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Birds
Birds,
being the most visible and most studied of our wildlife
are represented here by a very impressive list of 290 species,
102 of which are known to breed here. Our preliminary checklist
boasts many species which are either regionally uncommon or
provincially rare. The official list of birds for Ontario
(Ontario Bird Records Committee, 1999) lists a full 472 species
and the Ontario Nest Records Scheme / Royal Ontario Museum
(1999) documents 294 breeding species. The official list for
Canada (Birders Journal, 1999) documents 628 species, with
436 known to breed.
The
forests of Darlington Provincial Park, the open meadows of
McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve, and the wetlands the Second
Marsh Wildlife Area, coupled with a dynamic lakeshore, makes
this area very attractive and productive for birds and birdwatchers.
Spring migration for landbirds is usually concentrated in
the woodlands of Darlington Provincial Park and the wet forest
of Ghost Road Bush in the Second Marsh Wildlife Area. The
peninsula of the Reserve at the waterfront is also usually
productive. Spring is an opportune time to view waterfowl
in and around the marsh and ponds.
During
the summer months, many species are nesting in the general
area (102 species), while still others such as the Great Blue
Heron are found only feeding in the wetlands.
In the autumn, many woodland birds can be found in
forested areas. The wetlands abound with waterfowl and various
waders. Shorebirds are concentrated, especially during low
water-level periods, in the Second Marsh, Jim's Pond and along
the barrier beach at the lakefront and in Darlington Provincial
Park.
Even
during the winter months, a few species such as Red-tailed
and Rough-legged Hawk, American Kestrel and occasionally Snow
Buntings are found in the area. In the forested areas you
may locate Long-eared, Great Horned and Saw-whet Owls if you
know where to look. A few scattered bird feeders, mainly in
Ghost Road Bush serve to attract small winter populations
of certain landbirds.
See our Preliminary Bird
list for all the birds in McLaughlin Bay, Second Marsh
and Darlington Provincial Park.
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