Office: (613) 839-4395 | Mobile: (613) 715-2571 | Email: bruce.dilabio@sympatico.ca

Specialty Birding Trips

Throughout the year, I offer specialty birding trips. These trips are half-day (4 ½ hours) or full day (approximately 8 to 10 hours including travel time) and focus on birding targeted areas in Eastern Ontario. Details about the specialty birding trips being offered this winter can be found below. See the "General Information" section for more information about registration, payment and what to bring.




Winter & Spring 2010

NEW! PRINTABLE SCHEDULE: 2010 Winter Specialty Trips


FEBRUARY

Birding East of Ottawa

The focus of this field tirp will be on over-wintering land birds: hawks, Snowy Owl and Gray Partridge. Areas to be visited will include Mer Bleue and Larose Forest.
Date Saturday, February 20
Meeting Time 7:00 a.m.
Meeting Point Tim Hortons, Lancaster Road and Walkley Road
Return Time ~2:00 p.m.
What to Bring Lunch, snacks and drinks.
Remember to dress for the weather.
Cost $45

Birding the Gatineau Escarpment: Steele Line & Poltimore-Low Road

This trip will concentrate on winter finches, hawks and eagles.
Date Sunday, February 21
Meeting Time 7:00 a.m.
Meeting Point Tim Hortons, Richmond Road just west of Woodroffe Avenue
Return Time ~2:00 p.m. 
What to Bring Lunch, snacks and drinks.
Remember to dress for the weather.
Cost $45





MARCH

Early Spring Migrants

We will visit local birding areas looking for the first migrants of the season. 
Date Wednesday, March 10
Meeting Time 7:00 a.m.
Meeting Point Tim Hortons, March Road at Carling Avenue (Kanata)
Return Time ~11:30 a.m.
What to Bring Snacks and drinks.
Remember to dress for the weather.
Cost $35

Presqu'ile Provincial Park: Ducks & Spring Migrants

Sharpen your waterfowl birding skills. Numerous species of waterfowl should be see including Mute Swan, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Canvasback, Redhead, Greater Scaup and Lesser Scaup. 
Date Sunday, March 28
Meeting Time 9:00 a.m.
Meeting Point Presqu'ile Provincial Park Entrance
Return Time ~6:00 p.m.
What to Bring Snacks, lunch and drinks.
Remember to dress for the weather.
Cost $65 (does not include park entry fees)





APRIL

Early Spring Migrants

We will be birding the Ottawa area in search of early migrants. If conditions are favourable, a visit to the Carlsbad Springs, Bourget, Cobb Lake Creek and Riceville areas looking for ducks and geese  in the flooded fields will be considered.
Date Monday, April 5
Meeting Time 7:00 a.m.
Meeting Point Tim Hortons, Lancaster Road and Walkley Road
Return Time ~11:30 a.m.
What to Bring Snacks and drinks.
Remember to dress for the weather.
Cost $35

Amherst and Wolfe Islands

Owls, hawls, waterfowl and spring migrants will be the focus of this trip. 
Date Wednesday, April 7
Meeting Time 5:30 a.m.
Meeting Point Tim Hortons, Carling Avenue & March Road (Kanata)
Return Time ~6:00 p.m. 
What to Bring Lunch, snacks and drinks.
Remember to dress for the weather.
Cost $65, does not include ferry fee

Birding Lake Deschenes &  Hawks and Bluebirds at Dunrobin

Spring migrants along the Ottawa River from Shirley's Bay to Constance Bay. We will also search for hawks migrating along the Dunrobin Ridge, and Bluebirds that nest in the area.
Date Sunday, April 11
Meeting Time 7:00 a.m.
Meeting Point Tim Hortons, Carling Avenue & March Road (Kanata)
Return Time ~11:30 a.m.. 
What to Bring Snacks and drinks.
Remember to dress for the weather.
Cost $35


Chaffeys Lock and Canoe Lake Road: Early Spring Migration

On this trip we will be looking for Red-shouldered Hawk, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow and early warblers including the rare, but regular, Louisiana Waterthrush. .
Date Wednesday, April 28
Meeting Time 6:00 a.m.
Meeting Point Tim Hortons, Carling Avenue & March Road (Kanata)
Return Time ~2:00 p.m.
What to Bring Lunch, snacks and drinks.
Remember to dress for the weather.
Cost $50





General Information

Registration:
To register, please complete the registration form found here. Trips fill up quickly, so please register as soon as possible. 

Payment:
Payment is due by the beginning of each trip.


Transportation:
For these speciality trips, we will be carpooling. The designated meeting time is the
DEPARTURE time.  Please arrive 15 minutes early so we can arrange carpooling. If you are carpooling please remember to make an equitable contribution to the driver for gas and park fees (if applicable).

What to Bring:
Remember to dress for the weather, pack a lunch on full day trips, and a snack on morning outings. 


Field Equipment:
If you are interested in borrowing binoculars or scopes, please let me know in advance. I have a limited number, so it’s first come first served. Keep in mind, however, you are responsible for any damage. Remember that scopes can blow over in strong winds, and food or rain drops smudge eyepieces. Please remember to use the rain guard on the binoculars.