Bird watching is fast becoming one of the most popular year-round past times in Canada. In the winter, Muskokans can enjoy bird watching from the warmth of home by placing bird-feeding stations around the property.

  One important thing to remember is that variety is the spice of life: the greater the variety of feeder and food types, the greater the variety of birds you’ll attract.

  Each species of bird has its own particular feeding behaviour.  For example, juncos prefer feeding on the ground, while woodpeckers like hanging feeders. The most common feeder styles are the “house” (or hopper) style and the plastic hanging tubes that come in a variety of designs and sizes.  Whichever style you choose, it is important that the contents remain dry and free from snow cover.

  Window kills are a potential problem.  Feeders placed three metres or less from a window will cause fewer deaths than those placed far away.

  To discourage squirrels, place the feeder high up on a pole in an open area.  A cone shaped baffle on the pole about a metre and a half from the ground will also help.  In order to reduce cat predation, place the feeder away from potential hiding places like dense foliage and ground-hugging shrubs. 

  The best all-purpose food source is sunflower seed, both black and striped.  It is highly nutritious, readily available, reasonably inexpensive, loved by most birds, and has a high fat content.  Other good choices are peanuts and peanut hearts, cracked corn, Niger seed (for finches), and millet.

  Suet (kidney fat from beef or mutton) will attract almost all birds, especially woodpeckers.  Be sure to place the suet in a wire or mesh feeder out of the reach of dogs, cats, and other mammals.

Ethics

Homeowners must make their own decisions about which birds or animals they want to feed and here are a few points to consider:

·  Birds do not become dependent on feeders as many people fear.  Feeding all year does not appear to do any harm.

·  Over the years, the use of bird feeders in urban areas may have extended the northern range of many songbirds.

·  For some people, especially those who are housebound, bird feeding is their only connection to nature.

·  There is some indication that during severe winter weather, feeders may help increase some birds’ chances of survival.

·  On the down side, feeders also encourage other bird and animals species that can, in fact, have a detrimental affect on bird populations.  Many homeowners would be surprised to find out that blue jays are expert next raiders, as are squirrels and chipmunks.  Cowbirds are parasites, laying their eggs in smaller birds’ nests for the other birds to raise.  Since cowbirds are attracted to feeders in the spring, encouraging them to visit may also encourage them to parasitize nests in the vicinity. 

 Your winter bird observations can also help scientists study and protect birds.  To get involved, contact Project FeederWatch (Bird Studies Canada) by mail at P.O. Box 160 Port Rowan, ON, N0E 1M0, by phone at 1-888-448-BIRD, by email: pfw@bsc-eoc.org.  You can also check out their website at www.bsc-eoc.org.  Another site to visit for information is Muskoka Nature News at www.muskoka.com/~sinclair/newsmain.html