Ontario is home to more than 470 recorded species of birds, and nearly 300 of those species nest in the Lake of the Woods region. Visitors can walk along the shoreline and spot Common Loons, Great Blue Herons, Tundra Swans and Canada Geese among a number of other water birds, while several species of terns and gulls can be found on the islands dotting the lake.
In fact, you don’t have to do your birdwatching just from land when you visit Duck Bay Lodge. We’re happy to help you and your family observe the birds of the region by boat. While nearly all of the 300 species of birds in the region can be seen in any season, it’s an especially unforgettable experience to watch migrating waterfowl in the spring and fall.
Additionally, sightings of Bald Eagles, Red-Tailed Hawks, Great Gray Owls or Snowy Owls, and Sandhill Cranes are moments your family will never forget. You can even make a family-friendly game out of spotting birds and matching them to the photos in a birding book or brochure. If you’re quick, you may be able to snap a photo as a keepsake.
BEST TIMES TO BIRDWATCH
There’s no bad time for birdwatching, but our expert tour guides at Duck Bay Lodge know the best times to spot birds feeding, singing, drinking and sunning. Birds tend to forage for food at sunrise and again in late evening; these can be ideal times to admire a sunrise or sunset on the boat while identifying the rare birds of the region. Birds also tend to sing more frequently in early morning, which makes them easier to spot.
However, you don’t have to be an early riser to birdwatch. Birds tend to do their sunning when the sun is highest in the mid-afternoon, and they visit birdbaths or other water sources to drink at all times of day.
