With the annual Waterfowl Festival at Presqu'ile Provincial Park still over two weeks away, Park officials are asking whether the thousands of ducks that are currently massed in the bay are likely to remain around for that event. Even if some of them will have moved on, which seems unlikely, there will certainly be more arriving, and the variety of species will be that much greater. Canada Geese, the bane of park authorities in metropolitan areas, have returned to their nesting sites on Gull Island. Within weeks, we can expect to see migrating flocks of "real" geese passing over Presqu'ile. While geese are a nuisance elsewhere, at Presqu'ile, as in the eastern U.S. where control measures are being contemplated, it is Mute Swans that create havoc with other waterfowl and their habitat. About 150-200 of these beautiful but unwanted birds are a daily presence in the bay at this time of year. Undertaking the necessary reduction in their numbers will not be a popular move. A single Trumpeter Swan was studied carefully at close range on February 25. In contrast, the male Wood Duck at the same time and place (the government dock on Bayshore Road) was too far off to be seen without a spotting scope. Other dabbling ducks present in small numbers during the past week were Gadwall (every day), American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Mallard, Northern Pintail, and Green-winged Teal (February 21). Hundreds of Canvasbacks and Redheads are scattered among the Greater Scaup, which now number well over ten thousand. No one has yet been able to spot a Ring-necked Duck in those flocks, but that is surely the next species of waterfowl to show up. By diligent searching, one can usually find at least one White-winged Scoter. There has been only one reported sighting of a Bald Eagle, an immature bird, during the past week, disappointing those who had begun to hope that the adults present earlier in the month might stay to nest in the Park. A Rough-legged Hawk was soaring over "the fingers" on February 25. A Ruffed Grouse was seen flying across the road near the Park store. Hundreds of Ring-billed Gulls are now on their territories on Gull Island, even though the amount of bare ground there is still limited. Glaucous Gull sightings in the bay, often two individuals, have been almost a daily occurrence this week. A Northern Flicker was flying towards the lighthouse on February 23. Both Bohemian and Cedar Waxwings (6 of the former on February 23 along Paxton Drive) have been in the Park this week. A single Snow Bunting in breeding plumage flew over Owen Point on February 26. A female Red-winged Blackbird was at Langdon Avenue on February 26 and a female Brown-headed Cowbird was on a feeder at 85 Bayshore Road on February 21. To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from Brighton. Locations within the Park are shown on a map at the back of a tabloid that is available at the Park gate. Although the channel separating Gull Island from Owen Point appears to be frozen over, the thickness of the ice is probably unreliable because of the underlying currents. Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be directed to: FHELLEINER@TRENTU.CA. -- Fred Helleiner 186 Bayshore Road, R.R. #4, Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0 VOICE: (613) 475 5309 If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park. Fred Helleiner <fhelleiner@trentu.ca> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.