January 22nd 2016
Location: Algonquin Park
Weather Cold -10C
Steve & I left Kitchener at the ungodly hour of 04:00, to make the 4 hour drive to one of my favorite nature destinations (Algonquin Provincial Park). Forecast was Sunny, but a tad cool. Anyways the trip up was pretty good, but we arrived just before 08:00 to light snow, that was predominantly the feature for the rest of the day (so much for accurate weather forecasting Weather Canada). First spot to check was Arowhon Road. The road in was a bit slippery, but we made it and were delighted to see that two of the resident foxes had made an appearance. From there we headed to Mew Lake campground to check out if any Pine Martens were about, but sadly nothing. However later in day we went back and were entertained by a one that was hanging around the dumpsters, so some pretty good images were obtained. Other spots visited were Spruce Bog, Visitor Centre and Opeongo Road. Not many birds around, but we were able to get a few images of Gray Jays, Evening Grosbeaks and the inevitable Blue Jays. Sadly no Crossbills, Redpolls or Boreal Chickadees or northern Woodpeckers. So other than hitting a major traffic back up in Toronto, it was a pretty good day.
Weather Cold -10C
Steve & I left Kitchener at the ungodly hour of 04:00, to make the 4 hour drive to one of my favorite nature destinations (Algonquin Provincial Park). Forecast was Sunny, but a tad cool. Anyways the trip up was pretty good, but we arrived just before 08:00 to light snow, that was predominantly the feature for the rest of the day (so much for accurate weather forecasting Weather Canada). First spot to check was Arowhon Road. The road in was a bit slippery, but we made it and were delighted to see that two of the resident foxes had made an appearance. From there we headed to Mew Lake campground to check out if any Pine Martens were about, but sadly nothing. However later in day we went back and were entertained by a one that was hanging around the dumpsters, so some pretty good images were obtained. Other spots visited were Spruce Bog, Visitor Centre and Opeongo Road. Not many birds around, but we were able to get a few images of Gray Jays, Evening Grosbeaks and the inevitable Blue Jays. Sadly no Crossbills, Redpolls or Boreal Chickadees or northern Woodpeckers. So other than hitting a major traffic back up in Toronto, it was a pretty good day.
January 14th - 20th
Location: Fallsview Road & Olympic Woods, Dundas
Weather Cold -7C
I woke up this morning thinking that the weather was such that I won't be able to get out, but the Weather Channel didn't get it quite right again, so after a quick review of OFO & Ebird, I headed to Dundas, where a flock of Snow Buntings have been sighted. Winter, being a little warmer than normal (so far), has kept many of these birds further north, or so it would seem. Anyways, the flock was easy to find and I was rewarded with great views of the birds from the comfort of the car (nice change). My hope was that there might be some Lapland Longspurs foraging with the flock, and after about 1/2 hour I did in fact spot & photograph one (my first lifer of 2016). This bird has been one of my nemesis birds, so I was pretty excited with this catch. A Horned Lark was also following the flock, so I was able to get a few pics of this guy too.
Since I was in the area I dropped by Olympic Woods again. Goal was the Fox Sparrow, but it continues to elude me, but there was a lot of birds there. so lots to photograph.
Weather Cold -7C
I woke up this morning thinking that the weather was such that I won't be able to get out, but the Weather Channel didn't get it quite right again, so after a quick review of OFO & Ebird, I headed to Dundas, where a flock of Snow Buntings have been sighted. Winter, being a little warmer than normal (so far), has kept many of these birds further north, or so it would seem. Anyways, the flock was easy to find and I was rewarded with great views of the birds from the comfort of the car (nice change). My hope was that there might be some Lapland Longspurs foraging with the flock, and after about 1/2 hour I did in fact spot & photograph one (my first lifer of 2016). This bird has been one of my nemesis birds, so I was pretty excited with this catch. A Horned Lark was also following the flock, so I was able to get a few pics of this guy too.
Since I was in the area I dropped by Olympic Woods again. Goal was the Fox Sparrow, but it continues to elude me, but there was a lot of birds there. so lots to photograph.
