Family Day Birding Brings A Whirlwind Of Emotions

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.

IMG 8539 - Family Day Birding Brings A Whirlwind Of Emotions — **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.

IMG 0518 Edit - Family Day Birding Brings A Whirlwind Of Emotions — **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.

IMG 0510 - Family Day Birding Brings A Whirlwind Of Emotions — **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.

P1040501 - Family Day Birding Brings A Whirlwind Of Emotions — **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.

IMG 6357 - Family Day Birding Brings A Whirlwind Of Emotions — **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.

IMG 7723 Edit 10 Edit 2 - Family Day Birding Brings A Whirlwind Of Emotions — **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.

IMG 2499 Edit Edit - Family Day Birding Brings A Whirlwind Of Emotions — **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.

IMG 9462 - Family Day Birding Brings A Whirlwind Of Emotions — **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

IMG 6916 Edit 2 - Family Day Birding Brings A Whirlwind Of Emotions — **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”?

IMG 9955 - Family Day Birding Brings A Whirlwind Of Emotions — **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!

IMG 9220 - Family Day Birding Brings A Whirlwind Of Emotions — **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.

Me and Molly 2 - Family Day Birding Brings A Whirlwind Of Emotions — 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

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.

IMG 7150 2 - A Winter Getaway With A New Lens — **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.

IMG 7184 - A Winter Getaway With A New Lens — **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.

IMG 8082 - A Winter Getaway With A New Lens — **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.

IMG 7133 Edit 2 - A Winter Getaway With A New Lens

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.

IMG 7074 - A Winter Getaway With A New Lens — **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.

IMG 7119 - A Winter Getaway With A New Lens — **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.

IMG 8352 2 - A Winter Getaway With A New Lens — **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.

IMG 8004 - A Winter Getaway With A New Lens — **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.

IMG 8015 Edit - A Winter Getaway With A New Lens — **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.

IMG 7212 - A Winter Getaway With A New Lens — **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

* Please note this post contains Amazon affiliate links. You can help support my website by using the above links when you purchase products on Amazon (they send me a few bucks when you do at no additional cost to you). I only provide links to products I have purchased and am satisfied with based on my own experience. Thanks for your support!*

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Photographing Fall Colours

When it comes to photographing landscapes, fall colours are my favourite. For the past two years, I’ve been fortunate to be in Algonquin Provincial Park for the entire colour change process including the peak. I’m not well-traveled by any means but think one would be hard-pressed to find more magnificent fall colours anywhere else.

IMG 6589 Edit - Photographing Fall Colours — **This incredible view can be found on Highway 60 just east of Source Lake.**

The Highway 60 corridor is a great place to see these incredible fall colours. Looking across Tea Lake and Lake of Two Rivers at the rolling hills of deciduous trees reveals a kaleidoscope of colour. Finding a safe spot to pull off this busy highway can be a challenge but there are several spots where doing so can be done. Just east of Source Lake there is a large pull-off overlooking a creek and beaver dam which is one of my favourite places to stop. Booth’s Rock and the Lookout Trail offer some amazing views if you are looking to incorporate a hike into your colour-seeking adventure.

IMG 6610 Edit - Photographing Fall Colours — **Each of the last two years I’ve enjoyed the fall colours on the secluded lakes of Algonquin’s backcountry.**

Getting off the beaten path and enjoying these amazing vistas in more secluded locations is what I prefer. Therefore, paddling and portaging into many of the smaller lakes is where I focus my attention. Words can’t describe my feelings when experiencing these incredible sights in solitude while hearing only the sounds of nature. The calming effects of this practice have a lasting impact and combined with paddling and portaging the benefits to my physical and mental health are immeasurable.

IMG 5200 Edit Edit - Photographing Fall Colours — A 10 stop neutral density filter is a great addition to your bag if you are looking to photograph waterfalls. These filters reduce the amount of light reaching your camera’s sensor which allows you to shoot at a much slower shutter speed resulting in milky white water. Using a tripod is a must in these situations to achieve a sharp image.

When it comes to equipment for photographing fall colours, I like to keep it simple. I use my backup camera which is an old Canon Rebel T3i. The reason for this is so I can keep my main camera body, a Canon 7D at the ready with my Tamron 100-400mm lens attached in case I come across a loon, moose, or any other wildlife. I used to only carry one camera and switch between my landscape and wildlife lenses but missed too many shots while fumbling to swap lenses, hence the two cameras.

IMG 5011 Edit 7 - Photographing Fall Colours — **Photographing fall colours from the solitude of my pack boat is something I thoroughly enjoy.**

As far as lenses go, this too is simple and inexpensive. Most of my images are taken with an 18-55mm kit lens, but I also carry a 55-250mm for more distant scenes and a 10-18mm to cover a wider spectrum. To carry this gear I use a Lowepro Flipside 200 backpack. This keeps my lenses at the ready and the flipside feature makes changing lenses effortless without having to take the pack off. This compact backpack has plenty of room for accessories like spare memory cards, batteries, lens cleaning equipment, maps, a water bottle, and even a tripod.

