Donald
Teuma-Castelletti
PONTIAC Nov. 4, 2017
A dedicated group of birdwatchers put their eyes to the skies throughout the Pontiac Saturday morning, searching high and low for species that have travelled south for the season.
Starting out in Breckenridge, members and guests of the Club of Outaouais Ornithologists (COO) toured into Quyon and up to Norway Bay, sighting gulls, jays and the occasional hawk.
Despite a thick frost layered across the grass and vehicles, COO President Monique Boivin assured that this was the best time to see birds that are native to the James Bay area. She said the migratory species seen in the area now, like the White-winged Scoter roaming the Ottawa River that morning, are a real attraction for the group, as they won’t be seen in the summer.
“For birds, there’s something to be seen all year round,” said Claude Martineau, manager of the group’s activity committee.
Bundled up, birdwatchers took turns peeking through telescopes, offering 60x magnification, to get clear sightings of the various species as if they were mere metres away. On a hill in Quyon overlooking the Ottawa River and ferry, the excited group spotted the Scoter, leading to debates on whether it was a lesser or greater variant.
The differences, Boivin explained, are incredibly miniscule, especially for the casual observer. But for enthusiasts like this pack of ornithologists, it led to great speculation and pretty soon phones were whipped out to try to place it.
The phones also came in handy for providing bird calls and mobbing recordings throughout the morning, with the group incorporating a variety of sounds to attract more species.
“Identification often begins with hearing them,” said Daniel Toussaint, board member of the group. “That’s why spring and fall are great for us, because there’s less leaves in the trees.”
Martineau explained that there’s two types of bird watchers – those who spot with their eyes and those who locate with their ears. It’s generally best, he said, to have a group mixed with both kinds, if they want to be able to catch all the birds around them.
But some of the group, like Mark Spearin of Breckenridge, were still new to the hobby and enjoyed, more than anything, the opportunity to use the tools and spot new birds up close.
“I just like to look through the telescope,” he laughed.
Even if he has some of the most popular predator birds right in his backyard.
“I’ve got bald eagles near my house, three of them,” said Spearin.
By the end of the morning, the group had seen everything from Rough-legged hawks to Red-winged Black Birds through their route.
Driving from stop to stop, the line of cars frequently pulled over when the lead car spotted a flock in the trees or off in the distance. Everyone would then hop out and throw their binoculars up for a better look.
The COO plans excursions like this frequently throughout the year, but were excited to discuss the upcoming Christmas Bird Count, a tradition in its 97th year. A continent-wide event, ornithological groups and volunteers all over gather to document species numbers, with events planned from Dec. 16 till Jan. 5 throughout the Outaouais.
