Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club (OFNC) Ottawa/Gatineau (50 Km radius from Parliament Hill) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler: Derek Dunnett at [email protected]
A fun week with the first Pine Warbler, and flocks of Bohemians, large (1000+) and small, all over. Who knows what vagrant the storm dropped off, waiting to emerge from a snowy hedge. Trumpeter Swan (2) Apr 01, Constance Lake, Ottawa. Tundra Swan (10) Mar 31, Marais aux Massettes, Papineau. Redhead (1) Mar 28, Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. Blue-winged Teal (3) Apr 01-02, Baxter CA, Ottawa. (2) Mar 29-30, Marais aux Grenouillettes, Gatineau. Barrow's Goldeneye (1) Hurdman Bridge, Ottawa. (1) Almonte Lagoons, Lanark. (1) Mar 30, Shirley's Bay, Ottawa. Redhead (1) Mar 31, Moodie Drive Quarry, Ottawa. Ruddy Duck (1) Mar 30-Apr 02, Almonte Lagoons, Lanark. Black-crowned Night Heron (2) Lemieux Island, Ottawa. Great Egret (1) Apr 02, Rapides Deschênes (incluant Parc), Gatineau. (1) Apr 02, Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa. (1) Apr 01, Stony Swamp (Chipmunk Trail), Ottawa. Red-bellied Woodpecker (1) Apr 02, Baxter CA, Ottawa. (1) Apr 01, Hickman CA, Ottawa. Chipping Sparrow (1) Connaught, Gatineau. (1) Manotick, Ottawa. (1) Apr 02, Stanley Park, Ottawa. (1) Apr 01, Cannon Crescent, Ottawa. White-crowned Sparrow (1) Mar 28, Manotick, Ottawa. (1) Mar 28, Quigley Hill Rd, Ottawa. Hermit Thrush (1) Apr 01, Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Ottawa. (1) Mar 31, Clyde Woods, Ottawa. Pine Warbler (1) Apr 02-04, Greenbelt pathway south of Davidson Road, Ottawa. At the OFNC feeder near P18. Yellow-rumped Warbler (1) Apr 01, Wakefield, Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais. Final statement on the Western Tanager The hardy male Western Tanager that was frequenting the West Hunt Club community of Ottawa since late November, perished as a result of a window strike early in the evening of Saturday 23 March 2024. This was the first time this species has ever been recorded in Ottawa, and the Ontario Field Ornithologists was pleased to be able to create the conditions necessary to accommodate both the privacy concerns of the local residents, and the incredible interest in this rare visitor to Eastern Ontario. In addition to the joy his daily appearances brought to the immediate neighbourhood throughout a drab winter – the homeowners named him “Sunny” – some 600 visitors from across Ontario, parts of Québec, and points farther afield had the opportunity to enjoy, photograph, and even paint this bird. None of this would have been possible without the initial alertness of the local community residents, and the subsequent willingness of a number of local birders who donated feed, funds, and time, to maintain the temporary feeder farm that saw him through the winter. The efforts of the Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club to provide feed, and to regularly remind local birders of both the viewing protocols and the ongoing requirement for food donations, was appreciated. The Western Tanager is now a part of Canada’s largest ornithological collection at the Royal Ontario Museum for research and review. It is the hope of the Ontario Field Ornithologists – and the residents of the small neighbourhood that found him in life and in death – that the broader birding community will consider a donation to Safe Wings Ottawa https://safewings.ca/support-us/donate/ so that they may continue their efforts to raise awareness on the risks posed by windows strikes. Aaron Hywarren OFO Rare Bird Ambassador Program Ottawa -- 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.
