Birders
Well things are picking up and we are getting a lot of reports daily.
You may see posts that proudly declare a species FOY (short-form for
first of the year). With over 3500 potential posters we could start
filling mailboxes with mail if we do not consider the significance of
our reports on a provincial level. While more first of the season birds
show up first in Essex County, migration is often on a broad front that
quickly covers the entire southern half of the province. Before posting
it might be an idea to check on the current and historic status of the
bird you are thinking of reporting.
The magazine North American Birds documents bird movements and patterns
on a continental basis
http://publications.aba.org/north-american-birds/ Back issues can be
found at https://sora.unm.edu/node/209
In addition Ebird has lots of tools to research bird movements. One
quick tool to look at recent ebird data is on the OFO website at
http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/eBird.OFOebirdrecent by clicking on a
species you can highlight locations in red where the species has been
reported. Clicking on the individual red points will give you
additional information. If you don't see the species you are interested
in listed, try unchecking the notable species box. If your research
yields few results a post maybe in order.
As always a post includes the main species in question and a general
location recognizable to anyone with a provincial roadmap in the subject
line. Except for well known locations like Point Pelee, directions to
the bird are included with every post. With Pelee and Rondeau
directions within the park are desired. For more information about
Ontbirds and its posting guidelines please visit the Ontario Field
Ornithologists website at
http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
___
Mark Cranford
Ontbirds Coordinator
Mississauga, ON
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to [email protected]
For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit
http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
Posting guidelines can be found at
http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
