Tag: canadawildbirding
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Spring is in the Air
There is no doubt about it now, we are well on the road to spring bird activity. We will have unsettled weather for the rest of the month but the trend has been broken and birds will take full advantage of it. In the past few weeks, a small movement of Pine Siskins and Common…
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New arrivals
While we anxiously await the official arrival of spring, birds have already set the ball in motion. Bird song is noticeable, with Cardinals, chickadees and nuthatches actively calling. Downy Woodpeckers are drumming away to proclaim territory and a variety of resident species are pairing up for the season ahead. There are other signs too. Some…
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NATIONAL BIRD FEEDING MONTH
Did you know that February is National Bird Feeding Month? In 1994 US Congressman John Porter from Illinois acknowledged February as the toughest month for birds to survive, and wanted to make the public aware of this. He was determined to educate people about bird feeding and bird watching. There are many things you…
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Brrr It’s Cold!
How do birds make it through our Canadian winter on days when even we have a hard time being outside? Just like people, birds will shiver to stay warm, using the rapid tightening and expansion of the muscles to heat the body. They also fluff their feathers, trapping air that will gradually warm the body.…
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EUROPEAN STARLINGS
All European Starlings in North America descended from 100 birds set loose in Central Park New York in 1890. This was done by Shakespeare enthusiasts who wanted to have all birds mentioned by Shakespeare in America. Well, they succeeded with the starlings. There are now more than 200 million of this species ranging from Alaska…
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Who’s Counting?
This is the time of year when observers of all types, from feeder watchers to experienced birders grab their binoculars and start counting. They are participating in a tradition that goes back to 1900 when a handful of people at 25 locations in North America, including two in Canada (Toronto was one of them) engaged…
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TURNING YOUR BACKYARD INTO A WINTER BIRD HAVEN
Exciting News! Beginning on December 31, we will be starting our Backyard Winter Birdscape Contest. This contest will run until March 14th. We’re not looking for a perfectly staged space with expensive and beautiful feeders, we’re looking for practical items you have put in your yards to help birds stay healthy throughout the winter months. …
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Winter Preparations
Brief periods of snow and cold are becoming more regular with each passing week. The birds have noticed it as well because fall migration is over for songbirds. A handful of lingerers include the odd Gray Catbird, Fox and Chipping Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and even a late warbler. Birds like the juncos and Tree Sparrows…
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Winter is Coming – What Can I do to Help the Birds?
This fall we have been fortunate to enjoy lovely weather throughout the month of October and now well into November, but we all know this won’t last. So how can we set up our yards to help our feathered friends get through the winter? Let’s think about what seed we should be offering. Providing birds…
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What’s for Dinner?
Variety is the spice of life and when it comes to birds, having more than one type of seed on the menu will increase your chances of appealing to a broader range of species. Topping the list is of course sunflower seed. If you can only have one type of seed, this will appeal to…