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
Birding Along the Shore
They are often simply called sandpipers but to birders they represent several families of shorebirds. While the familiar Killdeer and
Keeping Songbirds Safe from Disease
Some of you may have heard about a disease that has killed many birds throughout eastern parts of the USA.
How To Identify Birds by Sight
Birding is beautiful in its simplicity: all you need to do is go for a walk, or look out the
King of the Fishers
Have you ever watched a kingfisher on the hunt? The bird will often perch high above the water on a
Wild Canaries
Everyone loves the American Goldfinch, nicknamed the ‘wild canary’. Not only are these finches brightly coloured, they have a bubbly
Sunsets & Summer Nights
How many of you sit out in the evening watching to see which birds are the last ones coming to
Blending In
Blended families are not only found among people. This family of Wood Ducks has a surprise duo of Hooded Mergansers.
How to Make Your Garden Bird-Friendly
Observing birds from your kitchen or living room window is one of life’s great pleasures for a birder, and the
Sunflower Hearts, #1 on the Menu
Couers deTournesol, Sonnenblumenherzen, Cuori di girasole, no matter how you say it, Sunflower Hearts are the favourite seed of birds
Nesting Time
This is a critical time of year for birds because their energy must be focused on the next generation. Whether
What To Serve at the Bird’s Dining Table
The birds of spring and summer are here to join our feathered friends we enjoy feeding year round. Perhaps you’re
Spring is Humming Along
With summer conditions already upon us, our smallest birds are busy enjoying the bounty of fresh nectar-bearing flowers with even
How to get kids interested in birding?
It’s never too early to get the little humans in your life excited about birds. For all of the time
The Flood Gates Are Opening
Warblers are among the high points of spring migration. These small birds of about three dozen species flit about the
A Splash of Colour
In recent weeks we’ve added spring song to our outdoor experience and now comes the colour. Keeping pace with the
It’s a Full House!
The month of May is like Christmastime for birders. Migration is in full swing and we’re seeing our tropical coloured
Pine Siskins, Will they Stay or Will They Go?
The winter of 2020 and the winter and spring of 2021 have seen unprecedented numbers of Pine Siskins. The reason
Dawn Chorus
You may have noticed that mornings sound livelier as new songbirds arrive with each passing week. We have been serenaded
Beginners Guide to Bird Feeding
Anytime is a good time to start the hobby of bird feeding. The warm weather of spring and summer offer
Spring Activity Continues
We are well on the way, with spring birds appearing everywhere, while those that have been with us over the
Save Songbirds from Window Strikes
Beautiful songbirds are on their way from their wintering grounds to their breeding grounds. Some have already arrived such as
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
The Sounds of Spring
Did you hear that? We may be in the deepest part of the winter but don’t tell that to the
Let’s Share
How is everyone getting through this Covid-19 winter? Perhaps you’re finding new hobbies or resurrecting old ones. Maybe this includes
Do Feeders Save Lives?
Do birds really need the food we offer at our feeders to survive? The truthful answer is no when it
ADDITIONAL WAYS TO HELP BIRDS GET THROUGH THE WINTER
Suet is a smart addition to winter bird feeding if you’re not offering it all year. There are many different
Common Redpolls Have Made Their Move
Following up on our earlier story of redpolls, these Chickadee-sized birds have been spending the last six weeks feeding almost
Canada’s Snowbirds Are Heading South!
Back in December, some rural parts of the province were treated to flocks of Snow Buntings. These birds of open
Winter Vacation
While many Canadians would prefer to be swimming in the tropics right about now, who would have thought that some
Delightful Winter Visitors
Ontario residents are starting to notice redpolls in their travels. These Chickadee-sized songbirds from the north are winter visitors that
A GOOD YEAR… for birds
The year of 2020 certainly hasn’t contained the word good due to COVID. If you enjoy watching birds it has
Sex, Hiking and COVID-19
It may be an urban myth, but there’s wide-spread belief that during or in the aftermath of crises, such as
Snowbirds
You know winter can’t be far off when the Snow Buntings show up. These Arctic travellers are the true Canadian
A NEW VISITOR!
Look who has joined the backyard dining table, the Evening Grosbeak! Many customers have told us that they are thrilled
Evening Greedy
Imagine the surprise experienced by some backyard birders in recent days when their feeders were inundated by a flock of
Little Brown Birds
A family of birds that tends to rank lower on our list of favourites is the sparrows. These small songbirds
The Exodus is in Full Swing
Fall migration is an exciting time for bird watchers. Millions of birds are on the move, heading to winter homes.
Blue Jays Are Heading South
What’s going on with all the jays? Flocks of these daytime flying birds have been migrating as a significant number
Migration is Underway
Fall is almost here and migration is well underway. It’s time to make sure our feeders are kept full to
Let’s Stay Calm…
We’ve got this… let’s all take a step back and go for a walk. Everyone take a deep breath. Okay,
WATCH THE BIRDS – IT’S GOOD FOR YOU!
Did you know that taking time to watch the birds is actually good for you. Studies have shown that it
PROVIDING WATER FOR BIRDS IN THE WINTER
This is a good time to think about how to provide water for your backyard feathered friends during the upcoming
Backyard Dispatches 