The celebrity Varied Thrush at Cold Creek Conservation Area is doing his part to help the Cold Creek Stewardship. In addition to attracting visitors from all over Ontario, it helped raise $136.57 – money that will go towards the printing of our new trail guide.
Varied Thrush
When the Varied Thrush’s presence was made known to the ‘world’ (via the ONTBIRDs mailing list) back near the beginning of January, birders started arriving in flocks. The first week saw nearly two hundred visitors, many catching their first view (a ‘Lifer’) of a bird usually found only on the west coast. The Stewardship put out a guest book, a stack of Cold Creek brochures (which include a trail map) and the “Birds of Cold Creek” list that Barry Wallace and Dave Milsom have been building since 2002. For the first week only, they also put out a donation jar. The birders (and photographers) who visited during this first week were most appreciative – and it showed.
Geoff estimates that around four hundred people have now visited to see the bird, and their comments show their appreciation. One visitor from Toronto wrote “A very beautiful bird! Worth the trip up by GO bus”. Another contributed “Varied Thrush – A Lifer for me. Thanks. ps, I had wonderful experiences at Cold Creek when I was in junior high in the early 70s.” Another, “Varied Thrush (lifer), Red-Bellied Woodpecker (lifer), Robins, Northern Shrike, Brown Creeper – what a great place!”
The guest book has recorded visitors from Alliston, Aurora, Barrie, Bolton, Bracebridge, Brampton, Brantford, Burlington, Cambridge, Cobourg, Collingwood, Dundas, Etobicoke, Exeter, Grand Bend, Hamilton, King City, Kleinburg, Lake Simcoe, Leamington, London, Markham, Mississauga, Mt. Albert, Oakville, Oshawa, Owen sound, Rondeau, Scarborough, Schomberg, Stratford, Thornbury, Toronto, Vineland, Washago, Whitby, and Willowdale.
The money raised will help the Stewardship with the upcharge to print the upcoming trail guide booklet on 100% Recycled paper (as certified by the Forest Stewardship Council of Canada). It just seems like the right thing to do.
Thanks to all involved.
Geoff