Typical Canadian winters are snowy, long, dark, cold and dreary—conditions that can make it a challenge to get outside and enjoy the natural world. However, this time of year actually provides unique opportunities, not only for bird watching but also for general nature appreciation as well as wildlife photography. Whether you are watching birds at feeders from the comfort of your home or trekking out into the woods to observe the hardy species that can endure this harsh season, winter provides its own bird watching rewards.
With so many excellent birding apps now available. It is easy to find out which bird species have been sighted in your area or in a region you would like to visit. I encourage all bird watchers to join the legions of other citizen scientists who are contributing to our understanding of bird populations by uploading all bird sightings, during all seasons, to one or more of these apps.
Social media is another excellent way to keep apprised of birding hot spots, recent sightings, rarities etc. There are myriad Instagram pages, Twitter feeds and Facebook groups across the country dedicated to birds or special topics related to birds and bird watching, from bird feeding groups to those that specialize in bird photography. The contributors to these pages are as enthused about birding in the winter as they are during any other season.
Additional information about birds and winter bird watching can be obtained from various nature and birding organizations. Some organizations reach an international audience (e.g., Cornell Lab of Ornithology, at birds.cornell.edu) while others are national in scope (e.g., Nature Canada at naturecanada.ca, and the Canadian Wildlife Federation at cwf-fcf.org). There are also organizations in each Canadian province that focus on nature / bird conservation. Easily found through online searches, these provincial organizations are linked with and support regional nature and birding clubs, most of which have their own websites, social media feeds, regional bird checklists and even field guides. Most clubs also offer year-round field trips, providing beginners with excellent opportunities to learn from knowledgeable naturalists and become more familiar with local birding hot spots. Over the Christmas season, most nature groups across Canada sponsor a local Christmas Bird Count. This count is another excellent way to both learn about winter birds and contribute to citizen science.
Bringing the Birds to You
Interestingly, it is not the harsh temperatures that determine which bird species stay behind for the winters and which must migrate south to warmer climes. Rather, it is food availability. Birds that rely on insects and nectar/sap or need to find their food in or around water or on the ground must migrate if their food sources disappear with the onset of cold temperatures and the arrival of snow. The species that can reduce their winter menu to a paltry diet of frozen insects, live prey, carrion, seeds and berries are able to remain behind. Not surprisingly, our avian neighbours spend most of their waking hours during the short winter days in a ceaseless quest for food.
You can offer food to winter birds in two ways: in the short term by setting out bird feeding stations and in the longer term by planting trees and shrubs that retain their seeds and berries into the fall and winter.
Bird feeding is a popular hobby because it brings the birds into your yard and thus up close for observation and enjoyment. During periods of extreme winter weather, supplemental feed will also help increase the survival rate of chickadees and other small birds.
I recommend three bird feeding staples: sunflower seeds, peanuts and suet. Both sunflowers and peanuts can be offered in the shell or shelled. Shelled seeds are more expensive but prevent a messy buildup of discarded husks. Commercial suet cakes are now widely used, but suet can also be offered raw, or melted and then mixed with peanut butter and other ingredients.
Seeds and peanuts can be spread on snow-free areas (such as under spruce trees) but are more efficiently dispensed from hopper, tube or covered tray feeders. A wide variety of excellent bird food and seed/suet dispensers are available at your local Peavey Mart store.
Not only do bird feeding stations attract resident species such as chickadees, jays and woodpeckers, but they may also entice in the species, such as Common and Hoary Redpolls, that migrate south for the winter from their Arctic nesting grounds. Feeding stations are also known to attract rarities or the odd individual bird that, usually due to injury, neglects to migrate.
Winter feeding stations may also be visited some years by species such as Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Grosbeaks, and Red and White-winged Crossbills. These “winter wanderers” move about in search of abundant spruce and pinecone crops and – when they are in the neighbourhood – will avail themselves of feeder food. During the shoulder seasons of spring and fall, especially during stormy weather, feeding stations might also attract birds that are migrating through. Finally, feeding stations, with all their busyness and activity, will inevitably attract birds of prey, such as Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks that rocket through to snap up an unsuspecting feeder bird.
Naturescaping
Creating habitat in your yard by “naturescaping” (eschewing pesticides and offering food, water and shelter) is an important and gratifying way to increase biodiversity throughout the year. Planting trees and shrubs (especially those with persistent berries) is a long-term endeavour, but your efforts will be rewarded, because a wider variety of species will be attracted into your yard, not only to the food offered but also because of the shelter these plantings provide.
Although overwintering bird species are not dependent on freshwater for drinking during the winter (they are well adapted to eat snow), some birds will use a heated birdbath as a water source.
Out in the Field
Many keen birdwatchers and bird photographers spend winter days driving the backroads looking for highly visible species such as eagles, overwintering owls and flocks of winter visitors (e.g., redpolls, Snow Buntings and Bohemian Waxwings). Not only do vehicles offer comfort and warmth during cold weather, they are excellent mobile bird blinds.
Winter birding can also be done on foot. Weather-appropriate attire (including cleats for your boots) and good binoculars make for pleasant and interesting walks through local neighbourhoods, parks and natural areas. Even big city parks support a surprising diversity of winter birds. Walking has the distinct advantage over driving because the birds that vocalize can be heard, and species not likely seen from a vehicle can be spotted. Walking is the best way to find the smaller, more elusive and less common winter birds. An added bonus of walking is that the tracks and signs of other wildlife await discovery.
Areas of open water are also good places to check out during the winter. Those living in coastal areas or near large ice-free lakes are fortunate to be able to watch a wide variety of seabirds and overwintering species, while those of us living in land-locked areas can scout out smaller patches of open water, such as fast-moving rivers, water treatment plant outlets, hydroelectric dams, etc. Many of these open waters support overwintering populations of waterfowl, which in turn attract dramatic predators such as Peregrine Falcons and Gyrfalcons.
Finally, it is important to remember that winter birds are often on the edge of survival. It is imperative that you observe responsibly: do not cause these vulnerable creatures to waste valuable energy by flushing or chasing them.
Hopefully, these tips will get you out birding this winter
