Birds eye view – and the people who spend time with them

With 260 species, birding in Kawartha Lakes delights many

Being in nature and experiencing our local wildlife firsthand is something to be amazed by and birders have taken it to the next level. Birding is a fun hobby that consists of observing different types of birds. People interested in these creatures are often able to identify what species they’re looking at and some know just by listening to its song.

Most of these hobbyists keep track of their sightings. They will usually have a journal or notebook full of the type, date, time, and place. Michelle Brown, a local birder, takes photos to document her adventures.

“I love the exercise, connection with nature, but mostly the excitement of documenting and photographing each species.”
While many bird lovers like Brown often take photos, Susan Mooney, another local birder, says it’s also important to just simply observe sometimes.

“Personally, I do like to take photographs of the birds I see. However, sometimes you have to just sit back, observe, and enjoy the moment when you see something special,” says Mooney.

Birdwatching can be done anywhere — from your porch, window, or on a nearby trail. That’s one of the reasons why Mooney loves this activity.

“I love that birding gets you outdoors. I also love that you can “bird” just about anywhere. It just takes an observant eye or tuned ear to locate birds. You don’t necessarily have to go far to find all kinds of different species of birds. Neighbourhood parks, waterways, backyards, open fields all have birds living in these spaces.”

Some of the most popular spots in Kawartha Lakes among birders are Carden Alvar, Fleming College, Scugog River, and Ken Reid Conservation. Local resident and bird enthusiast Teresa Middleton says the provincial park near Kirkfield is a great place to start.

“Here in the Kawarthas we are blessed with one of the most significant birding areas in the province, the Carden Alvar. Naturally, it is a favourite spot of mine. It’s not uncommon to find me there two or three days a week. Some of our most endangered and threatened species breed there including the Loggerhead shrike. From May to July it is not out of the ordinary to see over 70 species in a single day.”

With each birding adventure comes a new experience. While all these outings can be exciting, many birders hope for one thing to happen – that they get to see a “lifer.”

“For a birder, it is always a thrill to get a lifer. There is always a sense of accomplishment when you actually lay eyes on a bird that you have never seen before,” says Mooney.

People get into birding for all sorts of reasons. Some are looking for a hobby, others because they’re fascinated by birds and want to learn more, and some just stumble upon this interesting activity and stick with it.

Brown says while out for a walk with her partner on the Fleming College trail in Lindsay, they came across a barred owl. “I was so excited to see it and took many photographs of the owl. I was hooked from that moment on,” she says.

While Kawartha Lakes is filled with more than 260 species of birds, some of the most observed ones are ospreys, warblers, great blue herons and bald eagles. Out of all the different species in our city and surrounding areas birders will still have their personal favourite. Depending on their migration patterns some of these winged wonders will only be in the Kawarthas for a certain amount of time, so birders often look forward to certain seasons to spot their favourite birds.

“Every spring the highlight for me is the arrival of the bobolink, a boldly marked bird with extraordinarily large feet and one of the most unique calls. Standing by a grassy field if you hear what sounds like R2D2, that is the Bobolink… you can’t help but smile,” says Middleton.

Given the variance in their appearance, food choices, and habitats, birds are fascinating for those who take up this hobby. It is their uniqueness that makes them interesting.

“Consider the distances that some of these birds migrate each year, twice a year,” says Mooney excitedly.

“The hummingbirds that we see in this area often winter in Mexico. Some of these hummingbirds will cross the Gulf of Mexico. How can that be? Or consider the Atlantic puffin. This bird only spends the breeding season on land. The rest of the time – in fall and winter — it is floating around the ocean. Remarkable,” she says.

Middleton says birding will help you gain a greater appreciation for the creatures we share this space with and the habitats they live in.

“Birding can be healing, spiritual, exciting or relaxing but most of all it is full of wonder – wonder that such beautiful creatures are all around us and are not seen until you really start looking. It’s very special.”