IMG 8166 Edit - Photographing Fall Colours — **A foreground element adds depth to the image.**

Camera settings for photographing fall colours are pretty straightforward. Since I am not dealing with a moving subject I can get away with a much slower shutter speed than when I am photographing wildlife. I follow the reciprocal rule for choosing shutter speed. What this means is I want my shutter speed to be 1/focal length. Following this rule virtually eliminates shake when handholding a camera. So for my kit lens shooting at say 50mm, I want my shutter speed to be at least 1/50. Keep in mind that on windy days you may encounter a moving subject as the leaves and branches dance in the wind. If this is the case a faster shutter speed will be required to eliminate motion blur.

IMG 7226 Edit - Photographing Fall Colours — **Mid-moring on calm days is when I find it best to capture the fall colours reflecting on the water.**

I keep my ISO as low as possible and find most days I shoot at ISO 100. On windy days or in low light I will increase this to 200 or 400 but rarely higher.

Shooting at a narrower aperture (a larger number) adds more depth to an image and keeps more of the frame in focus; therefore, I usually shoot at f/8 or narrower and often find I am most happy with the results I get at f/11.

IMG 7069 Edit 2 - Photographing Fall Colours — **More reflections from Algonquin photographed with my Canon Rebel T3i and 55-250mm lens.**

To keep things simple, I use aperture priority mode as the camera calculates part of the exposure. With me selecting ISO 100 and f/11 the camera then determines the corresponding shutter speed and on most days this falls within the parameters of the previously mentioned reciprocal rule. I can then use exposure compensation to fine-tune my exposure by watching my histogram and exposing for the whites or highlights which in most cases are the clouds. By doing this I capture all the detail within the clouds in-camera.

IMG 7168 Edit 4 - Photographing Fall Colours — **Following the rule of thirds, I strategically placed my pack boat in this image.**

After exposure composition is the second most important element to an image. This is where the rule of thirds comes in. Imagine your scene has a set of horizontal and vertical lines running across it like a Tic-Tac-Toe board. These lines divide the landscape into thirds both horizontally and vertically. When framing your image you want to line up your subject on one of these imaginary lines preferably where they intersect. This could be a tree, rock, the sun, or any other object in the picture. Adding a foreground element at these intersecting lines will add depth to the image. If you shoot in live view looking at your scene on your camera’s LCD you can turn on the grid which will give you the lines as a reference. Keep in mind shooting in live view uses more battery power, so carrying a spare is a good idea.

IMG 6843 Edit - Photographing Fall Colours — **In my opinion, mid-morning is the best time to photograph fall colours. I find the colours to be true and on calm days the reflections on the water are best at this time.**

Personally, my preferred conditions for photographing fall colours are sunny days with a mix of fluffy white clouds. The colours really pop against the blue sky while the clouds add detail to the sky. I like mid-morning the best as I find the colours are true not like during the golden hour or sunrise and sunset. Cloudy, rainy days can be good too as the colours against dark gray clouds convey a completely different mood.

IMG 6626 Edit - Photographing Fall Colours — **Heavier, darker clouds convey a different mood.**

Knowing when the leaves are changing in a given area is key to getting the best images. For this, I use the website Fall Colours at Ontario Parks. By looking at the information from the provincial park nearest my area, I can get a pretty good idea of how the colour change is progressing and plan my outings accordingly. Now that I am back in London I look at the information for Pinery Provincial Park and Port Burwell Provincial Park and see that we are only at 20% to 40% leaf change down here. This tells me it will be another week or two before the fall colours peak in Southwestern Ontario. In the meantime, I’ll keep an eye out for potential landscapes that might look good when the leaves change while I’m out and about photographing other subjects and return once the leaves are more colourful.

IMG 6857 Edit - Photographing Fall Colours — **Leading lines like this fallen log and reflections navigate your eyes through a photo.**

The fall colours may have already peaked to our north, but for us in Southwestern Ontario, the best is yet to come. Fall is such a great time to be outdoors and hopefully, this post helps you in your quest to capture the incredibly colourful leaves Mother Nature gives us.

Good birding,
Paul

* Please note this post contains Amazon affiliate links. You can help support my website by using the above links when you purchase products on Amazon (they send me a few bucks when you do at no additional cost to you). I only provide links to products I have purchased and am satisfied with based on my own experience. Thanks for your support!*

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I Love It When A Plan B Comes Together

Whenever I head out for a day of photography I always have some sort of plan for how I am going to approach the day. This plan is never too elaborate and doesn’t take much time to put together. Usually, it’s nothing more than where I am going to go and my direction of travel once I get there based on light and wind. If possible I want the light at my back as this makes for easier views and better images and those of you who have followed me for a while know I almost always search in areas protected from the wind.

