Northern Cardinals: How To Attract Them In 4 Easy Steps

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Northern Cardinals are a welcome addition to any yard. These four steps have resulted in success in attracting them to my yard.

Northern Cardinals are one of the most recognized birds throughout their range and a favourite backyard visitor of many. Cardinals are often the bird homeowners most wish to attract when placing a feeder in their yard.

This winter I regularly have a dozen cardinals visiting my feeders at the same time providing an incredible sight. To entice cardinals to my yard I have implemented a few simple measures to make my landscape more enticing. Attracting cardinals is quite simple if you follow these four easy steps.

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Cedars provide shelter from the elements and predators making them a perfect tree for attracting cardinals.

Provide Adequate Habitat

Northern Cardinals prefer a habitat consisting of dense thickets that provide cover. If your yard is void of this type of vegetation, add a few trees and shrubs. I know what you are thinking, “Trees take years to grow, and I won’t see cardinals for decades.” By carefully choosing which species to plant the benefits will be reaped much sooner. Fortunately, cardinals tend to hide low to the ground, which means large mature trees are not required to attract cardinals.

Two of my favourite native species which provide great cover for cardinals are Red Osier Dogwood and Eastern White Cedar. Both are readily available at area nurseries, are inexpensive to purchase, and as is the case with all plants native to our area are extremely easy to grow even if you lack a green thumb.

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Female Northern Cardinal perched in the safety of a dense thicket.

Fruit from the Red Osier Dogwood is consumed by over 100 bird species in Ontario making it my favourite native shrub. Since introducing this species to my landscape several years ago, I have seen an increase in the variety of birds visiting my yard and an increase in the number of cardinals. This plant is incredibly hardy and does best in full sun to part shade. An incredibly versatile shrub, it can tolerate dry conditions but will also grow in standing water.

Red Osier Dogwoods are fast growing reaching a maximum height and spread of 12 feet in only a few years. Dogwoods are easily pruned if a smaller shrub is more suited to your yard. Comprised of multiple stems, Red Osier Dogwoods provide excellent shelter to a multitude of songbirds including the cardinal. The deep red branches add a beautiful element of colour to any landscape, especially during the winter months when colour is absent from most yards.

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Female Northern Cardinal

When searching for a cedar tree, make sure you purchase an Eastern White Cedar. Emerald Cedars are often sold in mass quantities at every garden centre, home improvement store, and just about any other retailer selling live plants come spring. The reason to avoid these trees is their foliage is too dense denying birds access to the inner branches, thus providing no shelter at all. The Eastern White Cedar’s drooping branches and dark green foliage provide protection from the elements and predators not to mention the perfect location to construct a nest.

Tolerant of some shade, the Eastern White Cedar can reach a height of 50 feet and prefers moist soil. These trees can be purchased at area garden centres as 3 to 4-foot specimens, sufficient size to attract cardinals. Like the Red Osier Dogwood, Eastern White Cedars can be topped and pruned to contain their size and make beautifally dense hedges the perfect cover for birds. 

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Regardless of time of year, a source of fresh water will attract more cardinals.

Add A Water Source 

Fresh water is an excellent way to attract more birds and is an even bigger draw than food as not every yard has a water source. Water can be offered in various ways, from a simple dish to an elaborate water feature. Bird baths are one of the most common ways to provide water as birds can both drink and bathe. For the chilly winter months consider a heated bird bath to prevent the water from freezing.

Despite frigid temperatures across our region during winter months, birds still need to bathe as feather maintenance is vital to their survival. A heated bird bath will certainly attract more cardinals to your yard as this can be the unique feature that makes your yard more attractive than your neighbour’s.

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After clearing the seed ports of my feeders, cardinals will readily cleanup spilled seed from the ground.

Offer Their Two Favourite Seeds 

Cardinals will consume a wide variety of seeds, but they do have two favourties, sunflower, and safflower. Black oil sunflower seed is the most economical seed on the market and is consumed by all songbirds that frequent our area. If I could only have one type of seed to offer in my feeders, black oil sunflower would be my choice.

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Female Northern Cardinal and male House Finch feeding on black oil sunflower seeds in my Squirrel Buster Classic feeder.

If cleaning up shells from beneath your feeder is something you wish to avoid, hulled sunflower seed is the perfect choice. Hulled sunflower is simply black oil sunflower seed out of the shell. This is more of a premium seed and costs a bit more money due to processing costs, but will keep your lawn or patio much cleaner. Keep in mind that when buying a bag of hulled sunflower seed, you are only paying for seed and not the shells. A good portion of a 10-pound bag of black oil sunflower seeds is shell weight, so once this is factored in paying extra for hulled sunflower is easier to swallow, for you and the birds. 

Safflower seed is another great option for attracting cardinals. This white seed is a favourite of cardinals and is also consumed by Mourning Doves, House Finches, and Black-capped Chickadees. Another benefit of safflower seed is that it is less desirable to squirrels and blackbirds. If squirrels, Common Grackles, and European Starlings are a problem in your yard, try switching to safflower seed.

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Northern Cardinals prefer to feed on the ground. During the winter months be sure to keep the snow beneath your feeders packed down to provide these birds an added place to feed.

Choose The Right Feeder   

Northern Cardinals are ground-feeding birds by nature, so this is important to keep in mind when choosing a feeder. Cardinals prefer feeders with large perching areas.  

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Tray-style feeders are perfect for attracting Northern Cardinals.

A hanging tray feeder offers plenty of room for cardinals to land and is a great option. These feeders feature a mesh bottom made of metal which allows rain and snow to drain keeping the seed fresh longer. These can be hung from any pole system or shepherd’s hook and using a squirrel baffle will keep the squirrels from getting to the seed.    

Something to keep in mind when choosing a feeder is cardinals prefer to face forward when they feed. This is another reason tray feeders work so well. If however, a tray feeder is not what you are after then other great options exist. 

