Photo by Colin Bruce
For the Birds: 7 Popular Birding Spots in Ontario's Highlands
Bird watching is one of those hobbies that creeps up on you. One day you're completely indifferent to birds and the next you're pointing and exclaiming “is that a yellow-rumped warbler?”
Birdwatching gets you out into nature, encourages you to be quiet and present, to pay attention to your surroundings, and as a bonus it’s fun to spot elusive or hard to find species.
Not every location is a mecca for different species. Birds preferentially seek out diverse and mostly untouched natural habitat to call home, build their nests, and raise their young. To a bird, diverse habitat means more food for offspring and more chance of survival. Thankfully, diverse and untouched describes Ontario’s Highlands to a T.
Become a birder! Visit one of these popular Ontario’s Highlands’ birding spots and in no time you’ll be crowing about the latest species you’ve spotted.
Bird species change by season – in winter, visibility is higher as there due to the lack of foliage, but it’s in spring and summer that bird populations really explode in Ontario’s Highlands.
Birding Supplies
It starts with a book to help you identify bird species and ends with an addiction to bird houses and feeders, and hunting for that elusive species you’re dying to see and hear up close. Stop in at one of these locations to stock up on what you need to both see and welcome birds.
• Gilligallou Bird Inc. (bird seed and supplies)
• Vamos Outdoors (outdoor clothing)
• Algonquin Outfitters (outdoor clothing)
• The Real Wool Shoppe (bird seed and supplies)
Top Birding Spots
Birding is a seasonal activity. In winter you could see red polls, pine siskins, pine grosbeaks, evening grosbeaks, cedar and bohemian waxwings, white winged crossbills, and more. In summer the bird populations explode with migrating birds returning from the south, including the snowy owl, and shore birds like geese, ducks, and swans.
Sustainable Travel Tip:
When travelling in natural spaces like parks, on trails, or along waterways, remember to practice leave no trace principles. Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories.
High Lonesome Nature Reserve - Pakenham
Located in Mississippi Mills, High Lonesome Nature Reserve is a 1,250 acre Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust property situated in Lanark County, a region that is home to 200 plus species of birds, and 130 migratory bird species. Bring your binoculars and sturdy hiking shoes and trek one of the reserve’s multiple trails to see what new species you can spot.
Consult the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalist’s birding guide for more locations and a list of interesting bird species you might see.
Insider's Tip:
If you’re looking for a good spot for lunch after your hike, stop in at The Good Food Co. in the small community of Carleton Place. En route, you can drop by Gilligallou Bird in Almonte to explore their bird supplies and turn your home into a birding mecca.
Griffith Uplands Trail - Griffith
This 9-kilometre challenging trail takes you through rugged Canadian Shield and forested terrain that is an area of Natural and Scientific Interest. The mix of landscapes here should lead to some interesting bird and wildlife sightings. Expect to encounter spectacular views of the Madawaska River and valley as you travel.
Insider's Tip:
If you haven’t had lunch yet, Pine Valley Restaurant is well known by locals for its homestyle meals. While you’re here, check out the Griffith General Store for an old fashioned find-everything shop.
Hastings Heritage Trail – Hastings County
Hasting Heritage trail is an out-and-back, flat, and easy to access trail with multiple access points. The pastoral setting and mix of cleared trail flanked by forest makes it appealing to a wide variety of birds, depending on the season you can expect to see warblers, woodpeckers, kinglets, chickadees, fly catchers, owls, hawks and more.
Insider's Tip:
This trail spans nearly 200 kilometres from end to end. Plan your entry to take you close to Bancroft so you can refuel at The Granite after your walk. Their prime rib sandwich is a must try.
Egan Chutes Provincial Park - Bancroft
The eight-kilometre out and back trail here is another good bird watching spot and the park is located only 20 minutes from Bancroft. In winter, keep an eye to the sky for eagles, hawks, and kestrels. The rest of the year you may catch sight of shore birds, ducks, geese, herons, king fishers, and more.
Insider's Tip:
Insider’s Tip: The road leading into this unmaintained provincial park is unmaintained which makes it challenging to access in winter and spring, depending on the amount of snow and wetness conditions. The entrance to the trail can also be hard to locate: GPS coordinates are found here.
Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve - Haliburton Highlands
More than 250 species of birds either nest or travel through Haliburton Highlands. Haliburton Forest’s vastness and remote location means more insects and more food for birds, making it an ideal location for birdwatching in all four seasons. TWith 400-kilometres of hiking trails to choose from there will be ample opportunities to scope out birds.
Yours Outdoors hosts a two-hour Predator Prowl through a partnership with Royal Canadian Falconry. This event is hosted at the Haliburton Forest Wolf Centre and is a unique opportunity to learn more about predator species.
Insider's Tip:
Consider extending your visit here by booking one of their accommodations, including refurbished century-old logging cabins, cottages, and cozy minimalist cabins.
North Frontenac Parklands - North Frontenac
The North Frontenac Parklands offers backcountry camping spots amidst Frontenac County’s rugged Canadian Shield terrain. The Schooner Trail is a three-kilometre loop covers roughly 100-metres of elevation and is a nice, moderate hike in all seasons. With so much pristine backcountry to explore, you could see a wealth of forest birds here, like warblers, nuthatches, woodpeckers, owls, and hawks.
Insider's Tip:
The Parklands are accessible with the purchase of a road permit for a nominal fee. Campsites can be booked online.
Dacre Heights - Dacre
As a former ski hill, the opportunities to explore interesting terrain and wildlife abound here. This private property features 230 acres of forest interspersed with clear areas from the former ski runs and seven kilometres of trails to explore. The mix of hardwood, pine, and cedar marshes makes it inviting to a wide variety of birds.
Insider's Tip:
This area was once a commercial ski hill, and there are many abandoned pieces of concrete and metal throughout the property that are hazardous for some activities. Always scout your route first!
Bonus: Purdon Conservation Area - Lanark Highlands
This conservation area is only open seasonally but it’s worth noting due to the rare fen wetland here which attracts unique bird species. The trail is accessible with a long boardwalk that keeps visitors from damaging the largest collection of Showy Lady’s Slippers in Canada (blooming mid-June to mid-July). During your walk you could spot grebes, kingfishers, and other forest species on the nearly two-kilometre accessible trail.
Insider's Tip:
After or before your walk you stop in at Wheelers Maple Syrup & Pancake House in nearby McDonald’s Corners to enjoy a full pancake breakfast (served all day long). In spring, the Sylvania Lodge restaurant opens in McDonald’s Corners and is another good spot to refuel.
