Witness an Unforgettable Spectacle of Spring at
Presqu’ile’s 2003 Waterfowl Festival
Presqu’ile’s famous waterfowl have returned. It’s time to join the flock!
 Join us in celebrating the annual return of our migrating spring waterfowl at the Presqu’ile Waterfowl Festival. The festival is held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily on the weekends of March 15-16 and March 22-23.
Tens of thousands of waterfowl migrate through Presqu’ile every spring en route to their breeding grounds far to the north and west of the park. The birds take advantage of Presqu’ile’s abundant food and sheltered waters to replenish their energy reserves before heading off on the next leg of their migration flight. Since most of Presqu’ile’s waterfowl nest on the northern prairies and on the tundra, some species encountered on Presqu’ile’s famous viewing weekends are rarely seen in Ontario. This opportunity to see a rich variety of waterfowl and huge numbers of birds is truly unique, and is said to be one of Ontario’s great natural wonders.
During the festival, experienced naturalists are on-hand at viewing stations throughout the park to help visitors identify up to 25 species of ducks, geese and swans. You can get a close-up look at these wonderful waterfowl at the viewing stations through spotting scopes from Bushnell Sport Optics.
The doors to the Nature Centre are also open during the festival weekends. Here, you will find demonstrations and displays of waterfowl carving by the Quinte Wood Carvers Association and a display of the winning posters from the park’s annual Waterfowl Poster Contest. The Nature Centre is also the headquarters for “Ducks for Kids,” where organized activities of a “ducky” kind are planned for the kids at 1:00 and at 2:30 p.m. daily.
 Or follow the signs to the Lighthouse Interpretive Centre and view our new displays. The Friends of Presqu’ile Lighthouse Gift Shop features our newest publication, the Presqu’ile Identi-Wheel. This unique guide will help you identify the waterfowl, warblers, colonial waterbirds and shorebirds you will likely see at Presqu’ile throughout the year.
The Friends of Presqu’ile in partnership with Ontario Parks bring the Presqu’ile Waterfowl Festival to you. Normal park entrance fees apply. For information about the festival or about waterfowl viewing at Presqu’ile, please call Janine DeWit at (613) 475-4324 or follow the link to the Friends of Presqu’ile website: friendsofpresquile.on.ca
Don’t forget to dress warmly in order to enjoy your spring outing.
Species you may see at the Presqu’ile Waterfowl Festival:
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Common Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Long-tailed Duck
Common Merganser
Redhead
Canvasback
Ring-necked Duck
Mute Swan
Canada Goose
Other waterfowl you may encounter:
Mallard
Black Duck
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Red-breasted Merganser
Hooded Merganser
Green-winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Pintail
Wood Duck
White-winged Scoter
WATERFOWL VIEWING TRIVIA
Test your knowledge of Presqu’ile’s waterfowl. The answers are provided below.
Question #1
Which of the birds listed below is not considered waterfowl?
(a) Gulls (b) Ducks (c) Geese (d) Swans
Question #2
Which waterfowl species is pictured on the back of our Canadian $100 bill?
(a) Common Loon (b) Snowy Owl (c) Canada Goose (d) Tundra Swan
Question #3
The canvasback duck has the top migrating speed of any bird. How fast can the canvasback fly?
(a) 55km/hr (b) 75km/hr (c) 90km/hr (d) 110 km/hr
Question #4
Which species of waterfowl can swim underwater like a penguin by using its wings to a depth of 200 feet?
(a) Mallard (b) Mute Swan (c) Long-tailed Duck (d) Canada Goose
Question #5
The long, serrated bill of the Common Merganser allows it to feed mostly on which of the following food items.
(a) Water Plants (b) Fish (c) Zebra Mussels (d) Corn
Answers:
Q1: (a) Gulls; Q2: (c) Canada Goose; Q3: (d) 110 km/hr; Q4: (c) Long-tailed Duck; Q5: (b) Fish
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