Patch Birding: A Splendid Solution During Difficult Times

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Patch briding is all the rage these days given the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Patch birding certainly isn’t a new term but one we are hearing a lot more lately given the COVID-19 pandemic. With provincial parks and other natural areas closed until further notice, many of us are resorting to patch birding. This phrase simply means birding regularly in an area close to home. This could be a park down the street, around a neighbourhood stormwater pond, or even your own backyard. For me, the majority of my birding would be described as patch birding anyway even if we weren’t experiencing a pandemic. 

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The wetland at my local patch is home to several Wood Ducks.

Lately, I have been visiting a couple of patches on alternating days to give me a bit of a change of scenery. The variety and number of birds present at both these locations are quite impressive and I have been more than satisfied with my observations. The nice thing about patch birding is I can pop over to my local patch on short notice and at any time during the day to see what birds are active. 

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Red-tailed Hawk

The mixed habitat at my local patches attracts a wide variety of resident birds and migrants with songbirds, birds of prey, waterfowl, and even shorebirds present. Being walking distance to one of these areas and only a short drive from the other means I am not spending much on gas getting to my birding destinations which is nice since I have been without work for almost a month. 

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The rapid notes of the Downy Woodpecker’s call can be heard in both the patches I regularly visit.

Regardless of where you live a local patch exists nearby. As mentioned earlier, this could be your local park, backyard, or for those of you who live in a more rural area even walking past a wooded area or meadow on your county road. The nice thing about patch birding is there are endless possibilities to find an area all to yourself where you can enjoy the great outdoors while practicing physical distancing. 

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Northern Flickers love ants and as such are often observed feeding on the ground.

With several area bird festivals already canceled and others sure to be, it looks like we will all be patch birding during the peak of migration in May. Now is a great time to get out and search for your own patch for when the big wave of migrants arrive.

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Mallards and other waterfowl have now paired up in preparation of the upcoming nesting season.

Normally I am happy to share my locations with blog subscribers; however, given the possibility of these areas becoming too crowded, I have chosen to keep them to myself. I would encourage others to keep their patch a secret too.

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Eastern Phoebes are the first of the flycatchers to return to our area each spring and are once again present.

If you find yourself not getting out enough lately with the closure of provincial parks and other natural areas, find your own patch and discover the abundance of birds present within it. Remember to practice physical distancing while outdoors and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature that surrounds you. Let the simple things in life remind you of what is really important and guide you through these difficult times. 

Good birding,
Paul

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10 thoughts on “Patch Birding: A Splendid Solution During Difficult Times

  1. Have you seen the Bald Eagle families? We saw a group of 3 yesterday afternoon Fork of Thames
    And 4 of them together a couple weeks ago on the Kilally path. East side of Highbury bridge.
    Two were all dark still in colour (juniors) ?

    It was exciting to view them!

    1. It’s funny you mention the eagles. I saw two while out yesterday an adult and a juvenile. The darker juveniles don’t get the fully while head and tail until they reach maturity at 5 years of age. They are certainly an exciting bird to see.

  2. I’m lucky enough to live next door to a great “patching” bird location and I’m taking advantage of it on an almost daily basis. We already have Palm Warblers, Golden-crowned Knglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers arriving. I also had a great encounter with two Coopers Hawks which I believe are nesting. I do miss my outings to my many others birding locations but still feel fortunate enough to live next door to this great location as well. Thanks for BB the timely blog!

    1. It sounds like you have the perfect patch next door Mario! I am very excited to hear your warbler sightings as it will likely only be a few day before they arrive here in London. Palm Warblers are one of my favourites. Thanks for the heads up!

  3. Paul brilliant blog I can’t believe how much I am learning from you, can’t wait to see whats coming next……I’M EXCITED….LOL.

    1. Thank you very much Barry, I’m glad you’re learning from my blog! I’m excited too as I see the first of the warblers are getting pretty close to our area.

  4. Enjoy your email letters so much! Your photographs are stunning and your commentary is so informative and interesting. Thanks for doing what you do. Lois (Roedding) Mansfield.

  5. Enjoy your emails very much as being a Sr I am not able to go out birding anymore and live in an apt. and across the road is a wooded area and fields where I watch 15 wild turkeys srut across the field in the early am and also we hae a few deer along hearing other birds that I sometimes can catch with my binoculars..Of course there are the turkey vultures and Canada geese that put on a good show. Keep your emails coming Paul as I enjoy them along with you great picyures.

    1. Thanks Peggy, I am glad to hear you enjoy my blog and images. It sounds you have a great view of some amazing wildlife right from your apartment. Wild Turkeys are so much fun to observe and deer are simply beautiful.

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