring birders throughout the West look forward to this summer visitor's arrival. But in the fall of the year they should be on their way to the southern climate. Meanwhile let's enjoy its presence here in southern Ontario. Direction: Take Westney exit off 401 and turn right on Lake Driveway till you reach entrance to Rotary Park. Park your vehicle by the washrooms and playground and bicycle or walk to the shoreline and stop half way along the bridge and look north. Markus Lise Newcastle, On _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
