Presqu’ile’s Waterfowl Weekends have been an annual tradition since 1977. But the waterfowl that are the stars of the event have been coming through Presqu’ile for much longer than that.
Presqu’ile Bay is a major stopping area for waterfowl as they make their way north in the spring. Spring for waterfowl starts as soon as the ice starts leaving the bay. The ducks congregate along the retreating ice edge, diving under the ice to find areas of newly exposed food. Numbers can reach 20,000 birds on some days and twenty different species seen on one day is not an unusual occurrence.
Photo Jan 08 David Bree
This congregation of waterfowl is a world-class wildlife spectacle and Waterfowl Weekends is about introducing people to this spectacle.
On two weekends in mid-March volunteer naturalists are positioned at various viewing hides around the park with telescopes to help people find and identify the up to 25 species of ducks, geese and swans that annually use the Presqu’ile Bay to rest and feed. We also have daily children’s activities including a self-guided scavenger hunt and duck-oriented naturalist-led program at the Nature Centre.
The Nature Centre, with a naturalist on site, is open 10:00 am to 3:00 pm daily with waterfowl oriented displays including mounted specimens, decoys and more.
The Lighthouse Interpretive Centre is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, featuring Friends’ snacks and hot drinks, and The Friends Gift Shop will also be open. The only indoor washrooms for this event are located in this Centre.
If you want a little more of a sure thing, a Bushnell representative will be on hand for one weekend with a selection of optic devices for sale and to offer advice on what’s right for you. Once again, Bushnell has generously donated birding optics to be used in the Friends’ fund-raising raffle. The draw will take place at the end of our Warblers and Wimbrels weekend, on the Sunday.
Dates for 2010 are to be confirmed.
Contact David at 613 475 4324, ext 225 or david.bree@ontario.ca for more information or if you are interested in volunteering.
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