Nature Canada

Migratory Birds Spotted and Heard at IMBD Celebrations in Ottawa

About 35 Ottawa Field Naturalists joined Ted Cheskey, Nature Canada’s manager of bird conservation, on the official International Migratory Bird Day (May 12) at Mud Lake in the Lac Deschenes Important Bird Area for a morning birding walk to catch the great migration at a peak moment.

We observed 59 species in total, many just heard, but most seen also, including splendid views of many brilliantly coloured species.  Highlights included several species of warblers – Yellow-rumped, Yellow, Palm, Pine, Magnolia, American Redstart, Black and White, Nashville, Ovenbird, Blackburnian, and Canada (a recently federally listed species at risk).

There were also lots of Baltimore Orioles and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.  Other migrants included Least and Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Gray Catbird, White-crowned, White throated, Chipping and Song Sparrows, Great Blue, Green and black-crowned night Herons, Lesser Scaup, Wood duck, Common merganser and Mallards, Common Tern, Ring-billed and Herring Gulls, Northern Flicker and Tree Swallow.

The weather was perfect and people left with our beautiful bookmarks with tips to help our birds. Ted thoroughly enjoyed himself on what turned out to be a near perfect day to be outside with people of a kindred spirit!

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