Hello Ontbirders. Please excuse this late post. Yesterday evening at the Port
Rowan Sewage Lagoons I had 4 White-rumped Sandpipers. This seems like a lot to
me, especially for the spring, but this spring has produced a lot of this
species for some reason... many more than I have ever seen in Ontario. I then
wandered over to Townsend Lagoons where I encountered 14 more! I would call
this a mini invasion.
On the gloomy side of things I have not encountered a Sanderling yet this
spring. I was not around last spring to compare notes but I have recently been
told that this species, like the Red Knot, is experiencing a dramatic decline
in their North American populations. This was a COMMON shorebird I would see
in migration while growing up in Ontario. One would never really have to
search for it. Let us hope the decision-makers out there are treading
carefully with this species. It is not as bright and showy as the Red Knot so
perhaps it has flown under the radar - I for one was shocked to hear of these
declines.
Cheers,
Directions: Using Google Maps online just look for the large square bodies of
water next to the 2 respective communities. Hard to miss.
Andrew Keaveney
Field Biologist/Ornithologist, Bird and Wildlife Guide
647-383-8894 (cell)
"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of
the world"
~ John Muir
"Live, eat, breathe birds"
~ Twitcher
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