Ontbirds subscribers,
Tonight, for the first time since they hatched on June 16th, none of the Piping Plovers from the family at the first nest has roosted overnight on the beach at Darlington. Last night, Rayfield Pye and I noted that the adult male and only two of the three juvenile birds from that nest returned just before sunset, after having been away from the beach all day, to roost in the same area that they have roosted every night since June 16th. From the numbered coloured bands, we determined which juveniles these were. We presumed that the missing juvenile bird was likely now fledged and roosting separately at a distant secondary roost. After none of these birds were seen all day today by our scheduled plover guardians, at 8:10 p.m. I saw a lone Piping Plover fly in from the east to the first nest's cordoned area, where the birds usually roost. This 41 day-old bird walked and flew around the traditional roosting area calling frequently, obviously hoping for a rendezvous with its family group. From its numbered coloured band, I confirmed this was the third juvenile bird which was not with this family at the roost last night. When it found no other plovers here, rather than roost here it flew off to the east around the point at 8:54 p.m. This represents the first successfully fledged family of Piping Plovers on the Canadian shoreline of Lake Ontario in 82 years! While at the beach, I also confirmed that the adult female and all four of the 29 day-old juvenile Piping Plovers from the second nest were feeding and doing fine just east of the second nest's cordoned area at 8:25 p.m. Let me take this opportunity to give my profound thanks for the dedication and reliability of the great team of almost four dozen volunteer plover guardians that have come together for the benefit of these birds, and in particular to Tyler Hoar, whose tireless routine coverage of Darlington over many years first brought to everyone's attention the huge potential this park would hold for Piping Plovers. Much credit and thanks must also go to the many staff of Ontario Parks, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests, the Canadian Wildlife Service, and in particular to Acting Park Superintendent Bryna Sprigings and her tremendously helpful staff at Darlington Provincial Park. Lastly, thank you to all the interested birders and photographers who showed exemplary ethics in dealing with these exceptionally rare breeding birds and complied graciously with all the restrictions and rules established specifically to give these birds the optimal chance for breeding success. For those still wishing to see Piping Plovers at Darlington, the second family of plovers is likely to still be around for another two weeks, before they, too, will also move on. To reach Darlington Provincial Park, take Hwy 401 to exit 425 (Courtice Road) and proceed south to the first right turn (west) onto Darlington Park Road. Follow the road west to the park entrance gate and then follow the signage to the parking lot for the beach. Once reaching the beach the Piping Plovers are usually found feeding off to the west in between the cordoned beach areas of the two nests. Glenn Coady Whitby _______________________________________________ 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
