Living in Toronto one realizes that the city is growing at an alarming rate. Along with this growth comes development and it’s no secret that there are fewer places to enjoy nature than just a few years ago. The CCFEW Bird Walks achieves two things. One, it allows us to view the abundance of wildlife that occupies the land at the foot of the lake in South Etobicoke. And two, it highlights the importance of careful city planning in order to protect these environments.
The CCFEW Bird Walks are organized by the “Citizens Concerned About the Future of the Etobicoke Waterfront” and sponsored by Birds and Beans Cafe. They are held 8 to 10 times throughout the year with the Spring and Fall walks taking place at Colonel Sam Smith Park while Winter walks are typically held at Humber Bay. The CCFEW Bird Walks are led by experienced bird watchers who have a wealth of information about the birds you will see on your walk. The walks take place rain or shine and are only called off in extreme weather conditions. The walks typically take place at 9am Saturday mornings and last about two hours and amazingly, they are free for all!
Admittedly we were skeptical when we went on our first walk thinking that we may see one or two birds and maybe the same birds we see in and around our neighbourhood. To our delight we saw several dozens of different bird species, each more colourful than the next. It was also great seeing the birds interact in different ways within their environment, all with in-depth explanations from our guide. If you visit their website you can download a handy checklist and you’ll see what we mean when we say you can see several dozens of bird species. You may consider bringing a camera, binoculars, hat, sunglasses, or you may just choose to stroll leisurely with the group. Always dress according to the weather and in layers.
The CCFEW Bird Walks are enjoyed by many and stress the importance of not over-developing our waterfront. It’s nice to see that we don’t have to turn to the Internet to see wild bird species and that we can view them in person down by the lake.
CCFEW Bird Walks: Where and When in Etobicoke…
| WHERE: | 65 Colonel Sam Smith Park Drive (south of Lake Shore Boulevard West at Kipling Avenue) Etobicoke, ON M8V 3M6 | |
| 2225 Lake Shore Boulevard West, Etobicoke, ON M8V 3X7 | ||
| PHONE: | 311 | |
| WHEN: | Various. Check website below for next bird walk time and place. | |
| WEBSITE: | www.ccfew.org/html/bird_walks.html |