Location: Fallsview Road & Olympic Woods, Dundas
Weather Cold -5C with intermittent snow
With a family lunch planned today, I slipped down to Dundas for a couple of hours, with strict instructions from my non-birder wife to be back home for 11am (made it back for 11:10). I thought that the Snow Buntings, that were prolific here a day or two ago, would be still active at this location. Getting there at daybreak, and as the light got better a handful of SB's arrived for a few minutes then flew off. There was a flock circling above, so I assume they joined them and found a new feeding location somewhere, which we didn't find. Oh well ... and whilst in the area a drop by Olympic Woods was effected. Saw both Tufted Titmice almost right away, but the light was mediocre so images looked very flat. Definitely not Nat Geo quality (as if any of them ever will be, but I can dream :)), but nice to see them anyways.
Weather Cold -5C with intermittent snow
With a family lunch planned today, I slipped down to Dundas for a couple of hours, with strict instructions from my non-birder wife to be back home for 11am (made it back for 11:10). I thought that the Snow Buntings, that were prolific here a day or two ago, would be still active at this location. Getting there at daybreak, and as the light got better a handful of SB's arrived for a few minutes then flew off. There was a flock circling above, so I assume they joined them and found a new feeding location somewhere, which we didn't find. Oh well ... and whilst in the area a drop by Olympic Woods was effected. Saw both Tufted Titmice almost right away, but the light was mediocre so images looked very flat. Definitely not Nat Geo quality (as if any of them ever will be, but I can dream :)), but nice to see them anyways.
Location: Elora area
Weather: Cold -9C
I looked at the weather this morning, and although dry it was pretty dull and not really photography weather, but with nothing on the schedule this morning I decided to go out anyways. There had been a flock of about 500 Snow Buntings and with them 50 Horned Larks and several Lapland Longspurs reported on the south side of Elora, so that's gotta be worth seeing. On my way there I spotted three Bald Eagles in a field, one of whom was relatively close to the road. I stopped (it's a bad spot) for a few minutes and rattled off a dozen or so shots, then continued on to see the Snow Buntings (located at the Beef Research Station, Elora), but when I got there the flock was now a lowly dozen or so at best, with another 10 or so Horned Larks .. a bit of a let down, but I took a few record shots before heading on to another back road I know on the other side of Elora, but came up empty there. I had a lunch appointment in Kitchener, so I headed back via the Bald Eagle location, from earlier.By this time it had started to snow lightly, but the light had improved. This time I was better prepared and was able to get pulled over such that I was no longer a road hazard. There was now only a single Bald Eagle, but for the next 10 minutes (before he flew off) I was able to get a few decent shots, albeit a tad far away at around 200'. I really like these shots in the light snow even they were a bit grainy.
Weather: Cold -9C
I looked at the weather this morning, and although dry it was pretty dull and not really photography weather, but with nothing on the schedule this morning I decided to go out anyways. There had been a flock of about 500 Snow Buntings and with them 50 Horned Larks and several Lapland Longspurs reported on the south side of Elora, so that's gotta be worth seeing. On my way there I spotted three Bald Eagles in a field, one of whom was relatively close to the road. I stopped (it's a bad spot) for a few minutes and rattled off a dozen or so shots, then continued on to see the Snow Buntings (located at the Beef Research Station, Elora), but when I got there the flock was now a lowly dozen or so at best, with another 10 or so Horned Larks .. a bit of a let down, but I took a few record shots before heading on to another back road I know on the other side of Elora, but came up empty there. I had a lunch appointment in Kitchener, so I headed back via the Bald Eagle location, from earlier.By this time it had started to snow lightly, but the light had improved. This time I was better prepared and was able to get pulled over such that I was no longer a road hazard. There was now only a single Bald Eagle, but for the next 10 minutes (before he flew off) I was able to get a few decent shots, albeit a tad far away at around 200'. I really like these shots in the light snow even they were a bit grainy.
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ACCUBIRDER ... To the left is the ebird Rarity List for Ontario, covering the last 7 days. Order is by distance from the Kitchener Area
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Week #2 Tip
Courtesy of the American Birding Association
http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html
PRINCIPLES OF BIRDING ETHICS
Everyone who enjoys birds and birding must always respect wildlife, its environment, and the rights of others. In any conflict of interest between birds and birders, the welfare of the birds and their environment comes first.
1. Promote the welfare of birds and their environment.
1(a) Support the protection of important bird habitat.
1(b) To avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise restraint and caution during observation, photography, sound recording, or filming.
