At 10:45 a.m. I had a tight flock of about 20 Red Crossbills flying
low over Brookbanks Ravine in Don Mills in Toronto. Jean was on the
phone inside and missed them. They gave rapid jip jip calls but I
have no idea which "call type" they were. Both Red and White-winged
Crossbills are being reported widely this summer in Ontario and
elsewhere. They're on the move and will settle into areas with
excellent crops of maturing cones to breed. The best indication of
probable breeding is loud singing in both species. There's still a
lot of work to do assessing tree seed crops in Ontario before I'll
feel confident making forecasts about the various species of winter
finches. The annual Winter Finch Forecast for 2008-2009 will be
posted to Ontbirds in late August or early September.
Ron Pittaway
Minden and Toronto
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