Last week's major snowstorm followed by a mid-January level cold breakout sent 99% of the Snow Geese back to the U.S. until conditions improve. There had been an advance flock of about 5-7000 birds between Morrisburg and Cardinal and now there are only a handful near Cardinal. I suspect that a few thousand others near Lancaster may have also departed. The St. Lawrence is ice-covered on Lake St. Francis east of Lancaster but open for large areas from there to Cardinal (shipping channel). The main Snow Goose migration is now stalled (reversed) with no immediate change evident. It will take place later than it has for a number of years (usually beginning in mid-March). Some birds may reappear by this weekend.
The number of Canada Geese remains high and widely dispersed from Morrisburg to Iroquois. There are a few Cackling Geese mixed in but are not always visible and are time consuming to locate. The three specialty geese, White-fronted, Ross's and Brant have not been refound. Brian Morin Cornwall _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