A hopper feeder that can be hung or pole-mounted will entice cardinals to feed. These feeders typically have a ledge or perch where cardinals can sit and feed or a large tray incorporated on the bottom, which makes them a great choice for cardinals. 

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This tube feeder with a large perch ring filled with black oil sunflower seed is a favourite combination of the cardinals that visit my yard.

Tube feeders are also great for attracting Northern Cardinals. Remember, cardinals like to face forward to feed so make sure the tube feeder you choose has large perches to accommodate this. Two excellent choices are Brome’s Squirrel Buster Plus and Squirrel Buster Classic. Both of these feeders are squirrel proof with the seed ports closing off under the weight of a squirrel. 

Choose the feeder style that is best suited for your yard and fill it with either sunflower, safflower or a mix of both. Remember to keep your feeder clean and the seed ports free of snow and ice during the winter months. 

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Attracting cardinals to any yard is simple by following the above-mentioned four easy steps.

At dawn, cardinals are often the first bird to arrive at a backyard feeder and the last to leave at dusk. Sometimes they can only be identified by their silhouettes and soft calls during these low-light conditions. Attracting cardinals to your yard is quite easy if you follow these four steps. If you lack cardinals in your yard, recognize which of these elements is missing and make a point of implementing them. By providing these necessities, I’m sure you will see an increase in the number of Northern Cardinals frequenting your yard.

Good birding,
Paul

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Finch Me I’m Dreaming

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Recently in central Ontario, Purple Finches could be seen everywhere!

Finch numbers in central Ontario have been pretty impressive this winter. I recently had the opportunity to experience this finch bonanza around Algonquin Park. When a house-sitting opportunity for friends who live in the area presented itself, I jumped at it. 

Not only would I be spending several days 15 minutes from the park, my friend’s property of 20-plus acres is home to an abundance of birds and wildlife not limited to the dog, chickens, and rabbits I’d be tending to. 

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This Going Green platform feeder by Woodlink filled with black oil sunflower seeds was a real hit with the finches.

My friends feed the birds in winter but I wasn’t sure what type of feeders they’d have out. I decided to pack a few of my favourites I knew would attract the wide variety of birds certain to be around their property. I took a hanging tray feeder, a No/No mesh seed ball, and a large tube feeder.  As far as seed goes, black oil sunflower and peanut halves would be on the menu.

Hanging these feeders was easy thanks to the abundance of Maple Trees. I used bungee cords looped over low branches to hang all three. The feeders were placed strategically in front of the large living room window so I could keep an eye on them while enjoying my morning coffee. 

The sounds of chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, and goldfinches echoed from the treetops. I anticipated it wouldn’t be long until something found one of my feeders. What happened over the ensuing days was incredible. 

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The No/No seed ball is so simple yet so effective.

The next morning, I poured a cup of coffee and sat looking out the large window. It was just getting daylight as the birds started to arrive. First, it was the goldfinches. Soon after Purple Finches followed and then Pine Siskins. The number of finches present at the feeders and surrounding trees was truly incredible.

I have never seen so many Purple Finches in my life. I can’t hazard a guess at how many of each species there were, but the total of the 3 varieties of finches was in the 100s! This continued for the duration of my stay and by the time I left was almost out of sunflower seed.  

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Evening Grosbeaks at the visitor’s centre feeder in Algonquin Provincial Park.

With so much finch activity happening right at my doorstep, I was a bit hesitant to venture into Algonquin Park. After all, I was afraid of missing out on the action. On this trip, I was hoping to see Evening Grosbeaks and crossbills. Since I hadn’t seen or heard any around the property where I was staying I figured the park was my best bet. 

The feeders around the visitor’s centre are a great place to see beautiful Evening Grosbeaks and decided to make this my first stop.  Before visiting the park feeders, I always look at the Algonquin Park Wild Bird Cam. Not only is this entertaining, by scrolling through the footage I can see when activity at the feeders is greatest. By doing this, I determined grosbeak activity at the feeders is best late morning and mid to late afternoon so timed my arrival accordingly. Sure enough after only a few minutes of waiting the colourful Evening Grosbeaks arrived.  

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Female Red Crossbill. Note how the upper and lower portion of the bill crosses, hence the name crossbill.

Next, I was off to Opeongo Road in search of crossbills. I had never photographed a crossbill before. In fact, I had only seen them at a distance through my binoculars so never appreciated their beauty and uniqueness. These birds are interesting in that their bill’s top and bottom portion cross, hence the name crossbill. This allows crossbills to open spruce, pine, and other cones to access the seeds, whereas other birds must wait for the cone to open naturally making the seed accessible. 

As I drove along Opeongo Road I could hear crossbills calling from the spruce trees on the far side of Costello Creek. To my delight, a pair of Red Crossbills were on the ground pecking at the road. Birds consume sand and grit from roadways to aid with digestion. Safely pulling over, I got out of my car and managed several images of these amazing birds. Despite not having finch in their names, Evening Grosbeaks and crossbills are large members of the finch family. 

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Male Red Crossbill

Opeongo Road is also a great location to observe a non-finch species, the Canada Jay. At the closed gate where the logging road starts there is a parking lot. Exiting my car here, I prepared to walk down Opeongo Road. I planned to go as far as the bridge over Costello Creek at Turtle Rock. After exiting the car, I noticed a Pine Marten in a tree.

Martens are in the same family as weasels and mink and are similar in appearance. However, Pine Martens tend to spend a considerable amount of time in trees making them more elusive. Parkgoers often feed the birds here and I’ve seen martens in the area before as they are accustomed to handouts. Happy with the images I captured of the marten, I carried on down the road. 

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Pine Marten

As I walked along, Purple Fiches, Pine Siskins, and Red Crossbills could be heard high in the trees. Purple Finches were by far the most abundant on this trip and were everywhere! Arriving at the bridge, I was greeted by several Canada Jays. These birds at this time of year are quite curious and often find you. I watched as these birds flitted among the trees and managed a few images when they paused briefly.

It was getting late in the day, and with an hour’s drive ahead of me it was time to get going. I needed to get back before sunset to close the chicken coop as keeping the livestock alive was most important. 

