Fall Birding At One Of My Favourite Locations In The Forest City

Returning to London this fall left me with mixed emotions. Having spent so much time up north, I didn’t want to return to the city but tried to see the silver lining. Being back in town means I’m close to my Dad and can resume more frequent visits with him. After all, it was my dad who got me interested in birds. Also, it allows me to return to some of the areas I love birding at and see several bird species I haven’t seen for months.

IMG 3935 - Fall Birding At One Of My Favourite Locations In The Forest City — **My favourite bird is the Red-bellied Woodpecker.**

London is known as the cardinal capital of Canada, and I have to admit having lived here my whole life, I have taken these birds for granted. Spending the summer outside the cardinal’s range, I go six months without seeing one. Also, absent each summer for me is my favourite bird, the Red-bellied Woodpecker.

One of the most productive areas in London for birding at this time of year is the Westminster Ponds ESA. It also happens to be a great place to enjoy the fall colours. With temperatures still feeling like summer, I waited for a cooler day to head over to the ponds. After all, if I was doing some fall birding, I wanted it to feel like fall.

IMG 2836 - Fall Birding At One Of My Favourite Locations In The Forest City — **Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow.**

The open meadow south of Commissioners Road was where I started. There is an abundance of goldenrod here and with it having gone to seed I knew there would be lots of small songbirds drawn to this food. Sure enough, not long after entering the field, I could hear a variety of bird calls coming from the dried stalks.

IMG 3995 - Fall Birding At One Of My Favourite Locations In The Forest City — **Small songbirds like the American Goldfinch can be found feeding on goldenrod seed during the fall.**

Goldfinches, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and several sparrows were present including White-throated, White-crowned, and Song. Some White-throated Sparrows were trying to break out into their signature Oh Sweet Canada, Canada, Canada song but stopped after only a few notes. The goldenrod here was almost as tall as me keeping me well hidden; however, made picture-taking a real challenge. Juncos typically return to London for the winter around Thanksgiving each year and were also present enjoying the bounty of seeds.

IMG 4092 - Fall Birding At One Of My Favourite Locations In The Forest City — **This Great Blue Heron was perched overlooking Saunders Pond.**

Happy with my sightings, I headed through the woods to Saunders Pond. The loud shriek of a Great Blue Heron could be heard from the pond. On the far side of the pond, I heard a strange call and saw a large bird which I presumed was a raptor up in a tree. As I did not recognize the call as a raptor I was confused by what I was seeing. It was a large bird with its wings spread wide appearing to be falling out of the tree. As it flapped its wings to keep its perch, it made a sound I had never heard. I still had no idea what I was seeing and was torn between making my way down to where I could still hear the heron or trying to figure out what this was.

My curiosity got the best of me and I got into a position where I could see better through the trees and identify this bird. I raised my binoculars and as the bird came into focus I could see it was a Wild Turkey. It had regained balance and was perched high in a tree adjacent to the pond. The sound it was making was no gobble, cluck, yelp, or cackle I’ve ever heard from a turkey but I guess when about to fall 60 feet into water Turkeys make whatever sound they want.

IMG 4061 - Fall Birding At One Of My Favourite Locations In The Forest City — **This male Wood Duck gave the leaves a run for their money for best fall colours.**

I quietly snuck down to the pond and saw the heron that was making a ruckus earlier. I raised my camera and snapped a few pics. Swimming on the surface just in front of the heron was a stunning male Wood Duck.

IMG 4220 - Fall Birding At One Of My Favourite Locations In The Forest City — **In my opinion, the west side of Saunders Pond is the best place to find Rusty Blackbirds in the Forest City during fall migration.**

I made my way around the north side of Saunders Pond to the boardwalk and lookout behind Tourist Information on Wellington Road. My hope here was to see some Rusty Blackbirds. These are one of my favourite birds to see in the fall because as their name suggests their fall plumage is a beautiful rusty colour. This location is the best place to see Rusty Blackbirds in the fall. These birds are listed as special concern on Ontario’s Species at Risk list. The water level was low so I scanned the low shrubs and mudflats for movement as I’ve seen Rusty Blackbirds foraging here in previous years.

