Wonderful weather over the two weekends, March 14-15 and March 21-22, and the efforts of more than 55 volunteers combined to make our 33rd annual Waterfowl Festival a great success. This year we introduced duck displays in the Lighthouse and we had 12 volunteers on hand there. More than 2000 people from across southern Ontario visited the Park to catch a glimpse of migrating birds.

Spring migration is still going on so we encourage you to come to see the wide variety of waterfowl as they make their way through Presqu’ile.
 
Duck Displays and activity room in the Lighthouse Interpretive Centre Photo: D Bree

The weather over the four days was generally bright and sunny, though Sunday, March 22 had a few snow flurries in the morning, before clearing up.

Duck watching was generally good, though the ducks were a little distant at times. This made the spotting scopes that were available for the visitors all the more valuable, as well as the expertise of the volunteers in the blinds to help the visitors locate and identify the various species.
 
   Photo David Bree
 
The best viewing day was probably Saturday, March 21 when a raft of several thousand ducks was reasonably close at Calf Pasture, in perfect light. This was also the day that the rarest duck of the weekends, the Eurasian Wigeon, was visible throughout the day.

In total twenty-four species of waterfowl were noted over the 4 days, and most were seen on every day. Other birds of note include a Snowy Owl on the ice all day on Saturday, March 14 and a notable movement of Red-tailed Hawks through the Park on Sunday, March 22.

Waterfowl seen include:
 
   Canada Goose            Snow Goose

   Mute Swan                  Tundra Swan

   Wood Duck                 Mallard

   American Black Duck  American Wigeon

   Eurasian Wigeon         Gadwall

   Northern Pintail           Green-winged Teal

   Ring-necked Duck        Lesser Scaup

   Greater Scaup             Redhead

   Canvasback                Long-tailed Duck

   Common Goldeneye    Bufflehead

   White-winged Scoter    Common Merganser

   Red-breasted Merganser   Hooded Merganser


The hike by Ornithology student and summer park interpreter, Allyson Parker, was a great success. This was a new event this year, held on Sunday, March 22 at 11:00 am. 25 visitors participated despite a grey and snowy morning.

David Bree,

Natural Heritage Education Leader
 
Visitors and volunteers Presqu'ile Waterfowl Weekend    Photo: D Bree
 
Waterfowl Weekend, Sunday, March 15                         Photo: D Bree
 
Duck viewing at Calf pasture, Saturday, March 21         Photo: D Bree
 

Bird walk, lead by Allyson Parker, on Sunday, March 22   Photo: D Bree