baby-sparrows-in-the-nest
Louise Beckinsale
How Close is Too Close for Baby Birds in the Nest

It’s an exciting time of the year for us birders and we can certainly appreciate everyone’s anticipation of grabbing a look or a photograph of a set of newly-hatched birds.  While most of us have only the best of intentions in mind, there are a certain set of limitations we should all instill when monitoring […]

 

chicks-after-hatching
Louise Beckinsale
Four Ways to tell the Breeding Season Is Coming to a Close

Wait.  What?  That’s right, we’ve blinked and suddenly we are approaching midway through the month of June.  The excitement of the spring migration period is in our rear view and all of the sudden the summer is upon us. While for the moment, there is still a good deal of nesting activity going on locally […]

purple-martin-with-GPS-backpack
Louise Beckinsale
Purple Martins Equipped with GPS ‘Backpacks’ Return to Ottawa

As part of Nature Canada’s Purple Martin Project, nearly 80 GPS tracking devices were equipped on adult purple martins at several colonies across Eastern Ontario.  The project was launched in an effort to learn more about the birds decline and to identify solutions, improve breeding success, recover populations and encourage long-term stewardship. The geolocators and […]

female-cardinal-on-nest
Louise Beckinsale
How Long Do Birds Sit on Their Eggs?

At this point most of the 700-or-so species of birds here in North America have built their nests, found a suitable mate, have laid their eggs and are currently awaiting the arrival of their new brood.  As some of us notice nests and eggs in our backyards or in local wooded areas, we often wonder […]

 

bird-nest-with-3-eggs
Louise Beckinsale
How Many Eggs Do Birds Lay?

At this time of year, many of our backyard birds have been paired up, built their nests and are likely incubating eggs as we speak.  As we progress into the summer months we will soon be treated to the welcoming sight of new baby birds leaving the nest. A common question we often receive is […]

wood-duck
Louise Beckinsale
Spring Spotlight: The Wood Duck

Let’s face it, when it comes to ducks, there are not many that can match the unique colouring and display characteristics as the stunningly beautiful wood duck.  What’s better is that by strategically placing wood duck boxes on our near your property (if so equipped), you can not only get a glimpse of these wonderful […]

 

flock-of-birds
Louise Beckinsale
New Report Suggests Third of North American Birds Risk Extinction

In a recent report published by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI), it was found that approximately 37 percent of migratory birds here in North America are at risk of extinction from a variety of factors. The report, based on the first-ever conservation vulnerability assessment for all 1,154 native bird species on the continent, […]

 

eggs-in-nest
Louise Beckinsale
Learn More About Intraspecific Brood Parasitism or Egg Dumping Among Birds

Since we are about midway through the month of May, a topic of interest among birders right now is the nesting and breeding season which is now underway here in our neck of the woods and most other regions in Canada and the United States. While we are busy identifying nests and hope that they […]