Algonquin Park Bird Sightings

ALGONQUIN PROVINCIAL PARK SIGHTINGS – The Algonquin Park Wild Bird Cam Live Stream is now broadcasting for the winter months, allowing you to see the birds and mammals attracted to the Visitor Centre feeders all day. The live video feed can be found at:

https://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/virtual/webcam/wild_bird_cam.php


DIRECTIONS: Algonquin Provincial Park is three hours north of Toronto, via Highways 400, 11 and 60. Follow the signs which start in Toronto on Highway 400. From Ottawa, take Highway 17 to Renfrew, then follow Highway 60 to the Park. The Visitor Centre exhibits and bookstore/nature shop at km 43 are OPEN on weekends and holidays (9 am to 5 pm).), and with limited services on weekdays (9 am to 4 pm).

UPDATE FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023

Snow cover is minimal, and the big lakes are mostly ice-free, in Algonquin Park at present.

The Algonquin Park Wild Bird Cam Live Stream is now broadcasting for the winter months, allowing you to see the birds and mammals attracted to the Visitor Centre feeders all day. The live video feed can be found at https://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/virtual/webcam/wild_bird_cam.php

As expected with the abundant tree seed crops, this is a good year here for winter finches.
–Evening Grosbeak: seen daily at the Visitor Centre feeders where up to 115 have been reported. Also observed where people have put out seed at Spruce Bog Boardwalk and Opeongo Road parking lot near the closed winter gate.
–Pine Grosbeak: a few observed but not reported daily.
–Purple Finch: widespread in low numbers, including fairly regularly at the Visitor Centre feeders.
–Common Redpoll: reported regularly in small numbers along the Highway 60 Corridor and at the feeders, plus calling flyovers heard.
–HOARY REDPOLL: female photographed with Common Redpolls just north of the winter gate on Opeongo Road, Dec 13, and one with Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins along highway shoulder on Dec 14.
–Red Crossbill: calling flyovers frequently heard, and some larger flocks on ground getting grit such as 67 on the Visitor Centre parking lot, Dec 16. A few males have started singing prior to the winter breeding period.
–White-winged Crossbill: observed regularly, but in lesser numbers than Red Crossbills. Singing males were reported at Spruce Bog Boardwalk and Opeongo Road on Dec 16.
–Pine Siskin: this is the most abundant finch so far this winter. It is often noted in flocks attracted to the highway pavement for sand and salt. For example, flocks totaling 650 birds were reported along the highway, Dec 14.
–American Goldfinch: regular, but in much smaller numbers than siskins.

Other species of interest: Northern Goshawk, one, along Opeongo Road, Dec 16; Spruce Grouse, four at Spruce Bog Boardwalk, Dec 14; Black-backed Woodpecker, one, Logging Museum Trail, Dec 14, and one, Opeongo Road, Dec 16; Canada Jay, seen fairly regularly at Spruce Bog Boardwalk and north of the winter gate on Opeongo Road; and American Crows (rarely present here in winter) were reported at Mew Lake Campground, Old Airfield, Spruce Bog Boardwalk, and near the Logging Museum.

PLEASE DRIVE SLOWER AND SOUND YOUR HORN TO SAVE BIRDS FROM BEING HIT BY VEHICLES.

The Visitor Centre (at km 43) is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm until December 22, open daily from 9 am to 5 pm on December 23, CLOSED December 24 to 26, and open daily from 9 am to 5 pm on December 27 to 31.


Ron Tozer
Algonquin Park Bird Records Compiler (volunteer)

50th Algonquin Park Christmas Bird Count Preliminary Results

(Saturday, December 30)

The birding conditions were perhaps the best ever in the 50 years of this count: light winds, cloudy with no precipitation, fairly mild (minus 5 to minus 4 C), nearly all ground bare which really helped in this mostly on-foot count, and a good tree seed crop that attracted lots of finches.

The 35 species observed was a new high, with 34 having been observed on three previous counts, and an average tally of 27. The total individuals reported was 12,252 ( average: 4,459 and highest: 17,252). There were 111 observers (previous highest: 110).

Record High Totals (with previous highs in brackets): Bohemian Waxwing 8 (3), Hoary Redpoll 4 (2), Pine Siskin 5,314 (4,214).

Unusual species for this count: Northern Saw-whet Owl (1), American Crow (6), Bohemian Waxwing (8), Hoary Redpoll (4), White-throated Sparrow (2).

Finches: Evening Grosbeak (336), Pine Grosbeak (14), Purple Finch (537), Common Redpoll (1,075), Hoary Redpoll (4), Red Crossbill (1,330), White-winged Crossbill (459), Pine Siskin (5,314), American Goldfinch (171).

Thanks to all our observers, The Friends of Algonquin Park and Ontario Parks for their contributions to this excellent count.

Happy New Year.

Ron Tozer
Compiler (1974 to 2023)