OFO

Winter Birding Challenge We are thrilled with the participation so far in the OFO Winter Birding Challenge! 169 participants from across the province have submitted over 1,400 checklists with an amazing 164 species reported. A few of the more unusual species reported included a White-winged Dove, Laughing Gull, Slaty-backed Gull, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Yellow Warbler and Summer Tanager. If you would like to explore the results (to the county level) check o...ut the OFObirds eBird profile: https://ebird.org/profile/MjAxODI1Ng/CA-ON ***Bi-Weekly Winter Birding Challenge Winner*** Congratulations to Josie Dinsmore, she qualified for this week’s prize by submitting a minimum of 10 checklists! Josie will receive a copy of the book, Best Places to Bird in Ontario by Kenneth & Michael Burrell and an official Ebird Toque. ***Register Now!*** It’s not too late to join the Winter Birding Challenge and qualify for bi-weekly prizes, along with a GRAND PRIZE of a pair of VORTEX VIPER 8X42 BINOCULARS! You do not need to be a member of OFO to register. Please register at: https://ofo25.wildapricot.org/event-4070132 ***To Qualify for Prizes!*** Please remember the following is required to qualify for both the Bi-weekly and the Grand Prize: Important checklists must be shared with OFObirds on Ebird to participate in the challenge A minimum of 10 checklists must be submitted and shared for bi-weekly prizes A minimum of 60 checklists must be submitted and shared over the length of the Challenge for your chance to win the Grand Prize of a pair of Vortex Viper 8x42 Binoculars!!! Become a new OFO member for a chance at another great prize to be drawn at the end of the challenge!

WINTER BIRDING TIP: SEEDS Trees with abundant seed crops can be magnets for birds. Redpolls love birch and alders, many other finches focus on conifers, and ash and maples can also attract finches such as Purple Finches and Evening Grosbeaks. Weedy, overgrown fields and ditches can be goldmines for sparrows and finches too. See more winter birding tips at: http://ofo.ca/winterbirding/tips... Photo: Evening Grosbeak See more

WINTER BIRDING TIP: BERRIES Finding areas with abundant food is very important. In particular, look for places with abundant berry crops; a wide variety of songbirds depend on fruit through the winter. Waxwings and American Robins are the most obvious, but many other species can also be found in these areas, especially when combined with water and heavy cover. Be sure to look through any flocks you might find for less common species. See more winter birding tips at: http://of...o.ca/winterbirding/tips Photo: Bohemian Waxwing See more

WINTER BIRDING TIP: NO WINTER MAINTENANCE ROADS Be aware that many rural parts of the province have roads that are not maintained during the winter. These will all be marked with a sign advising of this. Be very careful on these roads as conditions can deteriorate very quickly. If you do venture down one, be prepared to back out a long distance should you come to an impassable stretch. Most tow trucks will not come down these roads, so if you get stuck, you're in big trouble. For more winter birding tips visit http://ofo.ca/winterbirding/tips Thanks to Roxane Filion for the photo

WINTER BIRDING TIP: WATER (part 2) Even small amounts of open water can attract birds. There are often lingering species associated with creeks and seeps. As an example, Wilson's Snipes have overwintered in Marathon at a small seep for several winters, so any feature like this, no matter how small, should be checked for lingering birds. Rails are another possibility, but most likely at these features are lingering songbirds. Even in winter, there are often emerging insects as...sociated with open water for insectivores. See more winter birding tips at: http://ofo.ca/winterbirding/tips Photo: Winter Wren

WINTER BIRDING TIP: WINDOW MOUNTS Using your vehicle as a blind helps you get closer to birds, but also can keep you warm. Many manufacturers sell window mounts for spotting scopes and cameras which work really well in the winter. A large bean bag draped over the open window can also work well. For more winter birding tips visit http://ofo.ca/winterbirding/tips... Thanks to Dan and Desmond MacNeal for the photo!

It's OK to be intimidated by gulls. Many of them look similar to each other, and they exhibit a plethora of plumages. Winter in Ontario is a great time to become more familiar with this group of birds. Justin will discuss some ways you can become more comfortable with gulls, and even come to enjoy them!

We're excited to have Mike Burrell share his insights into Winter Birding in Ontario this Thursday! Join us on Facebook Live at 7:30 pm.

WINTER BIRDING TIP: WATER (part 1) You're going to have a hard time finding ducks and other water birds if you don't first find the water. Winter is the peak duck-watching season along the Great Lakes. For a significant boost in species, head to the shores of Lake Ontario or Lake Erie or, while they're open, other large bodies of water. A spotting scope is very helpful when birding large water bodies. See more winter birding tips at: http://ofo.ca/winterbirding/tips... (photo: Long-tailed Ducks) See more

Today's your last day to vote!

This is Birdability Week, #birdability. Birdability is all about connecting everyone, regardless of physical or sensory challenges with the wonder of birding. OFO will be supporting this important initiative through our Diversity and Inclusion program. Find out more....https://gis.audubon.org/birdability/

Now is time to share your thoughts and ideas - the Minister's Round Table on Parks Canada is open until October 30. Follow the link for more information.

Voting is open for the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas. You have until 6 pm to cast your vote! https://www.birdsontario.org/logo

Did you know you can have a say for the logo for the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas 3? Check out their Facebook page for all the possibilities so far - one more to reveal and then you can vote for your favourite. Is it the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker?

Have you visited the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas page yet? Learn about how you can become involved in this important project!

This looks like a really good program which ties into OFO's Diversity initiative as well. Everyone should be able to enjoy birding in their own way.

Please join Mike Cadman, Coordinator of Atlas-3, the third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, to find out what the atlas project is about and how you can get involved. Every 20 years, Ontario birders survey all breeding birds, including owls and marsh birds, across the whole province over a five-year period: Atlas-3 begins in 2021. This data is vital for conservation and planning. Mike Cadman, who was also the Coordinator for the first two atlases, will outline how the project works, how the data are used and how every birder can participate.

Ontario Birder Paul Riss is featured in this CBC documentary that will air this evening at 8pm.

The next time you visit Point Pelee National Park, you may notice that there is a new name for one of the picnic areas - Pioneer is now know Madbin Jina. The new name invites visitors to "sit a while" using a traditional expression for welcoming guest in Anishinaabemowin. Click on the link below for the full story. And yes, the hotspot had been updated with the new name in eBird!

You can find the Winter Finch Forecast on the OFO website as well! http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.winterfinches

The Winter Finch Forecast is here! Tyler Hoar has taken over this highly anticipated annual forecast from Ron Pittaway. Here's a great interview from Cornell and a link to the 2020 Forecast at the bottom of the article! Fill your feeders!

Migration is in full swing! And with the colder temperatures forecasted, birds are on the move! Get out and bird tomorrow if you have a chance -- check out your local patch or bird your back yard. Let us know what fall migrants you spot! Check out this great resource for bird migration: https://birdcast.info//migration-alert-major-northeast-f/