[Ontbirds]Winter Birding in Canada -- where is Ontario?

[Blake Maybank]

Hi Ontbirds;

Winter birding  has become a very popular 
activity among Canadian birders.   The origins of 
this slightly insane behaviour apparently date 
from southern Ontario in the 50's and 60's, but 
the sport's appeal really took off with the 
promotion afforded it by Gerry Bennett in the 
1980's, through his "Birdfinding in Canada" newsletter.

Winter Birding remains popular today.   The 
winter period comprises the three months of 
December through February, matching the reporting 
period of "North American Birds".  Winter Birding 
web pages are maintained for nine of ten 
provinces in Canada, as follows, from east to west:

http://tinyurl.com/2jqo5p    Newfoundland and Labrador
http://tinyurl.com/2u2ulg   Nova Scotia
http://tinyurl.com/3bkhwz  Prince Edward Island
http://tinyurl.com/36hpe4   New Brunswick
http://tinyurl.com/2ngu7n  Québec
????                                         Ontario
http://tinyurl.com/yjtx52     Manitoba
http://tinyurl.com/2qde59    Saskatchewan
http://tinyurl.com/yke4sl    Alberta
http://tinyurl.com/33bmzc   British Columbia

But Ontario, where the activity began, does not 
have a winter birding page.  Disappointing, and 
slightly ironic.  The rest of the provinces are 
not keeping track as a competition (because BC 
always wins), but simply to encourage birders to 
explore their home provinces during a time of 
year when many would prefer to linger 
indoors.   A couple of provinces have even 
started the DOWL, the Dead Of Winter List, 
tracking all sightings during the month of February.

There are also winter birding pages for:

http://tinyurl.com/y45kl5   French islands of Saint-Pierre et Michelon
http://tinyurl.com/2sprtm   Iceland
http://tinyurl.com/2wp4sa   Ottawa / Gatineau region

So, does anyone wish to start an Ontario winter 
birding page?    The rest of Canada's provinces 
would love to have you join the party, which begins in less than two weeks.

Good (winter) birding,


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blake Maybank
maybank at ns.sympatico.ca

Editor, "Nova Scotia Birds"

author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia"
http://maybank.tripod.com/BSNS.htm

White's Lake, Nova Scotia
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