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Portrait of a Canada Jay taken on Opeongo Road.

If you are heading to Algonquin Park for the Family Day long weekend, Algonquin Park’s Winter in the Wild Festival is happening on Saturday, February 17 with indoor and outdoor events taking place throughout the park.

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Opeongo Road is a great place to observe the Canada Jay.

This trip to Algonquin Park and the surrounding area was the best finch activity I have ever experienced. Despite this winter’s weather not feeling overly wintry, winter finches in this part of the province have been abundant. 

If you are thinking of visiting this area to take in all the finch action don’t leave it too long. Finch numbers will slowly decrease as the breeding season approaches and the birds spread out.  Many will migrate back north to the boreal forest to breed. That said, there’s never a bad time to visit Algonquin. 

Good birding,
Paul         

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Provide Birds With Shelter By Adding A Roost Box To Your Yard

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Adding a roost box to your yard will provide small songbirds like the Tufted Titmouse shelter during harsh winter weather.

Roost boxes are an excellent addition to any bird lover’s yard. They are similar in appearance to a birdhouse but serve a different purpose altogether. Instead of building a nest inside and raising their young, birds use these boxes to provide shelter and warmth during winter and will often gather to share body heat. I’ve watched chickadees enter mine during freezing rain and heavy snowfalls. Birds also roost in them at night when temperatures plummet.

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When you look at a roost box you will notice the entrance hole is at the bottom, this is to prevent the warm air that rises inside from escaping. The inside of the box has staggered perches to accommodate more birds. Depending on the species and the size of the box multiple birds will use it to share body heat. Some species of birds that will seek shelter in these boxes are chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and wrens.

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Birds like this Carolina Wren already seek shelter in my cedar hedge, so mounting a roost box among the branches proved to be a perfect location.

Roost boxes should be mounted in a protected area out of prevailing winds. Some afternoon sunshine will help warm up the box, so it retains more heat. Facing the box to the south will also help the box gather heat. I have my boxes mounted among my cedar hedge for optimal cover.

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The hinged front allows for easy cleaning. Boxes should be checked and cleaned regularly.  Droppings can accumulate quickly if several birds use it.

The Urban Nature Store Wooden Winter Roost is currently the product of the month. As a special offer get a free 4lb bag of Sunflower Hearts with the purchase of this roost box.

If you know a bird lover with a winter birthday, this roost box makes a terrific gift!

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Chickadees are among the birds that will huddle for warmth in a properly placed box.

Cold weather is on the way, so if you want to do your part to help birds stay warm and survive the cold winter months, consider adding a roost box to your yard.

Good birding,
Paul

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Foil Those Squirrels Once and For All Regardless of What Feeder and Seed You Use

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Northern Cardinal feeding on black-oil sunflower seed.

Ask anyone who feeds the birds in their yard and most agree squirrels are their nemesis. For me, I realize everything must eat but I like the hard-earned money I spend on bird seed going to the birds, not the squirrels.  I have several different styles of feeders up in my yard as I like to have a feeder for everyone and attract as many birds as I can. I have several feeders from the squirrel buster line which work great and others outfitted with baffles and other squirrel deterrents. 

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Peanuts mixed with Treat Your Own Seed Saver offered in a ground feeder were enjoyed by blue jays and not touched by squirrels.

These feeders and products all work amazingly but do come with a few stipulations. A hopper feeder mounted on a pole with a baffle requires it be located far enough from a tree or fence that squirrels can’t jump to it.  Likewise, it is recommended a squirrel buster feeder be hung 18″ away from any foothold the squirrel can reach from forcing it to place all of its weight on the feeder which closes the seed ports as it is designed to do.  

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White-breasted Nuthatch at my peanut feeder.

Maybe you don’t want an elaborate feeder setup or have a heavily treed or narrow yard with a fence where the requirements of these feeders can’t be met. Then what? Well, I have found the solution! 

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Juncos have returned to Southwestern Ontario and are enjoying white millet in my ground feeder treated with Squirrel Proof Treat Your Own Seed Saver.

Earlier this year, I started adding Squirrel Proof Treat Your Own Seed Saver to my bird seed. When mixed with any birdseed this liquid adds a hot and spicy sensation birds love and squirrels hate. I must admit I was skeptical trying this product but at only $11.95 a bottle figured it was worth a try. To my delight, I found Squirrel Proof Treat Your Own Seed Saver worked. How this stuff works is it teaches or conditions squirrels to the association between the taste they don’t like and the smell of the food. This process can take a few weeks but I found the results to be almost instant in an area where Grey Squirrels and Red Squirrels are present.   

In the video below, I demonstrate how easy this product is to mix with peanuts before filling my feeder.  

 

This product is incredibly easy to use. On initial use add 3 to 4 tablespoons of seed saver to 1 pound of your favourite seed. Once squirrels are avoiding your feeder you can cut back to 1 to 2 tablespoons per pound. Each bottle of seed saver treats 35 lbs of bird seed. I use an old plastic coffee can with a snap-on lid to mix my seed as I can easily shake the container ensuring all the seed gets coated. 

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Northern Flicker feeding on peanuts halves at my 16″ metal feeder.

One of my favorite feeders is the 16″ metal peanut feeder. I have had great success over the years attracting woodpeckers, nuthatches, and Carolina Wrens to this feeder but have always hung it from a tree branch with an old wire coat hanger. Squirrels would always walk out on the tree branch and descend the wire easily accessing the peanut halves inside. Once I added the seed saver to the peanuts, the squirrels left the peanuts alone almost immediately. Not only was I happy this vitamin-enriched bird seed mix worked, but I also noticed an increase in birds using the feeder. Whether or not this was because the birds like the seed saver treated peanuts more than plain peanuts or the fact the squirrels previously occupying the feeder kept the birds away, only the birds know. 

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This Red-bellied Woodpecker enjoyed hulled sunflower seed from my hopper feeder.

