The Piping Plovers found on Sunday by Gavin Platt are still on the north end of the beach on Hanlan’s Point.
The male and female pair were easy to find but after finding them I did not try to find the 3rd bird as I did not want to disturb the pair to much or flush the many Gulls resting on the beach. I don’t know if these birds are planning on nesting there (kind of late to go further north) but it would be nice to think that these endangered birds have found a new nesting area but unlike Sauble and Wasaga Beaches they do not have any human protection and I fear that any attempt at breeding will fail as that end of the beach is frequented by humans and the Parks Department regularly checks that area while driving a very noisy ATV type of vehicle. Also the GTA Birding Clubs / Groups do not seem to have any interest in protecting The Islands habitat or wild life (this is my opinion formed over the years through experience when asking for support from these groups). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS - SUMMER SCHEDULE Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.50 - Seniors / Students $4.75 If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC’s Union Subway Station, walk south on Bay Street (on the east side of the station) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen’s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks (well signed) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the TTC’s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen’s Quay. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus. For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens at 9 a.m. you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. To Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. For ferry schedules - check - http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/ferry-schedule.htm You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen’s Quay, there are very few parking lots nearby (all for a fee). One of these parking lots is located just a block north on of the ferry docks on Bay St. ============================================================================= NOTE 1: – For those who arrive at the docks early or need the fix there is a Tim Hortons across from the ferry dock entrance just east of the corner of Bay St. and Queens Quay and the Food Court in the building on the northwest corner of Queens Quay and Bay Street is now open and this too has a Tim Horton’s but is closed on the weekends and holidays but the “PATHWAY” to and from Union Stn is open 7 days per week. NOTE 2:- If you want to learn more about birding on the Toronto Islands you can access my Toronto Islands Birding And Site Guide on the OFO web site at:- http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.torontoislands Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
