Birding

Bird watching is the fastest growing hobby in the world. It’s one of the few activities people can do more of as they get older, it is inexpensive and available to everyone. The beauty of birding is that an amateur has just as good a chance at making that rare bird sighting as a professional and it's a great way to get kids interested in nature. The western end of Lake Ontario which includes Burlington, offers a variety of habitats enabling birders to see close to 150 bird species.

• Did you know?
• Birding Trails
• Prime Birding Locations
• Maps of Birding Areas
• Events
• Related Links

Did you know?

There are over 150 local bird species in the Burlington area including:

Birding Trails

• Bald eagles all but locally extinct in 1980’s are now making a comeback. Several Bald Eagles have overwintered in Cootes Paradise at Royal Botanical Gardens in the last few years and a pair established a nest on the north shore of Cootes Paradise west of the Marshwalk observation platform.
• The west end of Lake Ontario is a perfect fall and spring stopover area for water birds including Loons, Tundra Swans and even the occasional Pelican.
• The presence of zebra mussels on the bottom of Lake Ontario provides an abundant supply of food for hundreds of thousands of Arctic ducks who winter over along our lakeshore.
• Trumpeter Swans, the largest waterfowl in North America had vanished from Ontario in 1886. With the help of volunteers they have been brought back to south-central Ontario and 200 swans flock to the shores of LaSalle Park in Burlington to winter over, arriving in November and returning in April to their nesting grounds in the north.
• Burlington is home to species that only recently have become established in Ontario including: Carolina Wren, Northern Mockingbird, and Red-bellied Woodpecker.
• Screech Owls and Great Horned Owls are quite common, although rarely seen.
• Bird feeders attract many small birds that are easy prey for Coopers Hawks and Sharp Shinned Hawks which are found all year round in Burlington.
• Several bird species have become so numerous they present a problem for humans by damaging habitat.  Double Crested Cormorants nest in colonies on trees close to water and their waste is poisonous to the trees.  The Canada Goose has become a pest, fouling many parks and beaches.
• Mountsberg Conservation Area is home to Osprey and these can be viewed on their Osprey nest-cam!
• Waterfront – To see Waterbirds and Gulls in all seasons, follow the shoreline starting at the RBG/Cootes Paradise and stopping at Woodland Cemetery, RBG, LaSalle Park Marina, the Canal/Lift Bridge, Spencer Smith Park, Sioux Lookout, Paletta Lakefront Park, Burloak Park and continue on into Oakville, stopping at Bronte and Oakville Harbours.
• Escarpment – Great locations for Raptors including Turkey Vultures. Stop at Mount Nemo, Rattlesnake Point, Kelso Conservation Areas and Kerncliff Park.  Check out the Osprey cam at Mountsberg Conservation Area
• Bruce Trail - Hiking the Bruce Trail offers many opportunities to see forest and farmland birds.  In spring and summer watch for migrating Raptors and Vultures. The cliffs create updrafts which these birds use to gain height to speed their migration. The Bruce Trail follows the Niagara Escarpment and is your connection to some of the best birding experiences in the Burlington area, travelling through Crawford Lake, Hilton Falls, Kelso, Mount Nemo, and Rattlesnake Point Conservation Areas, Kerncliff Park and the Royal Botanical Gardens.