Celebrate the Arrival of Spring with Hawkwatch Activities at Niagara, Ontario’s Beamer Memorial Conservation Area

Submitted by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation  Authority

A brief foreword from Niagara At Large  –

It is one of the great rites of spring in Niagara, Ontario – the annual migration of the great birds of prey, a diverse host of hawks and eagles, soaring and circling through the airshafts above the Niagara Escarpment.

A Red-Tail Hawk in landing mode

This yearly migration seems to be attracting larger gatherings of people, bustng to spend more time outdoors after another long, cold winter, and nowhere is their a larger gathering and a better place to witness this spectacle of great birds than the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority’s Beamer Memorial Conservation Area, atop the Niagara Escarpment in Grimsby, Ontario.

 NAL encourages you to read the following submission from the NPCA and consider giving yourself a chance to share in witnessing one of the great spectacles of nature this region of the world offers each year.)

It’s time to grab your binoculars and head to Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in Grimsby to witness the spectacular spring migration phenomenon of migratory birds of prey as they make their spring flights from South and Central America, the Caribbean and the United States to their nesting territories in Canada.

 The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority and Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch group who have been leading this effort since 1990 invite you to join us from March 1 to May 15th, during the hours of 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM during good weather/viewing conditions.

On average over 15,000 raptors are viewed flying over Beamer each year.

North America’s largest bird of prey, the Bald Eagle is making a comeback in the Great Lakes after decades of threats from losses of habitat and environmental contaminants like DDT, dioxins and other man-made chemicals. .

Last year brought an unusual visit by a Mississippi Kite, a graceful southern species that rarely occurs in Ontario. In addition visitors can view broad-winged Hawks, Turkey Vultures, Peregrine Falcons as well as Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles to name a few. The spring raptors are expected to be equally as impressive in 2013. It will be interesting to see what surprises await this year. Trends in these migrating bird populations serve as valuable biological indicators for ecosystem health, as raptors are top-level predators, occupying large home ranges, inhabiting most ecosystems, and being sensitive to environmental contamination and other human disturbances.

 Be sure to mark your calendar for the he annual Hawkwatch Open House activities which will take place 10:00 to 3:00 on Good Friday, March 29th, 2013. A family favourite outing for everyone to enjoy, the event will feature a number of activities including live hawk demonstrations, ‘Talks on the Hawk Migration’, and a children’s program.

Take the time to get up, get out and join us at Beamer Conservation Area for a breath of fresh air!

 DIRECTIONS TO BEAMER CONSERVATION AREA FROM TORONTO/HAMILTON: Travel along QEW Niagara and take Exit 71, Christie St; Proceed south on Christie St. which turns into Mountain Rd. at RR #81; Follow Mountain Rd. up the escarpment, turn Right onto Ridge Rd.; Turn Right onto Quarry Rd.; 5. Park Entrance is on Quarry Rd. FROM BUFFALO/NIAGARA. Travel along QEW Toronto and take Exit 71, Christie St.; which turns into Mountain Rd. at RR #81; Follow Mountain Rd. up the escarpment, turn Right onto Ridge Rd.; Turn Right onto Quarry Rd.; S. Park Entrance is on Quarry Rd.

 Learn more about the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority and the many recreational opportunities it has to offer residents and visits to Niagara, Ontario by visiting its website at http://www.npca.ca/ .

(Niagara At Large encourages all visitors to this site to share their views on this post or any other posts NAL has posted. Divergent views are most welcome in the spirit of NAL’s goal to operate as a virtual town hall for discussing and debating issues of interest and concern to our communities and countries across the greater Niagara region and beyond.)