From: Tim McCarthy via Ontbirds
As can be expected, the Whimbrels look pretty much through. This morning we
had 9 at 7:40 and a further 5 at noon. Of that small flock 3 returned and after
much circling managed to land for a rest right at the tip of Whimbrel Point
down on the rocks.
Semi-palmated sanpipers had their day with 92; there were 3 White Rumped
Sandpipers,2 Semi-palmated Plovers, our 2 resident Spotted Sandpipers and 22
Common Loons. Conspicuous in their absence were the Longtailed Ducks - it
appears they are now gone.
Thanks Wayne Renaud, Joe Ventura and Tom Lane.
The Bodsworth Memorial Watch takes place at the Bodsworth Bench on Whimbrel
Point which is located at the Southernmost tip of Col. Sam Smith Park. Take
Kipling Avenue (aka 18th Street) South as far as it goes. Park at the South
parking lot as it is free. Be sure and bring warm clothing as it is usually
much colder out at the Point than in the parking lot.
Good Birding
Patience is the Currency of Success
Weather permitting some of us will be out there at Fred's Bench until Sunday.
We can talk about all the things mentioned below...
So they did it again. This time they landed virtually at our feet and Wayne and
I had to guard all 3 paths leading to the Point. Very exciting new development.
I think we should make some signs for next year, put one at the beginning of
each path to where the birds have landed or maybe just stick them out there
back of the Point and leave them as long as there are some of us watchers
present. Anything that would help us protect birds that have landed or might
land and would potentially be frightened by traffic, especially dogs off the
leash is kind of a no-brainer. The signs would be on highly portable but wind
resistant frames. They would not interfere with general traffic in the Park
just at paths leading to where the Whimbrels land. They could be set up
quickly, taken down easily and moved to wherever. I would be happy to design
and build at cost a bunch of highly portable sawhorse type structures that
would hold a big sign. It could be held against the wind with nylon cord and
tent pegs. The sawhorses could be locked to the big hydro pole for the night
and I would build extras in case our vandals set fire to them, which is likely.
The signs could say something like - "Whimbrels Resting- Do Not Enter- Please
Leash Your Dog" with a picture of a Whimbrel maybe with its head under its wing
if someone could find one like that. Of course it could also say TOC if the
club endorses the idea, and even have contact information.
A sign would help at least delay anyone from coming up the path until one of
our whimbrel education officers had a chance to, well, educate them.
I would certainly bring this up at the next meeting of the Toronto
Ornithological Club, maybe even hold a vote some time, and certainly before
that, make sure whatever we might decide on is officially ok'd by the Parks'
Supervisor who, by the way, is sympathetic to our cause.
Now maybe somebody has a better idea and if you do, please e-mail me. I don't
think it is a good idea to clutter up a reporting forum like Ontbirds with
this topic so if you are interested ask me here, just a couple of words and
I'll give you my private email address.
The last thing I want to do is go through with something like this and then
have somebody come out and say we can't do it. But I will do that if
necessary, because I think the Whimbrels need us.
So please give it some thought, air your ideas, we'll get the clearance (s)
necessary and I'll get to work. After the Hawk Watch, of course.
Everybody wins.
Tim
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