Birders cash in on big day in the IBA

In spite of weather that ranged from brilliant sunshine to downpours of rain, the Spring Birding Festival is counting its successes – and new money for the birds.

The Big Day in the IBA (Important Bird Area) saw Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory (PEPtBO) volunteers on a mission to spot as many bird species as possible in 24 hours in the IBA.

The Prince Edward County South Shore Important Bird and Biodiversity Area is a designated globally significant area that comprises more than 40km of Lake Ontario shoreline, and 90 square kilometers of land and water habitat.

“We were given a challenge by the Gosling Foundation to find 100 species for which they would donate $50 per species to a total of $5,000,” said Cheryl Anderson. “We found 120 species and the Gosling Foundation increased its support to donate $6,000 to the Bird Observatory.”

PEPtBO celebrates the end of the festival and another year of work at the observatory at its annual meeting, Saturday. A buffet dinner will be followed by a presentation from Hazel Wheeler about her work with the Eastern Loggerhead Shrike Recovery Program. Winners of the 2017 bird photo contest will also be announced. For tickets, call Peter Fuller at 613-968-4643.