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If you are a bird-watcher you will know that one of the most abundant
bird species in our area is the Canada Goose (Branta canadensis).
These large waterfowl use local grain and corn fields after they
have been cut down to stubble, to find food during the day and then
fly back to Lake Ontario to spend the night.
Canada
Geese Family. Photo by Barry Cherriere.
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They
are joined in this activity by other waterfowl such as Mallards
(Anas platyrhynchos) and American Black Ducks (Anas rubripes).
Fallow fields (those not being actively ploughed and cropped) are
also used by waterfowl and ground nesting birds like American Woodcock
(Scolopax minor) and Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus).
Barns
that are no longer being used can also act as homes for birds such
as the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica).

Before
intensive farming practices became widespread, you might also have
found Barn Owls (Tyto alba) nesting and hunting around old
barns as well. Up until recently there had not been a report of
this species in Ontario since in 1990. Happily, in the last few
years, there have been occasional sightings in the Hamilton area.
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