durhamregion.com | This Week | Thursday, May 5, 2022 | | 10 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 70 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the newspaper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca newsroom@durhamregion.com facebook.com/newsdurham @newsdurham WHO WE ARE Vice President Dana Robbins Regional General Manager Anne Beswick Director of Content Lee Ann Waterman Managing Editor Mike Lacey Director of Advertising Tanya Pacheco Director Distribution Jason Christie Director Creative Services Katherine Porcheron Durham Advisory Council Dan Carter; Esther Enyolu; Jake Farr; Dr. Vidal Chavannes; Cynthia Davis; Elaine Popp/Don Lovisa; John Henry; Sue McGovern; Kerri King; Steve Yamada; Kelly LaRocca; Peter Bethlenfalvy; Dr. Steven Murphy; Norah Marsh; Tracy Paterson; Chris Darling; Christina Curry CONTACT US This Week Phone: 905- 579-4407 Newsroom: 905-215-0462 Sales: 905-215-0424 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Fax: 905-579-2238 Web: www.durhamregion.com Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at durhamregion.com Delivery For all delivery inquiries, call 905- 579-4407 or visit the Contact Us page on durhamregion.com. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT DURHAMREGION.COM Orange, blue, silver, green and red. Black, white, chestnut, yellow -- Yes, lots of bright yellow! This is it, bird aficionados! We're nearing the peak of wood-warbler migration, when some of the most colourful birds in Canada come flooding home from the tropics, millions of migrants eager to breed, sporting their finest spring plumage and singing as they go. For me and lots of other folks, it's the most exciting time of year. What these active little insect eaters have in common is their small size and thin sharp bills, well-designed for snatching midges and caterpillars. What makes them intriguing -- irresistible-- is how varied they are in every other aspect. It's like the 30-some warbler species that breed in Ontario drew straws for different niches they would fill, from ground level to the tallest treetops, so you'll find them everywhere. "Warbler neck," a common springtime malady for birders, comes from staring straight up in woodlots at neon-orange-throated Blackburnians and pale blue ceruleans. You'll get a welcome break gazing at black-throated blue warblers, black-capped Wilson's and flashy redstarts, as they tend to feed from eye level to mid-storey. Ovenbirds and northern waterthrushes stalk the ground, the former in forests, the latter near ponds and wetlands, so you don't have to strain your neck at all. And they have the loudest voices, making them easier to locate. A flash of gold will draw your eye to many a warbler flitting about in shrubs and trees, but distinct features quickly tell them apart. Male yellowthroats wear a black bandit mask over their eyes, and mourning warblers a grey hood. Male Canada warblers sport a jet-black necklace on their golden chests, parula warblers a chestnut crescent. The golden bellies of palm, magnolia and yellow warblers have streaks -- brown, black and red, in that order. While mixed flocks of warblers move through in waves during April and May, species vary in timing, depending on how far they've come or how far north they'll nest. Pine warblers show up first, in mid-April, trilling from the tops of conifers. Yellowrumped warblers come next, lower down in evergreens. Our most common warbler species in Ontario, they show up throughout spring migration, with females flying north to find males already established on territories. Blackpolls move through last of all, ensuring that spring will have arrived in the boreal forests they nest in. When you hear their high- pitched "tick-tick-tick" song in late May, you know migration here is just about over. So, let's relish our wonderful world and head out into nature right now, watching for warblers. Nature queries: mcar- ney1490@gmail.com or 905- 725-2116. Metroland columnist Margaret Carney finds so much to discover and marvel at exploring the great outdoors. 'WARBLER NECK' TIME FOR BIRDERS MARGARET CARNEY Column Columnist Margaret Carney notes this is prime time for birding enthusiasts, with colourful warblers returning to Canada from down south, including the "very rare" golden-winged warbler. Birders often get 'warbler neck' at this time of year from looking up to spot colourful spring arrivals. Mike McEvoy photo WONDERFUL WARBLER PROVINCE 'MISLEADING ELECTORATE': LETTER WRITER To the editor: The Ajax PC candidate, Patrice Barnes, made a statement that the Carruthers headwaters can be protected by putting it in the urban river valley category. This is wrong and totally misleading. This statement was also floated by the developers' representative that wants to build on the Carruthers headwaters. This only applies to urban areas and the Carruthers headwaters is not designated for urbanization. The provincial government is misleading the electorate in Ajax and Pickering. DAVID STEELE, PICKERING NO URBAN BOUNDARY EXPANSION FOR A DECADE To the editor: Re: 'This is kind of the heartland of agriculture and nature': Durham Region to consider Greenbelt protection for Pickering's Carruthers Creek headwaters. Thanks for this article, which depicts the essence of competing interests. The issue of retaining current natural and agricultural lands, versus new urban development in the upland headwaters of Carruthers Creek, is being similarly played out across south-central Ontario. Generally, this area has extensive urban development spreading north from Lake Ontario, where the downstream sections of many of our watersheds have become significantly impacted by a loss of natural heritage and polluted water, and in some cases are prone to flooding. At some point, the expansion of urban development to upstream areas may trigger tipping points for the overall health of our watersheds with respect to natural heritage, food security, and water flows, temperature, salinity and various chemical pollutants. Given what is at stake, it is clear that continuing to implement existing land-use planning protocols will not protect future environmental and public health if applied in the upland headwaters of the Carruthers watershed. Durham Region must resist the uncompromising direction of the provincial growth plan for a new official plan based on outdated ideas by July 2, and that would be in place until 2051. Instead, Durham should commit to no urban boundary expansion for at least 10 years and pursue new development standards, to take effect from 2031, that would better protect local natural heritage, waters, and agricultural lands while pursuing complete communities and net-zero. ANDREW MCCAMMON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ONTARIO HEADWATERS INSTITUTE LETTERS & COMMENTARY