BIRDWATCH: Public welcomed to Reilly Bird Nature Reserve Walk near Deep River

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The next Pembroke Area Field Naturalists trip is the Reilly Bird Nature Reserve Walk to be hung on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. This trip is open to the general public. Meet journey co-ordinators at the car park on Meilleur’s Road simply off of Highway 17. (See the pafn.on.ca website, choose Resources on top middle and after that choose Places for a map.)

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Few individuals understand that our regional field biologists club serves as a steward for this location on behalf of Ontario Nature. The club helps with the tracking of the property, some mapping, clearing the tracks in the spring, and acting on a few of the reserve’s research study tasks like the Salamander count.

This land was contributed to Ontario Nature by Reilly Bird who emigrated from the United Kingdom in 1967 to operate at AECL in Chalk River. Reilly was extremely passionate about our Canadian wilderness and taken pleasure in backpacking and taking canoe journeys throughout the location. He acquired the nature reserve property so he might delight in nature when he was not away on his journeys. In 1992, he asked Ontario Nature to secure his property in all time after his death. However, later on he ended up being distressed to secure the property and sped up the transfer to Ontario Nature simply prior to his death in 2014.

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The Reilly Bird Nature Reserve is 27.5 hectares including wood forest along the Ottawa River, not far from the Town of Deep River. The reserve safeguards half of Meilleur’s Bay coastline, which offers environment for turtles and generating fish. Great Blue Herons can typically be seen wading along the coastline.

The reserve likewise has fully grown stands of Aspen, Red Maple, White Pine, Balsam, Fir, and Paper Birch that ignore the river and is exceptional environment for a range of birds such as Hermit Thrush, Brown Creeper, Blue Jays and numerous warbler types.

There is a stream (Huey Creek) that travels through the property. This stream is lined with mossy Cedar and Yellow Birch that typically play host to both Ruffed Grouse and Belted Kingfishers.

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For the botanist in the family, there are a range of plants throughout the reserve consisting of 2 kinds of orchids: the Dwarf Rattlesnake-plantain, and the Broad-lipped Twayblade. Both of these orchids are typically discovered in the shade of the cedar trees.

To get to the reserve, travel Highway 17 towards Rolphton, around 14 miles past Deep River. Meilleur’s Bay will appear left wing. The reserve extends to the south of the highway and consists of a part of Meilleur’s Bay. Just west of the bay is a driveway with parking areas. If you go to go to, please keep in mind to bring water and insect repellant. There is no charge.

The Pembroke Area Field Naturalists are happy to be part of the job, and I cannot wait to get up there and bird throughout the warbler migration. Enjoy!

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Owl Prowl

The Pembroke Area Field Naturalists ‘Owl Prowl’ was hung on Sunday, April 9. Fifteen members participated in the occasion and were lucky to find 3 Barred Owls — 2 heard and one seen – and one Northern Saw Whet Owl. Unfortunately, Hootie, the Great Horned Owl that is typically seen on this trip, did not make a look this year.

Spring birds showing up

Elsewhere on the regional scene, most of the very first wave of spring birds has actually shown up. These consist of brand-new arrivals like Osprey, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Meadowlarks, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Northern Flickers, Eastern Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, Eastern Phoebe, American Bittern, Common Moorhens, Sora, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and Pine Warblers and much more.

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On our lakes and ponds, our waterfowl are now showing up, consisting of Common Loons, both Green-winged and Blue winged Teal, Double- crested Cormorants, Northern Shoveler and Long-trailed Duck.

During the next 2 weeks, anticipate to see the last of the very first wave of spring birds like Winter Wren, White-crowned Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Rusty Blackbirds, Lesser Yellowlegs and Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Also, anticipate some 2nd wave spring birds consisting of Wood Thrush, Veery, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, more Brown Thrashers, Least and Great Crested Flycatcher, and perhaps Orioles along with more warblers.

Notable regional sightings

Back on April 3, Bev Moses of Beachburg identified 6 Turkey Vultures on Patterson Road, and Anne Fraser Burnette photographed the location’s very first sighting of Northern Harrier on the Snake River Line.

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Back on April fourth, Norma Brose identified her very first spring Canada Geese in the Killaloe location.

Around April 5, Lauren Forrest reported the location’s very first spring American Woodcock on B-Line Road and Mark Dojczman photographed the location’s very first Pied-billed Grebe.

On April 8, Kristin Easton reported the location’s very first Osprey next to the Hudson House in Combermere. The next day, Cathy Hamel of Eganville identified the location’s very first spring sighting of Warbler

Finally, on April 10th, Nancy Steed Wilcox situated the location’s very first spring sighting of White-throated sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Northern Flicker along the Algonquin Trail and Harvey J. Smith photographed our very first spring Tree Swallow.

Please call me with your bird sightings at 613-735-4430, or email me at [email protected]. For more details on upcoming nature occasions and other links to nature, simply Google the Pembroke Area Field Naturalists’ website, or like us on Facebook.