Tag: canadawildbirding
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A New Suet Feeder Delivers Instant Results
Suet is a high-energy food I’ve offered at my feeders for many years. I’ve enjoyed watching woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, and even Carolina Wrens cling to the various styles of feeders I’ve tried over the years. It’s important to note not all suet is created equal. In my early years of backyard bird feeding, I thought I…
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It’s All About Spring!
We’ve changed our clocks giving us that extra hour of daylight, and spring officially arrives next Monday. Even though winter hasn’t been too bad this year, the majority of us are all looking forward to spring. Spring also invites beautiful songbirds as migration progresses through the coming months. The red-winged blackbirds always lead the way…
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Are You Ready for Spring?
Depending on where you live, the landscape may already look like spring. Some regions have minimal snow cover while others still have a heavy blanket of white. Whichever applies to your area, it is important to keep your feeders stocked until insects are present in increasing abundance. For those that don’t feed in the warmer…
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A Dole of Mourning Doves
Since the beginning of February I have had larger than normal flocks of mourning doves congregating at my bird feeders. This morning I counted, or tried to count, just over 40 of them. Various names for these large flocks include a cote, dole, bevy, flight or piteousness of doves. Mourning doves enjoy feeding from platform,…
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Will it be an Early Spring?
It may be hard to believe but spring is on the way. Of course, there will be cold snaps and snowstorms in the weeks ahead but some birds can’t wait and are excited for what is to come. Backyard birders will be the first to notice the change and it will be in the form…
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Winter Waterfowl
At this time of the year the pickings can be pretty slim for birders. Our regular feeder birds do not change much and a walk through the parks or woodlands may produce limited results. One area that will still have birds though is open water, especially along Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and fast flowing rivers.…
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BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER!
Now that we’re into the cold months of winter you might be noticing small flocks of chickadees, goldfinches and cardinals in trees or shrubs, or arriving at your feeders in larger than normal groups. There were 8 male cardinals in a small tree in the field behind our house today with some females too! During…
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Special Visitors
Once winter sets in, we may find ourselves entertaining local birds that might otherwise appear only infrequently. A favourite is the Tufted Titmouse, a chickadee cousin that has a prominent crest and a boisterous, rapidly repeated song ‘Peter-Peter-Peter’. It is normally not as friendly as chickadees, which can often be hand fed. Never common, it…
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CHRISTMAS WISH LIST FOR YOUR BACKYARD FRIENDS
It’s time for our annual Christmas wish list for the birds. If you would like to give a gift to your feathered friends… or squirrels, here are some ideas for you! Blue Jays – Peanut ring and a bag of whole peanuts. Cardinals – Sky Cafe with a serving of safflower. Chickadees – Droll Yankees…
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They’re Back!
Some lucky feeder operators in Ontario are enjoying our very colourful Evening Grosbeaks once again. In 2020 there was a movement that saw birds in a number of locations but last winter was not as good. While small flocks showed up in 2021, most moved on. This year thousands have descended from the boreal forest…