[Ontbirds]Algonquin Park birding update: 17 April 2008

[Ron Tozer]

By the end of the week there was a little more open water
where creeks and rivers flow into lakes (e.g., Long Lake,
Lake of Two Rivers at Airfield), but all lakes are still ice-
covered. Snow depth went down some, but snow cover is
still very extensive in all areas not in direct sunlight. There
is much more snow and ice in the Park than at nearby places
such as Huntsville, due to the higher elevation of the
Algonquin Dome compared with surrounding areas. This
difference is reflected in later spring arrival by birds in
Algonquin, as well.

Very few new migrants were discovered this week until the
last two days, when temperatures were warmer, including at
night. Again this week, there was a mix of earlier than average,
about average, and later than average arrivals. Below, the
first date seen this week is followed by the average first date
in brackets.

Later than average first date:
Green-winged Teal: April 16 (April 14)
Ring-necked Duck: April 16 (April 8)
Bufflehead: April 17 (April 12)
Northern Harrier: April 17 (April 4)

Close or equal to average first date:
Common Loon: April 16 (April 15)
Ring-billed Gull: April 16 (April 16)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: April 16 (April 15)
Savannah Sparrow: April 16 (April 16)
White-throated Sparrow: April 17 (April 16)

Earlier than average first date:
Blue-winged Teal: April 17 (April 24)
Broad-winged Hawk: April 17 (April 21)
Hermit Thrush: April 14 (April 16)
Chipping Sparrow: April 17 (April 19)
Vesper Sparrow: April 16 (April 21)
Swamp Sparrow: April 16 (April 21)


FINCHES:

Common Redpoll: At least 3 were at the West Gate
feeder this week, and about 10 at the Visitor Centre.
Half a dozen were at seed put out at the Opeongo Road
winter gate on April 15.

Hoary Redpoll: One was at the West Gate feeder on
April 16. This is a new all-time late spring date for
the species in Algonquin. Previous latest was April 13.

Evening Grosbeak: One was at the West Gate (April 16),
and three were at the Visitor Centre (April 17).



BOREAL RESIDENTS:

Spruce Grouse: A male was on Spruce Bog
Boardwalk near the register box on April 12. A
female was along Opeongo Road, 1.1 km north of
the winter gate, on April 15, and two Spruce Grouse
were reported along Opeongo Road on April 17.

Black-backed Woodpecker: No reports. Try km 8 on
Highway 60, and Opeongo Road.

Gray Jay: They were observed at Spruce Bog Boardwalk,
and Opeongo Road.

Boreal Chickadee: Try Spruce Bog and Opeongo Road.


NOTEWORTHY THIS WEEK:

The average date (28 years) of the first drumming by
Ruffed Grouse heard in Algonquin Park is April 9. This
year's date was late, on April 17. In late springs like this
one, drumming is delayed until the drumming logs become
free of snow.

The first of three nocturnal owl surveys that are undertaken
annually in the Highway 60 Corridor was done on April 15.
The only owls detected at ten stops (2 km apart) involved
a pair of Barred Owls just east of the Portage Store turn at
Canoe Lake. This scarcity of owls was entirely expected
following a winter of very low small mammal populations
due to the virtual total absence of tree seed crops. Barred
Owls went south in large numbers this year, and many that
remained were clearly food-stressed as they hunted by day.
It will be interesting to see the results of the other two owl
surveys along the highway. We have yet to detect a Northern
Saw-whet Owl in the Park this spring.

Wild Turkeys have become regular in Algonquin Park
since 2002. However, there is no evidence to date that they
are present here during the winter (i.e., no sightings between
December 20 and April 14). It appears that dispersing birds
re-occupy the Algonquin Highlands each spring. On April 15,
a first year male and three females were observed walking
eastward along the margin of Highway 60 at km 6. This
group had reached the km 29 to 33 area by the following day,
showing the rapidity and extent of their movements.


BIRDERS:
Please let us know the date, number and location of birds you
observe when you visit Algonquin Park. This information is
stored in the Algonquin Visitor Centre database, and will help
us to assist other birders here.

Arowhon Road and Rock Lake Road are officially closed to
public travel until further notice. Do not use these roads.



Good birding.

Ron Tozer
Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired)
Dwight, Ontario

Directions:
Algonquin Park is three hours north of Toronto, via Highways
400, 11 and 60. Follow the signs, which start in Toronto on
Highway 400. From Ottawa, take Highway 17 to Renfrew, then
follow Highway 60 to the park. Kilometre markers along Highway
60 in the Park go from the West Gate (km 0) to the East Gate
(km 56). The park gates are currently not staffed, but you can
still get your permit there (by machine), and the park tabloid
(with a map of birding locations mentioned here) is available
there too.


The Visitor Centre has recent bird sightings and information, plus
feeders. Birders visiting during the week are welcome to contact
staff for birding information and access to the viewing deck, via the
service entrance (right end of the building as you face it from the
parking lot). Exhibits and restaurant are open on weekends through
April 20, 10 am to 5 pm.