IMG 4856 - I Love It When A Plan B Comes Together — **The moose on the left I believe is a young bull born last year.**

My plan on this day was to revisit a lake in Algonquin Park I had paddled the previous week where I saw a cow moose and her two young calves. On my initial outing, I enjoyed nice views of this trio but failed to capture any images as I was too far away. The wind was forecast to be strong out of the northwest but thought if I hugged the shoreline I would be protected and end up at the far end of the lake right where I had seen these moose previously.

IMG 4895 - I Love It When A Plan B Comes Together — **The soft mud at the edge of the river caused the moose’s legs to sink in making it a challenge for them to exit the water.**

Arriving at the lake the wind was due north and the waves were crashing in on the beach at the launch area. Paddling for several kilometers into this headwind was going to be no fun so I knew I needed to come up with a plan B.

IMG 4893 - I Love It When A Plan B Comes Together — **Here the moose on the left sunk all the way to its hips.**

One thing about Algonquin is there is no shortage of lakes, so I decided to go to a lake on the other side of the road. The wind there would be offshore and I could safely and easily make my way into a narrow, slow-flowing river that joined another small lake.

IMG 4886 - I Love It When A Plan B Comes Together — **After freeing his back legs his front legs then sunk in the mud.**

After unloading my canoe and filling it with my gear and Molly, I began paddling for the river. The wind at my back helped push me along and this close to shore there were no waves. Entering the river there were few American Black Ducks on my left resting on a fallen tree. These ducks may not be the most colourful waterfowl but for reasons I’m still not sure they’re one of my favorites. After a few pictures, I continued down the river.

IMG 4903 - I Love It When A Plan B Comes Together — **Finally, the moose found a bottom that would support their weight.**

As I made my way downriver, I could hear loud splashing in the water behind me. I looked over my should and saw two moose entering the water. Seeing a moose in the water from my canoe has always been a dream of mine so this experience was incredible. I quickly raised my camera and began taking photos as the moose proceeded to drink. I believe this was a cow moose with a young bull born last year as he was bigger than other calves I’ve seen but not as big as the cow. The two watched me as I watched them and they didn’t seem overly concerned about my presence but did keep a close eye on Molly.

I captured a video of the two moose swimming across the river which you can watch on YouTube below.

0 - I Love It When A Plan B Comes Together

Watch this video on YouTube

What happened next was truly amazing. The two moose swam across the river to the other side. Almost effortlessly they crossed but once on the far side began sinking in the mud. The mud was too soft to support their weight and they quickly sank to their knees. It was a little difficult to watch these amazing creatures struggling to get out of the water but it didn’t take them long to get their footing.

P1040507 - I Love It When A Plan B Comes Together — **Molly was surprisingly composed throughout the whole experience, much more than I was.**

I think the soft mud must have been too much of a challenge for these moose as not long after crossing the river they entered the water again and swam back across to where they came from. Watching this from about 40 yards in my canoe was an awesome experience and one I’ll never forget. I was impressed with how calm Molly was as she really didn’t care about the moose which is surprising as she is normally fascinated with creatures larger than her. She glanced over as the moose splashed but that was about it. She gets much more excited from the back seat of the car when we stop to see moose at the side of the road. When hiking if we come across deer she often gets so excited she lets out a loud bellow that sounds like a cross between Chewbacca from Star Wars and a bull Elk bugling. On this occasion, merely a brief head turn.

Continuing further down river another moose came into view grazing in the tall vegetation. This moose was much more skittish and quickly hightailed it back into the forest.

IMG 5052 - I Love It When A Plan B Comes Together — **With a fast shutter speed, I captured this image of a loon resetting its wings after preening.**

Exiting the river, I made my way into a protected bay on the next lake. Here, I had great views of a loon as it splashed around and preened. I find the loons in Algonquin very curious and they often swim over to my boat shortly after coming into view. I have had some incredible views over the past two seasons as many of these birds have come to within a boat length while I watch and photograph quietly.

IMG 5096 2 - I Love It When A Plan B Comes Together — **Many of the loons I’ve encountered approach me in my boat resulting in up-close views.**

All the images in this post were taken with my new Tamron 100-400mm lens. I love this lens as it is incredibly lightweight (2.5 lbs) and I’m happy with the focus speed and image quality. The zoom range is perfect especially for larger subjects like moose and close subjects like the loons. I have found myself using this lens at 250mm or less on many occasions since coming north.

As is the case whenever I am photographing birds and wildlife I like my shutter speed at least 1/1000 if possible. With slower moving subjects like moose and loons, I could get away with a slower shutter speed but given the fact I’m moving drifting in my canoe, a fast shutter speed is still warranted. On this day I had plenty of light so set my ISO at 400 and aperture to f/8 to give me a little more depth and detail which resulted in a shutter speed of 1/1600. On bright sunny days like this, it’s easy to blow out the highlights so after checking my histogram I adjusted my exposure compensation to -2/3 of a stop to retain detail particularly in the white feathers of the loon.

