The Escarpment, as you noted, provides excellent birding - the mostly contiguous green pathway taking in one of the narrowest crossings of the Great Lakes up to northern forests (and the reverse in fall migration.) Not just songbirds: the raptor migration is also notable (hundreds of turkey vultures kettling over Kelso and Rattlesnake Point in s. Ontario is quite a sight!) and it's credited as the route of return for ravens into southern Ontario. (Also the occasional wandering black bear.) Touching on another point you made, I've been birding for nearly 50 years, and was lucky enough to be among a group of birders at the beginning who didn't show any misogyny - although I've encountered it in other settings (and still do, although now it's hard to separate from ageism.) But I've never had much use for the birders who are only out for the numbers; for me birding has always been part of understanding an ecosystem, a reason to be out observing and learning, not ticking off species.
I had the great fortune of meeting Roy Ivor who was a neighbor of ours when I was eleven years old. I worked with him at his bird sanctuary in Mississauga till I was 15 and my father was transferred to the states. When I’m out birding I can sometimes still feel his hand on my shoulder pointing out the things I should be aware of.
Great fortune indeed! I knew of him, never met him - I grew up birding in Essex County, so Point Pelee, and learned from some of the excellent birders there, including, on some occasions, Alan Wormington.
I have hiked the trails on the escarpment from Hamilton to Tobermory. Learned how to rock climb and explored the caves by Rattlesnake point. Even learned how to ski on the slopes there. After I got married we bought a farm up in Bruce county and took our kids hiking many times along the trail there. Some of the best bird watching ever!
There is a great organization called Bird Collective and they do great work supporting all sorts of birding related non-profits, advocating for inclusivity and diversity. Plus, they have really great T-shirts, hats and other birding paraphernalia.
The Escarpment, as you noted, provides excellent birding - the mostly contiguous green pathway taking in one of the narrowest crossings of the Great Lakes up to northern forests (and the reverse in fall migration.) Not just songbirds: the raptor migration is also notable (hundreds of turkey vultures kettling over Kelso and Rattlesnake Point in s. Ontario is quite a sight!) and it's credited as the route of return for ravens into southern Ontario. (Also the occasional wandering black bear.) Touching on another point you made, I've been birding for nearly 50 years, and was lucky enough to be among a group of birders at the beginning who didn't show any misogyny - although I've encountered it in other settings (and still do, although now it's hard to separate from ageism.) But I've never had much use for the birders who are only out for the numbers; for me birding has always been part of understanding an ecosystem, a reason to be out observing and learning, not ticking off species.
I had the great fortune of meeting Roy Ivor who was a neighbor of ours when I was eleven years old. I worked with him at his bird sanctuary in Mississauga till I was 15 and my father was transferred to the states. When I’m out birding I can sometimes still feel his hand on my shoulder pointing out the things I should be aware of.
Great fortune indeed! I knew of him, never met him - I grew up birding in Essex County, so Point Pelee, and learned from some of the excellent birders there, including, on some occasions, Alan Wormington.
There were no ravens in Bruce county when I lived there in the eighties and early nineties. Such a thrill to see them there now!
I live in Guelph and they are fairly common here now, even nesting for a few years on a window ledge downtown.
It’s wonderful to have those choices to consider.
They are my favorite bird. As a wildlife rehabber I had the pleasure to raise or rehab several over the last 30 years. Nothing they do surprises me.
I don't know which pleases me more to hear in my area now - the gronk of a raven or the purrs of sandhill cranes passing over.
There is an excellent Nature documentary on the Escarpment focusing on Niagara Falls: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/about-niagara-falls/28649/
I didn't realize it went all the way to Door County!
I have hiked the trails on the escarpment from Hamilton to Tobermory. Learned how to rock climb and explored the caves by Rattlesnake point. Even learned how to ski on the slopes there. After I got married we bought a farm up in Bruce county and took our kids hiking many times along the trail there. Some of the best bird watching ever!
Excellent, small world! I was just in Bruce County for the first time, which is what prompted the post. We stayed near Dyers Bay.
There is a great organization called Bird Collective and they do great work supporting all sorts of birding related non-profits, advocating for inclusivity and diversity. Plus, they have really great T-shirts, hats and other birding paraphernalia.
Check it out!
https://www.birdcollective.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooxBbHMdXgVrEW9DS6lUnZ3C5dHLeXysfOmX_otb69nv9vwx9ys