Satisfied with the results, I started mixing the seed saver with hulled sunflower seed offered in a hopper feeder. Again, the results were the same lots of birds and no squirrels.  Another feeder I love is my ground feeder. As the name suggests, this feeder is popular with ground-feeding birds including cardinals, doves, and the more desired native sparrows including white-throated, white-crowned, and Dark-eyed Juncos. This feeder also attracts squirrels due to its easy ground access. Since adding seed saver to white millet and hulled sunflower in the ground feeder, no squirrels. I even tried adding treated peanuts halves to the ground feeder figuring this was a squirrel’s favourite food and easiest access and again no squirrels. I could finally watch all the amazing ground-feeding birds use this awesome feeder stress-free without worrying about squirrels emptying it in minutes. 

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Many birds like this White-crowned Sparrow prefer a ground feeder. Mixing Treat Your Own Seed Saver with my seed ensures I’m feeding the birds and not the squirrels.

As a bonus, but something I haven’t tried yet, once squirrels are conditioned to the smell of the seed saver it can be added to the base of potted plants or to mulch in your garden to keep squirrels from digging as the seed saver will not harm the plants. 

If you are looking to foil those squirrels once and for all, I highly recommend this incredible product!  

Good birding,
Paul         

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A New Birdhouse Leaves Me Feeling Nostalgic

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The iridescent blue feathers of the Tree Swallow are simply stunning. 

Building birdhouses is something I’ve always loved doing. The simple woodworking skills required to make a birdhouse were taught to me by my dad when I was a youngster. Together over the years we’ve made quite a few houses in his basement workshop and had a variety of birds nest in our creations. The feeling of seeing birds raise a brood in a house I’ve made with my own hands is truly amazing. One of the first houses I can remember building with my dad was a Tree Swallow house we attached to a tree on the front lawn at the family cottage. I can’t remember exactly how old I was when we made this house, but it’s safe to say it was almost 40 years ago.

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Tree Swallows are cavity nesters which means they will readily use a properly placed birdhouse of appropriate size.

When we first put this birdhouse up, Tree Swallows were abundant and took to the house that first spring. Every year for decades swallows used the house. As is the case with many aerial insectivores, Tree Swallow numbers have declined, not enough to have them listed as species at risk like other swallows in Ontario, but their numbers have dropped. This decline was evident as we noticed fewer Tree Swallows soaring over the lake catching insects with their beaks. What we also noticed was the birdhouse was no longer being used. 

Despite the lack of swallows, we left the birdhouse attached to the tree and kept our hopes up. That birdhouse certainly saw its fair share of wear and tear from the weather and over the years we resurrected it by adding a screw or nail here and there or a salvaged piece of wood to one of the sides. 

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This family of Tree Swallows s one of many over the years that fledged from this birdhouse I made with my dad when I was a child.

In recent years, Tree Swallows reappeared and became interested in the house again. A couple of years ago, while opening the cottage in early May a pair of Tree Swallows were checking out the house and perching on nearby branches. The front had cracked over the winter and the house was in no condition for the birds to use. I removed the house from the tree and carefully took off the front. With the front off I gave the inside of a good clean.  I found a narrow piece of wood in the boathouse and scabbed it on the front to hold the cracked piece together. After reattaching the front I mounted the house once again to the tree. As I did this, I was called inside for lunch. Leaving the ladder in front of the house, I went inside, washed up, and sat down at the table to eat my sandwich. As I ate, I noticed the pair of swallows going in and out of the house with the ladder only a few inches from the hole.  From then on, Tree Swallows have successfully raised a brood in successive years. 

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Tree Swallows can eat their body weight in flying insects including mosquitos every day, which equates to about 2,000 insects. Two adults plus four to seven offspring raised in a birdhouse makes evenings at the cottage a lot less buggy.

I decided it was time to replace that birdhouse and thought the end of the season after the swallows had migrated south when it was time to close the cottage would be the best time. Doing so would guarantee the house was ready for the swallows next spring when they return. I wanted to build the house myself but with other commitments, mainly a new puppy, I knew I wouldn’t have time. Therefore, I decided to order a tree swallow house from Urban Nature Store.

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I bought this birdhouse from Urban Nature Store to replace the one I built years ago with my dad.

Arriving only a few days after placing the order, I was extremely happy with the house when I opened the box. Made from eastern white pine and fastened together with brass screws the wood is treated with linseed oil to withstand the weather.  Another great feature is the front swings open for easy cleaning.  The new birdhouse has exactly the same dimensions as the one my dad and I made so many years ago and have had great success with. Not only is the 1.5″ hole the perfect size for tree swallows this box can also be used for Eastern Bluebirds. Houses I’ve built with these same dimensions and a 1.5″ hole have also been used by Carolina Wrens. 

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If you have Tree Swallows on your property, consider adding a birdhouse to offer them a place to nest.

I went to the cottage in mid-September to close it for the winter and hung this new birdhouse on the tree. I’m excited to return once again in May 2024 and hopefully see Tree Swallows using it.  Despite birds not nesting for several months, now is a great time to put up a birdhouse. Two of the key factors in a birdhouse being used are location and having it up when the birds are ready to use it. Often our intentions of adding a birdhouse in the spring are good, but life gets busy or we forget and therefore don’t have one out when the birds start nesting. If you are thinking about adding a birdhouse to your yard, I recommend doing it now. By doing so, the house can weather looking less new, and resident birds will become accustomed to seeing it.  In the case of migratory birds like the Tree Swallow, you are guaranteed the house will be ready for the birds when they return next spring. 

Good birding,
Paul      

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A New Inspiration For My Photographic Adventures

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Hulk is going to provide inspiration for me to get out with my camera and blog more regularly again.

As most of you know, my dog Molly was always my inspiration to get out with my camera. Having a large dog that needed plenty of exercise was the perfect excuse to get out hiking and I always took my camera along. Unfortunately, I had to say goodbye to Molly in April of 2022.  My time outdoors without Molly hasn’t been the same. While I have still enjoyed hiking and paddling, I haven’t enjoyed it as much. As a result, I have looked for every unreasonable excuse not to get out and found myself only really motivated to do so under perfect weather conditions. My passion for photography dwindled as you could probably tell by my lack of blog posts.

