[getsmart-l] Hungry northern birds hang out at the David Dunlap Observatory & Park

[Gloria Boxen]

http://www.rhnaturalists.ca/blog/2008/01/18/the-birds-of-david-dunlap-observatory/

The Birds of David Dunlap Observatory          By Rod Potter
 
 In 1970, the Richmond Hill Naturalists counted 41 species of birds on the David Dunlap Observatory grounds. That report was compiled by Dr. Helen S. Hogg, one of the DDO’s pioneering astronomers and a founding member of the Richmond Hill Naturalists. In addition to the “usual suspects”, Helen’s list included: “red-breasted nuthatches, brown creepers, winter wrens, brown thrashers, golden- and ruby-crowned kinglets, palm warblers, myrtle warblers [a.k.a yellow-rumped warbler] and Lincoln sparrows”.


 Thirty seven years later, Richmond Hill residents are still retracing the paths used by Helen Hogg and other astronomers at the DDO. These days, the forests are a little taller, a little more dense. The once-cultivated fields are now wild with sumac, overgrown orchards and thick bushes that provide cover and food for birds and other wildlife. The habitat has changed and so has the bird population.


 Since October 2007, the RH Naturalists have made an effort to keep track of all birds sighted within this 190-acre urban wilderness. As of mid-January, 47 bird species have been found at the DDO. We’ve had spectacular encounters with barred owls (see photo and video below) and Coopers hawks and have seen red-tailed hawks soaring over the forests and meadows on virtually every walk. Last Thanksgiving, we found many late fall migrants passing through and we hope to find these and other species on their return trip this spring.


 Although the woods have quieted down for the winter, large flocks of robins and cedar waxwings can still be found, along with downy and hairy woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, juncos and other winter residents. Recently, a Northern Shrike and Bohemian Waxwings were reported. So far, no one has seen Piliated Woodpecker, but tell-tale, elongated feeding holes (with fresh shavings on the ground) indicate this large bird is at least visiting the park.


 A flock of 20 Pine Grosbeaks has also been seen regularly since December. The presence of these birds on the DDO grounds is a pleasant, but not unexpected surprise. Ron Pittaway’s 2007-2008 Winter Finch Forecast called for an influx of northern finches as a result of last year’s seed crop failure (due to drought) in Ontario’s Boreal forest.


 We are fortunate to have southern islands of green such as the David Dunlap Observatory and Park that provide a safe haven during migration and a handy food supply when birds are forced to stray out of their usual range.
  WPvideo 1.10
  

 
 Bird species found on David Dunlap Observatory grounds:  

Go to http://www.rhnaturalists.ca/blog/2008/01/18/the-birds-of-david-dunlap-observatory/
for the listing

   
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