Birding Close To Home Is Often A Fine Choice

With so many great birding destinations around Southwestern Ontario, it’s often hard to pick one. Visiting a nearby provincial park or other birding hotspot is always an adventure, but what if you simply can’t make time? Fortunately, regardless of where you live great birding exists close to home.  

Working from home, I make my own schedule and therefore try to combine a walk with birding into every day. The physical and mental health benefits of this are immeasurable and the days when I get out birding are far more productive than when I don’t. For me, this just makes sense and I’m fortunate my job affords me this opportunity. 

Currently, where I reside in Northeast London I am a five-minute walk from a city park and pathway that runs along Stoney Creek. This is where I head most mornings for my daily walk and fix of birds. Despite being located in a heavily populated urban subdivision, this gem has an abundance of nature within the well-wooded area and accompanying pond adjacent to the creek. If not for the distant road noise to the east it would be easy to forget I’m in the city only minutes from home. 

Not being one to drive hundreds of kilometers to chase down a lifer or observe a rarity that somehow winds up on the wrong side of the continent, birding close to home is right up my alley. I am far happier watching and listening to a cardinal and other common birds in a quiet serene atmosphere close to home than standing shoulder to shoulder with dozens of others trying to catch a glimpse of a bird I heard about online. Battling traffic for a chance to see a species that may or may not still be present by the time I arrive has little appeal. For me, birding is about releasing stress, staying active, and connecting with nature; therefore, a big year is likely not in my future.  

In roughly an hour, I can navigate the path along Stoney Creek tallying several bird species by sight or sound. Mammals are often observed with deer, muskrats, and beaver having been recorded. Sometimes I slow down to take more pictures, but I still get back to my desk to put in another solid hour of work before lunch. As mentioned earlier, this final hour of the morning and remainder of my work day are far more productive than if I stay at my desk with my nose to the grindstone. 

More notable birds are also observed on my morning walks. Cooper’s Hawks have nested in one of the woodlots the previous two years and I had close views of one just last week perched deep in a thicket. A Belted Kingfisher has recently been seen and heard, albeit briefly moving up and down the creek. Wild Turkeys are often spotted and during migration, the variety of species present naturally increases.

For anyone interested, this path runs from Windermere Road to just south of Fanshawe Park Road as well as through Hastings Park. There is no parking lot but street parking is available with several access points from the surrounding neighbourhood. I wouldn’t necessarily consider this a birding destination; however, if you live in the area it’s worth checking out. Many of my daily posts on Facebook and Instagram feature images taken from along Stoney Creek.

The above map shows the area along Stoney Creek where I enjoy my morning walks and my daily fix of birds. Zoom out to see the path along the creek. 

Regardless of where you live, a similar area is likely within walking distance of your home providing you the opportunity to get out and enjoy birding and nature on short notice. Finding a location near you is quite easy, simply pull up a Google map and zoom in on your area. Parks and green spaces are aptly shaded in green and designated paths are marked with a broken line. Locating a similar area near you may be just what you need in order to stay active, spend more time outdoors, enjoy the winter months, or simply get out birding more often. These natural areas in the middle of our neighbourhoods are absolute gems and if visited I bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the abundance of wildlife present so close to home. 

Good birding,
Paul