There is a well-known saying in the birdwatching community: "When you start birdwatching, it's equivalent to getting a ticket to the theatre of nature, and it is free for life." Regardless of whether you like to stay at home or you're a phoneaholic, once you enter the world of birdwatching, you will become a complete outdoor nature fanatic. After your first experience, you will also unknowingly like camping, travelling, and hiking, because you want to see more birds.
American writer Jonathan Franzen is also obsessed with birdwatching. In an interview with National Geographic, he said that he had seen a brown night thrush in New York’s Central Park. The existence of that bird seemed to have opened his eyes as if he had discovered another dimension of the world. After falling in love with bird watching, all landscapes have become more layered and textured, and the beauty has begun to play an important role in affecting his creation, life, and even his decision-making.
Through birdwatching, you will be shocked by the agility and elegance of birds. In the BBC documentary "Our Planet", the male red-topped pygmy bird in the tropical jungle of South America has a set of dance steps that slide back and forth carefully to attract the attention of females, which is similar to Michael Jackson's moonwalk. The male blue-crowned dwarf bird will invite a few friends as a dancer, and they will rehearse together until it is perfect enough to perform a gorgeous and romantic group dance to the female bird, and win her over.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zxJPQlFFTI)
Birdwatching will also bring you a sense of accomplishment. Observing and identifying birds is a process of continuous learning and summarization. Whenever you see a new bird in the wild, it's like meeting a long-lost friend. Every time you add a new bird species to your birdwatching record, you will also get the feeling of satisfaction.
Although birdwatching is a niche hobby for the Chinese, it is already a popular outdoor activity for North Americans. The number of participants is still growing rapidly. One in five Canadians participates in birdwatching activities. According to the Canadian Nature Survey, birdwatchers spend an average of 133 days a year watching birds, much higher than other natural activities. When children are led to the world of birds, they will establish a connection with nature and life to some extent, and find the joy of exploring nature.
How to start birdwatching
First, get to know the birds in your backyard. Buy a squirrel-proof bird feeder, hang it in the backyard, and wait for the birds to arrive. For bird food, you can choose black oil sunflower seeds that provide more energy and nutrition to birds (Costco large bags are more affordable). Then, you can buy a telescope, a guide to wild birds, and download an app for identifying birds, such as Merlin. Prepare for birdwatching in the park in the future.
In addition, participating in various birdwatching festivals is also a good opportunity to learn. You can meet new friends and learn from experienced veterans. You can also join a local birdwatching organization.
The biggest difference between a birdwatcher and a birder is that the former is just watching birds, while the latter is actively looking for birds and recording them.
Birdwatching season
During the migration season, autumn and spring are the best times to enjoy bird watching. May is the best month for bird watching because at that time many birds have migrated back to feed their offspring. In May, there are more bird calls and there are not many leaves, making it easier to observe. Many regional parks, provinces, and the country will hold various birdwatching festivals, most of which are free, which is very suitable for the whole family to participate in.
There are hundreds of species of waterfowl, songbirds, seabirds and predatory birds that travel to and from Canada every year. There are many communities in Canada on the migratory paths of birds. These migratory routes are called flyways. Usually, morning is the best time for bird watching. Like us humans, most birds sleep at night and wake up hungry.
Bird watching locations in the Greater Toronto Area
The various birdwatching festivals held every spring or autumn in the following parks are basically free.
For detailed activities, please refer to its website:
http://torontobirdcelebration.ca/events/
Toronto Zoo
Tommy Thompson Park
Colonel Samuel Smith Park Toronto Islands High Park Humber Bay Park
Downsview Park
Rosetta McClain Gardens
Birdwatching locations in Ontario
Because of its diverse environment and water conservancy forest resources, Ontario has become a transfer station or habitat for many birds to migrate. According to statistics, there are 501 species of birds recorded in Ontario, of which 291 species breed in Ontario.
1. Point Pelee National is a world-class birdwatching spot, where more than 390 kinds of birds have been inhabited. It is also known as "Canada's Warbler Capital". The Bird Watching Festival in May every year attracts birders from all over the world, but many items are charged.
2. Rondeau Provincial Park is located at the intersection of the Mississippi Route and the Atlanta Route among the four major North American bird migration routes (see the North American Bird Migration Map below), which makes it a transit point for many migrating birds. Every spring, various birds migrate to the north through Rondeau and then return to the south in autumn. Rondeau has therefore become a popular bird-watching spot all year round. More than 360 species of birds have been observed here, of which more than 130 species have raised their offspring. The park is famous for watching the rare blue-winged yellow warbler. The park also hosts a birdwatching festival every May.
3. Wheatley Provincial Park is located on the bird migration route, so it provides a great opportunity for bird watching. Every spring and autumn, many warblers, eagles, thrushes, and flycatchers pass by here, and some herons feed in the creek.
4. Presqu'ile Provincial Park occupies 2,350 acres (950 hectares) of swamps, forests and other habitats on Lake Ontario. Due to the diversity of its location, shape and habitat, Presqu'ile is visited by a large number of birds every year. The park has recorded 337 species of wild birds, 120 of which were once bred here. In mid-March, Presqu'ile Bay is the main gathering place for waterfowl. Thousands of birds of up to 20 species can be seen in one day. This area has become an important bird area (IBA). The park also holds a free birdwatching festival every May.
5. MacGregor Point Provincial Park is a famous place to watch migrating birds. Its coastline is located along the spring and autumn migration routes of birds. More than 200 species of birds have appeared here, including the black-crowned night heron and the American egret. Every spring, the Huron Fringe Birding Festival attracts a large number of birdwatchers, however, most things are fee-based items.
6. Pinery Provincial Park records 319 different species of birds, of which 124 species nest in the park. You can watch the magnificent migration of thousands of cygnets here in March, and all kinds of warblers in May and June. The park also holds a free birdwatching festival every May.
7. Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory Prince Edward Point is a gathering point for bird migration in the Great Lakes region. More than 300 species of birds were recorded, most of which were recorded during migration, and 74 species of birds have nested at this site. The Birdwatching Festival in May each year has various activities including bird banding, which records the migration routes of birds. The observatory records an average of 220 species of birds each year.
8. Hillman Marsh Conservation Area is an 87-acre marshland adjacent to Lake Erie. There is a 5 kilometres path around the marshland, as well as a nature center and an observation deck. Over 100 birds use the Hillman Marsh Reserve as a transit point on their migration routes each year. Various waders, songbirds and waterfowl including some rare species have been observed here. But this park can only see the waterbirds on the lake from a distance, not up close.
9. Beamer Memorial Conservation is known for eagle migration in the spring.
10. Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch is a known spot for watching eagle migration in the fall.
Bird feeding places (close contact with birds)
Some birds in the following parks (such as black-capped chikadee) can fly into your hands to eat. When feeding, be careful not to leave any bird food on the ground, to prevent damage to the local ecology (of course it is best not to feed them at all).
Burlington - Hendrie Valley Sanctuary (Cherry Hill Gate Trail) Mississauga - The Riverwood Conservancy Whitby - Thickson’s Woods Land Trust
Scarborough - Rouge National Urban Park
Places to learn about birds
1. Canadian Nature Museum Bird Gallery - There are more than 500 kinds of life-like bird specimens, allowing visitors to see the full picture of various birds very closely and intuitively. They have detailed introductions of the birds to make people understand their characteristics and living habits. It is a must-visit place for bird lovers. Its interactive facilities can increase children's participation.
2. Windsor-Ojibway Park and Prairie Complex: It is a habitat for a variety of wild animals and plants, including a variety of turtles, lizards, snakes, toads, frogs, salamanders, opossums, shrews, bats and a large number of birds. This center attracts all kinds of visitors, especially birdwatchers and wildlife lovers.
Birdwatching Big Year and Global Birdwatching Day
Big Year, mainly refers to an informal birdwatching competition among birdwatchers. The contest is to compare who can identify the most bird species by sight or sound within a specific range in a year. The American Bird Watching Association’s record for North America was set at 870 by Australian John Weigel in 2019. The worldwide Big Year is 6852 records of the Dutch in 2016. Every year, May 5th is the Global Big Day initiated by eBird. eBird is a birdwatching information recording and sub-item platform operated by Cornell University's Ornithological Laboratory. It is also the world's largest biodiversity-related citizen science project. The instructions of birdwatching day are: birdwatching enthusiasts go out to watch the birds, and then submit the birdwatching records in various places on the online record center. This day is a festival for birdwatching enthusiasts around the world. You only need to pick up the telescope to watch the birds on May 5th and upload your birdwatching records to the eBird website. The birdwatching data you provide will become an important part of Global Birdwatching Day.
