Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO)

OFO Rare Bird Ambassador Sign Up

Start
01 Jan 2000
End
31 Dec 2030
Location
Ontario
Registered
41 registrants

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About OFO Rare Bird Ambassadors

OFO’s Rare Bird Ambassador plan is about empowering Ontario birders with the tools and resources needed so that they can coordinate with property owners to ensure the best outcomes for all parties.

The goal is to promote positive relations between landowners, birders, and photographers, ultimately resulting in happy people and happy birds. Birders can still decide if they want to share sightings or not; we just hope that this makes the decision easier and spreads out the workload related to managing rare bird observations.

You don’t have to belong to OFO to participate.

Being a Rare Bird Ambassador

As a Rare Bird Ambassador, you are making yourself available to be called into action should a rare bird turn up in your area. The goal is to have enough Ambassadors to cover all areas of the province assuming that not everyone will be available when needed.

Rare Bird Ambassadors will make contact with hosts of rare birds, help present possible viewing scenarios to them, and/or coordinate the viewing – sometimes by themselves and sometimes by recruiting other local birders and bird photographers to act as Ambassadors to help with crowd control or other site-specific duties where needed.

Another aspect of being a Rare Bird Ambassador is to communicate information about rare birds, when appropriate, to other Rare Bird Ambassadors or to the Ambassador panel if you are not able to attempt arranging access.

With the role comes responsibility. Finding out about a rare bird that isn’t public knowledge is a privilege, and Rare Bird Ambassadors are expected not to use the information they gain for personal viewing by themselves or their friends, unless it is in order to assess site logistics.

Please keep a bird’s presence confidential unless/until the landowner approves of a viewing plan.

As well, as a representative of the birding community you are expected to adhere at all times to OFO’s Code of Conduct and the Rare Bird Ambassadors Code of Conduct below.

Rare Bird Ambassador Code of Conduct

As a representative of the birding community you are expected to adhere at all times to OFO’s Code of Conduct.

All information is to be kept strictly confidential.

Do not use this as an opportunity to allow special access for your friends to see the bird.

Respect the process and the work of other ambassadors.

If you agree to help, you will have to drop everything and move quickly as birds don’t always stay for long.

The Ambassador panel can help you find alternates so that you don’t have to be on the hook for too long.

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Rainy River

Start
05 Jun 2026
7:00 AM
End
06 Jun 2026
3:30 PM
Location
Rainy River
Spaces left
13
Registered
9 registrants

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Friday, June 5 - Saturday, June 6 2026

Leaders : Angie & Ken Williams

Meet 7:00 a.m.on first day at the junction of Worthington 3 Road and Highway 11 east of Rainy River. Mainly roadside birding, but some offroad walking to sites is possible, depending on conditions. We will search for breeding American White Pelican, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Marbled Godwit, Sandhill Crane, Black-billed Magpie, Connecticut Warbler and Le Conte’s Sparrow. Possible Great Gray Owl, Western Kingbird, Eared Grebe, Yellow Rail, Franklin's Gull and Piping Plover.

Type of Trip: Breeding birds, spring migrants, photography. A scope will be useful. Rubber boots recommended. Pack a lunch and drinks. Bring sunscreen and insect repellent. It is also important that participants start out on Friday with a full tank of gas in their vehicles.

Location and Directions: The first day meeting point is approximately 10 kilometres east of Rainy River. Turn north from Highway 11 on Worthington 3 Road, cross the train tracks and then meet the leaders. Worthington 3 Road is the third sideroad out from Rainy River. Caution: There are also roads called Worthington 1 and Worthington 2, leading to possible confusion.

Important Notes:

Rainy River is a very small community. There is 1 grocery store. As of last year, the in town gas station went out of business but it has recently reopened . If it recloses, fill up either on the American side, or in Emo.

For evening meals, restaurants are on the American side of the river or in Emo. Bring a passport if you plan on eating in the U.S. The only motel in Rainy River is the Walla Walla. They have in the past designated all their rooms to us during this field trip, (at a group rate of $100.57 inc tax, per room/night in 2023). Please state that you are with the OFO group when you call to book your room. To book call TJ at 807.271.1029. We are also trying to arrange a group barbecue at cost at the motel on the Friday and Saturday. Camping in the area is also available.

We require a minimum of 15 participants to run this fieldtrip. Registration deadline is May 15th.

Public Transportation: None.

Duration: 7:00 a.m. — 3:30 p.m. each day. Rest stops and lunch breaks will occur throughout each day.

Approximate Distance: Distances driven depend on local birding info at time of the trip; there is the possibility of flooding in some areas which will determine where we go.

Terrain: Variety of habitats including flat farmland, boreal forest and marsh, but good footwear required. Mostly level, with one small hill. Trails are mostly pavement with sand or boardwalks at some sites.

Washrooms: En route.

Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge that we are meeting on the territory of Treaty 3, the traditional land of the Anishinabe people. We also recognize our local Metis Nation that shares the spiritual history of this land.

About OFO Field Trips

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.

Rest Stops and Lunch Breaks: Trip leaders will include rest stops and lunch breaks but if you require additional rest stops, please inform the trip leaders, so they can accommodate your request.

Safety and First Aid: Trip leaders are volunteers. They are not trained in first aid and cannot provide medical help in the case of an accident or administer medication. When driving, please follow the rules of the road. Exercise caution when parking on the side of the road and getting out of your car.

