And then there were Five

Finalists announced in Kawartha Lakes Bird of the Year contest

The results are in from the first round of voting for the City of Kawartha Lakes Bird of the Year and we are down to five finalists. All eleven proposed would have made worthy representatives and we’re sad to be losing a colourful cast of runners-up – the American Goldfinch, Red-winged Blackbird, Blue Jay, Tree and Barn Swallows, and the Downy Woodpecker.

But the people have spoken and moving into the finals are the Barred Owl, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Osprey, and Eastern Loggerhead Shrike.

For the five birds we’ve lined-up five champions, bird experts all.

Read on as they make the case for their favourites. Then go to the city’s Jump In site to cast your vote.

Barred Owl

If you have seen or heard an owl in the City of Kawartha Lakes, there is a good chance that it was a Barred Owl, one of the more common owl species in this area.

The Barred Owl is a deserving candidate for Bird of the Year, with its striking brown-and-white striped plumage and distinctive call, which sounds like “who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-all.” They are skilled predators and efficient hunters, with acute hearing and exceptional night vision, feeding on small mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Barred Owls play an important role in maintaining ecosystem balance. They help control populations of small mammals and other prey species.

Barred Owls also have cultural and spiritual significance in many indigenous communities, representing wisdom, intuition, and protection.

Despite their adaptability, Barred Owls face threats from habitat loss, fragmentation, and human disturbance, making it a great ambassador for conservation efforts throughout the Kawartha Region and beyond.

With their ability to adapt to a variety of habitats, their presence here during even the harshest winters, their devotion to their family, and their fierceness as a predator, the Barred Owl is an extraordinary bird species that deserves our recognition as bird of the year, a true champion of the avian world.

– Rob Stavinga, Watershed Resources Technician, Kawartha Conservation

Black-capped Chickadee

Easily one of the most common birds in the Kawarthas, the Black-capped Chickadee is one of the most curious and downright cute species we see year-round. With their distinctive black cap and beard, these fluffy grey and white songbirds are often seen foraging for seeds and insects in the forest, visiting backyard feeders, or even making a quick pit stop at an outstretched hand filled with sunflower seeds.

Despite having a large repertoire of sounds, they have some of the most easily identifiable calls of “chickadee-dee-dee” and “cheeseburger.” Black-capped Chickadees prefer to congregate in flocks and like many people, they form long-term, monogamous pairs. The oldest known Black-capped Chickadee was a male who, while being tracked through a banding exercise in New York, was at least 11 years and 8 months of age.

This often-overlooked species has a very special hidden talent – the ability to re-grow neurons in their brain, leading to a roughly 30% increase in brain size during the fall and winter months and helping them keep track of their many food stores. These little wonders may hold the key to unlocking brain regeneration in humans, aiding in the recovery from traumatic brain injuries, strokes, or even Alzheimer’s, making them a very worthy candidate for Bird of the Year.

– Jenna Stephens, RMO/Source Protection Technician, Kawartha Conservation

Cardinal

The male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) boldly announces his presence with his vivid and stunningly beautiful bright red colour. Countless photos have been taken of him, sitting on a snow covered evergreen branch illuminated by the winter sun with a winter blue sky in the background. That red colour comes from their diet which includes fruits that have carotenoids in them.

I am made aware of the impending arrival of spring when on one of those bright days the male starts his cheer, cheer, cheer song. Indeed, this bird does bring a load of cheer all year. The female is no slouch either. Her colouration, while being more subtle, is still a joy to behold. And she is quite vocal for a female bird, often singing while sitting on the nest. In fact the song of the female is slightly more complex than that of her mate!

For some people sighting a cardinal evokes emotional or spiritual feelings. Frequently cardinal pairs mate for life. This is because they do not migrate. Father cardinal is dedicated to his offspring and mate making sure they are well fed and protected. Fiercely territorial, the male can often be seen attacking his reflection in a window or side mirror of a car.

Having the Northern cardinal as bird of the year is a very easy choice!

– Eric Davis, president, Kawartha Field Naturalists

Osprey

With its graceful flight, piercing yellow eyes, and distinctive vocalizations, the Osprey epitomizes the natural beauty of our region’s avian species. A specialized fish-eating raptor, the Osprey is uniquely adapted to life along the waterways and lakeshores of the City of Kawartha Lakes.

It’s a familiar sight soaring overhead or perched atop a nesting platform– the distinctive white head, dark eye mask, and impressive wingspan make it easy to recognize. Whether observed from a lakeside trail, a canoe on the water, or a scenic lookout point, encountering an Osprey in its natural habitat is a breathtaking experience that connects us to the wonders of the natural world.

The Osprey serves as a symbol of resilience and adaptation in the face of environmental challenges. Despite facing historical declines due to habitat loss, pollution, and human disturbance, Osprey populations have rebounded in recent decades thanks to conservation efforts and habitat restoration initiatives, many occurring in our very own City.

The threats facing Osprey populations today are the same threats facing our species, as habitat degradation, pollution, and climate change all affect our lives.

By selecting the Osprey as Bird of the Year we would celebrate the remarkable resilience and recovery of this iconic species and highlight the importance of ongoing conservation efforts to protect their habitat and ensure their continued survival in our shared environment.

The osprey is a symbol of hope and what can be achieved in our community!

– Thom Luloff, professor of conservation biology, Fleming College

Shrike

The Eastern Loggerhead Shrike is a carnivorous, grey and white songbird, recognized by their distinctive black eye mask, hooked beak and large head. They are endangered in Canada, with habitat loss and collisions with vehicles being likely contributors to their decline.

Thanks to conservation breeding programs, unique habitat and land conservation, the Carden Alvar (Kawartha Lakes) is one of the few locations these birds breed in Ontario. The grasslands, cattle pasture and globally rare alvar habitat provide hunting grounds teeming with insects, small mammals, and other prey.

These innovative birds also make use of the hawthorn shrubs, using the thorns to skewer and store their meals.

The Eastern loggerhead shrike is an emblem of the community’s commitment to biodiversity and conservation. By selecting it as the bird of the year, we can honour the importance of protecting habitat and endangered species.

– Aiesha Aggarwal, Conservation Analyst, The Couchiching Conservancy