Saturday, April 29: Spring has sprung and many birds are about! Five or more species of warblers, sparrows, woodpeckers, swallows, phoebes, hawks, falcons, ospreys, ducks, geese, loons, grebes, gulls and more will be present at this time of year! We will enjoy some spring migration birding at two of Ottawa’s classic migration hotspots: Shirleys Bay and Britannia Conservation Area. We will also make a quick stop at Dick Bell Park to pay the delightful Purple Martin colony a visit! I suspect that nearly 60 species of birds are possible during today’s tour!
Guarantees: With birds, there are never guarantees, I’m afraid. The good news is you’ll have a professional guide at the helm with many years of experience searching for and identifying birds. As always, I endeavour to make the most of each tour, and the philosophy I encourage is to “take whatever the day brings.” Each day in the field is a treat to savour!
What to pack/What to know: Please dress for the season, and be sure to take a look at the forecast for the region in which we will be birding a few days out from the tour. Please pack a cooler with the food and drink of your choice. We will have a 25-30 min lunch break at around noon, so please pack a field lunch; if the weather is nice, we can sit together at picnic tables. Pack your optical and photographic equipment, as well as your field guides should you wish to consult them during the tour. Please also pack your spotting scope, if you have one.
eBird Checklists: I will take care of all of the checklists for the day, and share them with you when the tour is complete. Your eBird statistics will automatically update when you accept the checklist. If you are not an eBird user, that is perfectly fine; I will email the checklists when I arrive home. You’ll be able to browse through the sightings list without having to be an eBird user.
Washrooms: I will plan a washroom break every 90-120 min.
Activity rating: 2/5. We will be birding on foot at two sites, covering approximately 5 kilometres over a span of 6 hours.
Meet-up time and location: 9:00 a.m. at Shirleys Bay boat launch parking lot.
Duration: 6 hours. Included within the tour duration is a snack/drink break and a 25-30 min lunch break.
Cost: $115 per person (HST-included). I do not have a preference when it comes to payment type; I accept e-transfer, cash and cheque.
Register for this outing by using this sign-up form