Break Time

Take a Break Earl Plato

Winter break? Elaine and I followed the Kells to Pennsylvania mid-March for a few days. Great! I will share what we saw there later.
Every year, however, many of us take a little time to visit the Green houses of the Niagara Parks Commission. On this early morning drive from Fort Erie down the parkway we arrived early. One car in the lot. We spent some time in the Park shop until we meandered into the greenhouses. My folks never went on an extended vacation as far as I remember. However, we would come to this place and other winter stops such as the Greenhouses in South Park, Buffalo. I remember those trips well.
No birds to greet you back then. Now we have several tropical songbirds giving forth melodies at Niagara. I took some good snaps. Very enjoyable. The colours of the flowers and the luxuriant growth buoyed our spirits. Want to get rid of some of the mid-winter blahs? Stop in at the Park greenhouses now. It’s free admission for now.
Want even a more tropical setting? You know where, the Butterfly Conservancy. My niece and her family from Hamilton enjoyed this mid-winter break seeing the beautiful and exotic butterflies. It’s another opportunity to escape the winter doldrums. We go every year and it’s our time now. See you there.
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I have received calls about the Canadas recently. Hey, Earl how come we see large flocks of Canada geese heading south this time of year? In little Ridgeway various flocks of Canada geese pass over head honking their way to Lake Erie and food. No frozen Lake Erie this year. These “bottom up” feeders are after the wild celery and other aquatic plants along the lake Erie shore. Why go further South?
Paul Kerlinger of Bird’s World magazine gives some enlightenment to the changing times for birds. He says, “ Though it seems that birds return to nesting sites on almost the same day each spring, some species ..., are arriving earlier and earlier. The reason for this change is almost certainly related to global warming.”
For years now we have done the “duck drive” along the Niagara Park Way to Niagara-on-the-Lake. We stop along the way to identify ducks, swans, gulls and other birds. My reward was to see the Old Squaw ducks and hear their unique mating calls. These beautiful birds are one of my favourites. No show this year. Did I miss them? Each month, December, January and now February we travelled the way to the mouth of the Niagara. No Old Squaw. Did these upper Arctic birds travel this far south as they usually do? Thermal warming the cause?
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Bob Chambers and I headed for the Niagata Parkway in late February for a little duck watching on an overcast day. The usual mergansers and mallards along the way to Dufferin islands. I had been here twice in tjhe last month with wife, Elaine, in search of the wood ducks. There was “the lady” who feeds the ducks. We parked and watched. Just mallards, I thought. Then Bob said, “Look on the bridge.” There leading the way was a male wood duck! What a colourful bird. Many mallards and some more wood ducks came up the hill to feed on the corn and grain.
We drove on around the park and on the north side there were Canadas and mallards along side the road. We stopped and surveyed the active scene. Again Bob with his good eyesight spoke, “Earl, that’s an Old Squaw across the way.” Yes, there was this beautiful Arctic duck that some people call “Long Tail” gliding on the serene surface. No doubt about it. No need to go to Niagara-on-the-Lake to see one of my favourite ducks again this year. Thanks Bob.