In fact, it was May 23rd when we noted the presence of a pair of White Faced Ibis which, according to Long Point Bird Observatory (LPBO), was the last day they were seen.
Barn Swallows
Our family has been volunteering for the nonprofit group Bird Ecology and Conservation Ontario. Zoe Lebrun-Southcott and Andy Campomizzi are running a Barn Swallow and social cues program. Read more about it at http://www.beco-birds.org/portfolio-item/barn-swallows-and-social-cues/
Unfortunately the structures we are monitoring haven't been productive. We see lots of other birds though during our twice weekly monitoring sessions including the Green Heron (pictured above) which seems to be present fairly regularly.
Long Point Bird Observatory (LPBO
Speaking of LPBO, their 56th spring season ended at the Tip on June 10th. The day before they had observed a Cassin's Kingbird. This was the first ever at Long Point and the first live one in Ontario since 1970. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this bird should be in Mexico or the south west United States. (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cassins_Kingbird/id)
Birds are moving around the Long Point/Port Rowan area all year. And consider this: It is only 48 days until the Fall Monitoring season opens on August 15th. Here is a summary of the spring season from LPBO. http://www.bsc-eoc.org/longpoint/index.jsp?targetpg=lpbosight
Counting Butterflies
An interesting event is coming up this Saturday July 4th. Adam Timpf is coordinating a Butterfly Count.
He tells us that the the butterfly count runs like a Christmas bird count.
"Groups of people cover different areas counting and identifying every butterfly they find. People spend the entire day in the field and then get together around 5:00 for dinner and to compile the results," says Adam.
If you are interested in participating contact Adam at adam.timpf@gmail.com
Wetlands
Some of you will remember the old Port Rowan sewage lagoons. They are being transformed into wetlands as this story from the Port Rowan Good News does a good job at describing. http://www.portrowangoodnews.com/port-rowan-wetland-restoration-will-be-first-of-its-kind-to-transform-sewage-lagoon-to-functional-wetland/
We've been watching a family (maybe two families) of Common Gallinule at the wetlands recently. Hopefully, we'll have some pictures soon.
Meanwhile, here is a Black Tern from that location from earlier this year.
