Outdoor Ontario
Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: MEGHAN on February 15, 2010, 01:26:40 AM
-
As Posted on ONTBIRDS by Dian Bogie
"Dear Fans of Mr. P:
I know that it's been a very long time since I have posted and there is a reason for that.
As the weather became increasingly colder and more winter-like, it became apparent that Mr. P went further and further afield to sustain himself and keep warm. Where he went on those numerous days and nights without being found, I have no idea. However, from time to time, he would show up at his usual haunts but those occasions were few and far between. Even though Sue and I continued to keep a watchful eye, there seemed to be no pattern to his habits, as there had been in the past. He would disappear for a week to 10 days at a time and therefore, one could not guarantee his whereabouts. He also became increasingly cautious ( a good thing ) and seemed to spook much more readily. His continued existence became the main focus as all of his resources were required to just keep him alive. Outside influences would have perhaps hindered his chance of survival. For all of these reasons I did not post and I hope that everyone will understand, that the life of Mr. P outweighed all else.
Up until Feb. 8th, I had not seen Mr. P for 2 weeks. As I set about my twice daily walks in hopes of once again sighting him, I came home after my morning walk 'without a bird in hand' and very disappointed. However, in the back of my mind I always thought "well he's surprised you before, don't give up hope". As I scoured his usual haunts, late in the afternoon of the 8th, I nearly missed him but there he was mingled with the late afternoon shadows, foraging for berries on the ground. I recall a quick intake of breath and then holding my breath for fear of alarming him into flight. I watched for almost an hour as he struggled to find food. A couple of times he ascended into the branches of a multiflora rose and took a few rose hips. Just before dusk he departed for his nightly roost but his flight was very low. I felt concerned.
The next morning Rick (my husband) and I were getting ready to go to the greenbelt to harvest more buckthorn berries and rose hips to stock up various feeding areas for Mr. P, ahead of the forecasted snow storm. Upon looking out our window to the backyard, there was Mr. P in the very multiflora bush in which I had very first spotted him. He was on a very low branch and made a few weak attempts to garner rose hips and was successful with 3. However, after sitting on the low branch once again, he then fell onto the ground. We watched and waited, with anguish and hoped that he would recover but it became obvious that he was too exhausted to remove himself from the snow and leaves on which he was laying. We realized that we must do our best to rescue him. Fortunately, we were able to do so. Rick, gently ensconced Mr. P in a light wrap, from which we transferred him to a rescue box. In so doing, I actually held Mr. P in my hands for a few brief seconds. What a moment.
We are pleased to tell everyone that Mr. P is alive and recovering wonderfully at SOAR. He's "eating like a madman" and needed to have his face washed because it was quite 'jammy'. He's also taken a bath that was offered to him and continues to eat everything in sight. His prognosis seems optimistic.
SOAR is an avian songbird centre, ( charitable foundation ) run by a wonderful, able, concerned , recognized woman who devotes her life to saving songbirds. We know that Mr. P is in excellent hands and will surely survive with the great care that is being given him. With all due respect and I totally appreciate how interested people are to see Mr. P, I humbly request that you do not visit or send emails to SOAR. It truly is a hospital for sick songbirds, that need calm, quiet and respite to ensure their recovery. The Lady that runs this facility is dedicated to her task and is humble in the wonderful work that she performs. For this reason we request that your desire to see Mr. P be put 'on hold'
In the meantime, I will be glad to post a weekly update of Mr. P's recovery. If any one feels inclined to offer assistance to the maintenance of Mr. P or to the other songbirds being rehabilitated, please contact me personally and not Ontbirds. I'll be glad to assist.
Sincerely
Dian"
-
wow!!! i for one , gave this battler, little chance for sucess against our winter. does that just brighten up your day reading this post,,,amen
-
Thanks Meghan for posting the above information about Mr. P, great news. :D
You're the best Dian, Thanks!!!
Walter
-
Thank goodness for people like Dian and Rick. What a wonderful story; it's great to know Mr. P. is a fighter and is doing well with "a little help from his friends". Thanks for sharing this info Meghan.
-
Thanks for posting the above information about Mr. P, great news but it should have been stated that it was taken from ONTBIRDS and that it was posted by Dian Bogie. Credit should be given where credit is due. :D
Walter
Sorry everyone, I never thought to do that. :roll:
My origional post above been edited to show where it came from and from whom.
Sorry if I caused anyone any confusion, it was not my intention.
Meg
-
Not to worry Meghan - it was great that you thought to share the update.
-
Wow that is great news my heart was saddened when I heard that he might have perished, ....Meghan thanks for sharing and to Dian cheers to you...please keep us all updated on the recovery process!!!!
-
On Ontario Birds a new reports was just added. Very sad. Ann
Subject: Mr. P and sad news
From: dian bogie <owletdb>
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:30:27 -0500
Dear Fellow Birders:
It's with much difficulty that this post is being made, for it bears very sad
news, so soon after good news.To everyone who has expressed much concern,
interest and good wishes about our far flung traveller, Mr. P,it's so very sad
to tell you, that our plucky, wee, fellow has just expired.
However, we need to put this into perspective (and that's a little hard to do,
at this time) but you know, he wasn't meant to be here, trying to survive in a
very foreign and difficult environment. Let's face it, he was a Southerner, not
accustomed to our very cold, extended winter and yet somehow, he ended up in an
environment, in which he attempted to adapt and conquer. It wasn't very
hospitable in terms of weather conditions and so many other hindrances. In
spite of that, he ferreted out bushes that looked somewhat familiar, that could
provide a ready food source; he made himself aware of aerial threats (the
Merlin) and threats from the ground; neighbourhood cats.
