Sightings
Bird happenings in Algonquin Park
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2014 20:20:57 -0500 From: Ron Tozer <rtozer@vianet.ca> To: ontbirds <birdalert@ontbirds.ca> Subject: [Ontbirds] Algonquin Park Birding Report: 20 February 2014 Message-ID: <CF2C1429.12320%rtozer@vianet.ca> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Despite this winter's very cold temperatures and deep snow here, remnants of earlier groups of Wild Turkeys still persisted this week: Mew Lake Campground (1), Trailer Sanitation Station (2) and Visitor Centre (1). The first Gray Jay nest under construction was found on the 18th. The nest of this same banded pair was the first one discovered last year as well, but on February 24, nearly a week later. Spring has sprung! The frequency of calling by Boreal Chickadees increases from late February through March and reaches a peak just before winter flock breakup. More calling makes it easier to locate them in the dense spruce foliage they frequent. Observations this week suggest that increased calling may be starting to occur. Numbers of both crossbill species continue to be low, but reports are increasing as the weather improves and more birders are out looking. The first Pine Siskin reports since early December occurred this week. (more…)