Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Southern Ontario Reports => Topic started by: Napper on March 19, 2010, 05:03:43 PM

Title: Turkey Vulture
Post by: Napper on March 19, 2010, 05:03:43 PM

hey Folks

I've been reading reports of TV sightings North of Toronto already.

I spotted my first of the year today along Fourth line Milton, South of Britannia.

Napster.:D

Title:
Post by: lovetobird on March 19, 2010, 10:20:31 PM

Yep, I spotted a TV at Sunnidale Park in Barrie on Wednesday, let the migration begin:)

Title:
Post by: Leslie on March 23, 2010, 02:57:10 PM

Hamilton on Sunday (March 21), south of 403 near Coote's Paradise.

Title:
Post by: Bird Brain on March 23, 2010, 05:13:47 PM

Speaking of Turkey Vultures, check out the following site:

http://www.frg.org/HMS/HMS_TV.htm#tracking_table (http://www.frg.org/HMS/HMS_TV.htm#tracking_table)

It would be really thrilling to sight a tagged TV!  

Jo-Anne  :D

Title:
Post by: Axeman on March 30, 2010, 05:48:45 PM

They finally made it a little further north to Ayton...saw my first on March 29

Title: TV Tracking
Post by: Leslie on March 31, 2010, 04:28:50 PM

Interesting, there seem to be 3 distinct North American populations, none of them ours.
ie a west coast sample that journeys up & down the west coast (Pacific)
    an east coast pop'n that journeys up & down the east coast (Atlantic), & probably stays east of the Appalachians
    a mid-continent pop'n that migrates along the eastern side of the Gulf of Mexico & parallel to the Mississippi River but a good bit to the west.

So what route do "our" turkey vultures take, & where do they winter?

Title:
Post by: Axeman on March 31, 2010, 04:45:28 PM

They winter in Fiji.

Title:
Post by: GStuart on March 31, 2010, 08:58:36 PM

I just hope they don't fly Skyservice.

Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on March 31, 2010, 10:50:42 PM

Fiji?  Over 24,000 kms return and mostly over ocean water?  Not sure where you got that information from Axeman.

Hi Leslie,

Our (Eastern) Turkey Vultures winter in the south-eastern United States (Florida to Texas), Mexico and the rest of Central America, and even as far south as the northern parts of South America.  From the north, they fly pretty much due south but must navigate their way around the Great Lakes.  Some pass through the Niagara Region but the majority fly down and around the western end of Lake Erie and then continue southward.  It's an incredible sight to see during fall migration, if you can get to one of the many Raptor Watch sites along the north shore of Lake Ontario or Lake Erie.

Walter

Title:
Post by: Leslie on April 02, 2010, 09:14:17 PM

Thanks, Walter.

I usually see the beginning of TV fall migration, as I've picked up at least one kid from music camp just northwest of Parry Sound on Labour Day weekend.  (Some years they get a dozen over the camp's lake & fields the day before parents arrive.)  We usually go down the 400 with them, but we stop in Toronto & they don't.

I used to visit the hawk watch at High Park, but I don't think it ran this year.

Leslie