IMG 5057 2 - I Love It When A Plan B Comes Together — **By carefully choosing my camera settings and exposing for the whites I was able to capture all the detail including the water droplets on this loon’s stomach.**

Having a plan helps me get the most out of my time outdoors. As mentioned, my plan is nothing elaborate that takes weeks or days of planning. Often it’s thrown together the night before or the morning of an outing based on weather and wind direction and if the weather report happens to be off as was this case on this day it’s a good idea to have a plan B. With three moose and a loon seen on this adventure, there’s no doubt I’ll plan a trip back soon.

Good birding,
Paul

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This Season Is Shaping Up To Be A Beauty Exploring Algonquin Park

I can’t believe I’ve been at my trailer for a month already. I guess time really does fly when you’re having fun. I’ve settled in nicely and developed a balance between work and play that is working out well as I have had time to do lots of both.

IMG 4577 - This Season Is Shaping Up To Be A Beauty Exploring Algonquin Park — **Bald Eagle photographed from my canoe while paddling the Madawaska River.**

Choosing to start work at 4 a.m. allows me to take time later in the day for hiking or paddling and having the flexibility to make my own schedule is what I love most about my day job. People often question how I can spend so much time enjoying the outdoors and simply put I make time. Whether it’s starting early, working evenings, or even on weekends I do what is required so I can spend time in nature. This is what I love and keeps me healthy both physically and mentally, so making time for it is a priority.

IMG 3378 - This Season Is Shaping Up To Be A Beauty Exploring Algonquin Park — **This Hairy Woodpecker and his mate excavated a tree cavity about forty yards from my trailer and are now nesting. I’m looking forward to watching them raise their brood this season.**

During the recent warm spell, I’ve spent more time paddling than hiking. The breeze off the lakes keeps me cooler and photographing nature along the water’s edge is easier than shooting through a dense forest. My paddles have been rather strategic thus far as with Algonquin Park closed to campers the area is a ghost town. I’m using this to my advantage to find wildlife and am visiting areas where plenty of park-goers will be once the province opens up to campers.

IMG 4246 Edit 2 2 - This Season Is Shaping Up To Be A Beauty Exploring Algonquin Park — **With fourteen moose observed already, I’ve surpassed my total from last season.**

My moose count this year sits at fourteen, which far surpasses my total from all of last season. In fact, it was later in the year before I saw my first moose last season. My best moose sighting was a cow and two calves at the edge of a lake. They were pretty far away, too far for photos, but I enjoyed the view with my binoculars and captured a short video which I posted to Facebook with my Panasonic Lumix camera with a 60x zoom.

IMG 4211 Edit - This Season Is Shaping Up To Be A Beauty Exploring Algonquin Park — I’m no biologist and my hypothesis would still need to be proven, but I’m willing to wager road mortality in wildlife would decrease if said wildlife would not stop for a dump in the middle of a busy highway.

Also seen in good numbers, have been Red Fox. Some mornings I’ve seen one not too far from camp and on several trips into Algonquin I’ve observed them beside the highway. One morning while on my way into the park I saw a fox running at the side of the road. I pulled over and captured a few images as it retreated into the vegetation adjacent to the gravel shoulder. After passing by it then darted back out on the highway and proceeded to cross. To my surprise, the fox stopped in the middle of the highway and pooped on the freshly laid asphalt before continuing across.

IMG 3554 - This Season Is Shaping Up To Be A Beauty Exploring Algonquin Park — **Common Loon covered in black flies.**

Loons are one of my favourite birds to photograph and like last year I’ve come across them on most of the lakes I’ve paddled. One pair I found had a nest at the edge of the lake with a single egg that I could see with binoculars. People are curious to know how the black flies are up here and personally I don’t find them bad. That being said, I typically don’t get bit by black flies or mosquitos so I might not be the best person to ask. I’ve heard several theories as to why this is, but all I know is I am grateful for this. On one of my paddles, I came to within a boat length of a loon that was covered in black flies and I never had a single bite or even any swarming around me.

IMG 4093 Edit - This Season Is Shaping Up To Be A Beauty Exploring Algonquin Park — **Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies feeding on a pile of dung.**

Last week, Canadian Tiger Swallowtail butterflies appeared in huge numbers. These yellow and black beauties are everywhere. On a day trip up the Oxtongue River, a large group of these butterflies was feeding on a pile of dung. Why do butterflies eat dung you ask? From what I’ve read, dung is rich in sodium and nitrogen two elements required for reproductions that flower nectar lacks.

IMG 6121 Edit - This Season Is Shaping Up To Be A Beauty Exploring Algonquin Park — **Paddling up a narrow creek to a tiny set of rapids is something I really enjoy. The sound of the flowing water is so serene.**

Since I last published a blog, I’ve continued to do more fishing than I did last season. With bass season still closed and having caught my fair share of pike, I’ve switched my attention to trout. Even back when I fished all the time I was never much of a trout fisherman. So far this year, my success trout fishing has been quite good. Armed with a few small Mepps and some Len Thompson lures I’ve managed to catch several Brook Trout in various rivers and Lake Trout on the larger lakes. I do enjoy eating the occasional fish, but find it hard to kill these amazing creatures so everything has been catch and release thus far.

