Category: UNS Birding Blog
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Understanding Bats
There are over 1200 species of bats worldwide. Bats are found in every country of the world except the Antarctic. Seventeen of these are found in Canada each year. Bats are the only mammal that can fly. Their wings resemble a human hand with four elongated fingers and a thumb. Scientists have used the Greek…
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Solutions For Keeping Bully Birds Away From Your Feeders
‘How do I keep bully birds away from my feeders?’ This is a question I often hear from our customers. Some of these birds are here all year and some will be migrating back to their breeding grounds this spring. House Sparrows, Starlings, Mourning Doves, Grackles and Pigeons can fall into this category. These birds…
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Jane’s Deck of Birds- Red Winged Blackbird
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS ‘Conk-la-ree’, ahhh, the sound I listen for at this time of year. A true sign that spring is on the way is hearing the song of the Red-winged Blackbird. They are one of the first songbirds to migrate from their winter destinations in the Southern US back to Canada. Male Red-winged Blackbirds arrive…
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Jane’s Deck Of Birds – Dark Eyed Junco
Often referred to as our ‘Snow Bird’, the Dark-eyed Junco is another one of our winter visitors. In the late fall Junco’s will migrate from their breeding grounds across Northern Canada and Alaska south into Southern Canada and the US. Juncos vary in colour depending on what region they are in, but the Dark-eyed Junco…
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Jane’s Deck Of Birds – American Tree Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow The American Tree Sparrow is a medium-sized sparrow also known as the Winter Sparrow. They spend the winter months in southern Canada and the US. You can distinguish this sparrow from other sparrows by looking for the small dark spot on their grey chest. They have a grey face with a rusty…
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Jane’s Deck of Birds – American Goldfinch
American Goldfinch Goldfinches are a favourite backyard bird found throughout southern Canada, the US and down into Mexico. You can tell spring is coming when you see the males turning back to their bright yellow colour. American Goldfinches are the only finch who molt their feathers twice a year, once in late winter and again…
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Jane’s Deck of Birds – Canada Geese
CANADA GEESE – DID YOU KNOW? During the fall and winter I have been observing very large flocks of Canada Geese flying in their V formations just before sunset. The reason they fly at this time of day is to avoid predators, such as hawks and eagles. Geese can be very aggressive on the ground…
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Jane’s Deck of Birds- Red Breasted Nuthatch
Red-Breasted Nuthatch Red-Breasted Nuthatches are friendly little songbirds. They are 4 1/2 inches long with a blueish- grey back and pale orange belly. They have a black stripe over their eye, a white eyebrow and a thin grey slightly upturned bill. The male has a shiny black stripe on his head, whereas the female’s is…
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Helping Birds in the Winter
Winter bird watching is very enjoyable as they are so much easier to see. There are few things as beautiful as a cardinal in a snow covered tree or bush. There are many things you can do to help our feathered friends at this time of year. By providing food, water, and shelter you will…
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Jane’s Deck of Birds – Purple Finch
Purple finches are delightful birds that we are able to enjoy during the winter months… most years. They can move erratically from year to year, but this year they have been regular visitors to the GTA. Roger Tory Peterson described the male as a “sparrow dipped in raspberry juice”. Females and first-year males have brown heads with…