John Miles Jarvis, On 1-519-587-5223Haldimand Bird Observatory
Tufted Titmice have become regulars at the feeders beside the banding
trailer in the SW part of the park. Up to 4 have been coming in together.
There are upwards to at least 10 in the park as 10 were banded there this
fall.
Away from the feeders the titmice are secretative and often very quiet. It
is recommend to bring some peanuts in the shell and put them in the hanging
wooden feeder in case the feeders are empty. These titmouse seem to really
like the peanuts in the shell. Then sit quietly on the picnic table. The
titmice appear a few minutes after the mob of chickadees come in. Since the
feeders are only being refilled about once a week in case the feeders are
all empty there is bird seed in the oil drum behind the trailer at the edge
of the pines but be sure to replace the lid securely other wise the racoons
and squirrels will clean the drum out.
Also of note the local Great Horned Owl has resumed using it's roost it used
last winter. When crossing the Spring Creek marsh on the boardwalk. Stop
about the middle and look NW. About 50 metres north of the west end of the
bridge along the edge of the marsh is a Norway Spruce, another 50 metres
further north is a second Norway Spruce that is more out in the open. Using
your bins check out about half way up and in the middle of the north tree.
There is a small opening to the trunk. The owl when roosting in the tree
sits back in there. The grey-whitish plumage makes it look like the tree
trunk but the owl often sits a few inches north of the trunk which is a dark
brown. Without using your bins the owl blends in so well it is almost
impossible to make out. Please do not try to get closer than the bridge as
the owl will take off and head off to the NE where there are some large
white pines several 100 metres away and will not return for the rest of the
day.
Selkirk Provimcial Park is located about 2 miles SW of the village of
Selkirk off the Wheeler Rd.