IMG 6225 Edit 2 - This Season Is Shaping Up To Be A Beauty Exploring Algonquin Park — **I caught this small Brook Trout while fishing on the Oxtongue River. To see my latest YouTube video featuring this catch, see the link in the paragraph below.**

Speaking of Brook Trout, I uploaded a new video to my YouTube channel called Exploring The Oxtongue River where I paddle this beautiful waterbody and find a variety of birds, run a small set of rapids with my dog Molly, and catch a small Brook trout.

IMG 3550 - This Season Is Shaping Up To Be A Beauty Exploring Algonquin Park — **Loon shaking off the black flies.**

I’m looking forward to many more weeks this season at the trailer enjoying nature and exploring new areas of Algonquin Park while returning to some old favourites. Based on my time so far, it’s shaping up to be another amazing season for sure. I look forward to sharing more stories from my adventures and the images I capture and appreciate all of you following along with me.

Good birding,
Paul

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Week One Is In The Books And What A Week It Was

Late last week, I migrated north to spend another season living from my small travel trailer in the vicinity of Algonquin Provincial Park. This is the same move I did last year and loved every minute so was excited to get back up here again. With so many miles of hiking, paddling, and nature to explore I’m completely in my element here and would describe this as my happy place. Fortunately, my day job allows me to work from anywhere I can connect to the internet and my 20′ trailer provides me all the luxuries of home including a queen bed, kitchen with dinette, and a full bathroom. Amazingly, this small trailer has more storage than my first house.

IMG 2157 Edit - Week One Is In The Books And What A Week It Was — White-throated Sparrow singing its *Oh Sweet Canada, Canada, Canada song.*

Arriving early Friday morning I was happy to see everything survived the winter. Setup was quick and easy and merely a matter of connecting the water and sewer hose, and plugging into the hydro. Following this, I put together my 12′ x12′ screen room which increases my space and gives me a place to sit outside to escape the bugs. Once again this year the black flies are almost nonexistent.

IMG 6109 Edit - Week One Is In The Books And What A Week It Was — **Many of the shallow bays I chose to fish were full of big pike. Unfortunately, I only managed to catch the small ones. Fun to catch nonetheless!**

I didn’t have a real plan for the first week other than to get into a work routine and try to find a balance between work and seeking adventure. With pike season having opened a week earlier I did want to get out and do some fishing. Catching these large fish when they are still in shallow bays after spawning has always been something I have loved. Before getting so into birding and photography I was an avid fisherman in fact even more fanatical about fishing than I am birding. When I wasn’t working I was fishing or thinking about fishing, reading a fishing magazine, or watching a fishing show on TV. However, several years ago I lost the fishing bug, partly due to burnout, I spent a minimum of 55 hours in a five day work week driving a truck for a living so when the weekend rolled around the last thing I wanted to do was spend more time driving to the lake, and partly due to a back injury. This season I want to do more fishing and have already been out several times this week.

IMG 2588 Edit - Week One Is In The Books And What A Week It Was — **Northern Parula**

While making my way down a small river to the bay I chose to fish, I could hear the sound of several warblers singing from tree-lined banks. I always take my camera with me in my pack boat so was ready for any opportunities that presented themselves. For anyone who has tried photographing warblers, you know how challenging it is. Trying to photograph them while drifting down a river with the current is even more challenging. With my camera set to a fast shutter speed, I managed a few images. Along this stretch of river, I observed Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Redstart, Magnolia Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and Northern Parula. Not bad for a morning of fishing!

IMG 3235 Edit - Week One Is In The Books And What A Week It Was — **This Wild Turkey has been a regular behind my trailer and has provided me with great views.**

Around my trailer, the woods are filled with the sounds of birds. If you like to sleep in and don’t like the “noise” birds make in the mornings you’d hate it here. The loud shriek-like call of the raven can be heard most mornings along with the constant drumming and calls of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, and Northern Flickers. The teacher, teacher, teacher call of the Ovenbird has echoed from the forest from sunup to sundown all week. Magnolia Warblers have been quite vocal too. Another bird that is quite abundant here is the White-throated Sparrow. Starting my day hearing their Oh Sweet Canada, Canada, Canada song makes me feel incredibly patriotic and fortunate to live in such an amazing country filled with beautiful wildlife. A Wild Turkey is a regular behind my trailer and I’ve had great views of this bird both while having my morning coffee and while eating dinner.

IMG 2062 - Week One Is In The Books And What A Week It Was — **Red Squirrel**

Mammal activity around the trailer includes Red Squirrels, chipmunks and on two mornings a fox has passed by. One morning while out for a short walk, I came across a fresh pile of wolf scat. Algonquin wolves are present in the woods where I am and I was fortunate to see them on several occasions last year, but I would love to photograph this species. Knowing there is one so close to my trailer makes me think my chances might be good this year.

