Some Winter Wildlife in Algonquin Provincial Park Page 1 of 2

 7 March 2009

Pine Marten at Visitor Centre feeders.

After eating suet, it ate sunflower seeds. Pine Marten have sharp semi-retractable claws and are excellent climbers, but spend most of their time hunting on the ground. Their prey in Algonquin Park is small mammals, especially Red-backed Voles.

"Greater" Common Redpoll (rostrata) in background at West Gate feeders on 7 March 2009. This more northern subspecies breeds on Baffin Island in Canada and in Greenland. It was noticeably larger, more heavily streaked and darker than the 30 nominate subspecies (flammea) it was among.

Male Pine Grosbeak at West Gate feeders on 7 March 2009

First year male Pine Grosbeak at West Gate feeders on 7 March 2009

Female Pine Grosbeak at Visitor Centre feeders on 7 March 2009

Male Evening Grosbeak at Visitor Centre feeder in Algonquin Park on 7 March 2009. Evening Grosbeaks are frequent at the Visitor Centre feeders. Thirty years ago they were common during many winters in southern Ontario, but have since declined. The breeding population is lower now mainly because large outbreaks of spruce budworm have subsided. However, the population is currently "probably stable" according to the recent Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas (2007). 

Female Evening Grosbeak at the Visitor Centre in Algonquin Park on 7 March 2009

End of Algonqin page 1, now go Algonquin page 2.