St. Marys natural environment is home to a wide variety of birds, including bald eagles, warblers, herons and more.
Explore the experience of birdwatching in St. Marys through the eyes of local birdwatcher and photographer, Herman Veenendaal. Mr. Veenendaal can give you a glimpse of this exciting activity in our small town and surrounding area.
"Bird Watching in St. Marys" by Herman Veenendaal
St. Marys is blessed with a local natural environment that attracts numerous birds. The confluence of two rivers and the trees lining their banks creates a rich tapestry of bird and plant life and the insects on which the birds feed.
I've been a birder since I was about seven years old. I've always had an interest in the natural world and the solitude I find within it. Photography of birds began in my late 20s and I've been at it more intensely in recent years with retirement and the advent of digital photography.
I belong to the Stratford Field Naturalists, an organization founded 54 years ago. We hold monthly gatherings in Stratford and feature guest speakers, primarily bird-focused.
When in St. Marys, take time to explore the Riverview trail. Walk slowly and quietly, listening for bird sounds. If you must speak, do so quietly; your efforts will be rewarded.
Beginning in mid- to late April we see the northward return of nature's jewels, the Woodland Warblers. These colourful tiny insectivores time their migration north to the Boreal forest so that they arrive when the insects begin to rouse from their winter torpor. Insects first appear near riverbanks where temperatures will be slightly warmer than areas inland. On cool spring mornings Warblers can be seen foraging along branches, picking insects still sluggish from the overnight cooler temperatures. The still-bare branches provide excellent viewing opportunities for birders at this time of year. Despite the name “warbler”, most warblers only make faint high-pitched sounds and a beginning birder would do well to learn their song.
A few species of warbler, such as the Yellow Warbler, will remain here for the summer. By mid-May most of the other warblers will have made their way north to begin their breeding season in the insect rich Boreal Forest.
The river also provides viewing opportunities for water birds such as the shy Great Blue Heron, the Green Heron, the Black-crowned Night Heron and Great Egrets. Our resident nesting Ospreys can be seen diving towards the river for fish to feed their ever-hungry young, and Bald Eagles have become increasingly common in recent years.
Photography can be a rewarding aspect of birding and it pays to know the species, habitat and behaviour of birds that interest you. But please, respect these fragile creatures, don't approach too quickly and limit your time with a bird to a few minutes before moving on.