MJP Photography

Today, we are excited to share with you the Omushkego Raptors poster. These raptors do not play basketball! They are birds of prey; they hunt for their food (fish, frogs, snakes, mammals, birds, and large insects) during the day or night from the sky or a perch (tree, wire). Raptors include hawks, eagles, falcons, owls, and vultures. They have hooked beaks, sharp talons, and keen eyesight that a hunter needs. They are estimated to have eyesight eight to ten times better than humans! Most raptor species migrate and some like northern hawk owl and great horned owl stay with us for the winter. Raptors have voices that are not so melodic, sounding like whistles, squeals, screeches, screams, and hoots. No matter, it is a joy to hear and see a raptor soaring in the sky or staring down at you from a tree.

Omushkego Waterbirds is the third in our series of bilingual Cree-English biodiversity posters.

This poster shows geese, swans, ducks, grebes, and loons — all important cultural species. The Omushkego Cree cycle of life devotes 5 of 12 moons to goose species. April is when the Goose Moon occurs marking the start of spring with thousands of geese returning and time for goose break, when families move out to their spring camps. The spring sounds and sights of waterbirds inspire everyone.

How many of these shore feeding, dabbling (feeds from surface of water) and diving (feeds by diving into the water) species have you seen? How many have you eaten?

Save the Piping Plovers of Wasaga Beach!