by Kelly Butler
When looking for a new winter activity, birdwatching may not immediately come to mind, but there are many reasons to try this rewarding pastime during our last month of winter. It is a fascinating hobby and yet another way to enjoy Lowertown’s beautiful parks. Installing your own feeder can also provide opportunities to observe wildlife right outside your window. You do not need any special skill to spot interesting birds and can enjoy a little nature escape right here in the urban core.
Local birder Constance Downes shared: “Birds are everywhere! Keep your eyes and ears open as you go to pick up your mail, walk your child to school, while waiting at a bus stop, … you’ll be surprised at what you might see.” The American crow, blue jay, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, house finch, house sparrow, European starling, and the beautiful colourful rock pigeon are all common species in these areas. “Obviously the more greenery in your choice of spots, the more individual and more diverse species you’ll see. Walk through the nearest green space to your house … your local “pocket park” is a good start.”
The confluence of the Ottawa and Rideau rivers, with the Rideau Canal and Major’s Hill Park make Lowertown a unique urban location for birds. Last winter, there was a bald eagle spotted at Bordeleau Park, and just this past January, a Cooper’s hawk was sighted at the ByWard Market. An advantage of wintry birdwatching is that it is easier to spot them on bare branches, especially attractive to birds if any fruit or seeds remain. Stands of trees, including any dead wood, shrubs and coniferous trees are also places to look. Then, listen carefully and watch for movement. Binoculars are useful if you have them though you can just appreciate the birds you can see yourself, according to Constance.
“To identify your bird, think about comparative size (crow vs. robin vs. sparrow size), what are the main colours, the main features (does it have a crest? long vs. short tail or bill), markings (dark head? wing stripes vs. wing patches vs. none, is the breast streaked, spotted, plain?) Where did you see it – woods, field, telephone wire etc.?”
Bird identification can be made easier by downloading one of the free birding applications such as Merlin Bird ID or the Audubon Bird Guide. Community reports and useful information about local sightings can be found on the free eBird website (The Cornell Lab https://ebird.org/explore). The Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club (ofnc.ca) posts member’s photos of recent bird sightings. The Ottawa Public Library is a valuable resource and offers many books to help you get started.
Constance advises putting feeders up and getting to know the finches (that love Niger seeds), downy and hairy woodpeckers and,
if really lucky, you might get the large, spectacular pileated woodpecker (They all love suet cakes.). Look under your feeder for the birds that like to forage on the ground, especially dark-eyed juncos, medium-sized sparrows with a grey hood and short pinkish bill which are lovely to see and fairly common at feeders. Look for a flash of white from their tail feathers as they take flight. Mourning doves are also ground feeders and will enjoy millet, peanuts and other foods. Take a good look at the American goldfinches that come to feed. They are in their winter plumage.
You can record your observations and send them to Project Feeder Watch https://www.birdscanada.org/you-can-help/project-feederwatch/ . It is a great source of information and your feeder observations could contribute to their research database.
You may wonder how birds survive the bitter temperatures that Ottawa sometimes experiences. In the fall, birds grow winter feathers to protect them from harsh weather. Birds fluff up their feathers in the cold to preserve a layer of warmth; some even have the ability to thermoregulate, reducing their metabolism to conserve energy. Natural shelters such as evergreens can offer some protection from freezing rain and wind chill. This is yet another reason to protect and maintain green spaces in our neighbourhood.
So, this month, embrace winter’s magical light on a stroll through Lowertown and keep an eye out for our feathered friends. As a wise piece of advice from an Audubon Magazine article reads: “Tune into birds – and tune out everything else!”