Birds of Wiarton

248 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Wiarton (Ontario) since 2010, across 98,846 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are American Crow, Red-winged Blackbird and Canada Goose.

The records split between backyard birds (59%) and waterbirds (35%), so a feeder in Wiarton sees the familiar American Crow, Red-winged Blackbird and Song Sparrow, while Canada Goose and others turn up on nearby water.

19 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle and Osprey.

Records peak in May and are lowest in February — about 36.5 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.

Sydenham, 21 mi to the south-east, has fewer species on record (235 against 248). Birds logged far more often around Wiarton than there include Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Bufflehead and Blue-winged Teal.

Daylight runs from 15 h 35 min at midsummer to 8 h 48 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:41 AM in mid-April and 5:38 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

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

• American Crow

  Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps

• Red-winged Blackbird

  Cracked corn · Millet · Sunflower

• Song Sparrow

  Millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn

• American Robin

  Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets

• Tree Swallow

  Crushed eggshells in spring

• American Goldfinch

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

• Sydenham21 mi south-east · 235 species
• Port Elgin24 mi south-west · 268 species
• Meaford28 mi east · 219 species
• The Blue Mountains36 mi east · 234 species
• Markdale38 mi south-east · 178 species
• Hanover41 mi south · 202 species