I’ve lived all my life in Toronto, Canada. I’ve been fortunate to have the ability to journey to different locations to chicken, however Toronto is the place my birding adventures started. There’s at all times a lot to see in each season.
Toronto is positioned on the north shore of Lake Ontario. The three rivers that run by way of the town have carved out ravines. The town could be very inexperienced, with parks in every single place. In reality, our metropolis promotes itself as “a metropolis inside a park”. On the japanese aspect of Toronto, Rouge Nationwide Park is likely one of the largest city parks in North America. Downsview Park within the north and Excessive Park within the south are massive parks throughout the metropolis. All of this makes Toronto a fascinating place for migrating birds heading north within the spring and for the birds that breed right here. For a few of the winter birds that come down from the north, there may be the waterfront. Displaying up listed here are waterfowl, gulls, and even some owls. Inland birds discover meals and shelter, too. Within the fall, raptors hug the lake’s shoreline as they head west after which south to their wintering grounds.
Trying south over the expanse of the town, to the downtown towers
My native patch, G. Ross Lord Park, is one other sprawling city park. It’s within the northwest a part of Toronto. There’s a dam and reservoir, constructed for flood management. I’m going there year-round to search for waterfowl, waders, shorebirds and songbirds. There are hydro-electric towers standing within the reservoir, which home a Double-crested Cormorant colony. The day I took the image under, I counted 92 birds on the nests and towers. Birds I’ve seen there embody Nice Blue Heron, Nice Egret, Canada Goose, Frequent and Hooded Merganser, and Pied-billed Grebe. Within the close by fields of the hydro hall, the birds I see flying overhead embody Turkey Vulture, Pink-tailed Hawk, and American Kestrel. Nesting under are Music Sparrow, Northern Mockingbird, Pink-winged Blackbird and American Robin. (Within the image originally of this text, an American Robin makes a sinister pose with a hatchet. My daughter, who took the image, calls it “Homicide Robin”.) Typically there are shocking sightings, akin to a Eurasian (Frequent) Teal hanging out with Inexperienced-winged Teal or a juvenile Northern Shrike, each exhibiting up within the winter months.
Hydro-electric towers with nesting cormorants
There are pathways into the park’s leisure hall. Within the spring, alongside the pathway I discover flycatchers, warblers and different songbirds. Some keep to breed. I’ve watched Pink-eyed Vireo and Bushy Woodpecker nesting. Within the winter, Downy Woodpecker, Pink-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren and Black-capped Chickadee preserve me firm on my rambles.
Pink-eyed Vireo, properly hidden in her nest
Because the seasons change within the coming months, I plan to share with you the locations I’m going birding and the birds I see in Toronto.
Be aware: All pictures by the Kinrys household.
