Birding: The Perfect Stress Release

In today’s world there are so many causes of stress. Work, finances, family and health to name a few. One of my favourite ways to relieve stress is by birding. Maybe I’m on my deck, or at my window watching over my feeders. I could be hiking through the woods with my dog, but there is something about the sight of these feathered creatures that really clears my mind. I think the fact that they are so peaceful puts me at ease.

Something I like to do besides just watching the birds is count them. I like to keep track how many different species I see, and even how many of each. By engaging my mind in something, rather than just sitting and watching or walking and watching prevents me from thinking about the things that are causing my stress. If you are not familiar with the different bird species, don’t worry many are not difficult to learn how to identify. Start with a backyard feeder, some quality seed and field guide to learn the more common ones.

Once you have familiarized yourself with the more common birds, head out for a walk at your local park or conservation area and try for some new species. The addition of exercise combined with birding will give you great health benefits. You will quickly learn that there are many species in a given bird family, for instance Warblers and Sparrows. As you learn to identify more species within a family the challenge of birding becomes greater and more rewarding. You will now focus your mind on identifying what kind of Sparrow you saw rather than count it as just a Sparrow. This is an aspect of birding that you will find will really keep you going. I am always looking for new species and feel quite rewarded when I do find one. I find myself walking greater distances in search of birds than I would if I was just out for a walk, so again the health benefits of combining the two are terrific.

If you have never been birding before give it a try, I think you will find it as relaxing as I do. If you are already a birder, introduce somebody new to it. Take a friend, family member or co-worker who is dealing with stress and show them how calming birds and the outdoors are. Birding is an inexpensive hobby that provides a person with fantastic psychological and physical benefits and may just be something that adds years to your life.

Good birding,
Paul

The Rut Is On For White-tailed Deer

White-tailed deer sightings in our area are quite common. Southwestern Ontario has a rather large population and with not a lot of natural predators, their numbers are on the rise. Deer can be found in every Environmentally Significant Area in the city as well as many parks and cemeteries. This time of year is a special time for the deer as it what is called the rut or simply mating season.

Bucks have only one thing on their minds at this time of year, and that is finding as many does as they can. This makes them much more active and less cautious then usual so an encounter with one is much greater. Keep this in mind when driving in the dark as these bucks travel many kilometers in search of does and collisions with cars increase at this time of year.

During this rutting period bucks will mark their territory by rubbing their antlers on trees and making scrapes on the ground with their hooves. These are excellent indications that a buck in the area so keep an out for these signs if you are wishing to encounter a mature buck. Watching a buck chase a group of does is quite a sight to see. Seeing two bucks lock antlers and fight over a territory is even more impressive. The best times to view this activity is at first and last light of the day as bucks are most active at night.

I like to head out first thing in the morning just as the sun is coming up and get into a location to photograph these animals. Morning works best for me because I find the animals are already out and there is less human activity than in the evening. I like to position myself on the edge of an open field where I know there are good numbers of deer. Keep in mind that a deer’s sense of smell is incredible, so position yourself downwind to avoid alerting the deer to you presence. Remember to keep still and quiet and you will likely be rewarded by witnessing some of the deer’s rutting behavior first hand.

Good birding,
Paul

Bald Eagles Call London Home

Bald Eagles have always impressed me. Their massive bodies, thick beaks, and incredible wingspans are a real sight to see. Luckily I don’t have to travel very far to do so. More and more Bald Eagles are calling London and area home. With several nest sites in our area and many birds overwintering here, Eagle sightings are becoming more frequent. Eagles nest in forested areas in close proximity to water as their main food source is fish. Look for them near lakes, rivers or reservoirs. Eagles like to perch in the tallest trees with a wide view of their surroundings so when looking for them make sure you are looking high in the trees. These birds are huge and their white heads and tails make identification easy. In flight look for their wings to be held straight and not in a V which will at a distance distinguish the Bald Eagle from a Turkey Vulture.

I have the most success finding Eagles during the fall and winter months once all the leaves have fallen from the trees. Spotting the birds in a leafless tree is quite easy due to their size. Many Eagles can be found up and down the Thames River from Delaware to Fanshawe Lake. The river’s current keeps it from freezing so it provides an excellent source of food for the Eagles. Fresh fish is not the only food that Eagles consume. They will also eat birds, small mammals, and are excellent scavengers so not all meals are live caught. In winter months look for Eagles outside the city in fields on the ground feeding on various carcasses.

The sight of a Bald Eagle is truly remarkable. If you have never seen one you will be amazed at the sheer size of this raptor. I have seen and photographed these birds numerous times and still get excited whenever I come across one. My biggest challenge is holding the camera steady as I tend to shake a bit due to the excitement. If adding the Bald Eagle to your life list is something you are having trouble with, try walking the banks of the Thames River before you go booking your Alaska vacation.

Good birding,
Paul

No Time Like The Present For Spotting Kinglets

One of my favorite species of bird to photograph this time of year are Kinglets. With Warbler and Raptor migration having already peaked, and the winter species not overly abundant yet, with the exception of Juncos and Sparrows, I switch my attention to these colourful little birds. Both species of Kinglets; the Ruby-crowned, and Golden-crowned can be found in large numbers right now in our area.

