A Covid-19 Walk in the Park

     Yesterday it really felt like spring. The sun shone, the wind was light and the temperature flirted with sixteen degrees. What better to do than go for a walk?
     As Miriam and I debated where we would go, RIM Park popped up in the conversation. We were not sure whether the parking area would be open, although we were confident that the park itself would be. It's not far to go to check so that's what we did and were delighted to see that we could park as usual, and that others had already decided it was an equally fine day for fresh air and exercise.

     There were many people out to take in the sunshine, roller bladers, cyclists, families - all manner of people. I think we were the only birders!
     One young boy had a butterfly net and we had seen Cabbage White (Pieris rapae), Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) and Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma) and we hoped that he would be successful in snaring something in his net. His enthusiasm was a joy to see.

Eastern Comma

     It was impossible not to ponder whether Covid-19 will have lasting consequences for the behaviour of children. It is the natural inclination of youngsters to get together and play; one kid with a ball is an open invitation for others to join in a game, a rope invites friends to skip, a snack is to be shared, and a butterfly in a net is a prize to be shown to everyone. Now children are admonished to keep their distance and not get together with others. This seems to fly in the face of the very notion of childhood. Will kids ever be able to get together and tussle again, play tag, exchange high fives in the dugout, act together in the school play? I hope so!

     One of the loveliest names for a flower it always seems to me is Spring Beauty (Clatonia caroliniana). 

     It is a member of that group of flowers we refer to as Spring Ephemerals, here but briefly as the snow and cold recede, and every copse and woodland bursts with bloom. The joy it brings is sublime.

     Another sure indicator that spring has arrived is the emergence of Eastern Garter Snakes  (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) from their hiberncula, and we were very happy to see this good-sized individual.

     These gentle snakes do no harm to anyone, yet are still persecuted, unfortunately, by people with an irrational and unfounded fear of them.

     An American Robin (Turdus migratorius) elicits exactly the opposite reaction; it is a bird much loved by all.

     Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is not native to North America and is a serious competitor to cavity nesting birds vying for holes in trees that are already in short supply.

     There were quite a few Tree Swallows (Tchycineta bicolor) flying around and a couple perched high in a tree permitting a photograph or two, albeit not of sterling quality.

     Two pairs of Common Mergansers (Mergus merganser) sallied to and fro along the Grand River.

       A thoughtless individual with a dog threw a stick into the water for the dog to retrieve, causing the birds to leave in a hurry.

     A couple of White-breasted Nuthatches (Sitta carolinensis) were busy and seemed to be displaying signs of nesting, although we never did spot the cavity.

     Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is pleasingly common in our area and there are many breeding pairs in the Grand River watershed. Miriam first spotted this individual perched on a high vantage point from which to scan the river.

     Shortly after we first saw it, it moved out over the water, hovered for an instant and dived, but came up without a fish. It then flew downstream right in front of us, no more than about two metres above our heads. With the right kind of equipment we could have had some amazing shots!
     On its next attempt, however it was successful and landed in a nearby tree with a fish flopping in its talons.

     It seemed to be quite a chore to subdue its prey.

      Finally, having taken a few bites from the choice area around the head, the bird flew off with the fish. Perhaps it has a mate on a nest to whom it needs to deliver food.
     There is a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nest in Conestogo, not far from RIM Park and we decided to check it out before heading home. The female was clearly visible on the nest, but getting a clear angle for a photograph is just about impossible.

       For the past four years this pair has raised two young from this nest and we have every expectation that they will be similarly successful this year.

     We returned home well satisfied with our afternoon excursion, and thankful that we are not subject to the draconian regulations in other areas where one is barely permitted beyond the front door. In many areas seriously affected by Covid-19 there seems to be a glimmer of light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, thankfully.

     May the world soon return to something like normal for all of us.