IMG 4318 - Fall Birding At One Of My Favourite Locations In The Forest City — **White-crowned Sparrows are migrating through London in good numbers. These birds will frequent backyards and can be seen on the ground under feeders.**

Movement caught my attention. Sure enough, a Rusty Blackbird appeared from the thick brush. Achieving focus I fired off a series of images. Several other Rusty Blackbirds could be seen down low and higher up in the trees as well as flying overhead mixed in with grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds. I couldn’t help but get a little emotional as this is where I saw my first Rusty Blackbird so many years ago with my dad. Unfortunately, my dad can’t get out with me anymore and I find myself cherishing memories like this one more and more.

IMG 4342 - Fall Birding At One Of My Favourite Locations In The Forest City — **Northern Cardinal**

Next, I heard the churr, churr, churr call of the Red-bellied Woodpecker. As I looked up a stunning male flew in and landed right in front of me. A broken snag on a dead tree made a perfect perch. A male cardinal landed in the tree next to where I was standing. There certainly was a lot of bird activity in this spot. Out on the pond were a pair of Pied-billed Grebes and the fall colours along the north side of Saunders Pond looked good with the beech and maple trees showing off some nice reds and yellows.

IMG 3806 - Fall Birding At One Of My Favourite Locations In The Forest City — **Cedar Waxwings were observed on the west side of Saunders Pond.**

For anyone wanting to see these birds or the leaves, this area is fully accessible. There is plenty of parking behind Tourist Information and the wide, asphalt path takes you down to the recently resurfaced wood lookout.

IMG 4196 - Fall Birding At One Of My Favourite Locations In The Forest City — **Many Robins overwinter at Westminster Ponds due to the abundance of berry-producing trees and shrubs but their numbers increase during migration.**

Returning to Westminster Ponds after such a long hiatus certainly made for a great day of birding. We are so fortunate as Londoners to have this gem and I look forward to spending more time there this fall and winter. If you are looking for a great place to enjoy nature and forget you’re in a city of over 400,000 people, I highly recommend visiting Westminster Ponds.

Good birding,
Paul

*My new book Backyard Birds: A Beginner’s Guide to Backyard Birds in Southwestern Ontario is available now. Together with my niece Megan, we’ve written a book to help identify and attract 24 species of birds living in Southwestern Ontario. This book is geared towards beginners young and old making the perfect gift for anyone introducing a child to birding, a new homeowner unfamiliar with the birds in their yard, or someone new to Southwestern Ontario. Find out more and order here*

Vortex Triumph HD: High-Quality Binoculars at an Affordable Price

Whether you are an avid birder or someone who enjoys watching the birds at a backyard feeder, binoculars are a great investment.

The magnification binoculars offer allows us to identify birds more easily while better admiring their stunning plumage and intricate feather detail.

IMG 2740 2 - Vortex Triumph HD: High-Quality Binoculars at an Affordable Price — **The Vortex Triumph HD binoculars come with a case that doubles as a chest harness.**

Over the years, I have tried a multitude of binoculars and own three pairs by different manufacturers that provide 8X magnification. Wanting something more powerful for smaller songbirds and far away subjects, I found myself in the market for another pair.

I currently own a pair of Vortex Vanquish compact binoculars and love everything about them, so naturally I looked at Vortex again when searching for a new pair.

White crowned Sparrow - Vortex Triumph HD: High-Quality Binoculars at an Affordable Price — **The Vortex Triumph HD magnify the subject 10X which makes identifying similar songbirds like sparrows much easier.**

Wanting something high quality without breaking the bank I decided on the Vortex Triumph HD 10 x 42 binoculars. I was drawn to this pair by Vortex claiming these binoculars to be their class’s best image quality, ergonomics, and durability. At a price of only $159.00 and backed by Vortex’s unconditional, unlimited lifetime warranty, I was certainly intrigued and eager to see how they perform.

