The Town of Ajax’s diverse landscapes host a brilliant array of birds and wildlife. Stretching across Ajax, the Carruthers Creek Watershed contains 106 breeding species of birds. In TRCA’s assessment of the watershed, six bird species were identified as scarce to the region. Two of these species were meadow-dependent birds: the grasshopper sparrow and northern harrier, and four were wetland-dependent species: the great blue heron, osprey, marsh wren, and gadwall.

The watershed area is comprised of four major habitat types: forest, forest-edge, meadow, and wetland. According to TRCA’s findings, meadow and urban wetland bird communities are of poor quality and are continuing to decline. The two major species declines noticed in the area are that of the wood thrush and common yellowthroat. In contrast, populations of the American redstart and blue-grey gnatcatcher have seen substantial increases.

Spotlight Species: 

Wood Thrush

wood thrush
Wood thrushes are songbirds that live in large, mixed forests, though they can also utilize smaller clusters of trees in fragmented areas. Within Ontario, most of their numbers are concentrated in the South. Their species status is of Special Concern, meaning they are not yet threatened or endangered and there are still populations in the wild. However, these songbirds remain at risk of endangerment and are experiencing a global decline, reflected in their loss here in Ajax. Habitat loss and fragmentation are among the biggest threats to the wood thrush. 

Photo via: Wikimedia Commons 
Grasshopper Sparrow

grasshopper sparrow

Grasshopper sparrows are small songbirds that live in open, grassy areas. These birds are ground-nesters; they construct their cup-shaped nests out of grass and nestle them within a field. Their domain in Ontario is largely in the South, though some have been found along the Canadian Shield. This species is of Special Concern as their preferred habitat is threatened by row crop planting. 

Photo via: Wikimedia Commons
Osprey

osprey

Ospreys are large, slender birds of prey. Their impressive wingspan can reach nearly 1.8 metres across. As fish-eaters, they are usually spotted around bodies of water such as marshes and rivers. These birds are a testimony to conservation efforts, having experienced a tremendous recovery in past years. The osprey is no longer listed as a Species of Concern.

Photo via: Wikimedia Commons 
American Redstart

american redstart

American redstarts are small, striking warblers. These birds utilize Ontario’s lightly forested regions during their breeding months. The American redstart has been identified by TRCA as a Species of Regional Concern, though their local numbers are on the rise. 

Photo via: Wikimedia Commons