Join us for our annual Dr. Cathy Charles Bird Count at the Marsh's Falls Nature Reserve

Saturday, May 3, 2025

8:00AM to noon

Local naturalists Rick and Kelly Stronks have been conducting our bird counts for years and will lead us once again in documenting the species of birds at the Marsh's Falls Nature Reserve during the spring migration. 

Please email registration@lakeofbaysheritage.ca if you plan to join us or have any questions.

Bring waterproof hikers or rubber boots, cameras, binoculars (a few extras will be available to borrow), bug spray, and a sense of adventure.  No experience required. 

The purpose of the count is to document all birds present and especially any bird species potentially breeding on the property.  The month of May is when many male birds, primarily through song, are trying to establish territories to attract females. 

Although we try to locate and see the birds, sometimes we can only hear them.  For example, Canada Warblers are usually found by hearing their distinctive song.  This bird is listed in Ontario as a Species of Concern meaning that although it is not currently endangered, it may become threatened in the future due to certain factors like habitat loss.  Canada Warblers nest in moist, mixed forests with a dense understory and usually near water.  The Marsh’s Falls Nature Reserve protects this type of habitat and we documented potential breeding last year.  We will be paying close attention to try to find additional evidence of this warbler and many others breeding on the property.

The count involves walking much of the property while watching, listening and documenting all species.  The data will be tabulated and submitted to eBird, a citizen science website used throughout the world to track birds. Check it out to see what’s been observed so far.

Not able to join us?

If you are not available to join us in person, we are also interested in the species you observe around your property on this weekend.  Send your list of species to info@lakeofbaysheritage.ca. We will add it to our summary for the Lake of Bays area.  And if you are unsure about what you are seeing or hearing, record it and send it to us. Our team of naturalists will try to identify it!

Who is Dr. Cathy Charles?

Our annual spring bird count now carries the name of Dr. Cathy Charles. Cathy enjoyed a long career as a Professor in the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McMaster University. She was also a lifelong cottager on Kerrimuir Road. Unfortunately, she died in November 2015. Her love of Lake of Bays was expressed in her will: she left the Foundation a very generous bequest. It was indeed the first bequest of several that the Foundation has since received. To recognize these generous donors, the Foundation has established the Legacy Circle. In Cathy’s instance, the Foundation also decided to name the spring bird count in her memory to honour her love of nature.