The fact that he managed to adapt and survive for so very long, speaks to the
fact there is nothing wrong with having a 'bird brain' nor is there any such
thing as a 'dumb animal'. They have it all over us, when it comes to survival.
In the past week, Mr. P has had the utmost amount of relief in terms of Care;
Food; Calm; Warmth and Tranquility, thanks to SOAR. Without SOAR, there would
have no hope at all! Soar provided Mr. P the very best days of his life in
Canada and he couldn't have been 'better landed' in his final days. For that I
am ever grateful. Thank you J.
I can only say, that this has been a life-altering, humbling experience and I
fully recognize that.
Thanks again one and all for your offers of assistance, well-wishes etc. They
were warmly received.
SincerelyDian
P.S. Even though Mr. P has succumbed, other birds are being cared for at SOAR
and I'll be glad to provide the address etc. if you're inclined to help. Thank
you.
_________________________________________________________________
-
This is truly sad news. :cry:
Jo-Anne
-
sorry to hear about mr p , dian, he gave us smiles and revered awe, i am amazed at his courage and his strength. he may have left us but he will be remembered by many. he left us all something to smile about and everyone lucky enough to have seen him, will always admire him. again, in case its faded, thank you much for your love and efforts and your super hospitality to the birding world. we seem to find these lost little birds every winter, and this winter, mr p was the star :!:
-
Sigh....reading the initial post put a smile on my face and a warm in my heart...and then I scrolled down to post a thank you for the post....well I still say thanks...not living in the GTA, I had wondered whatever happened to him...I tried to explain this little phenomenon to my wife and daughter but their eyes glazed over and they gave me a prefunctory, "oh neat".
It is pretty neat though that he was here and I am sure many of us will remember those months in 2009 / 2010...
Thanks again for the update.
-
Thought I'd check the thread and was very very sad (teary sad) to hear that he is no longer with us. Thanks to your valiant efforts Dian ... he was comfortable at SOAR and not alone out in the cold.
-
Thanks Dian for the update and thanks to your kind neighbours to allow us to view him in their backyards. For those of you who didn't get to see him, here is a picture of him.
(http://media8.dropshots.com/photos/640816/20091126/b_104831.jpg)
Charles.
-
sorry to hear about mr p , dian, he gave us smiles and revered awe, i am amazed at his courage and his strength. he may have left us but he will be remembered by many. he left us all something to smile about and everyone lucky enough to have seen him, will always admire him. again, in case its faded, thank you much for your love and efforts and your super hospitality to the birding world. we seem to find these lost little birds every winter, and this winter, mr p was the star :!:
Well said.
I am truly sad to hear this news so soon after such a wonderful update.
Meg :cry:
-
:cry: IT's so sad....I don't post much but from time to time I read about Mr.P........and I haven't been able to get to the forum much as the company I work for block all forum! so I am trying to look back at old post and learn that he is no longer here..... :cry:
-
i recall reading your original posts and wanted to ask how this guy ended up here? If my research is correct this bird is from the South , far south ....
great work here.
-
One theory has the bird ending up in the belly of a plane and then departing once it arrived at Pearson, which would explain its close proximity to Pearson.
-
possible ... and after much thought last night my theory is some irresponsible ass brought it over and let it go ..... just a hunch.
-
OR...
As any expert would suggest, this bird arrived in Ontario on the winds of a strong storm blown up from the south. A number of rare birds (well out of their range) were found in Ontario within a few weeks of each other all being from the southern US. This theory has been proven with hurricanes and other storms many times over now.
Wow, after his death, Mr. 'P' is just as popular as Elvis! :)
Walter
-
this was my 2nd theory !!!! Do you have nay specific accounts or examples, this sounds interesting indeed!!
Cheers,
OR...
As any expert would suggest, this bird arrived in Ontario on the winds of a strong storm blown up from the south. A number of rare birds (well out of their range) were found in Ontario within a few weeks of each other all being from the southern US. This theory has been proven with hurricanes and other storms many times over now.
Wow, after his death, Mr. 'P' is just as popular as Elvis! :)
Walter
:arrow:
-
To really understand this phenomenon, I suggest you read the Past Annual Reports produced by the Ontario Bird Records Committee of the Ontario Field Ornithologists club. You'll find that many rare bird sightings in the province have been linked to hurricanes and other large storms over the years. Check the section entitled 'Accepted Records' for individual bird accounts. The reports (1982-2005) are free to download and require Adobe Reader to be viewed.
Click here (http://www.ofo.ca/obrc/obrc.php#reports) for the reports.
Walter :)
-
All the following species primarily occur in sw US and showed up in Ontario and eastern North America around the same time...... weather trend several days of strong sw winds.
NOV 6 Ash-throated Flycatcher Pelee
Nov 6 Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher Oakville 2nd Ontario record If I remember correctly
Nov 10 Phainopepla Bramalea
Nov 13 Western Kingbird Port Burwell ( ok i know it breeds ion western canada and fort frances ON as well)
Nov 16 3 Cave Swallows Pelee
Nov 17 2 Cave Swallows Burlington
nov 21 1 Cave Swallow Whitby
US State examples
Nov 15 Western Kingbird maryland
Nov 26 Say's Phoebe Ohio
nov 21 3 cave swallows ohio
oct 24- nov 10 Rufous Hummingbird Ohio
nov 22 Ash-throated Flycatcher New york City
Oct 31 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Indiana
etc.