Limit the use of recordings and other methods of attracting birds, and never use such methods in heavily birded areas, or for attracting any species that is Threatened, Endangered, or of Special Concern, or is rare in your local area;
Keep well back from nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display areas, and important feeding sites. In such sensitive areas, if there is a need for extended observation, photography, filming, or recording, try to use a blind or hide, and take advantage of natural cover.
Use artificial light sparingly for filming or photography, especially for close-ups.
1(c) Before advertising the presence of a rare bird, evaluate the potential for disturbance to the bird, its surroundings, and other people in the area, and proceed only if access can be controlled, disturbance minimized, and permission has been obtained from private land-owners. The sites of rare nesting birds should be divulged only to the proper conservation authorities.
1(d) Stay on roads, trails, and paths where they exist; otherwise keep habitat disturbance to a minimum.
2. Respect the law, and the rights of others.
2(a) Do not enter private property without the owner's explicit permission.
2(b) Follow all laws, rules, and regulations governing use of roads and public areas, both at home and abroad.
2(c) Practice common courtesy in contacts with other people. Your exemplary behavior will generate goodwill with birders and non-birders alike.
3. Ensure that feeders, nest structures, and other artificial bird environments are safe.
3(a) Keep dispensers, water, and food clean, and free of decay or disease. It is important to feed birds continually during harsh weather.
3(b) Maintain and clean nest structures regularly.
3(c) If you are attracting birds to an area, ensure the birds are not exposed to predation from cats and other domestic animals, or dangers posed by artificial hazards.
4. Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care.
Each individual in the group, in addition to the obligations spelled out in Items #1 and #2, has responsibilities as a Group Member.
4(a) Respect the interests, rights, and skills of fellow birders, as well as people participating in other legitimate outdoor activities. Freely share your knowledge and experience, except where code 1(c) applies. Be especially helpful to beginning birders.
4(b) If you witness unethical birding behavior, assess the situation, and intervene if you think it prudent. When interceding, inform the person(s) of the inappropriate action, and attempt, within reason, to have it stopped. If the behavior continues, document it, and notify appropriate individuals or organizations.
Group Leader Responsibilities [amateur and professional trips and tours].
4(c) Be an exemplary ethical role model for the group. Teach through word and example.
4(d) Keep groups to a size that limits impact on the environment, and does not interfere with others using the same area.
4(e) Ensure everyone in the group knows of and practices this code.
4(f) Learn and inform the group of any special circumstances applicable to the areas being visited (e.g. no tape recorders allowed).
4(g) Acknowledge that professional tour companies bear a special responsibility to place the welfare of birds and the benefits of public knowledge ahead of the company's commercial interests. Ideally, leaders should keep track of tour sightings, document unusual occurrences, and submit records to appropriate organizations.
Please Follow this Code and Distribute and Teach it to Others
Courtesy of the American Birding Association
http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html
PRINCIPLES OF BIRDING ETHICS
Everyone who enjoys birds and birding must always respect wildlife, its environment, and the rights of others. In any conflict of interest between birds and birders, the welfare of the birds and their environment comes first.
1. Promote the welfare of birds and their environment.
1(a) Support the protection of important bird habitat.
1(b) To avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise restraint and caution during observation, photography, sound recording, or filming.
Limit the use of recordings and other methods of attracting birds, and never use such methods in heavily birded areas, or for attracting any species that is Threatened, Endangered, or of Special Concern, or is rare in your local area;
Keep well back from nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display areas, and important feeding sites. In such sensitive areas, if there is a need for extended observation, photography, filming, or recording, try to use a blind or hide, and take advantage of natural cover.
Use artificial light sparingly for filming or photography, especially for close-ups.
1(c) Before advertising the presence of a rare bird, evaluate the potential for disturbance to the bird, its surroundings, and other people in the area, and proceed only if access can be controlled, disturbance minimized, and permission has been obtained from private land-owners. The sites of rare nesting birds should be divulged only to the proper conservation authorities.
1(d) Stay on roads, trails, and paths where they exist; otherwise keep habitat disturbance to a minimum.
2. Respect the law, and the rights of others.
2(a) Do not enter private property without the owner's explicit permission.
2(b) Follow all laws, rules, and regulations governing use of roads and public areas, both at home and abroad.
2(c) Practice common courtesy in contacts with other people. Your exemplary behavior will generate goodwill with birders and non-birders alike.
