Birds of Bluewater

207 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Bluewater (Ontario) since 2010, across 21,549 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Mourning Dove, American Crow and American Robin.

Bluewater is backyard-bird country: 81% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. Mourning Dove, American Crow, American Robin and Blue Jay make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.

16 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk and Bald Eagle.

Records peak in May and are lowest in February — about 25.6 times as many in the busiest month. Part of that is birds (migrants and breeding arrivals), part is people: more birders are out in good weather, so treat the curve as activity, not a census.

Hensall, 6 mi to the south-east, has more species on record (248 against 207). Birds logged far more often around Bluewater than there include House Finch, Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Red-breasted Merganser.

Daylight runs from 15 h 25 min at midsummer to 8 h 57 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:45 AM in mid-April and 5:45 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.

• Mourning Dove

  Millet · Cracked corn · Black-oil sunflower

• American Crow

  Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps

• American Robin

  Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets

• Blue Jay

  Peanuts in the shell · Black-oil sunflower · Suet

• Northern Cardinal

  Black-oil sunflower · Safflower · Hulled sunflower chips

• Common Grackle

  Cracked corn · Sunflower

• Hensall6 mi south-east · 248 species
• Exeter10 mi south-east · 247 species
• Clinton11 mi north · 239 species
• South Huron11 mi south · 247 species
• Seaforth12 mi north-east · 240 species
• Grand Bend13 mi south-west · 295 species