Accessibility: OFO aims to provide accessible birding trips which are welcoming and enjoyable for all. If you have any questions about the trip, or require accommodations, please contact the trip leaders in advance by emailing fieldtrips@ofo.ca. Please allow a few days for a response.

If you have any questions or concerns, email fieldtrips@ofo.ca.

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Happy Valley, King Township, York Region

When
06 Jun 2026
7:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Location
Pottageville
Spaces left
0
Registered
31 registrants

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Saturday, June 6 2026

Leader: Kevin Shackleton

Trip Description: Take the Highway 400 to the Lloydtown Aurora Road exit and then go west toward Pottageville and south on the 7th concession to where it dead ends at the forest. There is a newish York Region Forest Happy Valley area north of that and it would also be easier to reach the NCC Goldie Feldman tract off the 17th SR if people wanted to extend the day.

Hooded Warbler is usually the sought after species. Acadian Flycatcher has not been reported for a few years. Otherwise it is the usual suspects in a mature woodland : warblers, tanagers, woodpeckers, etc.

Meet 7:30 a.m.

The terrain is very hilly and steep in sections. There are no prepared paths in the main tract, just trails.

There are no washrooms in the immediate area. We go to Tim Horton’s in Schomberg.

Type of Trip: Breeding birds, late spring migrants, photography.

Location and Directions: see above

Public Transportation: None.

Duration: 7:30 a.m. — 1:00 p.m.

Approximate Distance: Several kilometres. Mostly walking involved.

Terrain: Woodlands.

Gradient: Mostly level, with a few hills.

Trail Surfaces: A mix of pathed and unpaved paths. Sturdy footwear required.

Accessibility: Not suitable for those using wheelchairs or walkers.

Washrooms: Available on site.

Land Acknowledgement: This land is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples, many of whom continue to live and work here today. This land acknowledgement is important: It reminds us that our great standard of living is directly related to the resources and friendship of Indigenous people in our community – and indeed across the nations.

About OFO Field Trips

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.caif 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.

Rest Stops and Lunch Breaks: Trip leaders will include rest stops and lunch breaks but if you require additional rest stops, please inform the trip leaders, so they can accommodate your request.

Safety and First Aid: Trip leaders are volunteers. They are not trained in first aid and cannot provide medical help in the case of an accident or administer medication. When driving, please follow the rules of the road. Exercise caution when parking on the side of the road and getting out of your car.

Accessibility: OFO aims to provide accessible birding trips which are welcoming and enjoyable for all. If you have any questions about the trip, or require accommodations, please contact the trip leaders in advance by emailing fieldtrips@ofo.ca. Please allow a few days for a response.

If you have any questions or concerns, email fieldtrips@ofo.ca.

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Carden Alvar: Kawartha Lakes

When
07 Jun 2026
5:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Location
Kirkfield
Spaces left
0
Registered
17 registrants

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Sunday, June 7 : Carden Alvar

Leader : Colleen Reilly

Trip Description:

This Sunday we will be going to the Carden Alvar!

It's a magical place, and each visit you make there will show different aspects of the whole.

Let's meet at the South end of Wylie Road at 5:30 am. You'll realize when you see the sunrise, just why I booked this trip to start so early.

From here we will make our way along Wylie all the way to Alvar Road. We should see Wilson's Snipes, a variety of Sparrows, Bluebirds, and perhaps Upland Sandpipers. Loggerhead Shrike breed in the area so we may see them as well.

Bring a scope if you have one.

PLEASE READ THE NEXT SECTION!

There are no washrooms along this route, and the road takes several hours to drive - we drive slowly, stopping frequently. For lack of a more delicate way to phrase this, our journey may necessitate roadside pee stops. Please bring some ziploc bags or something to collect any toilet paper you use - we don't want to leave anything behind. We probably won't get to a washroom until after noon.

Latecomers to the outing are welcome to meet us at the stop described next...

After this we will head off to North Bear Alvar trail for a hike.

We will meet at 10am, at this location: North Bear Alvar (roadside parking)

After a lunch break at the liftbridge in Kirkfield, which will hopefully include open washrooms, we will go to a number of possible locations. These may include Cameron Ranch and Prairie Smoke parking lots and trail heads, as well as other roadside locations, depending on what we have seen, and recent sightings in the area. We will wrap up the day around 4pm.

Bring food you can eat in the car, and lots of drinks to stay hydrated.

Be prepared for driving Wylie Rd - it is a rough road and requires a vehicle with good clearance.

I'm fine with my TUCSON - I probably wouldn't want to try this in a car with less clearance.

My phone number is 289.795.6537. Feel free to call or text me if you need.

Looking forward to seeing those who can attend!-----

Type of Trip: Breeding birds, spring migrants. A scope is useful.

Location and Directions: Kirkfield can be reached by Kawartha Road 48 from Highway 12.

Public Transportation: None.

Duration: 5:30 a.m. — 4:00 p.m. Rest stops and lunch breaks will occur throughout the day.

Approximate Distance: Distances driven will depend on local birding info at time of the trip.

Terrain: Flat conservation areas, farmland, wood edges, marsh. Trails are paved or sany shoreline. Good footwear required.

Washrooms: At the Kirkfield Lift Lock and other locations.

Land Acknowledgement: The City of Kawartha Lakes respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Mississauga lands and the traditional territory covered by the Williams Treaties. We are grateful for the opportunity to be here and we thank all the generations of people who have taken care of this land for thousands of years.