recped wrote:
The major pathways cross Western Lake Erie, Lake Ontario is relatively free of the main routes although obviously there are some as there would be in almost any location. Interestingly one of the routes crosses Georgian Bay which has been promoted as a good location for wind turbines.
That map is good and valid input into the discussion. But we have to understand that "main route" is a relative term. I know that the Toronto Islands is a major migration point: one of my friends heads down every weekend during the migration months to help with the banding and they are doing good "business".
My point is that even though these locations are not listed as major routes on a North American overview map, we should understand that major bird migration occurs in the area, as Steve was saying.
For the Kingston area, I found some description of how the birders see it:
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/iba/mapviewer.jspQuote:
In total, some 298 species of birds have been recorded at Prince Edward Point with about 220 species being recorded during the average year. Most of these species are recorded during migration, although at least 74 species nest within the area. The number and diversity of landbirds that concentrate in this small area during spring and fall migration is outstanding. A total of 162 landbird species (excluding raptors) have been recorded at this site including 36 species of wood warbler, 20 species of sparrow, and 12 species of flycatcher. Daily censuses during migration indicated that peak numbers of common migrants such as Tree Swallow, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dark-eyed Junco and White-throated Sparrow were regularly in the range of 200 to 500 individuals. When weather conditions caused particularly large concentrations, numbers of these species were occasionally in excess of 2,000 birds and in some cases as high as 10,000 (Tree Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-throated Sparrow) or even 70,000 (Dark-eyed Junco).
The shoals and deep waters off the tip of the peninsula are an important waterfowl staging and wintering area, for Greater Scaup, Oldsquaw and White-winged Scoter. Numbers of scaup (mostly Greater Scaup) approach 10,000 regularly (greater than 1% of their estimated N.A. population) with a recent one-day peak of 39,000 in January 1995. Over the past three years Oldsquaw have also regularly occurred in numbers greater than 1% of their estimated N.A. population with one-day peaks of 37,700 and 37,785 in January of 1996 and 1997. White-winged Scoters also occur in numbers that regularly exceed 5,000 with one day peaks in 1995 and 1996 that exceeded 1% of their estimated N.A. population (12,500 and 15,000 respectively). Other waterbirds regularly recorded in large numbers include Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser and Red-breasted Merganser.
During fall migration, large numbers of raptors, both diurnal and nocturnal, move over the Point. Up to 2,000 hawks a day can regularly be observed including large numbers of Sharp-shinned, Red-shouldered, and Red-tailed Hawks. Large numbers of Northern Saw-whet Owls also move through the area in the fall. This site formerly supported nesting Henslows Sparrows (globally near-threatened, n
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but I have to admit that certain technical creations are beautiful to me as well, including some turbines. But I have to acknowledge they can be an eye sore to others. Just like a rusting automobile can be beautiful too - especially if in the right setting and captured by a good photographer.
I know, the evil environmentalist bullying the industry....