This Weekend is for The Birds

You can hear them even before you open your eyes in the morning. With winter’s snow finally gone and trees budding once again, the birds have returned for another season.

While you wouldn’t expect an urban centre like Toronto to be known for its bird population, the GTA is actually a popular stop-over for feathered travelers winging their way from southern climes to their breeding grounds in the north.

It’s migratory season — and this weekend is the perfect time to catch the annual spring spectacle. World Migratory Bird Day 2018 will be celebrated around the globe starting on Saturday May 12 and ending on Sunday May 13. Why not join in the celebration?

If you’d like to get in on the action, Tommy Thompson Park is hosting its annual Spring Bird Festival on Saturday. You can take a guided hike, or drop in to the Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station (TTPBRS) and watch volunteers recording and banding the various species of birds that have chosen this location as a rest stop on their long journey. Or you can simply walk or bike one of the park trails and enjoy the spring symphony of birdsong.

Tommy Thompson Park is one of the GTA’s prime bird watching locations. To learn more visit tommythompsonpark.ca.

least bittern spotted at Tommy Thompson Park
The least bittern is listed as a species at risk in Ontario. One was discovered at Tommy Thompson Park for the first time last year.

In 2017, researchers at TTPBRS banded 5,721 birds, representing 127 different species. You can view the full list of species banded HERE.