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Located at the edge of forest and farmland, close to rivers, lakes and wetlands, the Whitemouth area offers a great variety of birds to watch. The upper half of the Whitemouth River, from its source at Whitemouth Lake to the Trans-Canada Highway, is mostly inaccessible except by canoe. Farther north a network of roads makes it easy to explore the lower stretches of the river from Hadashville through Elma and Whitemouth to Seven Sisters Falls, where it joins the Winnipeg River at Whitemouth Falls.
Highway 11 provides a fast route through this area, but you will see much more wildlife by exploring Provincial Roads 406, 408, 506, and 507, and the network of adjoining section roads. Take care, however, on minor roads in wet or snowy conditions, be aware that some roads peter out at the edge of the forest, and watch out for frequent trains at ungated level crossings.
In spring the strip of farmland along the Whitemouth River is an excellent area to see Bald Eagles and many other species of raptors. Rough-legged Hawks can be especially numerous during their migration to the Arctic, from late March to the beginning of May, and on their return flight in late fall. Look for them perched on isolated trees or roadside utility poles, scanning the landscape for voles. Several pairs of Bald Eagles have nested along the river in recent years, and other local nesting species include Red-tailed Hawk and Northern Harrier. American Kestrels hunt from roadside wires, and less-common Merlins nest in mature spruce trees at Elma, Seven Sisters Falls, and elsewhere. Turkey Vultures soar on thermals throughout the area from April to September. There is a chance of seeing a Peregrine Falcon in May or September, or a Gyrfalcon in winter, and there have even been rare sightings of Ferruginous Hawk and Red-shouldered Hawk.
Natalie Lake (the Seven Sisters dam forebay) often hosts large numbers of water birds—especially loons, grebes, mergansers and other diving ducks—during spring and fall migration. The peak periods are late April to mid-May and late September to early November. Flocks of Canada Geese, Snow Geese (mainly in fall), and Ring-billed Gulls feed in the farmland and roost on Natalie Lake. Double-crested Cormorants and American White Pelicans seem to use the dam as a landmark on their spring migration route via Lake of the Woods to Lake Winnipeg.
Sandhill Cranes are a great spectacle throughout the area, especially in quiet fields at the edge of boggy forest. They are most conspicuous between April and mid-June, and from late August to mid-September. There is a good chance of seeing Sharp-tailed Grouse in the same general areas, while Ruffed Grouse and the elusive Spruce Grouse can be found in nearby forests.
A short drive from Seven Sisters dam, the picnic site at Whitemouth Falls is a great place to watch pelicans from late April right through the summer. Several species of ducks often dot the rocky pools below the dam, especially during spring breakup. Hooded Mergansers and Wood Ducks frequent quiet stretches of the Whitemouth River; look for them from the PR 307 bridge and other vantage points.
Cliff Swallows nest in large colonies at several bridges along the river, and other swallow species can often be seen nearby. Eastern Phoebes also nest at bridges and other waterside structures. Many people have set up nest boxes along roadside fences; these are used mainly by Tree Swallows and House Wrens, but there is a good chance of seeing an Eastern Bluebird, especially near well-grazed, lightly wooded pastures. Wherever tall deciduous trees grow along the river bank, look and listen for Baltimore Orioles and Warbling Vireos in summer. Gray Catbirds prefer dense waterside shrubbery. Some of the typical open-country summer songbirds include Western Meadowlark (especially in cattle pastures), Bobolinks (mainly in alfalfa fields), and several species of sparrow and blackbird.
Few birds remain for the winter, but chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, ravens, jays and magpies can always be found. Evening and Pine Grosbeaks, Common and Hoary Redpolls, are all regular visitors (in varying numbers) to well-stocked bird feeders. Large flocks of Snow Buntings can occasionally be seen in open fields, wherever they can find seeds above the snow.
This article just touches on a few of the 200+ species that can be found every year in the Whitemouth area. For more information on the birds of this area and other parts of Manitoba, check out the books The Birds of Manitoba and Finding Birds in Southern Manitoba, published by the Manitoba Naturalists Society (204-943-9029; http://www.manitobanature.ca/).
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