Tag: birdwatching
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Moving in Silence
A major difference between spring and fall migration is the sound. In the fall there isn’t much to hear. Songbirds are moving through in good numbers with warblers, vireos, flycatchers, tanagers, orioles and others busily looking for insects so they can fatten up for the flight ahead, but they mainly do it in silence. You…
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UNDERSTANDING BINOCULARS
Birdwatchers love to have a good pair of binoculars. They can enhance our viewing experience allowing us to view birds in so much more detail. Maybe it’s time to upgrade your binoculars, but you’re intimidated by all the numbers and terms. Here is a breakdown of their meanings. Binoculars will have 2 numbers that are…
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Getting Ready
It may be hard to believe but some birds are getting ready for the trip south. It doesn’t happen in a rush like in spring and in fact extends over a period of months but once young are on their own there is nothing holding them or the adults back. They can move on whenever…
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Welcome to Summer
If you had the schedule birds do – up at the crack of dawn, spend the entire day searching for insects for your growing family with scarcely a pause and continue until the day ends – you’d be ready for vacation after just a few days. With chicks there is no such thing as feeding…
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How do birds parent?
All birds lay eggs, but aside from that their parenting styles are as varied as can be. From building a nest to incubating eggs to feeding chicks, male and female birds take on a huge variety of roles in nesting season. Here are some of the more interesting ones to watch out for this year.…
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HOW LONG ARE FLEDGLINGS DEPENDENT ON PARENTS
We will soon see baby birds (also called fledglings) appear with their parents at our bird feeders. Have you ever wondered how long the young are dependent on their parents after leaving the nest? After doing a little research, I’ve put together a list of common birds we see in our yards and gardens, and…
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Migration is Winding Down
The last of the songbird migrants are arriving. Some warblers, orioles, hummingbirds and thrushes have already made an appearance but they don’t all show up at once so new individuals will continue to trickle in. Traditionally we expect the final showing for warblers to be highlighted by species such as the Mourning Warbler and Blackpoll…
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TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL SUMMER BACKYARD BIRDING
Now that warmer weather is finally here, I would like to offer some tips on making your yard an inviting haven for our songbirds. The most important things to start with are clean feeders and bird baths. Bird feeders and baths can be cleaned with one part bleach or vinegar to 9 parts hot water.…
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How to Help Mommy Birds in the Spring
Spring is here and if you’re a bird that means one thing: it’s nesting season. With their migrations complete, birds have begun to settle into their warm weather habitats and prepare for the arrival of this year’s chicks. This means building nests, gathering extra food and keeping their young safe from predators until they’re ready…
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Spring Song
In the next few weeks, Ontario will experience an explosion of bird activity with tens of millions of migrants pouring in, songbirds in particular. Already we have seen Juncos, Song Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows and kinglets with many more to come. Prior to the waves of warblers, vireos and thrushes, we will be delighted with the…