Category: Birds

A very complex subject. 25% of our bird species are declining, and rapidly. Other species, such as waterfowl and raptors are increasing. Many, many factors from banning DDT to international agreements on bird breeding grounds have influenced bird populations.

At home, we have to realize one startling fact. Birds are starving to death. If you want to increase populations and save them from the brink of extinction you have to have food available. And lots of it – especially for migratory birds. Birds usually prefer their native berries since they have co evolved with these plants. However, there are some shrubs that our birds love that aren’t native.

I am referring to the currant family. We have purposely sought out the old heirloom black and red currants on farms that birds persistently visit. Now we have black currants ready. Remember, share the berry wealth. Or even better, every bush you plant for yourself plant one for our feathered friends. They will thank you for it.

Though the thermometer was at -25 yesterday, it was a good day to clean out the water access only wood duck boxes. We have to wait for the lake to freeze to get to the boxes. It is always a surprise when cleaning and resetting the boxes for spring occupation, what you will find.

Not all stories are happy. This unfortunate wood duck egg never quite hatched. We found some mice in fluffy wood rush nests and some even stranger occupants. A common grackle had built this huge twig nest and left 1 unhatched egg behind.

According to Bird Studies Canada, the Christmas bird count started in 1900. This makes the count the longest running Citizen Science project. In Canada, approximately 14,000 birders count over 3 million birds from December 14 to January 5. Data is collected by Birds Studies Canada to help create strategies to protect birds and their habitats. In conjunction with Audubon, a ‘Birds and Climate Change Report’ has evolved highlighting dangerous bird population trends and the need for conservation action.

It is easy to participate. Simply contact Bird Studies Canada to find a count near you. Counts may be done from the warmth of your home while watching bird feeders or hiking in the crisp winter weather observing fields for bird activity. Don’t forget to take photos and submit them to the Christmas Bird Count photo contest.

I’ll be donning on my favorite warm socks and traveling the trails.  My assistant, Runabout, will keep me company on our walks. It is a great way to enjoy the Christmas season.

This is the best year, so far, for having orioles come to the feeders. We estimate we have 30 – 40 northern orioles coming to feed on the grape jelly, daily, at the five feeders. We wanted to share some photos of the orioles gaping our trumpet vine.

You have to realize, northern orioles are regular consumers of nectar. In this area, they love trumpet vine. They do not feed like the hummingbirds but, rather, by gaping. They pierce the bottom of the flower and pry open the gap and rob the nectar from the flower. Unfortunately, the flower does not get pollinated since the orioles bypass the sexual parts.

So listen up to this incredible story. Last year, just as the orioles were fledging, we had 3 days where the weather got super cold and we had torrential rain. One baby oriole had just fledged from her nest and had been taught by her parents to come to our oriole feeder for grape jelly. We gave her the unimaginative name of Baby. Through those 3 days, we kept her alive, though she was soaked and chilled to the bone, by always having one well in the feeder filled with jelly. Still, the rain washed it away, almost immediately. Baby got into the habit of landing on the cement window sill and peer inside. Sometimes she would have to tap the window with her beak to get our attention. She would wait miserably for us to come out with the grape jelly and fill the feeder.

Our Baby made it and matured into a beautiful female oriole with a telltale brown smudge between her eyes. She migrated in the fall with all our blessings. We were sad to see her go but ever so glad our lives had intertwined with hers.

Well, today I was having coffee, and Baby came to the window sill and peered in. Yes, there was that telltale brown smudge between her eyes. Rick brought the grape jelly out and filled the feeder. She gobbled up the grape jelly and flew off.

It is going to be a great birding year!  If you, too, want to attract and feed orioles check out the orioles article.  Good luck.

When it is damp and cold outside it does not seem possible that spring migration is occurring all around us.  Already, we had our first Turkey Vulture arrive 2 weeks ago and the ponds are filling up with hooded mergansers and bufflehead ducks.  Believe it or not, we are avid birders, not just tree huggers,  and this time of year finds us scrambling to clean and repair our bluebird nesting boxes.  Just in time, our first male bluebird arrived yesterday.  To find out about the possibility of having bluebirds in your neighborhood check out the article on bluebirds.  Happy birding.

We have been busy laying fresh wood shavings in all the nesting duck boxes at Valens and Christie Lakes conservation areas.  It has been a challenging year to get to all the water accessible boxes since the ice has been unpredictable.  Hate to go for a polar swim!  Regardless of whether we are ready or not, the first pair of hooded mergansers have already arrived.  This year, we will be relocating  existing boxes to encourage better nesting results.