There was a major change in activity on Thursday compared with Wednesday. The number of geese more than doubled and on Wednesday they were already higher than we normally see in a single flock in spring. Thursday's total was estimated at over 175,000. It is possible that over 200,000 were in the area but time did not permit checking further east where additional birds were being sighted. This is over 20% of the entire population. This is the second highest total following the massive flock of about 400,000 that appeared between South Lancaster and the Quebec border in 2011, with the same area at Westley's Point being the focus.
Many of these birds undoubtedly came from Quebec, likely moving west ahead of a low pressure system that by Thursday afternoon brought a steady rain. This will persist into Friday morning. Quebec is not where we normally get our birds from. Ontario's Greater Snow Geese are from the splinter flock that leaves western New York State south of Lake Ontario then flies, usually in a single day for the most part, down the St. Lawrence, stopping in the east while others head straight into Quebec. There are usually over 100,000 birds that make the flight and about 50,000+ linger for us to see in various flocks. There is usually no massive inland flock like we see in the fall (October-November) There are significant parallels between 2011 and this spring's movement. We again have significant ice for the birds to rest on unlike a number of previous years (they prefer to be out of the water for extended periods). The migration was held up by inclement weather earlier in the month and this week yet another significant weather system has encouraged the birds to head further west on the St. Lawrence than usual. The birds are heading north into the cornfields early in the day. This morning Bruce Di Labio, David Tyrer and I saw a handful of Snow Geese around 8-8:30 at Westley's Point where I had 75,000 on Wednesday. We checked cornfields north of Lancaster between Concessions 2 and 7 and found various sized flocks after much searching (white birds on a mottled white and brown landscape are practically invisible) but we did not see all of the birds which must have spread far and wide. We had our most northerly flock on Cty Rd 34 at Green Valley but only a couple of thousand birds were there. The geese began to return to the river later in the morning and Jamie Johnson noted that by 10:30 steady flocks were arriving. Most were in by 12:30. They will leave again later in the afternoon from 4:00 on heading back north into the fields before returning to the river for the night. There is no way of knowing what the next few days will bring. Friday's number in the afternoon may be 50,000 higher or 100,000 lower than Thursday's total although odds are they will not find the weather good for migration. That may change in a couple of days. Based on what happened in 2011 there will be a few days with peak numbers then the geese will decrease until a core of maybe 40-50,000 will remain in the area for some time. Once the ice is gone there will be no more concentration in the immediate area. Eventually, once lagoons open to the north, they will head that way. NECK BANDS: Keep your eyes open (scope needed) for yellow neck bands with letters and numbers i.e. RR 82. These are mostly females that have been marked for identification in an ongoing study. If you submit your ID band code you can find out about the bird(s) and receive a digital certificate with the information. We had over a dozen today and those were just the close ones we could see. Enjoy Ontario's most spectacular wildlife spectacle. Brian Morin Cornwall Directions: Exit Hwy 401 at Lancaster. Take the South Service Rd about 5 km to Westley's Point. (If you have come from the west go straight ahead at the light). Park on the main road near the mail boxes, not on the short road near the water which is for fire access. That short road is your best viewing point. The adjacent farmland is private property. Be aware that the houses and cottages along the river are all private property and if you cross onto someone's property you may hear about it. Immediately before Westley's Point on South Service Rd is Glengarry Campground. You can walk into the beach area (about 5 minutes) and see them from this angle as well but the birds aren't as close. If they lift off it doesn't matter where you are. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca 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
