From: Tim Mccarthy, via Ontbirds Hiho Hawkers I was nervous as a leader on a bird outing for the first time and kind of for the same reason. Today a bunch of kids was scheduled to come to Hawk Hill and I had to have all the answers to their questions. This used to happen frequently in the past but so far this year we've only had one class. Is it because budgets have been cut for education? If so, it is the worst possible place to do that. How can politically correct people make such harmful politically driven mistakes? Enough said. In the past, teachers would bring their classes right up to the Hill and of course everybody would be expecting to see great big hawks all lined up on the tree branches. What they usually got instead was what you or I get. If you're lucky, a tiny speck way up in the blue. Anyway, up they came and I must say never have I met a more delightful dozen or so little kids. They were keen, attentive, most of them even had their own binoculars and they knew how to use them. But the greatest part of their visi t, and one I shall never forget, was the amazing airshow the raptors put on for us. Sharpies vied with Coopers to test our identification skills and, yes, some of the kids were sophisticated enough to get it right. The Resident Red Tail family put on a choreographic display while flocks of Turkey Vultures streamed overhead and kettled just as I was explaining kettles. Want to see the world's fastest living thing? How about 2 Peregrine Falcons? Cool, eh?Oh, and don't leave yet, guys, because right over the Sugarbush, right over our heads is a freakin' Bald Eagle. low enough for everybody to see him without the bins.I prattle on and I'm sorry, but that was a singular event in my short and not particularly lucky hawkwatching career. Something like that happens every now and then to everyone and if you don't grasp it more's the pity. Thanks, by the way, to Huey and Ian who helped to shoulder the burden of questions.So we saw 157 Tv's, 2 Bald Eagles, 65 Sharpies, 1 Goshawk, 2 Red Shoul ders, 2 Peregrines, most of this in the space of 40 minutes which seemed more like 5 minutes. Andrew Keaveney had an Osprey, and (whew) that was about it. i hope the teachers who are yet to bring their kids to the Hill don't read this because that was one hard act to follow. If you come to the Hill while I'm not there (usually on weekends I do have a life of sorts) I want to warn you about some bugs. If you see a very large, 2 joints of your baby finger-sized irridescent purple beetle lumbering across the hilltop do not try to handle it. Meloe Violaceus,( better known as the Purple Blister Beetle) can squirt out a caustic substance called Cantharidin (better known by some as Spanish Fly) when he is threatened which will blister your skin and cause a fair bit of irritation. If you then rub your eyes, well, you're off to the hospital. Mister Blister is, however, one heck of an interesting insect and if you have the interest and enough staying power to listen to a half hour lecture about this bug just come to the hill and ask me. I'll even get one out for you. Hawk Hill and all its fascinating creatures is in Toronto's gorgeous High Park, easily found on your map and conveniently located right next to the Grenadier Restaurant. There is something worth seeing whichever time you choose to visit but you will see the most Raptors between 11 am and 4 pm. And we will see you there. Happy Hawking,Tim Mccarthy _______________________________________________ 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
