Fall Migration!

A road trip to the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory (PEPBO) was in order today. We've been wanting to go there during the fall migration period. Until October 31, the observatory will be banding birds between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m.

There was quite a crowd of bird lovers already at the bird banding field station when we arrived. Nowadays, you are not allowed in the banding station, nor are you allowed to go and see the nets that are set up in the wooded area to trap migrating birds. But, there is a TV screen set up outside that has a live feed of the bird bandings. And, every banded bird is gently escorted out in the palm of a volunteer's hands and released.

Our adventure buddies were delighted to hear about the banding process and possibly see birds that were not on their life list.

Isn't this the most BEAUTIFUL yellow ever?

Volunteers need to go out every 40 minutes and check each of the 30 nets behind the banding station. Their job is to release the birds from the netting and put them in the cloth bags you see below. Being inside the cloth bags comforts the birds. The bird-filled-bags are hung on a line inside, ready for banding.

Hummingbirds are not banded.

PEPBO is at the furthest south east point of Prince Edward County, jutting into Lake Ontario. There is some nice hiking in the area and todayps weather was perfect for a walk. As we headed towards the lighthouse on the lake, we wondered if there still was commercial fishing happening there? In past years we'd seen a commercial fishing boat tied up to a small dock near the bird observatory.

We walked on the rocky shore in a westerly direction to this marshy area. Wouldn't birds love this habitat? No sign of humans anywhere.

We felt like we were kings and queens as we had our picnic on a ridge overlooking the lake.

And, coming back our commercial fishing question was answered.

Yes, they are still fishing from Prince Edward Point.

Today they caught Whitefish - over 700 lbs.

I wish I lived closer.

It was a beautiful day.

I think a little Mary Oliver is in order to end this post.

“You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting –

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.”

🐦‍⬛ 🐦‍⬛ 🐦‍⬛ 🐦‍⬛ 🐦‍⬛