WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, June 15, 2003
With the spring migration all but behind us in the Quinte area, this is the month when nesting bird activity is at its highest ebb as resident species continue to mark out their territory by song, defend their nests, and feed their young. The confusing calls of young birds fill the air as even those birds out of the nest continue to beg for food and train their voices. Some species, like the EASTERN PHOEBE, AMERICAN ROBIN and SONG SPARROW that may have nested earlier, will move into their second brood of the season. Two AMERICAN REDSTARTS, in separate locations, were singing on Main Duck Island on Wednesday, suggesting occupied territory. Also in good numbers there Wednesday were at least a dozen BOBOLINKS in what is now being fondly known as the Bobolink fields for they are surely present in high numbers on each visit to the island. Also present on the island were both RED-BREASTED and COMMON MERGANSERS, MALLARDS, CANADA GEESE, COMMON LOONS, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS, WARBLING VIREOS, RED-EYED VIREOS, FIELD SPARROWS, VESPER SPARROW and SAVANNAH SPARROWS. BARN SWALLOWS still had young in nests in both the abandoned light keeper's house near the lighthouse and in the blacksmith shop/net shed at the harbour. At Sidney Conservation Area, south of Stirling, Monday evening, there was a good chorus of song for the traditional Monday evening hike with OVENBIRD, WOOD THRUSH, VEERY, WARBLING VIREO, RED-EYED VIREO and CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER calling. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER turned up at Smuggler's Cove Campground today, the first and only report of this species for Prince Edward County this year. Near Eldorado, three SANDHILL CRANES unexpectedly turned up, much to the delight of observers there. An absence of reports has made it necessary to suspend the Quinte Area Bird Report for the season, with the posting of the June 29th summary being the final report. Hopefully, we can resume the weekly postings by the first of September. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Dorothy Romphs, Albert Boisvert, Kristen Walsh and Jeremiah Allen for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 22nd. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. on Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good birding. Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.naturestuff.net "Terry Sprague" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
