The Great Gray Problem A Few Years Ago

The Great Gray Nature Is Calling You Earl Plato

From Marcie Jacklin, one of the great ‘birders’ in our Bert Miller Nature Club I quote, “ Migration has taken a turn for the better after that wonderful last weekend.” I have said that I had seen at least 100 Turkey vultures at Beamer’s Point above Grimsby. Marcie reported via her e-mail the following: “ ... viewed hundreds of vultures soaring in from the southeast. They were everywhere, a count of 1400 for the day.” 1400! I am heading for Beamer’s Point again with daughter Diane this week. She’ll make sure that I count correctly. 100 shouldn’t be hard to beat, eh?
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Readers of my articles may remember my Great Gray owl writeup. The Owl Foundation in Vineland, Ontario has been overwhelmed by the number of Great Gray Owls it has admitted this past year. They have received over 40 Great Grays far over the usual number. Some require immediate surgery and some are so badly injured that they are humanely put down. Others just need a safe place to recover. They will be assessed for their potential early or ultimate release. What a beautiful raptor it is. The Owl Foundation relies almost exclusively on private donations.
Kay McKeever, founder and president , would appreciate financial help with this unprecedented influx of Great Grays. Tax deductible contributions. Write to: The Owl Foundation. RR1 Vineland Station Ontario LOR 2EO View Website: www.theowlfoundation.ca
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The Friendship Trail in Fort Erie is open again. Reports from frequent walkers such as Keith Bailey of Crescent park report seeing many birds and a Bald eagle. This could be the same eagle reported in the same area the past month. All three sightings were in the same general area.
Have the eagles finally landed? Tim Seburn of the Bert Miller Nature Club reported a pair of Bald eagles building a nest on the northeast corner of Navy Island. Elaine and I went to the Chippawa area and set up the bird scope. There appears to be a nest on the east side (facing New York State) of this uninhabited Canadian Island. We hope so. Have you seen any ‘Balds’ lately? Birds that is.