Tag: Urbannaturestore
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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…
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WELCOME BACK JUNCOS!
Fall days continue to be beautiful with colourful leaves and warm weather lasting well into the month. As we continue to enjoy watching migrating birds in the skies and at our feeders as they make their way south, be on the lookout for our ‘snowbirds’ returning from the north. A good friend of mine told…
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It’s Sparrow Time
Have you noticed an increase in activity in your yard lately? If you have, some of thatis likely related to a variety of sparrows that are currently making their way south.They aren’t in a hurry and may stick around for days or even a couple of weeks. There are plenty of White-throated Sparrows, with juveniles…
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How do Birds Know When to Migrate?
Many of us wonder how birds know when to migrate and are concerned that if we leave certain feeders out, such as hummingbird feeders, the birds will be encouraged to stay. This simply isn’t true, so let me tell you how birds that we have enjoyed over the spring and summer months know it’s time…