A Splash of Colour
The spring fashion show has birders gazing in awe at the variety of bright colors that have appeared in our
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
Mother’s Day is coming soon! Did you ever think of helping our mother birds as they begin to raise their
The Breeding Season Has Begun
When birds return from the South, they don’t waste any time establishing a territory and preparing for the hectic breeding
The Green-winged Teal
On a sunny Saturday afternoon my phone buzzed on the table. It was a notification telling me that a Green-winged
COMING SOON TO A FEEDER NEAR YOU – ORIOLES AND HUMMINGBIRDS!
These beauties are on their way back from their wintering grounds and will be arriving over the next couple of
The Winds of Change
We are in a time of transition when the weather doesn’t seem to know what it wantsto do. We still
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
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
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
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.
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
Winter Waterfowl
At this time of the year the pickings can be pretty slim for birders. Our regular feeder birds do not
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
Special Visitors
Once winter sets in, we may find ourselves entertaining local birds that might otherwise appear only infrequently. A favourite is
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
They’re Back!
Some lucky feeder operators in Ontario are enjoying our very colourful Evening Grosbeaks once again. In 2020 there was a
What Does an Irruption Year Mean?
Have you ever heard this term among birders and wondered what it means? According to Project Feeder Watch it is
Fall Activity
Have you noticed new arrivals in recent days? White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows as well as Dark-eyed Juncos are showing up
Bird Identification Simplified
So many of us have looked at a bird and had no idea what it was, or heard the name
5 Amazing Facts About Bird Migration
Animals can do some pretty incredible things, but perhaps no feat in the animal kingdom is more spectacular than the
TIPS TO HELP BIRDS DURING MIGRATION
The month of September brings our attention to many species of birds migrating to their winter destinations. Raptors, shorebirds, waterfowl,
Moving in Silence
A major difference between spring and fall migration is the sound. In the fall there isn’t much to hear. Songbirds
UNDERSTANDING BINOCULARS
Birdwatchers love to have a good pair of binoculars. They can enhance our viewing experience allowing us to view birds
Birding tips for condo dwellers
Just because you don’t have a backyard doesn’t mean you can’t still observe avian life from the comfort of your
Getting Ready
It may be hard to believe but some birds are getting ready for the trip south. It doesn’t happen in
Welcome to Summer
If you had the schedule birds do – up at the crack of dawn, spend the entire day searching for
How do birds parent?
All birds lay eggs, but aside from that their parenting styles are as varied as can be. From building a
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
Migration is Winding Down
The last of the songbird migrants are arriving. Some warblers, orioles, hummingbirds and thrushes have already made an appearance but
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
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
Spring Song
In the next few weeks, Ontario will experience an explosion of bird activity with tens of millions of migrants pouring
TIPS ON ATTRACTING ORIOLES AND HUMMINGBIRDS
Orioles and hummingbirds are welcome visitors to our yards and gardens in the spring, and will be arriving soon! We
Move in Time
It is time to get ready for new tenants to set up for the season. If you have not cleaned
Migration is Underway!
Have you heard your first red-winged blackbird yet? Conk-la-reee… a sure sign that spring is truly on its way. I
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
New arrivals
While we anxiously await the official arrival of spring, birds have already set the ball in motion. Bird song is
NATIONAL BIRD FEEDING MONTH
Did you know that February is National Bird Feeding Month? In 1994 US Congressman John Porter from Illinois acknowledged
Brrr It’s Cold!
How do birds make it through our Canadian winter on days when even we have a hard time being outside?
EUROPEAN STARLINGS
All European Starlings in North America descended from 100 birds set loose in Central Park New York in 1890. This
Who’s Counting?
This is the time of year when observers of all types, from feeder watchers to experienced birders grab their binoculars
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
Winter Preparations
Brief periods of snow and cold are becoming more regular with each passing week. The birds have noticed it as
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,
What’s for Dinner?
Variety is the spice of life and when it comes to birds, having more than one type of seed on
WELCOME BACK JUNCOS!
Fall days continue to be beautiful with colourful leaves and warm weather lasting well into the month. As we continue
It’s Sparrow Time
Have you noticed an increase in activity in your yard lately? If you have, some of thatis likely related to
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,
Fly by Night
Songbirds are heading south, and in a few weeks, many will have left the province. Already most of the swallows
How To Identify Birds by Sound
Your greatest tools for birding might be your ears The essential tools for birding are a field guide, a set
Backyard Dispatches 