Welcome to Call Notes, OFO’s news and events for OFO members and the birding community.
In this issue
Save the Dates for the 2024 OFO Convention
The 2024 OFO Convention and OFO Convention Northern Edition will be taking place on September 27, 28, and 29, 2024, in Leamington and New Liskeard. More details will be posted online in the upcoming weeks.
Keep Your Membership Up to Date
Happy new year everyone!
Members are reminded that most renewals are due in January. Please keep your membership up to date so you can continue to participate in all the events and outings throughout the new year!
To renew your membership, log into the OFO webstite, click on “view profile” and then click the “renew” button if your membership expires in January 2024.
December issue of Ontario Birds is now available online
The August issue of Ontario Birds is now available to members on the OFO website, under Publications.This issue includes feature articles on piping plovers, common terns, a vocally-ambiguous waterthrush, and 2023’s Distinguished Ornithologist, Bruce Di Labio.
OFO Bird of the Year merch store now live
We recently announced the winner of the OFO Bird of the Year logo vote.
Alessandra Kite’s flying Bobolink design gained the most votes from the membership, with honourable mentions to Andrea Kingsley and Olivia Maillet.
The design is now available on Redbubble under the OFO Merch page, and you can purchase it on a variety of paraphernalia.
Follow this link to go to the OFO store. More details about the artists and the Bird of the Year program will be coming out in the next issue of OFO News.
Have a good holiday season!
Link: OFOmerch.redbubble.com
2024 Convention
The 2024 OFO Conventions are taking place in Leamington and New Liskeard in September and we need your help! We are currently looking for a couple of volunteers to join our planning team to help with planning, organizing vendor/display tables and securing donations for the silent auction.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact volunteer@ofo.ca
Ontario Birds seeking co-editor
Ontario Birds is looking for another co-editor. If you have editing skills, are a keen birder/ornithologist and have an interest in working as part of a 2-3 person team in producing three issues of Ontario Birds annually, please send your thoughts to Chip Weseloh (chip.weseloh@yahoo.com)
Understanding the Language of the Forest by Kristi Dranginis (Online)
Did you know that a particular call of a bird can tell you that a deer is sneaking away from you, that a cougar is nearby or that another person is approaching you on the trail, giving you advance notice and the time you’d need to respond?
Kristi Dranginis, founder of Bird Mentor and author of Identify Any Bird Anywhere, will help you learn the skills of instinctive birding and teach you how to interpret what the language of the forest looks and sounds like.
Register here, or join the Zoom meeting on Wednesday, 3 Jan 2024, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Eastern Time. Please note that the meeting on January 3rd will not be recorded.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84871008513
OFO Trip Leader Meeting on Best Practices with Jeff Skevington
Attendance at this event (or watching the recorded Youtube video of the event) is required for all trip leaders and anyone who is thinking about leading trips for OFO. The more who attend in person the better though, as we will do some brainstorming about what has worked well and and what pitfalls to avoid to ensure that guided trips are fun for everyone. A recent medical emergency on a hike has also led us to reassess how we can improve our response and communication.
This is a critical discussion and important for all trip leaders. Don’t worry, you don’t have to take courses or anything. We all just have to be on the same page with respect to communication of emergencies or inappropriate behaviour witnessed on hikes.
Our EDI committee has discussed the latter extensively and has provided some ideas that we can discuss that will help to make our events more accessible and fun for all. 18 Jan 2024, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: TBD
Register here.
Owl Banding at Hilliardton Marsh with Bruce Murphy
Whoo whoo who loves owls? Bruce Murphy, from the Hilliardton Marsh Research and Education Centre, will be giving a presentation about the facility’s owl banding program.
7 Feb 2024, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Register here.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84871008513
Coming up:
6 March 2024 – Stories from Young Birders Camp, with some of the youth from OFO’s summer camp.
3 April 2024 – What’s New With Canada Jays, with Dr. Ryan Norris
All are Zoom meetings taking place at 7 pm E.T.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84871008513
For more details, see the Events section of the OFO website.
Upcoming Trips and Events for OFO Members
OFO field trips are for OFO members and a guest. Please register on the ofo.ca website under Upcoming Trips and Webinars.
Spaces are still available for some trips. If the trip is full, please register for the waitlist as spots often become free before the trip.
Peterborough Area: 1 Jan 2024 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM, parking lot of Peterborough’s zoo on Water Street.
Toronto Winter Birds, Tommy Thompson Park: 6 Jan 2024 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM, Leslie street and Unwin avenue
Winter Birds of the Detroit River, Windsor: 7 Jan 2024 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Lakeview Park Marina in Windsor
Haldiman and Norfolk Counties: 24 Feb 2024 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, parking lot of Cayuga Secondary School, Haldiman County
Amherst Island: 25 Feb 2024 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Amherst Island ferry dock
Comments? Questions?
We welcome your comments and feedback! Please contact us at: ofo@ofo.ca.
Good birding,
The OFO Team