Back in December, some rural parts of the province were treated to flocks of Snow Buntings. These birds of open country feed in fields and along roadsides where they will scatter as cars approach, often spooking the driver who wonders if they all made it safely out of the way. Fields where corn has been harvested are a lure, as are roadsides where they will search for spilled corn and weed seeds. They also pick up grit for their gizzard to aid in grinding up hard food. Roadsides become particularly attractive once snow covers their food source in the fields.

Now a second wave has moved in, with many thousands appearing for a short time before most move south of the border. Travel restrictions don’t apply to these snowbirds.

By Brian Morin

Publisher of Ontario Birding News