North American bird migration route map
Common birds in Ontario
The Northern Cardinal is one of the most colourful birds in North America, with a spike-like crown and bright red feathers. It feeds mainly on plants seeds, while fruits and insects are used as supplementary food. Monogamy is practiced, and nests are mainly built by female birds. During courtship and female incubation, the male bird feeds the female bird, which can be called a loving couple. The red Angry Bird is a northern cardinal! It is loved by people in North America, and many states in the US regard it as a state bird.
Male Bird
Female Bird
The Blue Jay is named after the famous Canadian baseball team. Like its crow family such as crows and magpies, it is very clever and can imitate the calls of eagles, especially red-tailed eagles. It is said that this is to deceive other birds in order to grab food, but a more reliable explanation is that they just like to imitate. Especially because the eagle's call is close to their own voice, so it is easier to learn. It will also imitate human speech. An interesting fact is that the colour of the blue jay feather itself is not beautiful blue, but tan. The blue colour is the result of interference within the feathers. This is why if the blue jay falls on a treetop on a cloudy day, it will be brown when you see it.
The American Goldfinch is a species of North America. They are migratory birds, spread from Canada to North Carolina during the breeding season, and in winter from south of Canada to Mexico. The male bird is bright yellow, and the female bird is dark yellow and will change their feathers in winter. My favourite delicacy is a wildflower seed called thistle seed. The seeds of the thistle are rich in nutrients and can provide the golden finch with sufficient nutrients.
The Black-capped Chickadee is a small North American bird. The top and front neck are black. They are very cute, good at humming, and the sound is like an elongated "chickadee" in English, so the English simply calls this bird "chickadee". It may be the most curious bird, almost curious about everything. He is also very courageous and often eats in people's hands. Sometimes you may need to hide your food for later.
The House Finch is a frequent visitor to many backyards. The male bird has a red forehead, chest and belly, and his singing is extremely pleasant. It is about the same size as a sparrow, so when a few house finches and sparrows visit together, you might mistake them for the same kind of bird. The male bird often feeds the female bird to show affection. Female birds are also very coquettish. They will open their mouths and flap their wings, like children, asking male birds to feed.
The Common Grackle is a member of the North American blackbird family. They mainly feed on the ground, sometimes in the bushes or snatch food from other birds. They are omnivorous birds. It also goes to the bird feeder in the backyard to find food.
The Brown-headed Cowbird also belongs to the blackbird family. The origin of the word "cow" comes from roaming around cattle on the northwestern grassland and eating bugs that grow out of cow dung. As the only cowbird that is widely scattered and commonly breeds in North America, like the cuckoo, it lays its eggs in other nests, allowing other birds to raise offspring for it. When the brown-headed cowbird is secretly laying eggs in the nest of others, it raises its buttocks and smashes the eggs down from the air to break other eggs. The eggshell of the brown-headed cowbird is thicker and harder than other birds.
The Mourning Dove are pigeons who make a special cry, not tactful or unpleasant. They bulge their chests and use their noses to make a sound. The sound is like crying, very sad, so they are called Mourning Dove.
The Dark-eyed Junco is a small songbird that likes to forage on the ground. It is rarely seen in the backyard even in the summer when food is abundant. The time it spends on the bird feeder is far less than the time it takes to find food on the ground.
The American Robin was named by early European settlers after its reddish-brown plumage on its chest that resembled the English Robin. The robin is not a family of species, and there is no relationship between the two. The appearance is much inferior to the latter. The American robin's diet mainly consists of earthworms and various insects, and it also eats the fruits of plants in winter when food is scarce. No grains, nuts, etc. are included in the recipe. This is why they never eat bird food from bird feeders.
The European Starling, the bird mentioned in Shakespeare’s works, was brought to North America by Shakespeare fans and bred wildly. They caused so much trouble that they are now one of the few that are not subject to U.S. laws. Protection of birds. Starlings are as smart as other more common pet birds. They are good at imitating the sounds of other birds and animals (frogs, goats, cats), and even imitating mechanical sounds and even learning to speak.
Out of these common birds in Ontario, which ones have you seen?
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