Raptors Take Flight
in Durham Region

Family Raptor Viewing Day
Thursday September 3^rd, 2009
(9 to 11am), (1 to 3pm) & (6 to 8 pm)
Lynde Shores Conservation Area – Halls Road Entrance
Google Map

Central Lake Ontario Conservation and the Cranberry Marsh Raptor Watch Volunteers are hosting the first ever Family Raptor Viewing Day on Thursday September 3, 2009 at the Halls Road entrance to the Lynde Shores Conservation Area, Whitby .  This event is sponsored by the James Baillie Foundation and is FREE with demonstrations from 9am to 11am, 1pm to 3pm and 6pm to 8pm.  Fun for all, there will be a number of hands-on activities, lots of demonstrations, free draws, viewing scopes, bird seed to feed the chickadees and take home materials so you can raptor watch on your own. 

In the fall each year, many raptors, like sharp-shinned hawks, turkey vultures, osprey and bald eagles migrate from northern Quebec , Labrador and northeastern Ontario , by the thousands.  When they reach the north shore of Lake Ontario , some of them turn west looking for a shortcut and travelling over land.  They do this primarily as a strategy to conserve their energy for the long migratory flight ahead of them.  As they move along the shoreline in Durham Region, the Cranberry Marsh Raptor Watch volunteers identify them by species and count their numbers.  “These numbers are absolutely staggering”, says Patricia Lowe , Director of Community Outreach for Central Lake Ontario Conservation.  “There are typically more than 10,000 birds crossing this monitoring station each year,” she adds. 

“A good day of raptor counting can bring as many as 1600 birds,” says Doug Lockrey, local naturalist and volunteer coordinator for the group.  One of his primary roles is to collect and enter the data into a database that is provided to the Greater Toronto Hawk Watch.   “The task of data collection and reporting has greatly improved over the past 20 years,” says Doug.  “Hand written paper reports have now been replaced by a computerized database.”  Along with his data collection responsibilities,  Doug also coordinates and communicates with more than a dozen core volunteers and about 30 casual observers who make their way to Cranberry Marsh each season, clocking in about 425 volunteer hours over as many as 100 days from August to December.  “December can get cold,” says Doug, “but that’s when the golden eagles fly through, so it is worth weathering the elements.” 

If the barometric pressure is rising, if the winds are medium to strong and coming from the north to northwest and if there are good thermals (warm air rising from the land ) it will be a busy day for the volunteers. If these conditions do not exist, the birds will take a more inland route, crossing over a second monitoring station located in the Heber Down Conservation Area, where additional volunteers provide Doug with still more data.

So if you are good at counting, like to watch the skies and would like to learn your raptors, please join us for our Family Raptor Viewing Day. 

For more information or in the event of poor weather conditions please contact Gord Geissberger , Communications and Marketing Coordinator for Central Lake Ontario Conservation at 905-579-0411 ext. 142 or check here for event status.

Directions: Exit Brock Street in Whitby from the 401 and travel south to Victoria Street .  Turn right onto Victoria Street and travel approximately 3km to Halls Road .  Turn left and travel to the event.  Roadside parking on Halls Road will be available.  The event will be held on the south viewing area. Google Map

Back to Home Page.