North American bird of prey makes rare visit to Toronto Pearson Airport

Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga recently played surprised host to a rare winged visitor that had flown some 2,000 kilometres or so off course.

Typically found in Western Canada and the central to western U.S. when it’s not wintering in South America, a Swainson’s hawk found its way to Canada’s biggest and busiest airport just as spring is turning to summer.

“It’s not every day a Swainson’s hawk turns up at Toronto Pearson,” airport officials said on Monday. “Known for one of the longest migrations of any North American raptor, the Swainson’s hawk is typically found in Western Canada and west of the Mississippi River (in the U.S.), making sightings in Ontario relatively rare.”

The large bird of prey, named for 19th century British naturalist William Swainson, is known to undertake one of the longest annual migrations of any similar bird — in some cases making the 11,000-kilometre journey from its breeding grounds in the Canadian west to the grasslands of South America, primarily Argentina.

As they travel, the hawks are known to soar in large kettles (the collective noun), according to the experts, presenting a spectacular and oftentimes “mesmerizing” visual for anyone watching.

Falcon Environmental wildlife manager Keith Everett recently came across a Swainson’s hawk at Toronto Pearson Airport, a rare sight in this part of Canada. (Photo: Toronto Pearson Airport X)

Toronto Pearson Airport said in a post to social media that earlier this spring, Falcon Environmental wildlife manager Keith Everett found the hawk in one of the wildlife management enclosures on airport property.

“Before being released, the hawk was fitted with a band so researchers can track its migration patterns in the wild,” airport officials added.

Falcon Environmental, a North American leader in management of nuisance wildlife at airports and landfill sites, has used other types of birds of prey at Pearson since 1999 to help keep the airport clear of smaller birds that can endanger planes in motion.

Leading the team of large birds is Ivan, a 26-year-old bald eagle who’s been on patrol at Pearson since 2001 when he joined the wildlife management team. He weighs seven pounds, making him the largest of the airport’s birds, and can reach speeds of over 50 km/h in normal flight and more than double that speed when diving.

Dozens of bird species in addition to an array of other wild animals call Pearson Airport and surrounding area, which includes Etobicoke Creek, home.

Ivan, a 26-year-old bald eagle, has been on duty at Pearson Airport since 2001. (Photo: Pearson Airport X)