Outdoor Ontario
Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Rotarran on April 13, 2014, 04:07:51 PM
-
We finally reached 100 species at Downsview park (all time) and it's just gonna keep climbing!! :D
I had a great day today with a total of 35 species including these highlights: American Woodcock (new for DV), Pied-billed Grebe (also new for DV) and four Fox Sparrows. Also of note were many GC Kinglets, lots of DC Cormorants, and probably the same Hermit Thrush that was spotted on Friday. Horned Larks were still there and the Savannah Sparrows have returned in decent numbers (I noticed at least 5 but there could have been more).
Grackles were back too and there were a few Buffleheads in the pond.
Here's the complete checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17874443 (http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17874443)
-
Wow, well done; it's nice to reach the milestone. Congrats.
I went there in the afternoon and stayed around the woodlot area. I saw an Eastern Towhee (first for me), quite a few fox sparrow (first for me), quite a few Golden Crown Kinglets, one Brown Creeper. a pair of Northern Flicker, one hermit thrush, and the other regular residents.
-
Thanks Dinu! Wow an Eastern Towhee, that's awesome!! Don't forget to submit to ebird :D
PS: I should have mentioned that this is a Downsview Park Milestone, not a personal one. You see ebird has a hotspot map and Downsview Park is a also a birding hotspot in Toronto. Currently this hotspot is represented by a blue dot for Downsview but once it passes 100 species, the park then graduates to a green dot on the map. Places like the Leslie Spit are represented by a deep orange indicating a really good hotspot for birding (250+ species). I doubt Downsview will ever get to that level, but maybe 150 is attainable which would then be represented by a yellow dot.
-
Hi, we were at Downsview Park this morning, from 10:15 to 11:40. I had 20 species. My notables were: 1 Tree Swallow, 1 Fox Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, 4 American Tree Sparrows, 7 Buffleheads, 18 Double-crested Cormorants, 1 Flicker. I couldn't believe the racket that all the Killdeer were making.
We don't live too far from the park. Your posts reminded me that we should go by and see what was new. Keep up the good work.
-
Wow this is fantastic. I started the hotspot a couple of years ago with the hopes that it would lead to something like this!
Keep up the good work everyone,
Jonny
-
Hello,
This is Jonny from Downsview Park! I just wanted to let you know that on April 27th ( a week Sunday) Downsview Park will be hosting a public education program that will have a bird and citizen science focus. The program is called "Nature Connection", more information can be found here (http://www.downsviewpark.ca/content/dow ... connection (http://www.downsviewpark.ca/content/downsview-nature-connection))
This free public program will introduce people to the basic concepts of “birding” and how they can become Citizen Scientists! This program usually sees a number of young families participate, many of them will have little to no experience spotting birds.
Everything we count will be uploaded to www.ebird.org (http://www.ebird.org) . As you know Downsview Park is a “Hot Spot” on ebird, this is a link to where you can see all of the activity that has been reported in the park (http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L1437376 (http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L1437376) ). Hopefully we can grow our list well past 100 sepcies!
I was hoping that some people from Toronto’s birding community could help Downsview Park by sharing their incredible bird knowledge. If you want to come out to the park and share your knowledge you would be partnered with a Downsview Park Staff member. Our staff would be responsible for leading the group around the park and directing people, you (if you're interested) would help us out by counting and pointing out any birds you see or hear. As many of you know Downsview Park is a fantastic place to bird, this program will be an opportunity to give back and share your joy of birding with a new wave of potential birders!
We would welcome the help of volunteers on April 27th from 1:40-4:00.
Please let me know if you are able to help out during this program or if you have any questions. Please also share this message with anyone who may be interested in volunteering. If you would like to help out please email Jonny at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/downsview-p ... 1190072809 (https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/downsview-park-nature-connection-spotting-birds-for-citizen-science-tickets-11190072809)
Thanks so much,
Jonny
-
I passed by today in the hopes of seeing the Eastern Towhee but no luck...instead I came across a Winter Wren, another new species for Downsview. I think right now is the ideal time to watch for all manner of species at this park...with migration in full swing, it's very dynamic there right now. Always check the pond as well, you never know what you can find there.
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y469/Rotarren/b2d973ae-6aad-425d-93a5-21e3fcfa8e00_zpsa3a44e01.jpg)
-
Oh neat; a very nice picture of a wren. I'll be dropping by soon to see if what else can be found.
-
UNfortunately, that may not last long. Condo and townhouse development planned for Downsview park.
See below for article and petition against.
http://globalnews.ca/news/995021/new-ho ... view-park/ (http://globalnews.ca/news/995021/new-housing-development-announced-for-downsview-park/)
http://setdownsviewfree.com/ (http://setdownsviewfree.com/)
-
Well we already knew of the construction for the townhomes...is that the same thing or is this in addition to that? It's too bad...we don't have too many open grasslands type parks in Toronto. Last year we found a Western Kingbird and we could have had many more interesting species. The thing is that Downsview is a massive area...can they not dedicate at least one part of it to some sort of parkland?
-
The federal government doesn't want to transfer the land to city either. There's been a lot of discussion about the park lately in the paper; hopefully, all this will force the government to think differently. I was there yesterday around 6 PM and saw this mother Killdeer hard at work. Unfortunately, she chose a nesting site very close to the circuit road. Given the number of leash free dogs we see at the park, she may not see the eggs hatch. We can only hope for the best for her and for the park.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7373/14076982663_1699635dc2_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nrWdvD)
-
the reality of living in toronto is that condos/homes will be near parkland. the optimist has to be grateful that something like Downsview will exist while surrounded by residential area.
the entire land area is HUGE. most of it is currently poorly utilized for both park and residential space. with some proper planning, it may be a special area. and residential planning around downsview may bring further attention to the park area. so it may not all be bad.
as far as dog owners...well, unless you're the Spit, this is a problem EVERYWHERE. just ask we birders at Ashbridges.