After an extensive journey to the remote northern Ontario wilderness and multiple days surveying the trees near Foleyet community, Chris Blomme and his group of bird enthusiasts were preparing to return to Sudbury. However, as they were inspecting the local dump, they were alerted by the calls of numerous crows, signaling something unusual. Suddenly, a caracara swooped in, landing in front of them amidst the conifer trees, presenting a striking sight.
Their expedition was prompted by reports of a crested caracara sighting in the region. While this bird is commonly found in South and Central America, it is seldom observed beyond the southern United States. Blomme remarked on the bird’s extraordinary appearance and the rarity of its presence so far north, suggesting that it might have been displaced by a hurricane or a significant storm.
Birdwatchers from as far as Toronto joined Blomme, attracted by the opportunity to add a unique species to their “life list” of birds they have encountered. In the small community of Foleyet, the sudden influx of birdwatchers did not go unnoticed, with locals observing their binoculars and cameras and offering insights on the bird’s whereabouts.
Blomme mentioned that some individuals claimed to have spotted the crested caracara in the area the previous year. He expressed curiosity about whether the bird would attempt to endure the winter and survive, emphasizing that with sufficient food sources, even a more tropical bird like the caracara could potentially thrive in the northern climate.