IMG 2902 Edit - Week One Is In The Books And What A Week It Was — **Having this moose come to within twenty feet of me is an experience I’ll never forget.**

Having success birding and fishing this first week it was hard to decide where to focus my attention when I wasn’t working. Keeping in mind the spot that had so many warblers present along the small river I decided to check out a few other similar areas on foot. These areas weren’t as productive but I had my best sighting of the week on the drive back to camp. Passing a boggy area my eyes were equally focused on the road and the bog. As I was about to exit the bog a large brown object caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. I quickly turned my head and to my delight, it was a moose. After looking in all my mirrors and checking over my shoulder I safely made a U-turn and parked on the side of the road. I exited my vehicle with my camera in hand and began taking images of this bull moose.

IMG 2936 2 - Week One Is In The Books And What A Week It Was — **Unsure if this was his friendly face, I decided to step behind my car for safety.**

After watching for several minutes, the moose began making its way out of the bog and towards me. I have to admit I was more than a little nervous as this animal was huge. I stepped slowly back in the direction of my car to use it as a buffer between me and the moose. The moose turned paralleling the road walking back towards the cedars. I thought this creature was going to retreat into the dense foliage but then it turned and came even closer. The moose seemed to want to cross the road but every time it was almost on the road I could hear traffic coming. Not wanting to see a moose/car collision I made noise and the moose would stop. I did this on three occasions. When there was no sound of traffic I kept quiet and the moose crossed the road about half a car length away as I stood behind my driver’s door ready to dive in and slam it shut if necessary. This encounter was awesome and one I’ll never forget. To be this close to such a massive wild animal was truly amazing.

IMG 2550 Edit - Week One Is In The Books And What A Week It Was — **American Redstart**

As you can see it was an amazing first week back at my trailer. I sure hope this is a sign of things to come this season. I’m here until Thanksgiving and am looking forward to many more adventures and sharing my images and stories with you along the way. I hope to blog more from here than I did last year and am trying to leave time each week to do so. If you don’t already, follow me on Facebook or Instagram for daily posts from my adventures.

Good birding,
Paul

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Providing A Place For Hummingbirds To Nest

For as long as I can remember I’ve enjoyed building birdhouses. It’s hard to put into words the satisfaction I get from watching birds raise a brood in a house I built with my own hands. Over the years I’ve built many birdhouses in all shapes and sizes providing a place for a variety of species to nest.

IMG 6030 Edit 3 - Providing A Place For Hummingbirds To Nest — **Providing a safe, sheltered place for hummingbirds to nest is easy with this small platform.**

Like birding, my dad introduced me to woodworking and I built my first birdhouse with him. In fact, my introduction to woodworking with him started when I was just two years old when I climbed a ladder all by myself onto the shed roof my dad was building at our new house. If not for my grandma yelling “Paul is on the roof with Russ” alerting my parents of my ascent who knows what would have happened. I would love to be able to remember the look on my dad’s face when he turned around and saw me sitting behind him. With supervision like this, it’s a wonder I saw three (I’m kidding Dad you know I love you).

44301291684 6e26f87081 o - Providing A Place For Hummingbirds To Nest — **With 1-2 broods per year, watching hummingbirds nest will be both entertaining and educational.**

Following plans I’ve found in books or online to build birdhouses, I’ve had great success throughout my life providing nesting sites for birds. Swallows, wrens, robins, and doves are a few of the species that have nested in houses or platforms I’ve made. Recently I made a bunch of birdhouses and sold them through Facebook. The response I received was tremendous and people from all over reached out inquiring about the houses. Even followers from out of town were interested. I was happy to ship houses to them but the cost to do so was pretty steep. I wanted to offer houses for sale and be able to ship them without having to charge an arm and a leg to cover the cost of postage. As a result, I am now building and selling hummingbird nest platforms.

IMG 6028 Edit - Providing A Place For Hummingbirds To Nest — **The shallow depression (with 1/8″ drain hole) and posts provide a place for hummingbirds to anchor their nest.**

Hummingbirds are an exciting bird to watch at backyard feeders, so why not go the extra mile by providing a place for them to nest? Hummingbirds seek out sheltered locations to nest protected from wind, rain, and sun. My pine platforms can be mounted under the eaves of a house, shed, gazebo, or under a covered porch. The platform has a recessed bottom with two supports on either side allowing the hummingbird to anchor the nest in place. Once a hummingbird has found the perfect place for nest building, she returns to the same location year after year. Hummingbirds have 1-2 broods per year with a nesting period of 18-22 days. Adding a platform in a visible location will serve hours of enjoyment all summer long.

48893978883 e202eaf64d o - Providing A Place For Hummingbirds To Nest — **Hummingbirds are easily attracted to backyard feeders. Why not offer them a safe, sheltered place to nest?**

If you want to offer a place for hummingbirds to nest, are looking for a birdhouse you may not already have or are looking for a unique gift idea for a bird lover, these hummingbird nestings platforms are a great idea. Measuring 6.5″ H x 4.5″ W x 4.5″ D I can ship these platforms for a reasonable price. With Mother’s Day and Father’s Day fast approaching let your fingers do the shopping. I’m selling these platforms for $35 each which includes shipping anywhere in Canada or the United States.

