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
A Canadian Birding & Nature blog brought to you by Urban Nature Store
Now that warmer weather is finally here, I would like to offer some tips on making your yard an inviting
Spring is here and if you’re a bird that means one thing: it’s nesting season. With their migrations complete, birds
In the next few weeks, Ontario will experience an explosion of bird activity with tens of millions of migrants pouring
Orioles and hummingbirds are welcome visitors to our yards and gardens in the spring, and will be arriving soon! We
It is time to get ready for new tenants to set up for the season. If you have not cleaned
Have you heard your first red-winged blackbird yet? Conk-la-reee… a sure sign that spring is truly on its way. I
There is no doubt about it now, we are well on the road to spring bird activity. We will have
While we anxiously await the official arrival of spring, birds have already set the ball in motion. Bird song is
Did you know that February is National Bird Feeding Month? In 1994 US Congressman John Porter from Illinois acknowledged
How do birds make it through our Canadian winter on days when even we have a hard time being outside?
All European Starlings in North America descended from 100 birds set loose in Central Park New York in 1890. This
This is the time of year when observers of all types, from feeder watchers to experienced birders grab their binoculars
Exciting News! Beginning on December 31, we will be starting our Backyard Winter Birdscape Contest. This contest will run until
Brief periods of snow and cold are becoming more regular with each passing week. The birds have noticed it as
This fall we have been fortunate to enjoy lovely weather throughout the month of October and now well into November,
Variety is the spice of life and when it comes to birds, having more than one type of seed on
Fall days continue to be beautiful with colourful leaves and warm weather lasting well into the month. As we continue
Have you noticed an increase in activity in your yard lately? If you have, some of thatis likely related to
Many of us wonder how birds know when to migrate and are concerned that if we leave certain feeders out,
Songbirds are heading south, and in a few weeks, many will have left the province. Already most of the swallows
Your greatest tools for birding might be your ears The essential tools for birding are a field guide, a set
They are often simply called sandpipers but to birders they represent several families of shorebirds. While the familiar Killdeer and
Some of you may have heard about a disease that has killed many birds throughout eastern parts of the USA.
Birding is beautiful in its simplicity: all you need to do is go for a walk, or look out the
Have you ever watched a kingfisher on the hunt? The bird will often perch high above the water on a
Everyone loves the American Goldfinch, nicknamed the ‘wild canary’. Not only are these finches brightly coloured, they have a bubbly
How many of you sit out in the evening watching to see which birds are the last ones coming to
Blended families are not only found among people. This family of Wood Ducks has a surprise duo of Hooded Mergansers.
Observing birds from your kitchen or living room window is one of life’s great pleasures for a birder, and the
Couers deTournesol, Sonnenblumenherzen, Cuori di girasole, no matter how you say it, Sunflower Hearts are the favourite seed of birds
This is a critical time of year for birds because their energy must be focused on the next generation. Whether
The birds of spring and summer are here to join our feathered friends we enjoy feeding year round. Perhaps you’re
With summer conditions already upon us, our smallest birds are busy enjoying the bounty of fresh nectar-bearing flowers with even
It’s never too early to get the little humans in your life excited about birds. For all of the time
Warblers are among the high points of spring migration. These small birds of about three dozen species flit about the
In recent weeks we’ve added spring song to our outdoor experience and now comes the colour. Keeping pace with the
The month of May is like Christmastime for birders. Migration is in full swing and we’re seeing our tropical coloured
The winter of 2020 and the winter and spring of 2021 have seen unprecedented numbers of Pine Siskins. The reason
You may have noticed that mornings sound livelier as new songbirds arrive with each passing week. We have been serenaded
Anytime is a good time to start the hobby of bird feeding. The warm weather of spring and summer offer
We are well on the way, with spring birds appearing everywhere, while those that have been with us over the
Beautiful songbirds are on their way from their wintering grounds to their breeding grounds. Some have already arrived such as
Have you heard your first red-winged blackbird yet? Conk-la-reee… a sure sign that spring is truly on its way. I
Did you hear that? We may be in the deepest part of the winter but don’t tell that to the
How is everyone getting through this Covid-19 winter? Perhaps you’re finding new hobbies or resurrecting old ones. Maybe this includes
Do birds really need the food we offer at our feeders to survive? The truthful answer is no when it
Suet is a smart addition to winter bird feeding if you’re not offering it all year. There are many different
Following up on our earlier story of redpolls, these Chickadee-sized birds have been spending the last six weeks feeding almost
Back in December, some rural parts of the province were treated to flocks of Snow Buntings. These birds of open
While many Canadians would prefer to be swimming in the tropics right about now, who would have thought that some