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There is no clean division between the migration and breeding seasons. While new migrants continue to arrive in the Frontenac Arch, many are well into their first nesting cycles including this resourceful Black-capped Chickadee. The migration census of May 11 revealed a total of 40 species during the one-hour survey. One of the strengths of monitoring avian migration at coastal sites is that these locations attract a high number of migrants, which stay for very brief periods and also that these sites are generally low in breeding bird abundance and diversity. Conversely, surveys of birds along Canoe Lake Road in May include a disproportionate sample of species that breed in the area and it is therefore difficult to decipher the passage migrants from the “locals”. Repeating these surveys in mid-late June would be necessary to compare and contrast with our spring migration results.

Highlights of the latest census include another singing male Cerulean Warbler, two Golden-winged Warblers and the first arrival of Chestnut-sided Warbler for the spring. Also of note was the discovery of this Yellow-bellied Sapsucker nest, which is unusually positioned within a narrow band of trees at the roadside between two cattle pastures.

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Results (first of season species in bold)

Canada Goose    2
Common Loon    1
Mourning Dove    3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird    3
Belted Kingfisher    2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker    2
Northern Flicker    1
Eastern Phoebe    2
Great Crested Flycatcher    4
Warbling Vireo    2
Red-eyed Vireo    6
Blue Jay    5
American Crow    1
Black-capped Chickadee    6
Red-breasted Nuthatch    2
White-breasted Nuthatch    2
Wood Thrush    2
American Robin    3
European Starling    2
Golden-winged Warbler    2
Nashville Warbler    1
Yellow Warbler    3
Chestnut-sided Warbler    1
Yellow-rumped Warbler    1
Pine Warbler    1
Cerulean Warbler    1
Black-and-white Warbler    2
Ovenbird    4
Common Yellowthroat    3
Scarlet Tanager    1
Chipping Sparrow    9
Song Sparrow    3
Swamp Sparrow    1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak    6
Bobolink    1
Red-winged Blackbird    9
Common Grackle    5
Baltimore Oriole    6
Pine Siskin    2
American Goldfinch    8

Season Species Total-89