The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

BIRDS OF A FEATHER by M. Hendrick Point Pelee is a triangular peninsula that juts into the western end of Lake Erie near Leamington and Windsor. Point Pelee National Park occupies the last 5.9 miles of the peninsula where the land narrows fairly rapidly to what one could describe as a point, and this area has become a mecca for birdwatchers.‘ The reason for this is the spectacular arrival and stopover of migrant birds. They come "in such numbers of species and individuals that it is almost unbelievable to people who have not seen them. One reason for this is the concentration of birds from a wide migrational front into the narrow funnelâ€"like land area of the Point. This makes it one of the best places in Canada in which to observe birds. At the peak of the Lake Erie. It was unseasonably cold and as they shivered some wished they had thought to bring gloves. Scopes were set up and the group had views of Redâ€"breasted Mergansers, various gulls and Ruddy Turnstones. There did not seem to be much more of interest there so people, relieved to be out of the wind, took to the woods. The dawn chorus at Pelee is usually an unforgettable experience, but that morning the birds were strangely silent. Was the trip going to be a washout? But slowly birds began to appear, and soon their numbers increased to the point that the novice birder had difficulty keeping up with their identifiâ€" cation. Experienced birders, some of whom were complete strangers, tried to help the less experienced identify the birds at hand. a Marsh Wren as it flew into the air, and while singing its heart out, displayed for the female. After 1 1/2 days of birding at Point Pelee and vicinity the NLB saw a cumulative total of 123 species. Not a bad number for a group of fairly new birdersl The outstanding birding experience plus the camaraderie that existed among NLB members made the whole trip worthwhile. Mary Anne Leggett summed up the feelings of the group about the trip pretty well when she said, "I wouldn't have missed it for anything!" By‘ now everyone with a hummingbird feeder will have had visits from Rubyâ€"throated Hummingbirds. The first reports were received from Elsie and john Goodman on May 14 and Leorene Hayes on May 15. The Killdeer nest in the cattle pasture that NORTH LEEDS LANTERN 15 the woodpecker is one 01 the pair that nested there last year. With all the cold and rain, Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows seem to be having a difficult time this year raising young. Claire Mills' bluebirds had another problem, a House Sparrow that entered the nest box and killed the birds. The NLB checked the bluebird boxes put up by the school children on Cedar Valley Road and they discovered, among other things, 2 pairs of nesting bluebirds. Dale Barnes saw what is thought to have been a Roseâ€"breasted Grosbeak, a melodious singer. The male bird often sings as he sits on the nest. Allan Balmer had a close look at a Common Snipe as it sat on a post near the road. As well, he and his wife Kay were . _ f t season In May one Later’ WInona Barker Elsie was worr in about or unate to see a observer can tally over Created a stir when she last month dig; got et Loggerhead Shrike sitting a hundred species in a identified a Hooded g on a wire by Highway trampleld and much to 32. A her delight the young fledged. They now follow the adult as they learn to search for food. Cedar Waxwings are late nesters and at the time single day". (The Spring Birds of Point Pelee National Park by George M. Stirrett PhD) Members of the North Leeds Birdwatchers (NLB) Doubleâ€"crested Cormorant surprised Bill Cutfield as it flew over him at Red llorse Lake. Blackâ€"billed Cuckoos, Scarlet Tanagers, Indigo Warbler skulking in the underbrush. ln a flash a great number of people wanted to know where it had been seen. When a "good" bird has been decided that the too t P 1 e, ws . . Buntin s, Vir inia Rails, would migrate toy Point $23215 a faste! e Qroggrd :Eilyrlfnlgingunaeroiig af: Uplandg Sandiipers and Pelee to see this ' . man th b‘ d~ t phenomenon for . 3:21:35, wseidomaigfizgicl {Socks'bAtkleaSt one pang nuerou: tZr menllo: has: themselves. They realized Many of the warblers, aive e53) enne:wa3é1a:n been seen. that the birds arrive at Vireos, thrushes and Buet: bong Olin Ha 3;: By the time this is Pelee in intermittent other species seen were r me' . y. printed the birds will be waves and if they missed new to individual had an Amerlcan RObm fairly quiet as the a wave the number of members of the NLB mfgting on the frame Of nesting season will be birds seen could be In the afternoon. Bill hls baSkelbau n.et' He nearly over. When you disappointing, but they Cutfield identified a mildly atXIOldedbllsmg tilde read this column next, were willing to take the Wiiiie_eyed Vireo and me. 50 e, m ms. CCU. fall migration will be chance. They left on May Annette Mess and a ralse the” famlly m underway. 11. their deStination friend worked hard to péace° The number to call with being a mOtEI in see a noisy wlnona Barker and your sightings is Leamington. ellow-breasted Chat lt Moreen Ready discovered 359â€"5178. Have a happy Shortly after dawn the i/ed them on 3 “Jerry a Redâ€"gradecj zoifngkSr summer and until “em morning the group chase, yet never did near mton a a dy S September home. Later on June 15 show itself. . . . , U h overIOOklng The fouowmg morning thaeniirglolfilethe SSari: is thought that stood close to the end of the point GOOD BIRDING! several members watched area_ It THE LITTLE BARN STUDIO . Easter" 0mm fi'b'iscili'r'fll»))))) 3 wheelers for Fun and Independence ELECTRIC Electrical Contractor 0 Residential 0 Commercial 0 R.Fl. 4 Lansdowne,Ont KOE 1L0 Phone 359-5107 RR. #2, Elgin Ontario, KOG 1E0 ' SALES & SERVICE ELDON R. KIRKLAND -â€"-â€"ARTIST EX/tendA an invitation to you, you/L 6ami€y and finienda, i0 coMidUL giving an OAiQinai Canadian Land/scape in oii on wa/teJL-coliou/i, (125 a ChJu'A/tmaA gifii ill/('23 yea/L. 0/1, pejihap/s a Sketch in pencil, on pen and ink. I have a good Auppiy oi; Aize/s and Aubjeobs. Comidu you/L puncha/se M an inve/iimeni. An ideal gifii 60h any occaAion. Barry St. Pierre A A select group of English-speaking toenang from Europe, Asia, and Latin America will arrive in Canada this August â€" each one looking forward to living with a Canadian family for a high school year, YOU could be one of these families! Your local EF Foundation Area Representative is interviewing prospective families now. Host families are able to choose the student best suited for their home. Call today: Chartered Accountant P.O. Box 119 Elgin. Ontario KOG 1E0 (613) 359-5740 ()3 the co-opcrétozs Jim madman Mike Hutchison Sales Representative lnswance Sewices 613-272-2246 Educational Foundation far Forolgn Study Opposite Conservation Park M. No. I Ingrid from Norway . Life. Ame, Ham “in. ohm-.0 me [so or call toll-free 1-800-44 SHARE “‘0'” Commutial," rm lot: 272-2729 272~2338 ’32,“- ‘M,