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Hulk’s first trip to the lake.

Something was missing on my adventures. What was missing was seeing that look of happiness on Molly’s face and that constant tail wagging. Molly was my inspiration. I realized the purpose of my outings is to make a dog happy and give it the best possible life imaginable, a life filled with adventures in the outdoors whether it be on land or water, and capturing images along the way to preserve the memories of these amazing times.   

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Hulk loves watching the birds in the backyard as much as I do and doesn’t chase them even when they are in this ground feeder.

 After a year and a half without Molly, I realized I needed a dog in my life and was starting to look for a puppy. I searched a few online ads and saw lots of cute puppies of various breeds that caught my eye, but nothing really spoke to me. I knew I wanted a large dog that would enjoy the water and also be good in cold weather as Molly taught me to embrace winter and I now love it. After looking briefly and with not a lot of seriousness I stopped searching. I always believed a puppy would come into my life when the time was right just like Molly did in 2010. 

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Getting Hulk comfortable with docks and water. This photo was taken seconds before he stepped off the end of the dock. I’m happy to report he did great on his first swim.

I’m excited to share a new puppy has found its way into my life just like Molly did. A few weeks ago, I saw a woman where I was camping walking a dog that looked similar to Molly with several puppies. I had to know about these puppies and was curious if any were available. Sadly, after asking lots of questions about the parents, puppies, etc., I was informed all the puppies were spoken for. 

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Hulk was pretty excited to be soaking wet.

Later that night around the campfire, while talking to a friend who also happens to work at the campground, I contemplated giving the woman my contact information in case someone backed out of a puppy. My friend thought this was a good idea; however, for reasons  I am not sure of I never gave the woman my info. 

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Hulk loves fetching a ball something I love in a dog. After only a day, he learned to bring it back and put it in my hand.

A few days later, the woman informed my friend that a puppy had become available. He told her I was interested and she remembered meeting me earlier that week. My friend told her about Molly and all our great adventures and the wonderful life she had. As it turned out, the woman wanted me to take the puppy as she wanted it to go to a loving home where it would have the best life possible. My friend informed me of this so I went to talk to the woman. 

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Hulk seems to like the water and loves his new ball.

I met both of the puppy’s parents.  Both dogs were gentle, affectionate dogs. The dad an Alaskan Malamute/Maremma Sheepdog cross and the mom a Labradoodle. As I contemplated whether or not to bring this puppy into my life I weighed the pros and cons and looked for signs a few of which were quite evident. This dog was coming to me by chance just like Molly did and she gave me the best 12 years of my life. Second, the puppy was named Hulk. Growing up, I was a huge fan of the TV show The Incredible Hulk with Lou Ferrigno and still idolize Lou to this day. I knew if I didn’t bring Hulk into my life I would have regrets. 

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Hulk shaking off after his first swim.

Long story short, I have a new puppy and inspiration to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.  Obviously, I kept the name Hulk. One of Hulk’s favourite things already is lying next to me while I sit and watch the birds at my feeder, his little head turning as the birds flit from feeder to feeder.  He and I instantly bonded! 

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There are going to be lots of games of ball in our future and I couldn’t be happier about it.

I feel happy again and in the short time I’ve had Hulk, I’ve enjoyed walking outdoors with him in all weather conditions.  I’m so excited to have a new best friend and new inspiration to get out every chance I can with Hulk and my camera. With more adventures with Hulk, I hope to blog more and share the stories and images of the wildlife we come across. Hulk is already so smart, well-behaved, and a kind, loving soul I’m looking forward to a lifetime of adventures with him. 

Buckle up little man, you’re in for a wild ride! 

Good birding,
Paul   

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Orioles Are On The Move: How To Attract These Beauties To Your Yard

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Baltimore Orioles are one of the more vibrant birds that regularly visit backyards. These colourful birds are easy to attract by offering their favourite foods.

The next big wave of migrants is set to descend on Southwestern Ontario. Included in this group will be the Baltimore Oriole. Orioles overwinter in the southern United States, Central, and South America returning each spring in late April or early May. Reports of these birds in our area are beginning to come in, so it is time to think about attracting them to your yard.

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The striking plumage of the male Baltimore Oriole is a welcome sight in any yard.

Feeding on insects, fruit, and nectar the Baltimore Oriole doesn’t visit your typical backyard feeder filled with seed; however, they will visit a feeder designed specifically for orioles. A nectar feeder, similar to those used for hummingbirds, is one of the more popular feeders used by homeowners to attract orioles to their yards. Since orioles have larger bills than hummingbirds, these feeders have larger ports for the birds to access the nectar.

Nectar can be made easily at home by mixing four parts water with one part sugar. In a pot, bring one cup of water to a boil on your stove. Add 1/4 cup of white sugar and stir as the sugar dissolves. Remove the mixture from the stove and allow it to cool before filling your feeder. Be sure to replace the nectar in your feeder regularly, especially in warmer weather.

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As is the case with most birds, female Baltimore Orioles are not as colorful as their male counterparts.

Oranges are another great option to offer orioles that visit your backyard. By placing either orange slices or halves around your yard, orioles will quickly move in to consume the fruit. Orange halves and slices can be stuck on tree branches, shepherd’s hooks, or anywhere the birds can access them. It has been my experience that squirrels too will eat oranges, so it is a good idea to place them in a location where these small mammals cannot access them. Commercial feeders designed specifically for offering oranges are also available at your local seed retailer.

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Regardless of which food you decide to offer orioles, make sure it is fresh. Nectar, oranges, and jelly all spoil faster than traditional bird foods, especially in warmer temperatures.

