Birding at the Spit
If you’re a birder in the GTA, you are aware of the Leslie Street Spit (the Spit) or Tommy Thompson Park. And for good reason. Being a 5km peninsula on the northern shore of Lake Ontario positions it well to attract migratory birds along the Atlantic flyway. It’s also an enormous green space which actively prioritizes natural heritage and habitat for wildlife species. This means it is relatively reliable as breeding and nesting habitat and important in the life cycles of many internationally declining species. The Spit has an impressive 72 bird species confirmed to have bred on site.
Another factor which makes the Spit great bird habitat is the large protected embayments and wetlands that make for excellent habitat for a diverse variety of birds, and secretive birds at that. This includes nationally significant numbers of waterfowl that fly to the Spit from the Arctic to over-winter, as long as the water bodies do not ice over. Lastly, there is good reason to believe that the location of the Spit adjacent to what once was Ashbridge’s marsh - an enormous marsh that was intentionally filled in as Toronto urbanized - positions the Spit in the instinctual memories of birds as diverse habitat along the Atlantic flyway.
It’s important to realize that birders and those who appreciate birds have a role to play in their conservation. Respecting wildlife habitat means leaving habitat for wildlife to make use of and therefore remaining on trails and giving space when viewing wildlife. Many birds are easily frightened and if they cannot forage or nest undisturbed they will leave or fail in their attempt to fulfill their life requirements. This has very real consequences. The primary reason bird species are in decline is loss of habitat - space. So next time you go for a visit to the Spit, know that staying on trail and respectfully birding from a distance are small acts that have huge implications for wildlife.
