After an extensive journey to the remote wilderness of northern Ontario and days of surveying the trees near Foleyet, Chris Blomme and his group of bird enthusiasts were preparing to return to Sudbury. However, while inspecting the local dump, they were alerted by the calls of multiple crows, signaling unusual activity. Suddenly, a caracara bird swooped in and perched on a conifer right in front of them, a captivating sight.
Their expedition was prompted by reports of a crested caracara sighting in the region. Although common in South and Central America, this bird is seldom seen beyond the southern United States. Blomme remarked on the remarkable distance the bird had traveled, speculating that it may have been displaced by a hurricane or a significant storm.
Drawing birdwatchers from as far as Toronto, many of whom maintain a “life list” of bird species they have encountered, the event did not go unnoticed in the small community of Foleyet, with a population of just 165 residents. The influx of birdwatchers with binoculars and cameras attracted attention from locals, who provided insights on possible sightings of the crested caracara from the previous year.
Blomme expressed curiosity about the bird’s ability to endure the approaching winter in the north, highlighting the potential for survival even for a tropical bird if food sources are abundant. The sighting of the crested caracara in such an unexpected location has stirred excitement and intrigue among bird enthusiasts and locals alike.