Grape jelly is another excellent food for attracting orioles to your yard. Be careful though, as not all jellies are created equal. Many grape jellies available at your local grocery store are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup and contain other artificial sweeteners and colours that offer no nutritional value and could potentially be harmful to the birds. Check the ingredients on the label and ensure that the grape jelly you buy is either unsweetened or sweetened with sugar only. If you are unsure, commercial jelly designed specifically for birds is available at your local seed retailer.

Grape jelly can be placed outside in a shallow dish, or again commercial feeders are available specifically for jelly. Some of these feeders are combination feeders, meaning they will accommodate oranges and jelly, or oranges, jelly, and nectar. Visit your local seed retailer to see the wide variety of commercial oriole feeders available. As is the case with nectar and oranges, replace the jelly regularly, especially in warmer weather. When replacing the food, whether it’s nectar, oranges, or jelly, clean the feeder at the same time. This too will ensure the health of the birds.

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Oriole sightings are being reported from around our area. If you haven’t already, add an oriole feeder to your yard and attract this stunning beauty.

Orioles are one of the more vibrant birds that will visit a backyard and are easy to attract. If you haven’t put your oriole feeder out yet, now is the time. If you don’t own an oriole feeder, I highly recommend adding one to your yard. These feeders are inexpensive to purchase and well worth the investment once you see that first flash of black and orange in your backyard.

Good birding,
Paul

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A New Suet Feeder Delivers Instant Results

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Carolina Wrens are among the many birds I enjoy watching on my new feeder.

Suet is a high-energy food I’ve offered at my feeders for many years. I’ve enjoyed watching woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, and even Carolina Wrens cling to the various styles of feeders I’ve tried over the years.

It’s important to note not all suet is created equal. In my early years of backyard bird feeding,  I thought I was saving a few bucks by purchasing suet from big box stores. As a result, I had minimal action at my feeder. Over the years, I learned inexpensive suet sold at these retailers contains a lot of filler, including milo. Milo is a seed not eaten by birds in eastern North America and is found in cheap seed and suet. As a result, for many years, I watched my suet hang with little activity, and I often ended up throwing it out, having wasted money rather than saving.

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The built-in tail prop on this feeder makes it easy for woodpeckers to balance.

I recently acquired a new suet feeder from Urban Nature Store. This feeder is made from recycled plastic, so it will withstand exposure to the elements and be easy to clean. This feeder is incredibly well-made with a strong wire hanger and fits a standard-size suet cake. The top of the feeder slides up the wire, making it a piece of cake (pun intended) to add the suet. This feeder also features a tail prop that helps the woodpeckers balance, like when clinging to a tree. 

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White-breasted Nuthatch

The suet I am offering in this feeder is insect and nut suet also obtained from Urban Nature Store. I love this suet for several reasons. First, it’s made right here in Ontario by Mill Creek Seed Co. Second, it’s high-quality, made from real insects, chopped peanuts, and beef fat. I’ve been using the Mill Creek brand for years (after realizing my error that where I buy my suet matters) with great success.

Within minutes of hanging this feeder, a Red-breasted Nuthatch was already feeding at it. This happened so quickly that I hadn’t even returned to the house. Now I will admit I have several other feeders in my yard and an established population of birds coming to feed regularly. That said, I have not offered suet this winter as I have limited the number of feeders in preparation for an upcoming move. 

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Carolina Wren (left) and Downy Woodpecker (right) feeding at this new feeder from Urban Nature Store.

On the first day I had this feeder out seven species had visited including:

  • Red-breasted Nuthatch 
  • White-breasted Nuthatch 
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker (my favourite bird)
  • Black-capped Chickadee 
  • Carolina Wren 
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This Red-breasted Nuthatch was the first bird to arrive on my new feeder.

This is the first time I’ve used a suet feeder with a tail prop, and it seems to make a huge difference, especially for the larger woodpeckers like the Hairy and Red-bellied. To say I’m impressed with this feeder would be an understatement, and my only regret is why I didn’t have this feeder years ago. I’m looking forward to more enjoyment watching the birds at this feeder and know I’ll have it for many years thanks to the high-quality construction. 

If you are in the market for a suet feeder, I highly recommend trying this one; I’m sure glad I did.

Good birding,
Paul 

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Family Day Birding Brings A Whirlwind Of Emotions

 

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This male Redhead presented amazing views from the platform at Greenway Park.

Unexpectedly, I ended up with the Family Day long weekend off work. Having just returned a few days prior from my winter getaway, I intended to work the three days to make up the lost hours. While my wallet will undoubtedly feel the pain, I can’t say I was overly disappointed as having just spent several days in nature I was still feeling the benefits and my desire to immerse myself in nature again was quite strong. 

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Over the Family Day long weekend, cardinals began singing their signature song.

I wavered quite a bit about where to go and had several locations in mind. I was leaning heavily toward Greenway Park as I have not been there much lately and this is my favourite park in the city for birding. After receiving a heads-up from a Facebook follower of a male Redhead present near the platform overlooking the river my mind was made up. 

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Cedar Waxwing reaching for a buckthorn berry.

On Saturday morning I made my way to the park shortly after first light. With the sun rising just over the trees I made the short walk from the parking lot to the platform overlooking the Thames River. Sure enough, just like I was told through Facebook, the male Redhead was swimming among all the Mallards only a few feet from shore. The morning sun illuminated the duck’s colourful plumage perfectly as I fired off several images.   

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Interestingly, a flock of robins was found in the same patch of buckthorn as this time last year.

Here’s where things started to get emotional. I was excited to have such close views of this beautiful duck and very appreciative of the woman who notified me through Facebook of the bird’s location. A sense of sadness came over me as the Redhead is my dad’s favourite duck and I wished he was there with me to experience it. I considered taking my dad with me but as he ages, he really feels the cold and this morning was rather chilly with a strong wind. Knowing Dad doesn’t do cold and windy anymore, sadly I made the decision not to bring him along. Dad and I have done a lot of birding, canoeing, and fishing on the Thames River over the years so lots of incredible memories came up on this day. 

