About 20 people joined Lynne Freeman and Joanne Brathwaite in the first ever OFO and TOC "Naked Birding" walk at Toronto's Evergreen Brickworks on Sunday, June 12th. We used our naked eyes and ears to find and appreciate the birds at the park. And yes, we did wear clothing. In all we tallied 24 species, an excellent total for this time of year.
Highlights included watching a Great-Blue Heron catch and eat a Koi Goldfish, Red-Winged Blackbirds being fed in the nest, a Mallard on its nest, nesting Barn Swallows and House Sparrows, a roosting first-year Black-crowned Night Heron, an active Belted Kingfisher, a family of four Common Ravens croaking from a hydro tower, and many more. We identified birds using sound, behaviour, shape, and flight patterns. We all learned the hungry bird dance (bent down with fluttering wings), the bathroom habits of nestlings, and the American Goldfinch potato chip flight. We hope this is the first of many "Naked Birding" walks. Lynne and Joanne -- Lynne Freeman (she/her/hers) [email protected] "Be bold, be brave, be amazing" Simon de Pury - Work of Art -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. Birdnews is reserved for announcements, location summaries, first of year reports, etc. To post a message on Birdnews, send an email to: [email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Birdnews Moderators by email at [email protected]. Please review posting rules and guidelines at http://ofo.ca/site/content/listserv-guidelines During the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario birders should be taking extra precautions and following local, provincial, and federal regulations regarding physical distancing and non-essential travel. To find out more about OFO, please visit our website at ofo.ca or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists.