IMG 6032 Edit 2 - Providing A Place For Hummingbirds To Nest — **Side view of my hummingbird nest platform.**

To purchase, simply click the add to cart button at the bottom of the page and checkout securely with PayPay. If you prefer to pay via e-transfer contact me for more details. I’m also offering porch pick up in London, Ontario at a discounted price less the shipping. Again contact me for details on porch pick up.

47981226271 d7494d3c58 o - Providing A Place For Hummingbirds To Nest — **Hummingbirds are exciting visitors to any yard and offer hours of enjoyment for backyard birders.**

Hummingbirds will be returning very soon and providing food in the form of a hummingbird feeder is a great way to attract them to your yard. Why not add a safe, sheltered place for them to nest with a hummingbird nest platform?

Good birding,
Paul

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An Affordable Substitute For Those Expensive Hard Camera Cases

Ever since I bought my DSLR I searched for an affordable hard case to protect my investment. The problem was most of the hard cases I found at camera stores started at about $80 and in my opinion didn’t look like they offered much protection. To get something that looked well-made, solid, and would actually protect a camera cost in the several hundred dollar range. It seems dumb I know to cheap out on a case to protect an expensive camera and lens but I was hesitant to spend that kind of money.

IMG 9217 Edit - An Affordable Substitute For Those Expensive Hard Camera Cases — **A hard case is a great investment to protect your expensive camera and lens.**

One day while shopping at Bass Pro Shops for fishing tackle I saw a display featuring the Plano 1612 Field Box. These hard plastic boxes were well-made, well-built, and well-priced. Being a fisherman I’m very familiar with the Plano name and have been using their tackle boxes since I was a kid. Over the years I’ve put my Plano tackle boxes through a lot of abuse with no issues. In fact, the only reason I’ve had to replace them is when I accumulate too much tackle and need a bigger box. Looking at the size of these field boxes which are designed for ammunition and other hunting accessories, I knew my Canon 7D, 100-400mm, and the soft case I keep them in would fit in no problem. Seeing the price I knew my search for a hard camera case was over.

IMG 6911 - An Affordable Substitute For Those Expensive Hard Camera Cases — **Keeping my camera and lens in a hard case gives me peace of mind knowing that my gear is well protected.**

I’ve been using this box for about 7 years now and it has done a great job keeping my camera and lens safe. The hard plastic protects against strikes to the outside of the case which is very useful when packing a carload of gear for vacation. I no longer have to worry about items I stack up in the back of the car damaging my camera if they topple over while driving. The hinge and latch are very sturdy and this box still looks like it did the day I bought it. Another handy feature of this box is the smaller storage compartment incorporated into the lid. This is where I keep a spare memory card, a lens pen, and any other small accessories I want handy.

IMG 7048 - An Affordable Substitute For Those Expensive Hard Camera Cases — **The Plano 1612 Field Box is incredibly functional and can be used to store and protect a variety of items.**

This case is so practical and functional its uses go far beyond hunting and photography. If you are looking for an incredibly affordable, well-made box to store almost anything, I highly recommend checking out this Plano field box.

Good birding,
Paul

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Familiar Faces Return To Southwestern Ontario

Early spring is certainly an exciting time to get out birding. After all, now is when we start to see evidence of migration getting underway here in Southwestern Ontario with many first-of-year species observed. I look for my first Red-winged Blackbird, Tundra Swan, or Killdeer to signify migration has begun. For others, it might be the robin, grackle, or some other species of waterfowl. Fortunately, these familiar faces can all be found once again in our area.

IMG 9556 - Familiar Faces Return To Southwestern Ontario — **Northern Pintails in a flooded field.**

Throughout March I visited many of my favourite birding locations. The results of these jaunts were rewarding regardless of where I went. When searching for spring migrants in March wetlands are where I often first focus my attention. These habitats attract most of the early migrants and therefore should not be overlooked. Waterfowl, Killdeer, and Red-winged Blackbirds can all be found around wetlands.

IMG 8048 3 - Familiar Faces Return To Southwestern Ontario — **Tundra Swans at the Thedford Bog.**

A flooded field is often all that is required to attract Tundra Swans and other waterfowl to stop for a rest on their migration north. The shallow water provides a familiar setting while the remnants of last year’s crop replenishes spent calories. Once again this year I made my way to the Thedford Bog to see the thousands of Tundra Swans that stop here each year. To see some of the action from the Thedford Bog check out my YouTube video.

IMG 9926 Edit 3 - Familiar Faces Return To Southwestern Ontario — **This lone Snow Goose was observed with a group of Canada Geese while driving to an area wetland.**

When driving to places I am going to bird, I always keep my camera at the ready on the passenger seat as I never know what I might come across. A white bird mixed in with some Canada Geese next to a farm pond caught my eye as I drove to a wetland. To my delight, it was a Snow Goose. After slowing down and making a safe U-turn I stopped at the side of the road and snapped a few photos before carrying on.

