Jane’s Deck of Birds – Backyard Dispatches: Recent Episodes
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We are in a time of transition when the weather doesn’t seem to know what it wants
to do. We still have lingering winter visitors but spring birds are slowly advancing,
anxious to begin the annual breeding season. If we haven’t seen them already, most
of us will soon have Song Sparrows in our yards and hear their cheery melody.
Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds have become common features, picking up
seeds on the ground and hogging the show with other species. You will see adult and
juvenile male Red-wings initially before the striped females show up in a couple of
weeks. The males spend that time selecting a territory for prospective mates.
This is peak time for migrant geese to appear. While some Canada Geese spend the
winter here and will remain to nest locally, vast numbers are migrants, heading
north to the Arctic for the summer. In the eastern part of the province, tens of
thousands of Snow Geese remain for a few weeks until they head down the St.
Lawrence into Quebec before they too move into the Arctic. The breeding cycle is in
full swing.
Happy Birding!
By Brian Morin
Publisher of Ontario Birding News
Now that we’re into the cold months of winter you might be noticing small flocks of chickadees, goldfinches and cardinals in trees or shrubs, or arriving at your feeders in larger than normal groups. There were 8 male cardinals in a small tree in the field behind our house today with some females too!
During the winter these birds will flock together for a few reasons. Safety is one of them. Circling hawks or prowling cats are easier to spot and escape from when birds warn each other with distress calls. When the weather is cold, birds will huddle together for warmth. Last, but not least, you will see them together where food is plentiful.
We can help birds by offering food, water and shelter. Seeds that are high in oils and fat such as peanuts and sunflower seeds are a great choice to put in your feeders. Suet is also high in calories and gives them the energy they need to get through cold winter days and nights. Birds will feel welcome at a variety of feeders including hopper, fly-through, cylindrical, suet, and ground feeders.
Water is also essential for our feathered friends. Heated bird baths are an option as well as bird bath de-icers. These are all thermostatically controlled, so they don’t come on when the temperatures are above 0 degrees celsius, or 32 degrees fahrenheit. Here’s a tip for you if you think your bird bath de-icer is defective. Put it in a freezer for 2 hours. Remove from the freezer and immediately plug it in, it should start to feel warm to the touch. If you plug it in before freezing it, it won’t produce heat as the temperature in your home is warm. If you don’t have an outdoor electrical outlet, place your birdbath in a sunny location for a few hours a day.
Shelter is also for birds. If you live in a mature neighbourhood with trees, shrubs and hedges, birds can take shelter there. If you’re in a new area, you can offer roosting pockets or boxes.
Birds bring life and welcome activity to our yards providing us with pleasure and sometimes amusement as we wait for warmer months to arrive. Watch for different species gathering together this winter. Once spring comes, they will separate to defend nesting grounds. For now, they’re one big happy family!
Happy Birding!
Jane Paradis
Urban Nature Store Brand Ambassador
We will soon see baby birds (also called fledglings) appear with their parents at our bird feeders. Have you ever wondered how long the young are dependent on their parents after leaving the nest? After doing a little research, I’ve put together a list of common birds we see in our yards and gardens, and how long we will be able to observe them as family units.
Downy woodpecker feeding its youngAmerican Goldfinches – 3 weeks
American Robins – 2-3 weeks. Did you know that Robin dads and fledglings roost together at night with other Robin dads and their young? This is how they teach them how to flock.
Baltimore Orioles – 2 weeks
Black-capped Chickadees – 2-3 weeks
Blue Jays – 3 weeks, but have been known to follow their parents for 1-2 months… and sometimes up to 4 months.
Cardinals – up to 40 days
Common Grackles – 3-4 weeks
Downy Woodpeckers – 3 weeks
European Starlings – 1-2 weeks
Hairy Woodpeckers – 3-5 weeks
House Finch – 2 weeks
Hummingbirds – 1 week. This is because they stay in the nest for approximately 21 days which is longer than most birds.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers – 6 weeks or more
Red Breasted Nuthatch – 2 weeks, but sometimes up to 5 weeks.
White-breasted Nuthatch – 3-5 weeks
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks – 3 weeks
Cowbirds lay their eggs in other birds’ nests, so if you see a fledgling that doesn’t quite look like the others, you’ll know which adopted parent got the egg. I hope you enjoy watching these family groups over the coming weeks.
Happy Birding!
Jane Paradis
Brand Ambassador
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