THE AVIAN COMMUNITY
Georgina Island is located at the western fringe of the area of south-central Ontario, home to the highest density of breeding birds in the province. Since 1982, a total of 99 bird species have been recorded on Georgina Island. However, a total of 143 bird species might reasonably be expected to breed on Georgina Island. The Breeding Bird Atlas of Ontario, which carried out a survey on Georgina Island in early 1988, found that the island sustains 87 breeding bird species. Thirty of these bird species are considered significant with five provincially rare, two regionally rare and 18 sensitive species.

Georgina Island’s forests and provincially significant shorelines provide nesting habitat for a large number of bird species. The small, seasonal population of cottagers keeps disturbances to a minimum, an important factor for the reproductive success of many birds. The limited development of land for agriculture, roads and housing on the island, unlike most of southern Ontario, means that most of the island is not degraded, marginal habitat for breeding birds, but rather prime habitat.

The provincially rare Forster’s tern and Caspian tern have nested here off the southern tip of Georgina Island. Another provincially rare species, the great black-backed gull, has also been spotted on the island as well as the equally rare least bittern which nests in the marshes here.
Although great blue heron colonies are rare, there is a significant local colony on Georgina Island. A nesting site located in an isolated tall stand of trees is one of ten colonies known in the GTA. These birds require large trees to nest in, typically in swamps. They are sensitive to disturbance and nesting areas should be avoided from April to August.

The great egret, the common loon and the red-headed woodpecker are also considered locally significant with few colonies in the GTA. The provincially rare long-eared owl has also been sighted on the north side of Georgina Island. With large swamps and forests, the island supports a high diversity of 12 forest bird species which require relatively large forested areas. These include the hairy woodpecker, pileated woodpecker, red-breasted nuthatch, white-breasted nuthatch, Winter wren, veery, pine warbler, black and white warbler, American redstart, ovenbird, northern water thrush and scarlet tanager. These are all considered sensitive in the GTA because of their need for large forested areas.

LIST OF BIRD SPECIES FOUND ON GEORGINA ISLAND

Excerpt from the Georgina Island Forest Management Plan 2000-2019

PLANTS
There are over 400 species of plants growing on Georgina Island, many of which are classified as locally and/or regionally rare. Rare plants are a sign of biodiversity, and indicate the many types of forests that exist on the island.

The following is a list of rare plants compiled by the Ministry of Natural Resources in 1998.

L – Locally rare - 10 or less locations in the Region of York
R – Regionally rare - if locally rare in the Greater Toronto Area

WILDLIFE
In addition to birds, the forests on the island also support an array of other wildlife. Known mammals, reptiles and amphibians living on the island are listed below, but there are likely many other wildlife species present but not documented. Deer can often be seen swimming to and from the island in the fall or early spring as you cross the lake on the ferry boat.

*The presence of black bear is questionable due to a lack of preferable food sources such as nuts from beech and oak trees, although it was included during a survey completed by the Ministry of Natural Resources in 1998.