About 60 participants enjoyed OFO's 23th annual birding trip to the Carden
Alvar. The first trip in 1992 was led by Ron Pittaway who assisted with
today's trip. Today we recorded a respectable 90 species including many of
Carden's specialty birds such as Loggerhead Shrike, Sedge Wren, Upland
Sandpiper, Clay-colored Sparrow, Golden-winged Warbler and some of the group
saw a Blue-winged Warbler and a hybrid Brewster's Warbler. A Red-headed
Woodpecker along Wylie Road was a nice treat. We also saw and heard Alder
and Willow Flycatchers, Wilson Snipe, saw an American Bittern, and heard
Virginia Rail and Sora.
A number of young birders pointed out many of the good birds by sight and
sound to the group - they included Adam, Ben, Henrique, Riley and Tim.
Eastern Loggerhead Shrike Update: Wildlife Preservation Canada (WPC) reports
that there are only 10 breeding pairs in Ontario this year, which include 6
pairs on the Carden Alvar and 4 pairs elsewhere (mainly Napanee area) plus
several unmated birds on territories. The captive breeding program is going
well and WPC expects to do a large release of young birds this year to
supplement the population.
Eastern Bluebird Update: Some birders have remarked that they aren't seeing
many bluebirds this year. Herb Furniss who operates the Carden Bluebird
Trail reports that bluebirds are doing fine but nestings have been later
than average. Herb has 18 active nest boxes with 39 eggs and 44 young.
"The Carden Alvar is Ontario's second most important birding destination"
according to John Riley (2013) in his recent book "The Once and Future Great
Lakes Country - An Ecological History" published by McGill-Queen's
University Press. Alvars are globally rare habitats of limestone or dolomite
bedrock at the surface (pavement) or covered with thin soils and a sparse
vegetation of lichens, mosses, herbs, shrubs and sometimes trees, but never
forming a closed canopy. Vegetation is restricted by shallow soils and
extremes of spring wetness and summer drought. The alvar formed at the end
of the last Ice Age when huge torrents of meltwater from glacial Lake
Algonquin (super-sized Lake Huron) spilled through the Kirkfield Outlet
washing away glacial deposits (till) leaving the flat limestone plain which
we now call the Carden Alvar.
Directions: Birding Guide and Map to Carden Alvar
http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.cardenalvar
I thank trip assistants Ron Pittaway, Ron Tozer, Eleanor Beagan and many
others for helping participants to find and enjoy birds.
Jean Iron
Toronto ON
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