Anyone been to the Brickworks lately?
Outdoor Ontario

Anyone been to the Brickworks lately?

Rob'in'To

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Curious if anyone has been to the Brickworks lately?  I know a pair of Kingfishers were present last year around this time.  Wondering if they are still around?  They were fun to watch.  I haven't seen/heard the one at the Kortright Centre since November.

I know they are doing some development in those buildings, I heard about a weekend market.  Not sure what impact this will have on the grounds in the back?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Rob'in'To »
A birth certificate shows we were born.  A death certificate shows we died.  Pictures show we live.


mr.sharp-photo

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Quote from: "Rob'in'To"
Curious if anyone has been to the Brickworks lately?  I know a pair of Kingfishers were present last year around this time.  Wondering if they are still around?  They were fun to watch.  I haven't seen/heard the one at the Kortright Centre since November.

I know they are doing some development in those buildings, I heard about a weekend market.  Not sure what impact this will have on the grounds in the back?


the Brickworks is a mess. i don't bother going there in the winter - especially this winter. all you normally see is the occasional merlin, the red tail hawks and sometimes a kestrel.
there's nowhere for the kingfishers to fish. i assume they move on. i haven't heard any of the Don river kingfishers this winter.

in my opinion, the biggest impact the redevelopment will have is increasing pedestrian traffic.  my love-hate relationship with the Brickworks is based on the lack of respect its pedestrians have for it. lots of people with their dogs running around, off leash, swimming in the ponds. kids will the throwing huge pieces of shale into the ponds as the parents stand by. i've seen lots of people with fishing rods, fishing in the ponds, or with scoops, trying to capture the turtles. i've also seen parents and kids with butterfly nets.

meanwhile, there isn't anyone supervising the park nor any apparent desire to supervise it. i've patiently waited near the waterfall to see the august hummingbird and have watched kids scramble on the rocks, making noise right where the birds feed.  it drives me nuts.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by mr.sharp-photo »


Rob'in'To

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Thanks for the detailed info Richard.  I *cringe* as I envision it.

It's so nice to build up and develop these areas for the wildlife...  but then to draw in all the humans to the settings with the ponds and paved trails works against it.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Rob'in'To »
A birth certificate shows we were born.  A death certificate shows we died.  Pictures show we live.


mr.sharp-photo

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Quote from: "Rob'in'To"
Thanks for the detailed info Richard.  I *cringe* as I envision it.

It's so nice to build up and develop these areas for the wildlife...  but then to draw in all the humans to the settings with the ponds and paved trails works against it.


typical birding. damned if you do, damned if you don't. while you want people to appreciate nature, its their appreciation and carelessness that usually ruins it. see the Spit as the prime example. last winter, i loved walking through the spit. i'd never see anyone. this year, i've been avoiding it due to the crowds.

for the Brickworks, my advice is this:

never go on a saturday.

its loveliest during April/May for woodpeckers (and the occasional pileated on the upper escarpment) and some warblers (not many) and red tailed hawks, June and July for purple martins and swallows and red winged blackbirds, and July-Sept for herons and amazing goldfinch activity. the kingfishers will be there May-Oct and, as i found out this year, October yields bluebirds for 1 week only.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by mr.sharp-photo »


Rob'in'To

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Thanks again.  And, definitely not going there on a Saturday.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Rob'in'To »
A birth certificate shows we were born.  A death certificate shows we died.  Pictures show we live.


egret

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well, I was going to go
is this Evergreen they call it?

why not Saturday ??


Egret
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by egret »
Egret


mr.sharp-photo

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Quote from: "egret"
well, I was going to go
is this Evergreen they call it?

why not Saturday ??


Egret


two reasons.

1. very popular farmers market that runs late spring to late fall. it brings lots of crowds and families. they usually wander through the park area and you're going to get kids scaring off the herons in late summer.
2. dog owners have the day off. they bring their dogs and let them run (illegally) offleash. they run into the ponds and tall grasses and scare off the birds.

i've watched a red tailed hawk eat a vole 20 feet away from me. i've walked to the front ponds and i saw a kingfisher sitting on one of the railings. also watched the hummingbirds. you aren't going to have that luxury with noisy kids running around the paths.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by mr.sharp-photo »


egret

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well tks for this

fully understand then




Egret :)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by egret »
Egret


mr.sharp-photo

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oh lord...

http://www.thestar.com/living/food/arti ... -locavores

Quote
“There will be 75 seats inside — and 2,000 seats outside,” says Long, referring to the opportunity to picnic in the adjoining quarry-turned-park with a wildflower meadow, wetlands, boardwalks and nature paths.


anyone excited to bird among litter, off-leash dogs and 2000 picnickers? :(
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by mr.sharp-photo »