Gardening for Wildlife
Birds
| Close Encounters of the Bird Kind » Birds are undoubtedly the form of Canadian wildlife that people most often enjoy watching. The variety of bird species and their ability to live within close proximity of human habitation makes them accessible even in urban areas. As you start to notice birds, you will be fascinated by the great diversity of colours, sizes, and habits. Their identification can quickly become an addictive hobby. |
| Hummingbirds » There’s nothing quite like the thrill of seeing a hummingbird zipping through your garden. Hummingbirds are a marvel to watch as they hover in place or dart quickly among the plants. Despite their tiny size they’re quite feisty little creatures. And their bright jewel-like colours, especially those of males, add a brilliant dimension to any scene. Attracting them to your garden can be very rewarding. |
| Is There a Bluebird on Your Windowsill? » This past winter, several members of the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists (MVFN), situated in the northern half of Lanark County in Eastern Ontario, spent a cold wintry Saturday building bluebird boxes. They hope to establish a bluebird trail in the area this spring. The plight of the Eastern Bluebird has long been of interest to naturalists across North America, ever since the 1950s when man almost wiped them out with DDT. Another single deterrent to the successful nesting of these beautiful songsters was the introduction of the European Starling to our continent, a species that spread prolifically a century ago and assumed the bluebird’s natural nesting cavities. Building bluebird boxes and establishing nesting trails has been a constant quest ever since. |
