By Jeremy Hatt
Every other year, the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) hosts their Annual Convention in Leamington and Point Pelee National Park. This year the Convention was held from September 20-22. Birders and bird-enthusiasts travel from across Ontario to attend the Convention, which consists of a “Birds and Beers” social gathering on Friday night and a banquet Saturday night, which includes an Annual General Meeting, awards, a silent auction, vendors, and a keynote speaker, much like our own Club’s Annual Dinner. This year’s keynote speakers were Joseph Pitawanakwat, Andrés Jimenéz Monge and Junaid Shahzad Khan of Creator’s Garden who gave an enlightening presentation on cataloguing the Anishinaabe traditional names of birds. Members of the Caldwell First Nation were also present to talk about their connection to the region and open the Convention with a smudging ceremony.
Several members of the Essex County Field Naturalists’ Club (ECFNC) volunteered for the Convention including leading hikes, helping organize, and speaking at the event. At the Friday night Birds and Beers, Paul Pratt opened the Convention with a presentation on the importance of Essex County as a migratory stopover for birds as well as the breeding birds of the county. He also spoke about ECFNC celebrating its 40th anniversary. Who better than someone who was part of the planning team that created the Club and served as President to speak to attendees about our involvement in the community! Birds and Beers also included the infamous Bird Quiz hosted by Sarah Rupert of Point Pelee National Park. Winners of the quiz take home a coveted trophy and this year the winning team included proud members of ECFNC.
One of the highlights of the Convention is of course the opportunity for birders from around Ontario to enjoy the many special natural areas Essex County has to offer during the Convention. This included Point Pelee National Park, Hillman Marsh Conservation Area, Wheatley Harbour, Kopegaron Woods, Harrow Sewage Lagoons, Essex Sewage Lagoons, Amherstburg Birding and Nature Trail, Holiday Beach Conservation Area, and Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Reserve. A special outing was also held on Sunday at the Caldwell First Nation Marina.
The Friday and Saturday night banquets were held at the Portuguese Club in Leamington and vendors were invited to set up tables to sell products or provide information. ECFNC had a table set up both nights and had lively conversations about the Club and made connections with other nature clubs in the process. A copy of Fishes of Essex County and Surrounding Waters by Dr. Lynda Corkum was sold and two new members joined the Club as well. ECFNC donated a copy of the fish book as well as a copy of Wildflowers of the Canadian Erie Islands by Mary Celestino, and a free family membership to the silent auction. A family active with the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club won the award and looked forward to hearing more about the Club.
The next OFO Convention will be held in Leamington in 2026 and ECFNC will be there to represent Essex County and its valuable contributions to ornithology.
Notable Bird Sightings from Convention Tours/Hikes
– Compiled by Cameron Chevalier
Observers recorded a total of 188 species across Conventions “North” and “South’. The North Convention was held during the same period as the Convention held in the Leamington area. It was held in Hilliardton with trips to Hilliardton Marsh, Englehart and New Liskard Sewage Lagoons, and Kap-Kig-Iwan Provincial Park.
Convention South hosted a good variety of migrants, though Convention North participants added an impressive 11 species to the tally (species not recorded by Convention South participants): Snow Goose, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Ruffed Grouse, Spruce Grouse, Barred Owl, Boreal Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Eastern Bluebird, Evening Grosbeak, and Vesper Sparrow.
A total of 21 warbler species were recorded, including scarcer species like Wilson’s and Connecticut Warbler. One field trip led by Mike Burrell recorded 150 Yellow-rumped Warblers at Point Pelee’s Northwest Beach, among eight other warbler species.
19 shorebird species were tallied, highlighted by Red-necked Phalarope from the Tip of Point Pelee, Red Knot from Erieau, and Buff-breasted Sandpiper from the onion fields outside of Point Pelee. The five Red-necked Phalaropes seen from the Tip on September 29th represent the highest count for that species since 2017 for Essex. Two flying groups of unidentified shorebirds seen from the Tip and from Erieau were both assessed as possible Hudsonian Godwits, but this species fell short of inclusion on the convention checklist.
The Convention North put up excellent owl numbers with 16 Boreal Owls and 19 Northern Saw-whet Owls. Some Convention South participants were fortunate to see a red morph Eastern Screech-Owl at Point Pelee.
The Convention generated a few significant records by date, including an Eastern Kingbird (fifth-latest ever between Essex and Chatham-Kent) and a Great-crested Flycatcher (eighth-latest ever between Essex and Chatham-Kent).
Gulls and terns were present in notable quantities for Convention South participants, and interesting sightings included a Little Gull, a group of at least 1600 Bonaparte’s Gulls and 1000 Common Terns seen from Seacliff Park in Leamington, an adult “Great Lakes” (Herring x Great Black-backed) Gull offering great study for keen observers at the Tip, and a Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Three jaegers delighted those with scopes, but remained too distant for positive identification to species and for those with binoculars.
Other interesting observations included a Blue Jay depredating a DeKay’s Brownsnake at Ojibway Park, an event documented with great photos by Jean Hampson.
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