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February 2000 Sightings in the Windsor Area

Tuesday, February 29: Ojibway's first Eastern Garter Snake and Painted Turtle of the year were reported today. Chorus Frogs were heard calling at Holiday Beach C.A. during the warm weather on Saturday (Jim McCoy).

American Woodcocks were displaying in the Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Reserve this evening (Karen Cedar). Others have been reported in LaSalle, Wheatley and Pelee Island.

Monday, February 28: Highlights of Ojibway's field trip to Hillman Marsh C.A. on Saturday included Bald Eagle (adult and immature), Great Blue Heron, Tundra Swan, Hooded Merganser, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Redhead, Canvasback, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, American Goldeneye, Red-breasted and Common Merganser. Ring-billed Gulls, Killdeers, Common Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds and American Robins were widespread. Despite the 20 C temperature there was little open water in the marsh and most of the waterfowl were concentrated along the lakeshore. An active Great Horned Owl nest was found in Wheatley Provincial Park.

On Saturday Randy Horvath found a Northern Shrike and two Eastern Meadowlarks at Little River while Matt Baker had a Peregrine Falcon there on Sunday.

Denis Dupuis reported Red-bellied Woodpecker, 2 Great Blue Herons and good numbers of American Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds at Holiday Beach C.A. on Sunday.

Friday, February 25: The warm weather continues to bring new birds into the area. Large numbers of Ring-billed Gulls were flying over the city yesterday and Common Grackles have been reported by several observers. Fred Urie found 47 Rusty Blackbirds along Turkey Creek this morning and Eastern Chipmunks are becoming more active along park trails.

Windsor birders submittted sightings of more species than any other place in Ontario for the Great Backyard Bird Count. 56 species were recorded in the Windsor area!

Wednesday, February 23: Record high temperatures (61F today) followed Friday's snowfall and brought the first wave of spring migrants to Windsor. Killdeers were reported yesterday at Little River (2-3 by Randy Horvath) and Spring Garden Prairie (Fred Urie). An adult Red-shouldered Hawk was also found at Spring Garden (Fred Urie). Today 2 Northern Shovelers and a Pied-billed Grebe were present at Goose Bay Park (Randy Horvath) while two flocks of American Robins and several singing Red-winged Blackbirds appeared at Ojibway.

Monday, February 21: Local highlights of the Great Backyard Bird Count included over 10,000 Canvasbacks, good numbers of Canada Geese, Common Goldeneyes, Common Mergansers, Mute Swans, Tundra Swans, Mallards, Redheads, Greater Scaups, Lesser Scaups, Buffleheads, Black Ducks, Gadwalls, 18 Ring-necked Ducks, 6 American Wigeons, 1 American Coot and 1 Glaucous Gull along the Detroit River, Belted Kingfisher at Little River, 17 Tufted Titmice and 9 Eastern Bluebirds along Normandy Road (Fred Urie), Northern Mockingbird at Mill Street & Russell (Paul Pratt), Northern Shrike and Merlin at Little River (Randy Horvath), +300 Snow Buntings & 2 Lapland Longspurs (John Brewster, David Boyce) and several Pine Siskins in LaSalle.

A Bald Eagle sitting on a nest at River Canard provided an early sign of spring. Great Horned Owls should also be nesting by mid February.

Thursday, February 17: Essex County's second release of Wild Turkeys took place at Cedar Creek on Wednesday. A total of 17 birds will be released here in the hopes of establishing this species in the Cedar Creek watershed. A 1998 release at Big Creek has been judged successful by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Friday, February 11: The third annual Great Backyard Bird Count will be held February 18 to 21. Go to the Bird Source web site to enter your weekend sightings or view the results.