Wayward oriole flying to B.C., via Air Canada

OTTAWA — A Bullock's oriole that landed in eastern Ontario in 2015 will finally be flying home to British Columbia — by plane.

The little western bird drew national attention when she arrived in Packenham, Ont., in December 2015 — likely after being blown off her migration course.

Birdlovers flocked to witness the rare sighting. Ray Holland found the oriole in bad shape under a tree and brought it to the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre in January 2016. The female bird was diagnosed with dehydration, weakness and hypothermia and had lost a toenail to frostbite. A few months later, after the bird had recovered, efforts were started to get it home, but because it had begun to molt, its return had to be postponed.

The Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre said the oriole’s longawaited journey home on an Air Canada flight was set to begin this morning at Ottawa airport.

Air Canada employee Dave Starke will accompany the oriole to Vancouver and the airline has secured her a spot in the passenger cabin. It’s hoped the bird will be released after a week or so, at which point it will fly itself to the southern U.S. or northern Mexico, its native wintering grounds.

Bullock’s orioles are found in the southernmost part of B.C. and Alberta, but their main range is in the U.S.