TWO VERY UNCOMMON CHRISTMAS VISITORS

Over the holidays, birders have been trekking out to the wintry headlands and bays in search of the Tufted Duck and the Purple Sandpiper which have graced us recently with their presence.
  
Both species are way out of their winter range and are generally referred to as "accidentals".  As we approach the end of the year, serious annual listers are anxious to catch a sighting of these last minute oddities to top up their totals.

Sam Smith Tufted Duck - Photographer Eric Baldo

The Tufted Duck is a common Old World diving duck, the Eurasian counterpart of our Ring-Necked Duck.  They sometimes wander to eastern North America from Europe and Iceland and are considered rare.

The Purple Sandpiper breeds in the northern tundra

Purple Sandpiper in winter plumage - Photographer Jean Iron

on Arctic islands and coastal shorelines in Eastern Canada and its winter migration route follows the eastern shoreline south to rocky ice-free coasts in the Canadian maritimes and, sometimes, as far south as the Carolinas.  Our visitor is definitely off course.

There have also been numerous reports of Snowy Owls seen in the park in the last few weeks.  They can generally be found in the marina either on the docks or on the frozen bay.

FOSS BIRD COUNT EXTENDED

Yesterday the weather was working against us. The bitter cold and wind prevented anyone who went to the park from staying long. 

I would like to extend our FOSS Boxing Weak Bird Count until Sunday Dec. 31.

Please see previous post for reporting information.

Brian Keaveney

FOSS President

FOSS BOXING DAY BIRD COUNT

December 26 there will be a FOSS Boxing Day Bird Count at Colonel Sam Smith Park.

Come out and take a walk in the park. Please report just the names of any bird species you see in the park or on the water and the time of day you visited the park. Please send to my email address. I will report back the species  later in the week. Have fun and stay warm.

If you have the opportunity also send a photo of the park with or without any birds.

It will be a white Christmas.

Brian Keaveney

President FOSS

Masters@sympatico.ca

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE!

SNOWY OWLS!

Snowy Owls have been reported in the park in recent days. At one point, there were two, easy to observe owls roosting on the docks.

These early arrivals are part of what looks to be another large "irruption" this winter. (Irruptions, sometimes referred to as blizzards or snowstorms, are unpredictable invasions - Snowy Owl migration is complex.)

But, just as this significant irruption of Snowy Owls takes place in the United States and southern Canada, the organizers of the international Red List of threats to wildlife reported that they uplisted the iconic large owl from Least Concern to Vulnerable.  Populations are actually in decline.

Follow this link to read more.

Please remember that these owls are nocturnal hunters and need to rest during the day to conserve energy.  It is a thrill to see these iconic Arctic visitors, but observers and photographers must follow etiquette.

A NOTE OF CAUTION

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH - CLIMATE ACTION WORKSHOP AT KEN COX COMMUNITY CENTRE

Residents of south Etobicoke interested in taking climate action are invited to come to a free workshop to learn how to advocate for full funding of the TransformTO* initiative.  

The workshop will take place Monday November 20,  2017, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM at the Ken Cox Community Centre, 28 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive.  

Click here to register.

ENGAGING YOUNG BIRDERS IN CITIZEN SCIENCE

The CBC4Kids is a fun way for young people to connect with nature, the birding community, and Christmas Bird Count traditions! Participants develop their knowledge of local birds while contributing to Citizen Science. 

Find an event near you or plan your own!

RECENT PARK VANDALISM

Some garbage bins were recently set on fire in the area along the bike path near the parking lot.

It has now been reported to the City.

It is important that vandalism and other incidents like this be reported as soon as possible so that crews can fix the problem promptly to avoid encouraging copycats.

Reporting should be made by calling 311 or emailing 311@toronto.ca

SUMMARY: MINUTES FOSS STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING, OCTOBER 24TH, 2017

Summary: FOSS Steering Committee Meeting
Annual General Meeting
October 24th, 2017
7:12PM, LAMP, 185 5th Street, Etobicoke

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: Provided highlights for a variety of FOSS’s projects—some of which are:
1) Spring Bird Festival
2) Spring Clean up  
3) Refurbishment and installation of a Purple Martin house 
4) Retrieval, storage and future construction of Red-necked Grebe nesting platforms (a project originally begun by Mr. J. Calico of the Lake Shore Yacht Club)
5) Tree planting 
6) Burdock (noxious weed that is a danger to small birds) removal
7) The erection of a new viewing stand (from monies obtained via a Weston Family       Foundation Grant) 
8) A successful photographic exhibition in 2016 (another is planned for Fall 2018) 
9) The building, erection and maintenance of 65 Tree Swallow nesting boxes.

STEERING COMMITTEE ELECTION: The members of the committee are: Brian Keaveney (President), Brian Liberty (Vice President), Monique Fischer (Treasurer), Sandra Hawkins (Secretary), Liana Franciosi, Barbara Keaveney, Terry Smith and Nancy Barrett.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Sandra H. presented a photographic essay--Colonel Sam Smith Park: A Sanctuary in the City--that emphasized the wildlife that calls CSSP home and the volunteers who are devoted to the park’s protection.

REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS: Volunteers are needed to collect photos, distribute flyers, etc. for the 2018 FOSS PHOTO EXHIBITION. Sponsors gratefully welcomed. See the FOSS web site for additional information.

Humber College Interpretive Centre has mounted a display (A Bird’s Eye View) that addresses the avian treasures of CSSP. FOSS provided guidance for this exhibit. The centre also lends binoculars to help enhance visitors’ enjoyment of the park. The last day for the exhibit is November 25.

Toronto Climate Film Fest. Free. November 16. 6:30PM. Humber College, Lakeshore Campus. L Building. Room L1017. Feature film: Sea of Life. The film’s director, Julia Barnes will be in attendance.