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Whether on foot or in the canoe, Molly joined me on most of my birding outings. In this picture, she was fixated on a cow moose and its young calf.

Also heavily impacting my emotions was the fact it was Family Day weekend last year after enjoying the day outdoors with Molly I noticed a large lump on her front leg. The lump was diagnosed as osteosarcoma and she was given 6 to 8 weeks to live.  Like the trooper she was, Molly stayed with me another 10 weeks before the difficult but necessary decision was made to have her euthanized.  

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Molly was my best friend and companion so naturally, she got special treatment. When spending time by the campfire this included her own tent, therapeutic dog bed, sherpa blanket, and nightlight.

For those of you not aware, Molly was my dog, best friend, and number one birding companion. In fact, for most of the images I’ve shared, Molly’s leash was attached to my Cotton Carrier and she was right by my side. 

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This photo was taken on Molly’s final visit to Greenway Park.

I can’t tell you the number of days Molly and I spent at Greenway Park birding over the 12 years she was in my life. Greenway Park is where I got started in nature photography after a trip to the dog park with Molly when she was quite young revealed so many birds present highlighted by a Bald Eagle flyover. From that day on I spent as much of my free time as possible with Molly enjoying the great outdoors while practicing photography.

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Before Molly I hated winter. Her love of snow taught me how much fun winter is and now I love winter. After spring migration winter is my favourite season for birding.

Molly was my biggest motivator for getting outside with my camera. On days when I didn’t feel like going out, I couldn’t say no to her beautiful brown eyes so off we would go to Greenway. We had some amazing times there over the years and observed over 100 bird species in this park only a few blocks from downtown. Not too bad in a city with a population of over 400,000. I’ve found it challenging to motivate myself to get out over the last year without Molly and this is the reason I’ve been MIA from blogging over this time.   

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This male Downy Woodpecker presented a unique view. It’s not often they perch horizontally. 

After enjoying the sighting of the Redhead, I followed the path upstream and was treated to more great sightings. My favourite bird, the Red-bellied Woodpecker was seen high up in a willow tree and I managed to capture an image of a Downy Woodpecker as it paused briefly on an eye-level limb. This was one of several Downy Woodpeckers aggressively chasing each other presumably defending their territory

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Robins were observed drinking and bathing in the Thames River.

As I came to a patch of buckthorn, I could hear the soft calls of robins and high-pitched whistles of Cedar Waxwings. Scanning the trees, a mixed flock of these birds was feeding on the berries. Looking down at the river, more robins were seen drinking the water that was magnificently reflecting the blue sky. Despite barely passing art class in high school and only taking it as it was a required credit, I did learn orange and blue are complementary colours and love how robins look against a blue sky or water. I guess this answers the age-old question so often asked in school “when am I ever going to use this again”?

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I’ve always been fortunate to have Carolina Wrens in my backyard. These birds are very fond of peanut halves and peanut suet offered at my feeders.

Torn between staying at my favorite park and heading back home, I opted for the latter. The appeal of heading home was greatly influenced by some new feeders and seed I received from Urban Nature Store. I recently became a brand ambassador for Urban Nature Store and am excited to share my experiences with and promote their high-quality birding-related products and seed, some of which is made right here in Ontario! 

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White-breasted Nuthatch.

Still bundled up from my park outing, I carried my camera to the backyard. Under beautiful sunshine, the feeders and surrounding trees were filled with birds. I enjoyed the show put on by my feathered friends and captured several images. The warm sunshine felt great and I ended up spending the remainder of the day in the yard which no doubt helped me deal with my mixed emotions. John Denver nailed it when he sang sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy

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This picture of Molly and me was taken on our final walk. The lifejacket was so I could take the weight off her front leg if necessary. Whenever I crouched down to her level for a picture, she always saw it as an opportunity for a public display of affection.

Despite Family Day weekend bringing a whirlwind of emotions, one thing is certain, surrounding myself in nature made everything better. Enjoying the birds while reflecting on both amazing and sad memories set everything at ease. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, nature is the best medicine. 

Good birding,
Paul  

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A Winter Getaway With A New Lens

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Photographing a Pine Marten for the first time was one of the many highlights of a recent winter getaway.

It’s been a busy fall and winter that hasn’t left me much time for birding or photography. Almost all of my free time over the past few months has been committed to helping family, so when the opportunity came up to take a few days off work and go birding I jumped at the chance. I was incredibly excited for this trip as not only was surrounding myself in nature going to clear my head of all that has been going on lately, but I also acquired a new lens only days before leaving.  What lens would I be wielding on this adventure? The Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3.

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Many of the Canada Jays in Algonquin Park have colourful bands on their legs. These bands not only help researchers determine the bird’s age and range but can also identify a mating pair.

For this getaway, I made my way up to Algonquin Provincial Park in hopes of seeing some of the many winter finches that call the park home from late fall to early spring. My first stop upon entering the park was at the West Gate to purchase an annual day-use permit. I highly recommend this to anyone who uses any of Ontario’s provincial parks regularly as this is by far the most economical option. For $111.87 (including HST), this pass allows the holder unlimited day-use access to any provincial park in Ontario. For comparison, a daily vehicle permit allowing only one day of admission costs $21.00 (including HST) so if you are planning 6 or more trips to a provincial park over the year, get the annual pass. Again, this pass is valid at any provincial park and I get my money’s worth not only at Algonquin but also at Komoka Provincial Park, Rondeau, and the Pinery.   

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Black-capped Chickadees were abundant in many areas of the park.

After obtaining my pass, I continued west along highway 60 to the Spruce Bog Trail. This easy, 1.5 km loop is one of my favourites in the park as not only is the scenery breathtaking, there is always an abundance of birds and wildlife no matter the time of year. Stepping out of the car, I donned my Cotton Carrier and attached my Canon 7D and Sigma 150-600mm lens while slinging my binoculars over my shoulder.

