There are over 100 species of birds which nest in the area; either seasonally or throughout the year. The most notable species to our area is the Black-billed Cuckoo bird, which subsists mostly on caterpillars. As it is known to eat caterpillars with spikes, the cuckoo is able to shed its stomach lining on occasion to rid the body of the barbs. While it may be hard to spot, a black-billed cuckoo is easy to hear. The distinct cry “cu-cu-cu-cu, cu-cu-cu-cu” before a rainfall, gave it the nickname of a “rain crow”. There are a few ornithological clubs in our area if birding is of interest to you:The Owen Sound Field Naturalists – www.owensoundfieldnaturalists.ca Ontario Field Ornithologists – www.ofo.ca
Some other birds that frequent our area include:
Warblers, Cardinals, Snowy Owls, Chickadees, Goldfinches, Blue Jays, Woodpeckers, House & Purple Finches, Tree Sparrows, Mourning Doves, Redpolls, Northern Shrikes, Red-tailed Hawks, Bohemian Waxwings, Great-Horned Owls, Song Sparrows, Bluebirds, Kingfishers, Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles.