Birds of Crystal Beach

268 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Crystal Beach (Ontario) since 2010, across 135,170 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee and House Sparrow.

Crystal Beach is backyard-bird country: 83% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, House Sparrow and Blue Jay make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.

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

Records peak in May and are lowest in February — about 4.5 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.

Fort Erie, 7 mi to the east, has more species on record (317 against 268). Birds logged far more often around Crystal Beach than there include Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Red-headed Woodpecker.

Daylight runs from 15 h 21 min at midsummer to 9 h 1 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:36 AM in mid-April and 5:37 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

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

• Northern Cardinal

  Black-oil sunflower · Safflower · Hulled sunflower chips

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts

• House Sparrow

  Millet · Cracked corn

• Blue Jay

  Peanuts in the shell · Black-oil sunflower · Suet

• Downy Woodpecker

  Suet · Shelled peanuts · Black-oil sunflower

• American Goldfinch

  Nyjer (thistle) · Hulled sunflower chips · Black-oil sunflower

• Fort Erie7 mi east · 317 species
• Chippawa13 mi north · 286 species
• Thorold19 mi north · 260 species
• Virgil25 mi north · 303 species
• Vineland26 mi north-west · 256 species
• Dunnville28 mi west · 272 species