The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a stocky, olive-gray coloured bird with bright yellow on its wings, distinct white eye ring and wing bars. Males are identified from females by their scarlet crown patch. The Golden-crowned Kinglet is slightly smaller than the Ruby-crowned and lacks the white eye ring. The real distinguishing feature is of course the golden crown for which it is named. Look for this yellow crown patch surrounded by black and a contrasting white eyebrow. Males have a small orange patch mixed in with the yellow.

golden - No Time Like The Present For Spotting Kinglets — **Golden-crowned Kinglet**

Both species of Kinglets are tiny birds with the Ruby- crowned being smaller than a Chickadee and the Golden-crowned not much bigger than a Hummingbird. Fortunately both species flick their wings and move almost constantly which gives their location away. The disadvantage of this is it makes photographing them extremely difficult. Patience is key because eventually a clear still shot will present itself.

ruby - No Time Like The Present For Spotting Kinglets — **Ruby-crowned Kinglet**

Kinglets primarily feed on insects, but at this time of year when insects can be scarce, they will consume the seeds of wild plants. My best advice to you right now if you are looking for Kinglets is to look low to the ground, particularly in Golden Rod fields with a mixture of shrubs surrounding them. Many of the city parks and Environmentally Significant Areas are loaded with Kinglets right now. Look for their almost constant wing movements, and shaking Golden Rod stalks as they fly from plant to plant. Another dead give away that Kinglets are in an area is their high pitched ascending songs and calls. Learn to identify their sound and locating them will be much easier. I mentioned in a previous blog post the All About Birds website where the various calls and songs of over 589 birds can be played. This is a valuable tool to any birder.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/golden-crowned_kinglet/sounds

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/ruby-crowned_kinglet/sounds

Good birding,
Paul

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Think About the Birds When Doing Your Fall Yard Clean Up

By this time of year fall yard clean up is well underway. Many people are spending their weekends cleaning out their gardens of perennials that have succumbed to the cooler temperatures. Before you go cutting, bagging, and bundling everything, stop and think about our feathered friends. Lots of things in your yard can be more beneficial to birds than to the inside of a brown paper bag. Look at what you are about to cut back and see if any of it has produced seeds. Coneflowers and Sedum are examples of common garden plants that birds, especially Goldfinches will feed on in the fall and throughout winter once they’ve gone to seed. By leaving these natural foods for the birds, you are making your yard more attractive to them than your neighbours. I like to leave my Coneflowers, Sedums, and some grasses because not only do they provide food, but the dead stalks and stems also provide excellent nesting material come spring. These can then be cut back and bagged in the spring for collection when the new growth appears.

Dead branches are another thing to consider leaving in your yard, provided they are not at risk of falling and injuring people, or damaging property. Larger birds such as Mourning Doves prefer a dead limb to a live one as a perch, because there is more room for them to land. You will notice this more when the leaves are still on the trees. Dead braches also slowly decay which attracts insects and in return birds. Woodpeckers, and Nuthatches can quite often be seen looking for insects on dead branches. These same dead branches make it easier for birds that excavate a nest site to do so.

Many people put their bird baths away in their sheds at the same time as they do their patio furniture. Consider leaving your birdbath out right up until it freezes. Birds, like all living things require water, and a decent source will attract more birds than food. Moving water is recognized as fresh by birds, so if you have a pond, waterfall, or other type of water feature think about leaving the pump running. If you are serious about providing water for the birds year round, birdbath heaters are available at your local birding shop.

Hopefully this fall you will reconsider some of your old habits when cleaning up your yard and preparing for winter. Some simple practices can make the life of a bird a little easier. When you are all finished sit back and these peaceful little creatures will be the reward for all your hard work.

Good Birding,
Paul

Selecting a Quality Bird Seed

If you are like me, you enjoy feeding the birds and try to attract as many species as possible to your yard. Feeding our feathered friends can become quite expensive as you well know. Some weeks I think I spend more at the feed store than the grocery store. Quality bird seed will not only attract more birds but it will also save you money.

I like to buy seed that has high amounts of sunflower seeds and peanuts. I find these two ingredients attract the most birds. Many inexpensive bird seed mixes are made up mostly of fillers that birds do not like. Two of the most common fillers are milo and cracked corn. You may be thinking to yourself, “wait a minute, birds eat corn!” Yes they do but there is a difference between cracked and cut corn. Cut corn is exactly that, cut. Therefore you get several small pieces of corn that the birds, especially doves, love and is good in a seed mix. Cracked corn on the other hand results in mostly dust that is not edible.

Milo is the other big filler and not something birds prefer. They will eat it as a last resort but it should be avoided in seed mixes. Have you ever noticed that yellowy orange paste under your feeder after a rain or when the snow melts in the spring? That is all milo and dust from cracked corn that the birds have pushed off the feeder trying to get to “the good stuff”. All that waste adds weight that is factored into the price of your seed.

Take for instance a 10lb bag of bird seed. If 60% of it is fillers, you are only getting 4lbs of seed that the birds will actually eat. If you pay five or ten bucks more for a bag of seed that doesn’t contain these fillers, the birds will eat 100% of the seed. Think about it. Would you rather a $20 bag of seed that birds only eat 40% of or a $30 bag that they eat 100% of? By spending a little more initially on your seed purchase you will end up saving money in the long run. In addition to the money saved you won’t have to chisel that paste off your lawn every spring!

Local independent birding stores will have far better quality seed mixes than your favourite big box store. The best part is you won’t have to line up like cattle either!

Good Birding,
Paul

wren - Selecting a Quality Bird Seed — This Carolina Wren is feasting at my feeder on a mix containing black oil sunflower seeds and peanut halves.