Black capped Chickadee - Vortex Triumph HD: High-Quality Binoculars at an Affordable Price — **With 10X magnification you can really see all the intricate feather detail.**

Birders often shy away from binoculars that offer higher magnification as it narrows the field of view, but the Vortex Triumph has a field of view of 334’ at 1000 yards which is comparable to the 8X magnification pairs I own by Vortex and Nikon.

Red bellied Woodpecker - Vortex Triumph HD: High-Quality Binoculars at an Affordable Price — **Whether you are an avid birder or someone who enjoys watching the birds at a backyard feeder, binoculars are a great investment.**

My biggest issue in the past with binoculars featuring 10X magnification has been holding them steady. Not only is the subject magnified so too is any shake. What is the point of having a closer view if the subject is bouncing up and down? The other pairs of 10 power binoculars I have tried have been too big and heavy, while others are too small to manage a steady grip. At 6.1” x 5.0” inches and weighing only 1.43 pounds the Vortex Triumph features a rubber armour non-slip coating allowing me to easily hold these binoculars steady. The rubber armour also adds protection making these binoculars shockproof.

Canoe 2 - Vortex Triumph HD: High-Quality Binoculars at an Affordable Price — **Waterproof binoculars are not only great on land in a rainstorm, they are perfect when searching for birds and wildlife from a canoe.**

The multi-coated lenses deliver exceptional clarity and light transmission even in low-light conditions. Nitrogen purged and sealed with an O-ring these binoculars are waterproof and fogproof.

IMG 2730 3 - Vortex Triumph HD: High-Quality Binoculars at an Affordable Price — **The GlassPak harness makes carrying the binoculars incredibly comfortable while providing quick access.**

Carrying these binoculars on my chest with the included Vortex GlassPak harness was incredibly comfortable and provided quick access when hiking outdoors. The mesh side pockets and zippered rear pouch fit a variety of items like the eyepiece covers and cleaning cloth.

The adjustable eyecups are a key feature for those who wear glasses as this allows you to leave your glasses on while looking through the lenses.

Eastern Chipmunk - Vortex Triumph HD: High-Quality Binoculars at an Affordable Price — **Small mammals appear much bigger when viewed through binoculars.**

The neoprene neck strap is the most comfortable factory strap I have ever worn on any pair of binoculars and is another welcome feature.

Using these binoculars with 10X magnification made identifying confusing fall warblers and other small songbirds much easier and I could not be more pleased with my purchase.

The performance and features packed into this pair of binoculars that arrived at my door for under $200 taxes in is quite impressive. The unconditional, unlimited lifetime warranty gives me peace of mind that Vortex stands behind its product.

453490364 508184885119611 3735667305528690766 n - Vortex Triumph HD: High-Quality Binoculars at an Affordable Price — **As someone who struggles with butterfly identification, the 10X magnification makes seeing fine details on butterflies much simpler.**

With the holiday season fast approaching, these binoculars are a great gift idea for any bird lover regardless of whether they are a beginner or advanced. The price point, features, and high-quality construction of these binoculars make them a perfect choice. If you are looking for a great pair of binoculars at an affordable price, I highly recommend the Vortex Triumph HD 10×42 binoculars.

Good birding,
Paul

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Northern Cardinals: How To Attract Them In 4 Easy Steps

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.

33113972041 8cd6ceba9d o - Northern Cardinals: How To Attract Them In 4 Easy Steps — **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.

IMG 2683 Edit Edit - Northern Cardinals: How To Attract Them In 4 Easy Steps — **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.

16155723715 c6347c7bab o - Northern Cardinals: How To Attract Them In 4 Easy Steps — **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.

16537658466 b258d96452 o - Northern Cardinals: How To Attract Them In 4 Easy Steps — **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.

15576809603 0ab9a33273 o - Northern Cardinals: How To Attract Them In 4 Easy Steps — **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.

IMG 6922 2 - Northern Cardinals: How To Attract Them In 4 Easy Steps — **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.

IMG 2575 Edit Edit 2 - Northern Cardinals: How To Attract Them In 4 Easy Steps — **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.