3. Ensure that feeders, nest structures, and other artificial bird environments are safe.
3(a) Keep dispensers, water, and food clean, and free of decay or disease. It is important to feed birds continually during harsh weather.
3(b) Maintain and clean nest structures regularly.
3(c) If you are attracting birds to an area, ensure the birds are not exposed to predation from cats and other domestic animals, or dangers posed by artificial hazards.
4. Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care.
Each individual in the group, in addition to the obligations spelled out in Items #1 and #2, has responsibilities as a Group Member.
4(a) Respect the interests, rights, and skills of fellow birders, as well as people participating in other legitimate outdoor activities. Freely share your knowledge and experience, except where code 1(c) applies. Be especially helpful to beginning birders.
4(b) If you witness unethical birding behavior, assess the situation, and intervene if you think it prudent. When interceding, inform the person(s) of the inappropriate action, and attempt, within reason, to have it stopped. If the behavior continues, document it, and notify appropriate individuals or organizations.
Group Leader Responsibilities [amateur and professional trips and tours].
4(c) Be an exemplary ethical role model for the group. Teach through word and example.
4(d) Keep groups to a size that limits impact on the environment, and does not interfere with others using the same area.
4(e) Ensure everyone in the group knows of and practices this code.
4(f) Learn and inform the group of any special circumstances applicable to the areas being visited (e.g. no tape recorders allowed).
4(g) Acknowledge that professional tour companies bear a special responsibility to place the welfare of birds and the benefits of public knowledge ahead of the company's commercial interests. Ideally, leaders should keep track of tour sightings, document unusual occurrences, and submit records to appropriate organizations.
Please Follow this Code and Distribute and Teach it to Others
January 4th - 10th 2016
Location: Olympic Woods, Dundas
Weather Cold -12C
After a bit of running around along some of the back roads between Cambridge & Dundas (including a run past Grass Lake hoping to see the still resident Sandhill Cranes, which by the way, I was unsuccessful. I ended up at Olympic Woods around noon. This location seems to one of this winter's hot spots, with lots of reports of interesting birds including Fox Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Tufted Titmouse, Rusty Blackbirds. Close by along the canal the Marsh Wren(s) are still reported as still being there. Today, I was able to locate & photograph both the Tufted Titmice as well as one of the Rusty Blackbirds. It's funny how it all seems to work - this time last year, after several years birding, I hadn't seen either of these birds and between then & now I've seen lots - I think it's like the bus scenario where you wait for ever then three come all at once.
Weather Cold -12C
After a bit of running around along some of the back roads between Cambridge & Dundas (including a run past Grass Lake hoping to see the still resident Sandhill Cranes, which by the way, I was unsuccessful. I ended up at Olympic Woods around noon. This location seems to one of this winter's hot spots, with lots of reports of interesting birds including Fox Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Tufted Titmouse, Rusty Blackbirds. Close by along the canal the Marsh Wren(s) are still reported as still being there. Today, I was able to locate & photograph both the Tufted Titmice as well as one of the Rusty Blackbirds. It's funny how it all seems to work - this time last year, after several years birding, I hadn't seen either of these birds and between then & now I've seen lots - I think it's like the bus scenario where you wait for ever then three come all at once.
Weather: Mild +3C
Location: Sedgewick Park & Olympic Woods
Who could resist going out on a beautiful morning like this. Sun & cloud, and with temperatures forecasted up to +5C - great birding weather. With that said, I went to Sedgewick Park in Oakville to see if I could catch a glimpse of the only rarity bird I haven't seen there yet - the Blue-headed Vireo. I saw this beauty several times over the course of a couple of hours, so I can now add this to my Winter-Sedgewick list. Other birds seen were the Winter Wrens (2), Palm Warbler, both Kinglets, Hermit Thrush, Starlings and about 20+ American Robins (?). On the way back to Kitchener I dropped by Olympic Woods in Dundas, generally looking for the Fox Sparrow, which I didn't see, but I did see a couple of White-crowned Sparrows. White-throated & Tree Sparrows were also in abundance, but no sign of the Rusty Blackbirds or Swamp Sparrows. The Tufted Titmice were buzzing around giving decent views.
