By a wild coincidence, I had already planned a Valentine's weekend trip to Toronto before I discovered that this winter (2004-05) has been one of the biggest invasion years for northern owls in recent memory. I was sold on the idea of visiting Amherst Island since studying the section on Toronto in the American Birding Association (ABA)'s new book, "A Birder's Guide to Metropolitan Areas of North America." The description of Amherst Island, about two hours drive down the highway from Toronto, sounded too good to resist. There is typically a large resident vole population that attracts hawks and owls to the island in the winter. In a peak year an incredible 10 species of owl can be present on the island.

Our owl trip to Amherst was such a smashing success - fabulous views of all our target species - we felt a little guilty that it was so easy. We made some new friends and shared information among the dozen or so birders on that day in Owl Woods, and on the drive back to Toronto began to plot the next day's itinerary. Our friend [Dave Milson] had agreed to be our host and guide for the day. His job was to find us some more lifers. I still needed the saw-whet owl and all of us needed two of the northern "white-winged" gulls, that is Iceland and Thayer's gulls. It was going to be a marathon 48 hour, dawn to dusk birding extravaganza. We'd all have to go home and back to work to get some rest.

There is a magical place in Cranberry Marsh along Hall's Road where fields left fallow support a large population of voles that in turn attract owls almost every winter. This year there have been an unheard-of four great gray owls hunting along Hall's Road at dawn and dusk. It's a popular spot for the locals to come out and mingle with birders from all over the United States and Canada. There is a generously stocked feeder where a barred owl likes to sit and pick off chipmunks. Everyone we met was friendly and helpful but at the same time protective of the owls. It was like Grand Central Station for owl enthusiasts. On the day we were there, an ornithologist with a stuffed great gray owl was explaining the mechanics of silent flight to anyone within earshot. After we finally had our fill of owls we spent the rest of the day hunched behind a spotting scope keying out the gull flocks on the frozen lakeshore. Birders are like that.

Science & Technology
      Zoology