An older couple in the parking lot was looking high up in the spruce trees and seemed quite excited about what they had just seen. I walked over and asked what they saw and the woman told me a Boreal Chickadee. Having never seen this bird, I too began scanning the treetops with my binoculars, and mixed in with the dozens of Black-capped Chickadees I saw the distinct brown cap and cinnamon flanks of the Boreal Chickadee. I watched as the bird flitted from tree to tree and had some great views of this lifer but the bird never did drop low enough or present an opportunity for a photo. Excited and satisfied by this observation, I made my way to the trailhead. 

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Red-breasted Nuthatch photographed along the Spruce Bog Trail.

It was evident the Spruce Bog Trail had been well traveled in recent days as the snow was hard packed which made for easy walking. The sound of Black-capped Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches filled the tree tops. As I made my way out of the forest and onto the snow-covered boardwalk two larger birds passed by overhead. I could tell by their shape they were jays but was unsure if they were Blue or Canada Jays. Scanning the tops of the spruce trees I was able to positively identify these birds as Canada Jays.

The Canada Jay was recently named by Canadian Geographic as our national bird and was formerly known as the Gray Jay. Many also refer to them as the Whisky Jack which comes from Wiskedjak, Wisagatcak, and Wisekejack, taken from Indigenous languages which means a mischievous, transforming spirit who likes to play tricks on people. Regardless of what you call them these birds are absolutely beautiful and a treat to observe. 

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By this time, I had already fired off dozens of photos and was impressed with this new lens. Autofocus was fast and accurate and from what I could see on the LCD screen on the back of my camera the lens was also very sharp. Equally impressive was how well this lens performed shooting wide open at f/6.3 in low-light conditions in the dense forest. Expect a full review of this lens to come in a future blog post.

After finishing up at Spruce Bog which ended up taking several hours as there was lots of pausing for photos, I made my way over to the Visitor Centre. Here, several feeders are set up, and this is where sightings of Evening and Pine Grosbeaks had been reported. Arriving in the early afternoon, activity around the feeders consisted of chickadees, nuthatches, and Downy Woodpeckers. Unfortunately, there were no grosbeaks or finches around, and talking to other birders, late morning was apparently the best time to observe these species at this location. Armed with this information I decided to make my way to Opeongo Road and return the following day to the Visitor Centre in hopes of seeing the grosbeaks. 

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Even with slower shutter speeds and a wide open aperture, I was very impressed with the sharpness of the Sigma 150-600mm. Canada Jay 1/160 f/6.3 ISO 1250.

Driving along Opeongo Road I could see an otter out on Costello Lake. I watched as it would run two steps then slide along the ice on its belly. This was quite comical and entertaining to see and I watched for several minutes as the otter zig-zagged its way across the ice. Too far for a photo, I was happy to enjoy the experience through my binoculars. 

Further down Opeongo Road closer views of otters were achieved as they poked their heads up through holes in the ice on Costello Creek. Seeing this reminded me of the game whack-a-mole. Observing otters is always fun as their behaviour is truly unique and so playful, unlike any other species I’ve observed. One otter made repeated dives through a hole in the ice and emerged with what I think was a clam. After finishing its meal the otter proceeded to rub its face along the ice presumably to clean its fur. Just more of the comical and unique behaviour of this amazing species.

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Properly exposing the whites is always important especially in the snow to avoid images that appear gray. I overexposed this image by one full stop to preserve the white snow.

Carrying on down Opeongo Road I parked just off to the side of the seasonal gate and took a look around. More Black-capped Chickadees were present and so too were more Canada Jays. Not long after arriving, movement on the forest floor caught my attention. As I looked through the maze of branches I saw a Pine Marten. This was very exciting for me as I had never seen this species and was one I was hoping to encounter on this trip. This particular marten was incredibly photogenic and provided me the opportunity to capture several images.   

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This curious raven was obviously accustomed to handouts by park visitors as it landed next to my car seconds after pulling into a parking lot.

For this trip, I didn’t camp in my hot tent as I wanted to focus my time on the high percentage areas along highway 60 and not setting up and breaking camp or hiking in and out of the backcountry each day. Rather I decided to book an area motel and was very pleased with this decision. On day two after eating breakfast and having my morning coffee in a warm room, I made my way to the Visitor Centre in search of grosbeaks.   

Driving down highway 60 the hoar frost in the trees was absolutely stunning. In retrospect, I wished I stopped to take some landscape images but I was too excited to get to the feeders in hopes of seeing the grosbeaks as I much prefer wildlife photography over landscapes. 

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Pine Marten in a pine tree.

Arriving at the Visitor Centre at 10:00 a.m. I could hear Evening Grosbeaks calling from down in the valley along Sunday Creek but none were visible. I ended up waiting over an hour for the grosbeaks to appear. Sitting still is not easy for me and is something I struggle to do. I often get questions from people asking me how long I had to wait to get a certain photo. The truth is I rarely wait more than a few minutes for a photo. If it isn’t happening I’m on the move to find something that is. Fortunately, two Pine Martens were present which gave me ample photo opportunities and took the pain out of the long wait.     

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Male Evening Grosbeak photographed at the Visitor Centre.

Sure enough, as others the previous day had suggested, by late morning Evening Grosbeaks emerged from the valley and appeared in the trees adjacent to the feeders. The morning sun was hitting them beautifully showing off their radiant yellow plumage and white wing patches. The feeders were filled with black-oil sunflower seeds and enjoyed by a variety of birds.

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Canada Jay photographed with my new Sigma 150-600 mm lens. I’m looking forward to taking many more images with this lens.

Surrounding myself in nature on this getaway was the perfect way to reset after what has been an arduous few months of dealing with, well life.  I can’t emphasize enough the mental and physical benefits of time in nature. I feel completely refreshed and can focus better on work and other tasks that need completing. This trip also inspired me to pick up my camera more and get back to what I love. If you find yourself needing to reset or recharge, I highly recommend spending time in nature. Whether it’s a few days in Algonquin Park or a few minutes or hours in your backyard or local park, the rewards of immersing yourself in nature are immeasurable. 

Good birding,
Paul     

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