Residents of Willowdale may frequently see a vast variety of residential and migrating birds in the area.

For example, a Sharp-shinned Hawk has visited our Willowdale backyard regularly over the past few years.  These photos were taken Aug 13 and Aug 16, 2007, when the hawk came to our pond to drink and bathe.  I checked with Dan Derbyshire, bird expert with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.  Dan says this bird is an adult and given the timing of its visits, it might be a local breeder in this area. 

An awesome list of amazing birds can be seen in the backyards of Toronto.  We hear Common Screech Owls calling from our trees at night.  A male Pileated Woodpecker swept into the yard one May 2004 evening, to attack an old stump, looking for food.  Many different species of warblers and sparrows are seen as transient visitors each spring, while migrating from tropical wintering grounds to boreal forest breeding grounds.  Other interesting sightings in our yard have included:  Scarlet Tanager, White-winged Crossbill, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Baltimore Oriole, Hermit Thrush, Mallard Duck, Hairy Woodpecker, Veery, Northern Flicker, Brown Thrasher, various flycatchers, and Red-tailed Hawk.   Other common visitors are:  Northern Cardinal, Junco, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, American Crow, Downy Woodpecker, Nuthatches, Chickadees and many more.  I have not kept a count but we have probably seen at least 100 species in the yard at one time or another. 

Who knows what else has visited your yard, but you were not there to see it?  All it takes is the desire to observe.  As well, create some habitat in your yard to sustain the wild birds, including a source of water and some native shrub or perennial plantings that offer shelter and food.  Keep cats indoors.  Take actions that will help sustain the tropical wintering habitat of our Toronto birds. 

Each spring, I participate in the Baillee Birdathon, raising funds for bird research in Canada and in Toronto.  If anyone is interested in more information, contact me via John Filion’s office.