The Montreal region offers a wide range of possibilities for the observation of fauna, and in particular birds, including in winter. As the pandemic stretches and weighs more and more on the morale of citizens, some believe that the opportunity is good to take the time to discover this biological diversity accessible in urban areas.
A seasoned and well-known ornithologist in southwestern Montreal, Jean-Marc Lacoste recently published a video that he filmed in mid-December in the Parc des Rapides sector in Lachine. We can see a couple of bald eagles building a nest, an extremely rare sighting in the region for this species considered “vulnerable” in Quebec.
According to him, the presence of this impressive bird of prey testifies above all to the important diversity of species that it observes throughout the year, including in winter, in all this sector located on the course of the St. Laurent, from Parc des Rapides to Parc O’Reilly, in Verdun.
“People are surprised to hear that there are eagles. We can even see them hunting. But there are also several other species. There are a lot of ducks, especially in the Lachine Rapids area. An ornithologist often told me that we see more ducks in winter than in summer. Yesterday I saw over sixty Common Goldeneyes in flight. There were also scaups, greater mergansers and crowned mergansers, ”explains Mr. Lacoste.
Since the beginning of January 2022 alone, the count of avian fauna observers shows at least 26 species of birds identified in the park of the Rapides and of 29 species in the park O’Reilly. And yet, these identifications cover only a very small part of the spectrum of species that can be observed throughout the year. For the Rapides park alone, Mr. Lacoste estimates that we can see there, over the whole year, between 120 and 140 species of birds.
“The number of birds is incredible if you take the time to look,” says Jean-Marc Lacoste. There are fewer species in winter, but we can still observe several. And in some cases, such as raptors, it is often easier to observe them in winter, since they are always very active. This is the case of the peregrine falcon, a species that almost became extinct, mainly due to the use of pesticides.
Birds of prey in town
Director General of the Quebec Birds organization, Jean-Sébastien Guénette also believes that the winter period is conducive to the observation of birds of prey in urban areas or near cities. He cites the example of the red-tailed hawk, of which we can see individuals resting on wires or trees, especially along Highway 10, or the snowy owl, Quebec’s avian emblem for more than 30 years. In recent days, sightings of the great gray owl, the largest owl in North America, have also been reported.
Mr. Guénette adds that the Montreal region has many areas conducive to the observation of a great diversity of avian species during the colder months of the year. “At Jean-Drapeau Park this morning, I saw about twenty species. But it is a very good site for all seasons. The same goes for the Montreal Botanical Garden, for the Technoparc Montreal, for Angrignon Park, for several other parks on the island and the Îles-de-Boucherville National Park.
There are fewer species in winter, but we can still observe several. And in some cases, such as raptors, it is often easier to observe them in winter, since they are always very active.
“All these sites have the particularity of being easily accessible,” insists Jean-Marc Lacoste. We are near parks where we can observe birds. I leave on foot from the house to go observe them. You can also go there by bike. “
Whether the birds are present or not, he adds, this kind of activity is proving beneficial, especially in a context of pandemic, containment and teleworking. “It’s good for our physical health to go outside. And if there are no birds, you can still observe magnificent landscapes. The river, in winter, is superb, with ice, frost, thaw, etc. We are in town and we are walking in nature. Every day I see something interesting. “
Even if there is no precise data on this subject, everything indicates that several people have discovered ornithology since the start of the pandemic, according to Jean-Sébastien Guénette. In the first months of the pandemic, the organization Québec oiseaux launched the “Birds at home” activity to encourage citizens to discover different species. No less than 5,000 registrations were recorded.
Mr. Guénette rightly points out that bird watching very close to home can be a good way to “raise awareness” about wildlife, especially for the youngest. There are also tools for this, such as applications that make it easier to identify species. There are also ornithology clubs in Montreal. It can also be useful to install feeders during the winter, but on condition that they are properly maintained and cleaned to prevent them from becoming sites of disease transmission.