The final column
I would like to share with you a fascinating book entitled Where the Falcon Flies by Adam Schoalts. If it interests you, you may find this book through the Wellington County Library.
Looking out his porch window one spring morning, Adam Shoalts spotted a majestic peregrine falcon… Grabbing his backpack and canoe, Shoalts resolved to follow the falcon’s route north on an astonishing 3,400 kilometre journey to the Arctic.
Shoalts is described as Canada’s most accomplished adventurer and storyteller. I could barely put this book down as challenge and obstacle after another developed. Interspersed are lessons on Canadian history from this historian, archaeologist, geographer and explorer.
I believe this is Shoalts’ fifth book. It definitely sparked an interest in me to read more of his writings.
My August column promised to tell more about the flycatcher. These birds are members of the tyrannidae family of birds. They are found worldwide with 16 species seen in Canada and another 10 species here as accidentals (when birds from a different location wander off course to another country or vicinity).\
Some flycatchers I have seen and successfully identified are eastern, great crested, eastern phoebe, eastern pewee, olive-sided. The following are birds I have attempted to identify: yellow bellied, least, willow and alder. Features that help with identification include eye rings, colouring, bobbing tail in the pewee, voice and habitat.
Finally, I regret to inform that this will be my final column. Due to changes in my situation I am unable to continue writing these Lovers of the Birds columns. Soon would have been 20 years of columns and I have enjoyed each column and any challenge involved. I wish you all great adventures in bird watching and feeding and caring for the many local birds in Wellington County and beyond.
Sincerely,
Susan Warren