Winter Birding 25/26: The Locals

Tufted Titmouse, Black Capped Chickadee, White Breasted Nuthatch, Red Breasted Nuthatch

One of the wonderful adaptations of birds is that some species can withstand brutal winter conditions.  Depending on their diet, they can glean food from the land, the sea, the sky (as Taylor Swift mentions!).  Many of the waterfowl that we have throughout the winter feed on fish, carrion and water plants, as well as any vegetation that they can get from the land.  That is why a bit of open water will enable some birds such as Great Blue Heron, Double Crested Cormorant and Belted Kingfisher as well as American Robins to surprisingly overwinter, specifically at the Talfourd Creek outflow where the water is heated from the plants as well as Pinery PP.  Most of those species will migrate , but they do save a great deal of resources if they can manage to stay.

Mute Swans, Canada Geese. Mallards and Trumpeter Swan

Most of the waterfowl species that we see in the winter breed farther north.  We will have Canada Goose and Mallards, as well as American Black Duck breed here.  Though our breeding geese and ducks usually migrate short distance to a bit warmer climes, and we get the ducks and geese that call the north their home.    The Mergansers will breed here on occasion.  Ring Neck Duck and Gadwall breed here as well as Northern Shoveler, though we see them more in late winter.  Trumpeter and Mute Swan are year long residents.

Herring Gulls and Ring Billed Gulls are year long residents to Lambton county.  They are colonial nesters so they find isolated islands and areas to build their colonies.  

Herring Gull and Ring Billed Gull

The seed eating birds are quite adaptable to harsh conditions as long as they have food (seeds) and shelter.  Cardinals, Blue Jays (though many of them do migrate to warmer climes), American Goldfinch, House Finch, House Sparrow, European Starlings, Red and White breasted Nuthatch, Chickadees and Tufted Titmouse, Mourning Dove, Rock Pigeon, American Crow make southern Ontario their home.  

American Goldfinch, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay and Cardinal

Woodpeckers also live here year round.  We will see the Downy and Hairy Woodpecker, Red Bellied Woodpecker and the Pileated Woodpecker.  Surprisingly they do thrive in winter though they live primarily on insects.  In the winter they will eat seed and other available food.  Brown Creepers also will overwinter, I have seen them right down at the river during the harshest snow and winds!  Golden Crowned kinglets have also been seen in the winter, specifically at Marthaville and Pinery.  They are hardy little birds!

Brown Creeper, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker

Our local resident Bald Eagle and Red Tailed Hawks live here year round.  American Kestrel and Merlin are the falcons that will stay, though many do migrate.  Cooper's and Sharp Shinned Hawks will also stay and love our well fed birds at the feeders.  Raptors are partial migrants, going where the food source is.  For instance Bald Eagles that breed north of the 40 parallel will migrate, while more southern populations are often permanent residents.  Open water is crucial for them for fishing, so they will seek that out.  We see quite a large population of Bald Eagles on the St. Clair River in winter.  Our local resident Eastern Screech Owl and Great Horned Owl are year long residents.  

Bald Eagle, American Kestrel, Red Tailed Hawk and Sharp Shinned Hawk

Wild Turkey and Spruce Grouse also live here year round.  I have been blessed to see the former many times, have yet to see the latter...maybe this year!

Birds are constantly moving and migration is just the most pronounced form of moving.  Birds do have territory and will come back to the same territory year after year, which is truly a miracle as how do 1st year birds know to do this?  It is not fully understood.  But it is so fun and interesting learning about it!