Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves – and a partridge in a pear tree!
Despite the snow and blustery weather, birds abound at this time of year – beyond the turkey that graces so many holiday tables.
Look outside and you’ll find a range of species, nestled in the evergreens or congregating on berry-laden shrubs: Black-capped chickadees, Blue Jays, Cedar waxwings, Northern Cardinals in their duller winter plumage, and even the occasional Snowy Owl, down from the north. And of course, wild turkeys, reintroduced to Ontario in 1984, which can often be seen scrabbling for food in farmers’ fields.
Over the winter break, why not get to know more about your feathered neighbours?
. Take a winter walk, and keep eyes and ears open. Bring along a simple Bird Guide, if you are a novice – or download a Bird ID app on your smartphone, like Merlin Bird ID for Android, developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and available at the Google Play Store, or the Audubon Birding App.
. Participate in the 120th Audubon Christmas Bird Count, 2019-2020. Counts are taking place in locations across North America, between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5. On Dec. 27, birders and enthusiasts were out, identifying species in local woods or in their backyards.
. Set up a bird feeder in your backyard, to bring the birds to you. Black-oil sunflower seed, high in energy and with a thin shell that is easy to break, will attract the most species - including Nuthatches, Finches, and Cardinals. Striped sunflower is cheaper, but the shell is harder to break, though it still attracts Blue Jays, Cardinals and some woodpeckers. Black Nyjer attracts the smaller finches, including Common redpolls and Pine siskins. Avoid the cheap mixes, which are more suited to poultry than to wild birds. And unsalted peanuts? They’ll attract Blue Jays and Nuthatches, but also squirrels.
. Why not make a simple suet feeder, to hang in the backyard? Suet is beef fat, and a number of birds will use it as an energy source over the winter – including Black-capped chickadees, Nuthatches, Wrens and Woodpeckers. While commercial feeders can be purchased, there’s a simple craft the kids might enjoy this winter: making their own Pine Cone feeder. Take a large pine cone. Attach a string, wire or pipe cleaner as a hanger. Use a spatula to pack the cone with suet or peanut butter. Roll in a wild bird seed mix that includes black-oil sunflower seeds. Make sure the seed is well-packed, and roll again. Hang from a branch – close enough to be watched from a window, but not so close that a bird in flight could strike the window pane. Can’t find any pine cones? Craft stores usually have some available at this time of year.
. In fact, why not decorate a Christmas tree for the birds? Find a tree in your yard, and decorate it with Pine Cone feeders, strings of popcorn or cranberries, whole apples or apple slices, even toast cut into shapes and covered with peanut butter and raisins. A present for your feathered friends!
