The Joy of Birding

Birds are simply a joy to observe. Their migratory comings and goings over the year connect us with the seasons and far off places; their songs and colours add beauty and variety to our lives; and their presence in almost every environment, from the most built-up inner city to the most remote forest, reminds us that we are part of nature, no matter where we are.

There are many ways to appreciate birds and mark their presence in your daily life. For example, some people enjoy keeping lists to track the species they’ve encountered, some enjoy the photographic opportunities birds provide, and others find satisfaction contributing to community and citizen science programs to assist in bird conservation efforts.

Many more observers of birds may just want to take a moment to watch a robin pull a worm from the lawn or have a chickadee eat a sunflower seed from their hand. Regardless of the way that you decide to observe birds, if you strive to learn about them and appreciate them, you are a birder, and Ontario provides a rich backdrop to anyone’s birding practice.

What to Do When You See a Bird 

Spotting an unknown bird is thrilling, but make sure not to take a bird’s presence for granted. Observe it while it’s in front of you, and don’t assume you can “take a look in a minute.” If you spend time fumbling with a guide or opening an app, you might lose the opportunity to observe it before it flies, swims, or hops out of sight.

 A good tip when you have only a second or two with a bird is to start by noting whatever you can about the bill, as the shape, size, colour, and length will tell you which family or group your bird falls into, and may also help to distinguish between species in that family. 

Every bird is an individual, and a species’ appearance varies widely across age, sex, and time of year. If you can take a picture, that can be a valuable aid to identify an unknown bird later. If not, note down whatever you remember about a bird while the impression is fresh. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t identify every bird you come across. Sometimes, you just don’t have enough information for a positive identification.

Ontario’s Bird Geography 

Ontario’s geography is incredibly varied. Canada’s only Carolinian forests are found in southern Ontario, allowing southern species like Louisiana Waterthrush and Prothonotary Warbler to have a home here. Slightly farther north, the mixed woods and Canadian Shield regions provide a fine mosaic of habitats that create niches for birds such as Cerulean Warbler and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. North of that, the boreal forest landscape is part of the continent’s “songbird nursery,” with specialties like Bay-breasted and Cape May Warblers. Even farther north, the vast watery bogs and rich peatlands of the Hudson Bay Lowlands provide nesting grounds for birds as varied as Golden Eagle and Palm Warbler, and Ontario’s northern ocean coast presents yet another habitat, a strip of coastal Subarctic tundra that provides nesting opportunities for far northern specialties like Hudsonian Godwit and Willow Ptarmigan. Birding in Ontario never needs to become routine; there are always new areas to explore.

Seasonal Variation 

The number of bird species you can find in Ontario and the rest of Canada varies greatly from season to season. The majority of birds seen in Ontario are migrants that spend only a short time here in spring and summer compared with their stays on their wintering grounds (such as Great Crested Flycatcher and Spotted Sandpiper). Other species are residents, who maintain a core range in Ontario throughout the year (for example, Black-capped Chickadee and Northern Cardinal). Finally, a small handful of birds visit Ontario only in the winter from breeding locations farther north (such as Snowy Owl and Snow Bunting). The cast of bird characters in the province is constantly changing from week to week.

While the peak of spring migration in southern Ontario occurs during the first three weeks of May, the annual northward movement of birds begins much earlier.

And though a few species, such as Great Horned Owls, Rock Pigeons, and occasionally crossbills, may begin nesting in early January, the majority of Ontario’s birds nest between May and the end of July, when the weather is warm and food is most abundant.

For birding enthusiasts, fall migration can be just as thrilling as spring, if not more so. Many species begin their southward journey as early as August, with migration continuing well into November. Shorebirds are among the first to appear, returning from their Arctic breeding grounds, followed by the songbirds and a variety of hawks and falcons. Fall migration presents unique challenges and opportunities: young birds, often sporting different plumage from adults, add an extra layer of complexity to identification. Unlike the urgency of spring migration, the fall movement is slower, as birds are not racing to claim breeding territories. By late November, northern-breeding waterfowl begin returning to overwinter in ice-free lakes and rivers, and owls may also move southward as snow and lack of food resources create challenges in the north. The shores of the Great Lakes are especially productive during fall, offering both a concentration of migrants seeking land routes and the potential for rare or vagrant species, often displaced by storms or inexperience

The winter season may not have the diversity of birds we see the rest of the year, but it can still be a great time to go birding. Many northern finches move south in winter to feed on tree cones or visit feeders. Waterfowl species congregate in ice-free waters in lakes and rivers, and Snowy Owls and Rough-legged Hawks may be found in open farmland and along lakeshores. The year-round resident species can also be attracted to feeders set up in parks or backyards.

Responsible Birding

As the number of birders and bird photographers increases, it’s becoming more and more important for both to act in a positive and responsible way.

Most people appreciate birds, but this appreciation can be quickly damaged by irresponsible behaviour. Consideration should be shown to other birders, bird photographers, landowners, habitat, birds, and other wildlife.

Whatever your interest, always consider the impact of your activity on the bird. Habitat is vital for the existence of birds, and birders should ensure that their activities cause minimum damage. Stay on roads, trails, and paths where they exist; otherwise, keep habitat disturbance to a minimum. To avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise restraint and caution during observation, photography, audio recording, or filming. Stay away from active nests. Migrants may be tired and hungry and should not be kept from resting or feeding. When viewing or photographing birds, study their reaction, and if they become agitated, back off. Avoid the use of flash photography on owls.

Be especially cautious with rare breeding birds. If you discover a rare breeding bird, do not feel under any obligation to report your find to other birders. The sites of rare nesting birds should be divulged only to the proper conservation authorities. Avoid visiting known sites of rare breeding birds unless they can be viewed from a distance without disturbance.

Before entering an area, be aware of the rules about access, such as bylaws of conservation authorities, national and provincial parks, and regional authorities. Always act responsibly, and if you are asked to leave, do so immediately.

Try not to disrupt other birders’ or photographers’ 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 damaging habitat, courteously explain to them the effect of their actions; they may not be aware of the effect they are having. Birdwatching can be an extremely rewarding experience when undertaken with care.

Excerpted from the forthcoming publication A Field Guide to Birds of Ontario and edited for clarity and length.

Mark Peck is a ROM Associate. Emily Rondel is a Biologist at Canadian Wildlife Service.