Entrance to the tiny woods nearly Waverly Beach. An old sidewalk can still be seen, remnants of the Erie Beach Amusement Park from early in the 1900s
We moved back to Canada a year ago after living near the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Carolinas where there were stretches of uninterrupted nature and wildlife corridors. We now live in Fort Erie, Ontario, across the Niagara River looking toward Buffalo, NY where I am currently working. This town is a combination of retirement residences, renovated cottages, typical subdivisions, a scattering of farmland and a good number waterfront properties occupied by people from the Upstate who have probably been vacationing here for generations.
The view of Buffalo skyline from Fort Erie. The shoreline may look industrial but there are numerous pockets of green space for nature.
Although the town isn’t densely populated, there still isn’t much in the way of natural areas along this portion of Lake Erie, a noted bird migration route. On the other hand, over the bridge and relatively close to Buffalo, there are a good number of natural reserves and wetlands where bald eagles and migratory birds can take refuge.
One of few stopping points at this end of Lake Erie for warblers migrating back into Ontario in the spring. This Cape May Warbler is just one of a number of types of small migrating birds that stop to replenish themselves after the longer stages of their migration.
The exception is one small wooded area on the beach near where we live that can still be a resting and replenishing area for migrating birds. Located near Waverly Beach, this small plot was the sight of the Erie Beach Amusement Park nearly ninety years ago. It is filled with large old trees that have outgrown their concrete barriers, and remnants of stairs and paths lead to the foundation of concession stands and rides. This is still private land but hasn’t been touched in many years. Sadly, this last tiny bit of woodland is on the chopping block for a new set of McMansions, the horror of urban sprawl that will finally decimate the last of what nature has to offer.
Holes in older trees make fantastic homes for woodpeckers, squirrels, owls and pretty much any other creature in the area that is looking for some shelter and protection. A family of Pileated Woodpeckers made this hole their home last spring, hopefully they will be back this year.
In these woods, there are dozens of holes in old trees where woodpeckers, owls, and squirrels make their homes. The fallen trees litter the forest act as shelter for chipmunks and other little critters. Deer prints are all over, and a family of foxes has been seen in the area. Of course, it is also a good spot for some birds of prey to get a good meal as well.
Grey morph Eastern Screech owl getting a bit of the midday sun. This is one of the natural homes that will be such a sad thing to lose…and is one of my favourite things to find.
As spring comes, we are watching the changes daily. A pair of Cooper’s hawks are calling regularly looking for a good nesting spot. A beautiful little grey morph screech owl has found a hole in a tall stump that seems to be a good safe spot. Downy, hairy and pileated woodpeckers are seen and heard regularly. A few red-bellied woodpeckers and even a red-headed woodpecker were seen last year, and we are hoping they will be back. Once the spring migration starts in earnest this is a great spot for warblers heading north.
One of a pair of Cooper’s hawks in the woods this spring. This one is calling to its mate that is sitting with its back to this one just a few meters away.
Although there isn’t really much hope for this last area along the Fort Erie beaches, what I do hope to do is to document what nature is here in the hopes that some of that knowledge will help people to see what they are losing. Maybe this will help slow down or stop the next areas slated for urbanization. These nature corridors and hotspots are so important for making sure migration paths stay viable. It is one of the few things I can do as a nature photographer, show people what they might lose.