Work continued on October 19, 2024 in our 3rd and final week at East Riverside Park/Blue Heron Pond. It proved to be a bit of a chilly, foggy morning but did not dampen the spirits or progress of the phrag fighters! Can’t wait to see what it looks like next year.
– 309 species –
By Cameron Chevalier
2023 proved to be a truly unprecedented year for birding in Essex County. The 309 species recorded in the county represent the highest total for any single Canadian county in a year (per eBird data). In the process, Essex added a staggering 5 species to its checklist (Willow Ptarmigan, Glaucous-winged Gull, White-winged Tern, Ferruginous Hawk, and Cassin’s Kingbird), with one additional species added to the Point Pelee Birding Area Checklist
(Limpkin). The previous record (both county and provincial) of 304 species was set in 2022. Almost 24,000 checklists were submitted to eBird this year for Essex, along with over 20,000 photos and over 250 audio recordings.
The names of 105 unique observers appear in this summary, though dozens of other birders also made significant contributions to the 2023 list (see also the eBird Top 100 for species and checklists).
To keep this report succinct, not all notable records of the year are given complete documentation below. There are known records pending a decision by the Essex eBird Regional Review team or Ontario Bird Records Committee (OBRC) which could increase the year total. The complete checklist of all accepted species observed in the county, with early and late dates and high counts for all notable species, can be found HERE and is also linked at the end.
It must be noted that this summary is constructed almost exclusively from eBird data. If you have information or documentation pertaining to records not listed that you feel belong in this Summary, please contact me at or message me privately on Discord (User: Cameronkeith) from the Ontario Bird Alert or OFO servers.
FULL CHECKLIST, INCLUDING ALL OTHER RECORDS, IN THE SHEET BELOW:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1S_s3Mi3mBtyWRS9WmBz8L6TjkkA6EgIX1gwgG8-6q6k/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wluIDXZofxIS9PFWtIhGdR5eZbvNSl0p7qFo5zmIuoM/edit#gid=0
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
A special thank you is extended to the following individuals for their invaluable contributions to the production and release of this document and accompanying checklist: Jeremy Hatt, Michael/Steve McAllister, Donny Moore, Steve Pike, Harrison Priebe, Jacob Stasso, and Andrew/Kara/George/Edmund Wiebe.
By Chris Hart
Each year, groups of passionate Lepidopterists, excited naturalists, and curious newcomers (…with one person stuck trying to frantically keep track of all the species being yelled out) take to the fields to try and spot as many butterflies as they can. This information helps to provide insight on the abundance and diversity of local populations, as well creating a much bigger picture, through the census reports published by the North American Butterfly Association (NABA). Over 450 counts, which involve surveying sites within a 15 mile diameter, take place across Canada, the United States and Mexico. This year, the Windsor counts took place on the morning of July 8th. A total of 31 people turned out, spread out across three groups to survey Spring Garden, Brunet Park, and the Ojibway Prairie Provincial Nature Reserve.
For each survey, the sky was cloudy, the humidity was building and the risk of rain loomed overhead. Despite these conditions, the attitudes were positive. When a butterfly (or caterpillar) was spotted, and its identification was known, the name was said aloud for a check to be made beside that species’ name. If unsure of an ID, binoculars or the trained eye of another group member would be called into action. In some cases, butterflies were captured by net for closer inspection. Dragging a net lightly along the vegetation was also used to capture any individuals possibly missed by all of the eyes in the crowd. All individuals were safely released shortly after capture.
In total, there were over 160 individuals observed, with 34 different species identified. Little wood satyr and Eyed brown were the most commonly observed species, while only one individual was seen for several others, including Spicebush swallowtail and Silver-spotted skipper. Almost the full cycle of Monarchs were recorded, with eggs, larvae and adults observed.
These butterfly counts are a great way to collect data, spend time with likeminded people and enjoy beautiful local natural areas. Windsor count events are sponsored by NABA, the Friends of Ojibway Prairie and the Ojibway Nature Centre. Keep any eye out next summer for the dates and locations of the 2024 counts!
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