December 24,2011 Christmas Eve

Now with winter upon us now, the ground snow covered, be sure to have your bird feeders full for our winter resident species or a late lingerer. A suet feeder will attract woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees and any other insect eater that might be still hanging on. Both sunflower and nyger seeds work well for most local species. 

American Robins can overwinter in small numbers if there is an ample food supply of berries/fruit such as Mountain Ash, Buchthorn, Wild Grape, or Crab-apple. 

An American  Robin foraging on the ground. 

Buckthorn berries are still abundant this winter.

Over 100 American robins were counted at the Britannia Conservation Area on December 18th. 

The White-breasted Nuthatch  is a permanent resident in eastern Ontario. During the winter months it can be found associating with Black-capped Chickadees as they forage through city woodlots or visit bird feeders.