HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!

It’s a day to celebrate everything green….we especially like one particular shade of green!! Have you started the countdown to the return of the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds??!!

TUNDRA SWANS IN THE AREA!

March is the month when the Tundra Swans make their stopovers in many areas of SW Ontario! They are on their way to their breeding grounds in the north. If you are planning a visit to see them, make sure you do it sooner than later so that you don’t miss these beautiful birds! A couple of popular spots are the Thedford Bog near Grand Bend, Ontario & the Aylmer Wildlife Management Area. Be sure to check out the “Return of the Swans” at Lambton Heritage Museum.

GRACKLES, COWBIRDS HAVE ARRIVED!

Two more arrivals in our garden - Grackles & Cowbirds have returned!

NEW ARRIVALS - KILLDEER & RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS ARE HERE!!

Spring Migration is underway with new arrivals at feeders & around the garden! Today we saw our first Red-winged Blackbird! As well, we were delighted to see a Killdeer pair in a nearby field!

PINE SISKINS, GOLDFINCHES, AND FINALLY.....REDPOLLS!

While we have heard many others report beautiful Redpolls in their gardens & around their feeders, they finally arrived at ours! Needless to say, the Nyjer Seed feeders are certainly busy with such a variety visiting along with the return to colder temperatures bringing more birds! Often the Juncos will also feed on the nyjer seed, so sharing is necessary between the different species that arrive.

Redpolls, Pine Siskins, Goldfinches sharing the Nyjer Seed feeder

Redpolls enjoying the nyjer seed - March 2019

FIRST DAY OF METEOROLOGICAL SPRING....HAPPY MARCH!!

With this being the first day of Meteorological Spring, we are officially kicking off the countdown to the arrival of many of your favourite feeder birds, including the beautiful Rose-breasted Grosbeaks! They, and so many others, will be here in approximately two months, give or take a few days…. Happy March!!

LOVIN' THE PEANUTS IN THE SEED CYLINDER

If you’re looking for an easy way to feed the birds in your garden, a great choice is one of our Seed Cylinders/Peanut Logs. The birds love these! We have ours hanging from our eaves providing for closeup views of many birds including Cardinals, Nuthatches, Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Juncos, Chickadees.

Northern Cardinal Jan 23 2019

White-breasted Nuthatch Feb. 26 2019

KEEP FEEDERS FILLED....ADD A NEST BOX/BIRD HOUSE!

If you’ve been feeding the birds this winter, now is not a great time to stop. Many of their food sources found in the wild will be pretty much depleted, the cold weather is not over yet and there is still plenty of time for additional snow, ice, rain and wind. While they may sometimes take a break from visiting feeders, the birds will return! Soon, many will be scouting out nesting spots and you will love it if they make your garden their home.

Should you want to encourage the birds to nest in your garden, now or soon would be an excellent time to think about adding a nest box / bird house! While some, such as Cardinals, Orioles, build nests in trees, others prefer a cavity - a hole in a tree or a house that you offer. It is always great to have an active nest in your yard….and even greater when the adults bring their young to the feeders! Often birds will seek shelter from the weather in one of these houses….a bonus during the winter season!

Stop by 1830 Gainsborough Road, London, Ontario - You’ll be amazed at our awesome selection of bird houses!

Just a sample of our selection!! Note that the rustic house selection often changes as models are sold.

HAPPY FAMILY DAY!

Just a few of the 2018 families we were so very fortunate to capture! Hope you are enjoying a great weekend! We will be closed Monday, February 18 for the Family Day Holiday.

FAMILY DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND!

We will be closed on Monday, February 18 to observe the Family Day Holiday. Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!!

FREEZING RAIN - NOW THE ICE

We’ve been experiencing some ice pellets, snow pellets, freezing rain, freezing fog resulting in most surfaces being covered with ice, including your bird feeders! As temperatures rise, this ice will melt, but the seed in your feeders many once again be damp. Make certain to check that the seed is flowing properly and do what is necessary BEFORE temperatures once again drop - damp seed will freeze in your feeders and the birds will have trouble accessing it!

SPRING-LIKE TEMPERATURES!

After a prediction from Wiarton Willie of an early spring, we were blessed with some lovely sunshine and record-breaking temperatures! It was great to get outside following the extreme cold that many places had been experiencing in late January!

“On frozen pond”….on a plus 9C day! February 3 2019

GOOD BYE JANUARY, HELLO FEBRUARY!

Many will be happy to say ‘so long’ to the very cold temperatures that we experienced late in January. One thing about it….For those who had been missing the birds in their gardens & around their feeders, many returned in numbers!

F Red-bellied Woodpecker visiting our suet feeder, February 1 2019

THE CHILL IS ON....

The coldest temperatures of the season have arrived! While not as cold as some places around the country, around the province, care must still be taken! Look after yourselves, your pets, your elderly neighbours, everyone! Your pets need a warm place to stay with their time outside….limited! As always, fresh water is important. As well, look after ‘your’ feathered friends - make certain your feeders have been topped up, heated bird baths have fresh water, seed ports are clear of snow & ice and seed is flowing properly.

COLDER WEATHER, CHECK & FILL FEEDERS

While we’re not as cold as some places in the country, or in the province, it is fairly chilly and expected to stay this way for a bit. Just a reminder following the rain earlier this week to make certain that your seed didn’t get wet in your feeders. If it did, it could now be frozen and will not be flowing properly. As well, clear deeper snow from below feeders so those that feed from the ground can get to the seed that might be there. If possible, place feeders where they might have more protection from cold NW winds. As usual, we have propped our Christmas tree beside a garden tree so that it offers a little extra shelter near some of our feeders.

Our snow-covered Christmas tree providing protection from the NW winds.

A second shot of our Christmas tree placed behind this feeder.

SEED CYLINDERS/PEANUT LOGS

These Seed Cylinders/Peanut Logs are not only a great way to feed the birds, but are also a great way to bring them up close! Here a Northern Cardinal & a Downy Woodpecker have decided that they can share!

ECLIPSE OF THE SUPER BLOOD WOLF MOON

We captured a few shots of this awesome event!

TONIGHT - LUNAR ECLIPSE OF THE SUPER BLOOD WOLF MOON!

A Lunar Eclipse of the Super Blood Wolf Moon is happening now! This photo is of the Full Moon a little earlier this evening as it rose in the east. It is quite spectacular this evening as it glows over the fresh snow on this cold winter night!

PINE SISKINS HAVE ARRIVED!

It’ s always great to have a variety of birds around the feeders and when some new ones arrive, even more so! While we have had Pine Siskins in the past, and the odd one earlier this season, a few more showed up over the weekend, along with a larger number of House Finches. While we normally see them sharing the Nyjer Seed feeders with the Goldfinches, here they are loving the Sunflower Hearts (hulled sunflower/sunflower chips) at this large capacity feeder.

PINE SISKINS ENJOYING SUNFLOWER HEARTS AT A LARGE CAPACITY FEEDER!

COLDER JANUARY WEATHER HAS ARRIVED!

It is Thursday, January 10th….and it looks, feels like January! We have received some snow with more possible as the squall line coming off Lake Huron is heading our way. Temperatures are below 0 celcius with wind chills making it seem cooler. Nighttime temperatures will also be much cooler than what we have experienced so far this winter.

With this snow & colder weather, reminder to clear the snow from the seed ports in your feeders; fill your feeders with fresh seed (we experienced some damp weather prior to the cold…if your seed became wet, it could now be frozen); pack or clear the snow below your feeders for those birds who feed from the ground and add fresh water to heated bird baths! It is important to give ‘your’ birds a hand so that they don’t use all of their energy searching for food or water sources.