Location: Sedgewick Park & Olympic Woods
Who could resist going out on a beautiful morning like this. Sun & cloud, and with temperatures forecasted up to +5C - great birding weather. With that said, I went to Sedgewick Park in Oakville to see if I could catch a glimpse of the only rarity bird I haven't seen there yet - the Blue-headed Vireo. I saw this beauty several times over the course of a couple of hours, so I can now add this to my Winter-Sedgewick list. Other birds seen were the Winter Wrens (2), Palm Warbler, both Kinglets, Hermit Thrush, Starlings and about 20+ American Robins (?). On the way back to Kitchener I dropped by Olympic Woods in Dundas, generally looking for the Fox Sparrow, which I didn't see, but I did see a couple of White-crowned Sparrows. White-throated & Tree Sparrows were also in abundance, but no sign of the Rusty Blackbirds or Swamp Sparrows. The Tufted Titmice were buzzing around giving decent views.
No more images ....
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ACCUBIRDER ... To the left is the ebird Rarity List for Ontario, covering the last 7 days. Order is by distance from the Kitchener Area
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Week #1 Tip
Courtesy of http://www.ontarioparks.com/birding ....
Where to Go? The key to seeing more birds is to visit many different habitats. If you head to Rondeau or Long Point on the shores of Lake Erie, you could encounter southern species like the yellow-breasted chat and the endangered prothonotary warbler. Head to the far west of the province at Rushing River or Sioux Narrows and prairie species such as black-billed magpies, sandhill cranes or brewers blackbirds start to make their presence known.
Parks located in the boreal forest like Sleeping Giant and Wakami Lake are home to species like spruce grouse, boreal chickadees, and yellow-bellied flycatchers. Lucky birders might see a northern hawk owl. Algonquin is also the “go-to” southern park to see more northern bird species like the very social gray jays. The contact zone between the Canadian Shield and limestone lowlands at parks like Finlayson Point and Petroglyphs are rich territory for birds. And many people forget that Ontario has a far north landscape of tundra and saltwater. Visitors to non-operating parks like Polar Bear or Tidewater could glimpse willow ptarmigan or smith’s longspur.
My two cents ...
In my experience the secret to sighting and/or photographing birds is a) Go where the birds are and b) where possible bring the birds to you. Sounds obvious but where are the birds? At the risk of over-simplifying I tend to use all the online resources I can eg ebird, OFO, local groups and to some extent facebook. I have, over the last few years, compiled a few hot spots that, depending on the season, can be quite productive. As for getting the birds to come to you - Used sparingly (and certainly not in Provincial Parks) calling using recorded bird calls can be very effective (NEVER set you call on repeat - which can overly stress the bird), or using bird seed or nuts (for appropriate species) to bait the bird into view. I like to setup food in a location close to a suitable looking perch, then wait at a suitable distance outside the bird's comfort zone.
Courtesy of http://www.ontarioparks.com/birding ....
Where to Go? The key to seeing more birds is to visit many different habitats. If you head to Rondeau or Long Point on the shores of Lake Erie, you could encounter southern species like the yellow-breasted chat and the endangered prothonotary warbler. Head to the far west of the province at Rushing River or Sioux Narrows and prairie species such as black-billed magpies, sandhill cranes or brewers blackbirds start to make their presence known.
Parks located in the boreal forest like Sleeping Giant and Wakami Lake are home to species like spruce grouse, boreal chickadees, and yellow-bellied flycatchers. Lucky birders might see a northern hawk owl. Algonquin is also the “go-to” southern park to see more northern bird species like the very social gray jays. The contact zone between the Canadian Shield and limestone lowlands at parks like Finlayson Point and Petroglyphs are rich territory for birds. And many people forget that Ontario has a far north landscape of tundra and saltwater. Visitors to non-operating parks like Polar Bear or Tidewater could glimpse willow ptarmigan or smith’s longspur.
My two cents ...
In my experience the secret to sighting and/or photographing birds is a) Go where the birds are and b) where possible bring the birds to you. Sounds obvious but where are the birds? At the risk of over-simplifying I tend to use all the online resources I can eg ebird, OFO, local groups and to some extent facebook. I have, over the last few years, compiled a few hot spots that, depending on the season, can be quite productive. As for getting the birds to come to you - Used sparingly (and certainly not in Provincial Parks) calling using recorded bird calls can be very effective (NEVER set you call on repeat - which can overly stress the bird), or using bird seed or nuts (for appropriate species) to bait the bird into view. I like to setup food in a location close to a suitable looking perch, then wait at a suitable distance outside the bird's comfort zone.
