Thursday, January 1 2026
Leaders: Dave Milsom, Cathy Douglas, Brian Wales, Leo Weiskittel.
Trip Description: Meet 8:30 a.m. at parking lot of Peterborough's zoo on Water Street, just south of Trent University. Bring good hiking shoes and warm gear. A telescope is useful. Possible owls, hawks, falcons, ducks, gulls, Bohemian Waxwings and winter finches.
Type of Trip: Winter birds, photography.
Location and Directions: Peterborough's Riverside Park and Zoo is located at 1300 Water Street.
Public Transportation: Available only in Peterborough. Car pooling is encouraged from the meeting location.
Duration: 8:30 a.m. — 3:30 p.m. Rest stops and coffee/lunch breaks throughout the day.
Approximate Distance: Driving distances depend on local birding info at the time of the trip.
Terrain: Mostly flat and paved with some hilly sections possible. Unlikely to be much walking. Icy and snowy conditions possible. Good winter footwear is required.
Washrooms: At local Tim Hortons.
Land Acknowledgement: We respectfully acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of the Mississauga Anishinaabe. We offer our gratitude to our First Nations for their care for and teachings about our earth and our relations. May we continue to honour those teachings.
About OFO Field Trips
Who Should Come? OFO trips are for OFO members and one guest only unless the trip is public. New birders and photographers are welcome.
OFO strives to create an inclusive, comfortable and enjoyable experience for all. Trip leaders are volunteers who generously offer their time to share their knowledge and passion for birds with others. Most OFO trips are suitable for beginner birders. Please let the trip leaders know if you are new to birding when you arrive.
Code of Conduct and Code of Birding Ethics: Participants are expected to review OFO’s Code of Conduct and Code of Birding Ethics before the trip.
Cancellation Policy: Space is limited so please cancel your registration if you cannot attend. If you need to cancel your registration on an outing, please go to the Events Registration page at https://ofo25.wildapricot.org/events. If you are registered for an event, you will see "Already registered" on the left side of the brief outing summary. Click on this, and you will see a button you can click to CANCEL REGISTRATION.
Transportation: All participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the field trip. Public transit information, if available, is included in the trip description.
What to Bring: Dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy, closed toe footwear. Bring ID and health card, water, a packed lunch for longer trips, and money for park entrance and ferry fees. Depending on the season, sunscreen, insect repellant and a topical insect bite treatment such as Afterbite or Benadryl are recommended.
Loaner Binoculars: Email fieldtrips@ofo.ca if you require loaner binoculars. We will do our best to provide a pair.
Leaving Early: Trip leaders understand that not everyone will be able to stay for the duration of the trip. If you must leave early, please inform the trip leaders before you go.
