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>
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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…)

eBirds: Snowy Owl south of Peterborough near Bailieboro

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) (1) – Reported Feb 20, 2014 11:30 by Katsu Sakuma – Scrivener rd x county rd 2, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.1431674,-78.311609&ll=44.1431674,-78.311609 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17122263 – Comments: “Lightly barred. It was perching on top of the hydro pole.”