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November 6, 2000 My fascination with birds began at an early age. When I was a kid, I yearned to fly like Peter Pan and Superman. Birds I envied. I marveled at how they could get up to the top of a tree with ease while I had to rely upon arm and leg muscles and branches close together. In August 1995, I started my first bird list. I had thought about doing it for years but never took it seriously. Then, we moved to a house in Scarborough, Ontario and it bordered on a tree-filled ravine. I was seeing different species of birds that I hadn't seen in Ohio. It was time to start the bird list. When we moved from Scarborough to London, Ontario and then to Bath, then to Battersea, then to Ohio, I kept a list of all the birds I saw in each backyard. The variety of each location was amazing. Seems we are semi-permanently settled now in southwest Ohio. After living in an apartment complex, then in a rented house, we finally bought our own place. April 15, 2004 is when we became the proud owners of a nice piece of property on Carmen Avenue in Hamilton. The back yard is huge, more like a park setting with a dozen trees dotting it. The bird list always starts the first day I move in. So far, I've seen these birds: great blue heron, robin, mourning dove, house sparrow, cardinal, downy woodpecker, white-throated sparrow, 2 unidentified ducks flying over, Carolina wren, ruby-crowned kinglet, bluejay, flicker, starling, grackle, Carolina chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, American crow, chipping sparrow and baby, American goldfinch, red-tailed hawk, Canada goose, chimney swift, turkey vulture, mockingbird, house wren, white-crowned sparrow, house finch, eastern wood peewee, tufted titmouse, cowbird, blue-gray gnatcatcher, red-bellied woodpecker, ruby-throated hummingbird–female, barred owl, Cooper's hawk, rock dove (pigeon), flock of cedar waxwings, pileated woodpecker, catbird, mallard duck (female w/3 baby ducks behind her marched through the yard to the creek), common nighthawk, red-breasted nuthatch, yellow-bellied sapsucker (immature), rufous-sided towhee, brown creeper, yellow-throated warbler, field sparrow, seagull, probably a ring-billed, yellow-rumped warbler, acadian flycatcher, heard a wood thrush, black & white warbler, and a red-eyed vireo. On a side note, we've seen these animals in our yard: deer, possum, raccoon, red squirrel, gray squirrel, rabbit, mole, groundhog, and a chipmunk. Plus several garter snakes. It's rather disheartening to see the house sparrows chewing through the sunflower seeds so I gave in and put up a feeder with mostly millet seed. The sparrows are more preoccupied with that now and the cardinals, chickadees, titmouses and nuthatches have room on their feeder. Birdwatchers often keep several different lists--lists of birds seen in their yards, lists of birds seen on trips, lists of birds seen in different states or countries. You can make up any kind of list you like. Once you start a list, you'll always be looking to add to it. You'll find yourself never leaving your home without binoculars and a bird identifying book in hand. You'll search the TV listings for bird shows to help you better identify the birds you've seen. You'll have everyone in the household calling you to windows to check out the new bird. You might even get your spouse interested in watching them like I've gotten mine.
The great blue heron is a particular favorite of ours. While living in Battersea, Ontario beside a lake, we enjoyed watching the herons as they sat diligently looking over the water for a frog or fish. They have a way of hunkering down that gives them the impression of being totally morose. Sometimes, they would light in a tall tree and survey the area. Affectionately, we gave one heron the name Ardy after their scientific name "ardea herodias". Now, all herons to us are called Ardy. It would seem to me that the great blue heron in the picture to the right is looking for an easy catch. A frequent visitor to the feeder is pictured here. Here are two recipes for adding more energy to the winter birds' diet: 1. PEANUT BUTTER BIRDSEED PINECONES You need: Several pinecones, a 1- or 2-pound plastic tub of peanut butter, premixed birdseed, sturdy nylon string, a shallow pie plate, waxed paper and a plastic bag. How to: Cover your work surface with old newspapers or a plastic tarp. Open peanut butter tub and remove seal. Cover container with cellophane wrap (loosely draped over the top) and microwave on high for 2 minutes. Stir with a chopstick until peanut butter is a smooth liquid and not scalding hot. Pour liquid peanut butter into a shallow pie plate. Fill your plastic bag with 2 cups of birdseed. Roll pinecones (one at a time) in melted peanut butter, allowing the excess to drip into the pie plate. Drop the coated pinecone into birdseed bag, secure closed, then shake bag to cover the pinecone with seeds (a zip-lock type bag might do nicely). Place coated pinecones on waxed paper to cool. To finish: Tie a long nylon string to the pinecone stem. Attach the other end to a tree branch in your garden, schoolyard or neighborhood park. Voila! You've created a bird-style banquet. (Copied from Family Circle magazine, 12/16/97 edition) 2. PEANUT BUTTER BIRDSEED BALLS--makes 8 to 12 balls 1/2 pound ground beef suet (or try leftover bacon grease) In large saucepan over low heat, melt suet; stirring occasionally. Strain rendered suet into large bowl, discarding crisp particles. Blend in peanut butter and cornmeal to make stiff dough. Chill mixture 30 minutes, until easily shaped with hands. Meanwhile, cut about eight to twelve 14-inch lengths of string. Tie ends of each together in know making loops. Mold balls around knot on each loop, so that knot is in center. Pour birdseed into pie plate. Roll balls in seeds, to coat thoroughly. Refrigerate at least one hour, until firm. Hang on a tree branch and watch to see what birds come to feast. (Copied from "What Should I Bring?"--great gifts for every occasion by Alison Boteler)  Links to more bird sites:
Welcome to the Chickadee Web Pages
Ontario Birding Home Page--very good link to Ontario bird spots, a place to also contribute your sightings in your Ontario location
Bird Song--bird mnemonics, see if you can figure some of them out
Coalition to Prevent the Destruction of Canada Geese--Do you think the Canada goose has been given a bad name unnecessarily? Then join the ranks of this website.
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It always thrills me to see a string of Canada geese (they are not called Canadian geese) flying in V-formation and honking encouragement to each other. While living in Canada, I encountered Canada geese quite frequently. There is quite a concentration of geese around Hamilton, too. Every time we are driving, Bill and I like to point them out.