IMG 0547 - Familiar Faces Return To Southwestern Ontario — **Seeing a chipmunk on a sunny spring day always leaves a smile on my face.**

Some wildlife that remains in the area year-round but has been nonvisible for several months have once again emerged. Chipmunks and several butterfly species have come out of hibernation and can be readily seen. Mourning Cloak Butterflies overwinter in our area as adults spending the cold months in woodpiles or behind tree bark and are quick to take flight on a warm spring day. Sunny forests are where I often find my first Mourning Cloak of the year.

IMG 0317 Edit - Familiar Faces Return To Southwestern Ontario — **The Mourning Cloak is the first butterfly to appear each spring.**

As you can see it’s a great time to get out birding. With migrants trickling in and an abundance of resident birds around being outdoors surrounded by nature soaking up the sun is a great way to shake the winter blues. With so much uncertainty in our lives these days, many are turning to nature and the great outdoors to get through these difficult times. Personally, I haven’t felt the impacts of the pandemic as much as others have. I worked from home before and always spent time in nature to keep my head in a good place. If you are finding these times of isolation and closures tough, try spending time in nature. The fresh air and calming effects nature has are immeasurable. For me, seeing these familiar faces while enjoying the spring sunshine always leaves a smile on mine.

Good birding,
Paul

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How To Build A Birdhouse
For $10

49025725667 719430994d o - How To Build A Birdhouse <br> For $10 — **If you build it they will come. House Wrens are easily attracted to a birdhouse.**

A birdhouse is a great addition to any yard or a great gift to give any bird lover. Sure you can buy one at your local birding store or online, but in this post, I’m going to share with you how to build one yourself for $10.

IMG 0511 2 - How To Build A Birdhouse <br> For $10 — **I’ve already observed many cavity nesters including chickadees checking out potential nest sites.**

To build a birdhouse you need very few woodworking skills and only a few tools. This project is great to do with the kids or grandkids and can be completed in less than an hour.

IMG 1052 Edit 2 - How To Build A Birdhouse <br> For $10 — **Red-breasted Nuthatches are one of the many species that may use this house.**

All that is required is a 1″x 6″x 5′ cedar fence board and some 1-1/4″ #6 wood screws available from your local home improvement store. Since the pandemic started cedar has been a bit hard to find and if so you can also use pine. You might even have scrap wood laying around your garage or workshop that will work. Just be sure not to use wood that is pressure-treated, stained, or painted as these chemicals are potentially harmful to the birds.

IMG 1526 - How To Build A Birdhouse <br> For $10 — **Downy Woodpeckers may also use this birdhouse.**

The plan I use to build this birdhouse I found for free online and is actually for a winter roost box, the only difference is for a birdhouse you mount the front with the hole at the top. Those plans can be found here. Follow the instructions for cutting the wood and assembling the house. Painting or varnishing the birdhouse is not necessary and I recommend leaving the wood natural to avoid any potential ill effects to the birds from harmful chemicals. Cedar or pine left untreated will last many years.

IMG 3676 Edit - How To Build A Birdhouse <br> For $10 — **I’ve used this plan to build many of these birdhouses over the years. I was very excited when Carolina Wrens raised a brood in one of these houses.**

Over the years, I have made many of these birdhouses for my own yard and given several away to friends and family. The 1-1/2″ inch hole will accommodate a variety of species and I personally have seen Carolina Wrens, House Wrens, and Tree Swallows use this house. Other birds including chickadees, nuthatches, and even Downy Woodpeckers may use this house.

26962795676 d442d21e81 o - How To Build A Birdhouse <br> For $10 — **A few years ago I gave one of these houses to my sister who put it up at her cottage. Every year since she has had a pair of Tree Swallows use it.**

When you are finished mount the house 4 to 8 feet off the ground and place it where it is out of prevailing winds or hot afternoon sun. It’s a good idea to put a birdhouse up early so the birds have time to find it and the wood can weather a bit.

IMG 5793 Edit - How To Build A Birdhouse <br> For $10 — **Placing wood chips or cedar shavings (not sawdust) in the bottom of this house will help attract chickadees, woodpeckers, and nuthatches.**

Watching birds raise a brood in a house I built myself is something I find incredibly rewarding. I’ve used this plan to build a lot of houses and this has been the most successful design I’ve tried.

IMG 6335 - How To Build A Birdhouse <br> For $10 — **With its 1-1/2″ hole, this birdhouse will accommodate wrens, chickadees, downy woodpeckers, and nuthatches.**

If you are thinking about adding a birdhouse to your yard, are looking for a unique gift idea for a friend, or just want a fun project to do with the kids or grandkids why not build this birdhouse? The joy of the building process will far outweigh the time and cost of making it and watching birds raise a brood in it will provide plenty of enjoyment year after year.

Good birding,
Paul