Winter Visitors at the Feeder
Downy Woodpecker
This year we put up more bird feeders than ever before, creating something of a bird oasis on our small urban property. The number and variety of birds that stop by is always a surprise. So far, 18 species have visited our feeders this winter.
There is constant action at the feeders. Each morning, coffee in hand, I enjoy watching the birds’ antics from my kitchen window. A flock of Bushtits, tiny twittering grey birds, swarms the suet, and a soft “pik” announces the arrival of a Downy Woodpecker. A handsome Spotted Towhee scratches at some old leaves under the Rhodo while a small flock of finches, the males with crimson red heads, moves in. Every so often, an army of Starlings descends, covering our lawn like locusts. There is hardly a dull moment, even in the dead of winter.
We’ve had some nice visitors lately, including a flock of American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins that enjoy the black oil sunflower seeds in our tube feeder. The sound of the siskins is unmistakable- a long rising note. These small birds have thin, pointy bills and are covered in brown streaks, with a bit of yellow on the wing bar.
Pine Siskins (left and top) and American Goldfinch (lower right)
The goldfinches, which aren’t as common in the winter months, are about the same size as the siskins, but have a distinctive black and white wing. In the breeding season, male goldfinches are bright canary yellow, with a black forehead. In the winter, they are considerably more drab, and are generally quite buffy with some yellow around the head. In the spring they have a lovely, musical song.
We always enjoy the arrival of the woodpeckers, and a male and female Downy frequent our suet feeder. The Downy is the smallest woodpecker in our area. The black and white patterning is similar to that of the larger Hairy Woodpecker, but the Downy has a much shorter, smaller bill. A red patch on the back of the head distinguished the male from the female.
The Bewick’s Wren can make quite a ruckus, with its loud, buzzy call note. This handsome wren, with its brown back and grey belly, has a white stripe above the eye and a long tail that it constantly flips sideways. Bewick’s Wrens are quite common, and like dense brush.
Mourning Dove
A few months ago an unusual visitor, a Mourning Dove, arrived at our feeders. Mourning Doves are normally residents of the dry interior of our province. This slender dove has a long, pointed tail and is buffy with black spots on the back. On closer inspection, it also has a pretty blue eye-ring. At first there was a pair of doves, then one disappeared. The remaining dove hung around our garden for several weeks, but we haven’t seen it since Christmas. We like to take the optimistic view that it simply “moved on,” perhaps to warmer climes. We hope that the neighbour’s cats didn’t get it, but this, unfortunately, is a possibility.
This year, we signed up for Project FeederWatch, run by Bird Studies Canada and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Participants record birds for two consecutive days a week, and then submit the data. Data amassed from feeder watchers across North America gives scientists valuable information about bird trends. The survey is conducted from November through Arpil.
If a weekly commitment is too much, another option is the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), held February 12-15. Participants can choose one or more days within the four-day count period, recording birds in their own backyard, or other areas.
Bewick's Wren
Bird feeders need to be cleaned often, especially in our damp climate, where feed can get damp and moldy. Mold can cause life-threatening infections in birds, such as aspergillosis. Fecal contamination of food and water can also cause salmonella. If you notice a sick bird, suspend feeding for a time and clean all feeders thoroughly. Birds need water, and even in the winter there can be dry spells without much rainfall. A birdbath, with a rock in the center lets birds to perch and drink without getting too wet. Water should be changed daily.
Due to human-related factors, including climate change and massive habitat loss, numbers of birds here and everywhere are declining. Feeding birds in the winter won’t reverse this trend, but it will help many neighbourhood birds survive the winter, enabling them to breed again in the spring. As a bonus, the birds are great fun to watch, and liven up a dreary winter’s day. For more pictures and a list of birds seen at our feeders, check out Dave’s blog.
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