1999 Thunder Bay District
Birding Highlights
In 1999 a total of 250 species were reported from Thunder Bay District by members and friends of the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists. This compares well to the average of 244 species over the past 14 years. Over this time period the total number of species has varied from a low of 232 in 1986, to a high of 254 in 1995. Three new species were added to the checklist this year (see below), bringing the total to 339 species (this total includes 4 extinct/extirpated species).A. Regular Species
Of the 228 species that are considered to be regularly occurring in Thunder Bay District, 223 were reported in 1999. The five species not seen were Upland Sandpiper, Thayer's Gull, Black Tern, Red-headed Woodpecker and Pine Warbler. Except for Thayer's Gull, these species haven't been reported since 1995, and are candidates to go back on the Rare list.B. Rare Species
In 1999, there were 27 rare species reported, the same number as in 1997 and two more than in 1998. Many of these were identified at the Thunder Cape Bird Observatory. The additions to the checklist in 1999 were Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (conditional on acceptance by the Ontario Bird Records Committee), Little Gull, and Red Phalarope. Details of most of these sightings of rarities have been published in Nature Northwest.C. Exotics
There were two reports: a "Cockatiel" of uncertain species, that had just escaped from its owner's cage and was soon recaptured, and a Wild Turkey, which wasn't that wild since it was apparently close to someone's yard. Nevertheless, such birds should be reported, just in case one might eventually turn out to be of wild origin (exotic species aren't counted in the totals above).I wish to extend my thanks to all those who report their bird sightings to me. This helps to round out the picture for the area, and makes this report, and the listing of records in the quarterly issues of Nature Northwest, all the more complete.
