Winter in Fort Erie Ontario

Winter Time Earl Plato

Winter bird watching Any one? I have learned from others that a bird’s territorial behaviour in Niagara is more easily observed in winter. I think you know why. Our more common birds establish and maintain clearly defined winter territories. Stevensville Conservation Park is where Ernie Giles and I saw where chickadees were gathered together in a flock in the winter time. They would descend on a feeding area as a group. Although I didn’t do it , Ernie said that regular observations of these little guys and you could estimate the extent of their territory and locate their favourite feeding areas. I know of two of these chickadee feeding areas at Stevensville Park. How many more feeding areas? I will check out this winter.
Again I was told that many winter birds live in well-defined areas they do not defend. These areas are called ranges.
Visit Stevensville Conservation Area and be patient. Winter time allows you to see birds more easily. Ten beautiful Cedar waxwings flew from across frozen Lake Stevensville (really a pond) from the northwest and flocked to the olive bushes near the creek bridge. They came as a flock , fed on the tiny olives, and left as a flock. Exquisite sight on a winter’s day. Binoculars in hand and camera ready - good picture!
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Cousin Keith and I are heading for Niagara-on-the-Lake via the Niagara Parkway. We are in search of the Oldsquaw (now designated Longtail) our beautiful visitor from the high Arctic.
What do we hope to hear and see?
Years ago Ernie, Debbie, and I stood on the banks of Niagara a few miles south of Lake Ontario. We heard various clucking and growling notes to he north of us. “Oldsqaws - its mating time,” said Ernie.
We drove to the mouth of the river and there they were - almost a 100 Oldsqaws! The unusual sounds were clearly discernible. If you’ve never heard the calls of this Arctic bird try to do so. “The sound travels for a mile or more,” said Ernie. He was right of course for we had come from upriver just a few minutes before where we had heard but not seen the Oldsquaws.
Memory dims sometimes. I recall the male as boldly patterned in black and white with this very long tail. Pink hue? Did I see a pinkish colouring on its back? All the books say no. Ernie and Debbie have moved away. If you see the Longtails (Oldsqaws) this winter check the colours of the male for me, eh.


Earl’s picture - Longtail (Oldsquaw)

The Longtail is not a large duck. Males are 19-22 inches (48-56 cm).
Females are considerably smaller.
Ernie informed us that this diving duck is one of the few that propels itself underwater using its wings. Most others use their webbed feet.
This duck goes deep for its food -shrimp, small fish and mollusks. The Audubon book says, “”... great depths - as deep as 80 fathoms.” Multiply by six - almost 500 feet! Believe it?
Head for Niagara-on-the- Lake in early 2003 and listen for the mellow, barking calls of the Longtails (Oldsquaws). You can’t miss sighting this Arctic duck with its very, very long tail. Good sighting.
FLASH! Report in from Long Point Bird Observatory via Rob Eberly.
Dec.16 -hundreds of ducks mostly Mergansers are dead - washed up on Lake Erie’s shore - Botulism E apparently the culprit. I hope no Longtails. More to follow.