Bruce Di Labio's Blog: January 18, 2011 Birding in the Ottawa area.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

January 18, 2011 Birding in the Ottawa area.

The birding continues to be interesting but we are definitely now into winter birding. Not much changing in the bird life except some of the late lingering species are disappearing likely due to the colder temperatures. No recent reports of the Pine Warbler near Manotick which was attempting to overwinter but the Brown Thrasher near Dunrobin is still doing well. The birding east of Ottawa in the Casselman-Ste. Rose area was good this morning with a nice mixture of horned Lark, Snow Bunting and Lapland Longspur feeding along the roadsides. There is still a large flock of Lapland Longspur 125+ feeding near house # 3267 along the south side of CR 3. Look for the small group of cattle. Again no luck with Snowy owls but there were 3 rough-legged and 1 Red-tailed Hawk in the area. Check along the Rideau River at Manotick and had 400+ Mallards and a small number of American Black Duck, Common Goldeneye and Common Merganser feeding below the bridge. Along Eagleson Road near Rushmore Road had a flock of 27 Lapland Longspur feeding along the roadside. It's been one of the best winters in years for longspurs in eastern Ontario. There are still flocks of Bohemian Waxwing wandering around the region in search of berries. Observed a flock of 50+ along Huntmar Road near the hill. The Hilda Road area is still a good location to find them.

Directions: Take Hwy 417 east of Casselman and exit at #58 and go north. Take the first right turn ,Con. 20 and follow to Ste. Rose Road and turn left. Follow to Cty. Rd 3 and turn right. Continue east to Renaud Road and watch on south side of road. Please remember all the land is private property.

A Horned Lark searching for seeds along the roadside.

The Lapland Longspurs are easy to overlook feeding in the field or on a structure.

The bridge at Manotick is a great location to see overwintering waterfowl.

Lapland Longspur feeding along Eagleson Road.

Up to 7 Canada Geese and a number of Mallards are overwintering at a storm sewer outlet in Kanata south.

1 comment:

Ben said...: I am planning on trying to find the longspurs, horned larks and snow buntings tomorrow, although I am not sure what CR3 means. If you could provide general directions from Carling Ave, that would be great, thanks.; January 22, 2011 at 6:27 PM

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Birding Ethics

Ontario Field Ornithologists' Ethical Birding Principles
As the number of birders increases, we must all make every effort to act in a positive and responsible way. We must also convey responsible image to non-birders who may be affected by our activities. Most people appreciate birds but this appreciation can be quickly destroyed by the irresponsible actions of a handful of birders.

In the past a code of ethics was not considered necessary, but times have changed and as more and more pressure is put on our environment it is essential to do whatever we can to lead by example. Each of us must show consideration to other birders, landowners, habitat, birds and other wildlife at all times. We are ambassadors of birding and our actions today will reflect the respect we receive in the future.

The welfare of the birds must come first.
Whatever your interest, from scientific study to listing, always consider the impact of your activity on the bird. Respect bird protection laws. We are all responsible to ensure we abide by them at all times.

Habitat protection.
Habitat is vital for the existence of birds and we must ensure that our activities cause minimum damage to our environment. Use trails to avoid trampling vegetation.

Keep disturbance to a minimum.
Although some birds can tolerate human activity, this varies from species to species and from season to season. Use common sense and extreme caution around nests. Migrants may be tired and hungry and should not be kept from resting or feeding. When photographing birds, study their reaction and if they become agitated, back off. Avoid the use of flash photography on owls. Tape recordings and similar methods of attracting birds may cause stress for territorial birds. They should be used sparingly and avoided in heavily birded areas. Do not deliberately flush birds. Patience is often rewarded.

Rare breeding birds.
If you discover a rare breeding bird, do not feel under any obligation to report your find to other birders. Record the details of your discovery. You may wish to file the nest with the Ontario Nest Records Scheme at the Royal Ontario Museum. Avoid visiting known sites of rare breeding birds unless they can be viewed from a distance without disturbance.

Rare birds.
Rare migrants or vagrants are the species most sought after by birders. If you discover a rarity, consider the circumstances carefully before releasing the information. You must take responsibility for the decision to release the find. You should consider whether an influx of birders will disturb the bird, people or other species in the area; whether habitat will be damaged; and where people will park. Inform the landowner of the find, explain what may happen and obtain permission to tell other birders. Ask the landowner for a list of dos and don'ts, for example, where birders may stand to get a good view and what restrictions there may be on time of day. Also ask which areas are off limit. If you decide to release the news, give precise directions and instructions. If possible include a phone number. At all times make as little noise as possible. Remember, most non-birders will be surprised by the number of visitors who wish to see a rare bird.

Respect the rights of landowners and occupiers of land.
Before entering an area, be aware of the rules about access such as by-laws of Conservation Authorities, National and Provincial Parks, and Regional Authorities. Many landowners and authorities allow birders access to areas normally off limits. Always act in a responsible way and if you are asked to leave, do so immediately. Do not block gateways or cause damage to fences, and leave gates as you find them. Do not obstruct people who may be working in these areas.

Have proper consideration for other birders.
When telephoning for information, do so at reasonable hours of the day. Try not to disrupt other birders’ activities or scare the birds they are watching. Many other people enjoy the outdoors; do not interfere with their activities. Be polite to other birders and helpful to beginners. If you see people obviously disturbing birds or significantly damaging habitat, explain to them the effect of their actions but be courteous, they may not be aware of the effect they are having.

Increase our knowledge about birds.
Keep notes of your sightings and send them to area compilers. Send rare bird reports to the Secretary, Ontario Bird Records Committee.

When birding in other countries, provinces or regions.
Find out if there is a local code of ethics or any special rules that should be respected.

|Other Birding Codes of Conduct|

Bruce Di Labio's Blog

Thursday, January 20, 2011

January 18, 2011 Birding in the Ottawa area.

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