January 1st 2016
I'm trying out my new layout theme as well as the new Tab method of content, so bear with me, as things get adjusted over the next week or so. So far I'm liking it, but ......
And, before I forget - Happy New Year to all my birding friends. I hope the gods of Health, Wealth & Happiness take care of you.
Bill
And, before I forget - Happy New Year to all my birding friends. I hope the gods of Health, Wealth & Happiness take care of you.
Bill
Looking back to 2015 ... I was fortunate to get quite a few lifers added to my list. The gallery below is all, or at least most of them. See also my Year in Review 2015
No Images to display yet ...
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ACCUBIRDER ... To the left is the ebird Rarity List for Ontario, covering the last 7 days. Order is by distance from the Kitchener Area
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Week #1 Tip
Courtesy of http://www.ontarioparks.com/birding ....
Where to Go? The key to seeing more birds is to visit many different habitats. If you head to Rondeau or Long Point on the shores of Lake Erie, you could encounter southern species like the yellow-breasted chat and the endangered prothonotary warbler. Head to the far west of the province at Rushing River or Sioux Narrows and prairie species such as black-billed magpies, sandhill cranes or brewers blackbirds start to make their presence known.
Parks located in the boreal forest like Sleeping Giant and Wakami Lake are home to species like spruce grouse, boreal chickadees, and yellow-bellied flycatchers. Lucky birders might see a northern hawk owl. Algonquin is also the “go-to” southern park to see more northern bird species like the very social gray jays. The contact zone between the Canadian Shield and limestone lowlands at parks like Finlayson Point and Petroglyphs are rich territory for birds. And many people forget that Ontario has a far north landscape of tundra and saltwater. Visitors to non-operating parks like Polar Bear or Tidewater could glimpse willow ptarmigan or smith’s longspur.
My two cents ...
In my experience the secret to sighting and/or photographing birds is a) Go where the birds are and b) where possible bring the birds to you. Sounds obvious but where are the birds? At the risk of over-simplifying I tend to use all the online resources I can eg ebird, OFO, local groups and to some extent facebook. I have, over the last few years, compiled a few hot spots that, depending on the season, can be quite productive. As for getting the birds to come to you - Used sparingly (and certainly not in Provincial Parks) calling using recorded bird calls can be very effective (NEVER set you call on repeat - which can overly stress the bird), or using bird seed or nuts (for appropriate species) to bait the bird into view. I like to setup food in a location close to a suitable looking perch, then wait at a suitable distance outside the bird's comfort zone.
Courtesy of http://www.ontarioparks.com/birding ....
Where to Go? The key to seeing more birds is to visit many different habitats. If you head to Rondeau or Long Point on the shores of Lake Erie, you could encounter southern species like the yellow-breasted chat and the endangered prothonotary warbler. Head to the far west of the province at Rushing River or Sioux Narrows and prairie species such as black-billed magpies, sandhill cranes or brewers blackbirds start to make their presence known.
Parks located in the boreal forest like Sleeping Giant and Wakami Lake are home to species like spruce grouse, boreal chickadees, and yellow-bellied flycatchers. Lucky birders might see a northern hawk owl. Algonquin is also the “go-to” southern park to see more northern bird species like the very social gray jays. The contact zone between the Canadian Shield and limestone lowlands at parks like Finlayson Point and Petroglyphs are rich territory for birds. And many people forget that Ontario has a far north landscape of tundra and saltwater. Visitors to non-operating parks like Polar Bear or Tidewater could glimpse willow ptarmigan or smith’s longspur.
My two cents ...
In my experience the secret to sighting and/or photographing birds is a) Go where the birds are and b) where possible bring the birds to you. Sounds obvious but where are the birds? At the risk of over-simplifying I tend to use all the online resources I can eg ebird, OFO, local groups and to some extent facebook. I have, over the last few years, compiled a few hot spots that, depending on the season, can be quite productive. As for getting the birds to come to you - Used sparingly (and certainly not in Provincial Parks) calling using recorded bird calls can be very effective (NEVER set you call on repeat - which can overly stress the bird), or using bird seed or nuts (for appropriate species) to bait the bird into view. I like to setup food in a location close to a suitable looking perch, then wait at a suitable distance outside the bird's comfort zone.