8883649210 494e34c56a o Edit - Northern Cardinals: How To Attract Them In 4 Easy Steps — **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.

8830816424 8f1c5b4f78 o Edit - Northern Cardinals: How To Attract Them In 4 Easy Steps — **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.

IMG 2857 Edit Edit - Northern Cardinals: How To Attract Them In 4 Easy Steps — **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

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.

IMG 0106 - Finch Me I'm Dreaming — **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.

IMG 3761 2 - Finch Me I'm Dreaming — **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.

IMG 8050 - Finch Me I'm Dreaming — **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.

IMG 3971 Edit 2 - Finch Me I'm Dreaming — **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.

IMG 4072 2 - Finch Me I'm Dreaming — **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.

IMG 4328 Edit - Finch Me I'm Dreaming — **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.

IMG 4401 Edit 2 - Finch Me I'm Dreaming — **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.

IMG 7180 - Finch Me I'm Dreaming — **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

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.

IMG 3054 - Provide Birds With Shelter By Adding A Roost Box To Your Yard

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.

344812869 545652567738758 2581320243332447172 n - Provide Birds With Shelter By Adding A Roost Box To Your Yard — **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.

IMG 7079 - Provide Birds With Shelter By Adding A Roost Box To Your Yard

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!

IMG 3115 - Provide Birds With Shelter By Adding A Roost Box To Your Yard — **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

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.

IMG 9384 - Foil Those Squirrels Once and For All Regardless of What Feeder and Seed You Use — **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.

IMG 6737 - Foil Those Squirrels Once and For All Regardless of What Feeder and Seed You Use — **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!

IMG 0147 - Foil Those Squirrels Once and For All Regardless of What Feeder and Seed You Use — **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.

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

Watch this video on YouTube

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.

17223872502 3a929c2d49 o - Foil Those Squirrels Once and For All Regardless of What Feeder and Seed You Use — **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.

IMG 9883 - Foil Those Squirrels Once and For All Regardless of What Feeder and Seed You Use — **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.

IMG 4694 - Foil Those Squirrels Once and For All Regardless of What Feeder and Seed You Use — **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

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.

18657185211 a2ed1fd933 o - A New Birdhouse Leaves Me Feeling Nostalgic — **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.

IMG 8837 Edit - A New Birdhouse Leaves Me Feeling Nostalgic — **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.

26447882300 cfd01ff698 o - A New Birdhouse Leaves Me Feeling Nostalgic — 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.

IMG 1958 - A New Birdhouse Leaves Me Feeling Nostalgic — **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.

17192052169 de65fddc51 o - A New Birdhouse Leaves Me Feeling Nostalgic — **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

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.

IMG 1663 - A New Inspiration For My Photographic Adventures — **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.

IMG 2014 - A New Inspiration For My Photographic Adventures — **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.

IMG 1832 - A New Inspiration For My Photographic Adventures — **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.

IMG 1916 - A New Inspiration For My Photographic Adventures — **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.

IMG 1793 - A New Inspiration For My Photographic Adventures — **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.

IMG 1797 - A New Inspiration For My Photographic Adventures — **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.

IMG 1850 - A New Inspiration For My Photographic Adventures — **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!

IMG 1700 - A New Inspiration For My Photographic Adventures — **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

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.

bo2 - Orioles Are On The Move: How To Attract These Beauties To Your Yard — **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.

Watermark 1 8 - Orioles Are On The Move: How To Attract These Beauties To Your Yard — **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.

Watermark 1 6 - Orioles Are On The Move: How To Attract These Beauties To Your Yard — **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.

bo1 - Orioles Are On The Move: How To Attract These Beauties To Your Yard — **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

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.

Woody - A New Suet Feeder Delivers Instant Results — **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.

IMG 9792 - A New Suet Feeder Delivers Instant Results — **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.

IMG 9533 - A New Suet Feeder Delivers Instant Results — **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

IMG 9512 - A New Suet Feeder Delivers Instant Results — **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