© Lora Denis
As we continue to grapple with COVID-19, we are also faced with an outbreak of H5N1, a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza among the North American bird population. Birders and scientists alike are understandably concerned about this development. What is H5N1? H5N1 is a highly contagious strain of the avian influenza virus (AIV). AIV ...
Wakimi Lake, Wabakimi Provincial Park © Kristen Setala
It’s late spring in northern Ontario. I am sitting on a beautiful peninsula, listening to the ethereal song of the Swainson’s thrush, and watching the sunrise over a quiet, peaceful lake. Does it get any better? This is the beauty of the Wabakimi area. Earlier this year, I joined the Friends of Wabakimi (FOW) on ...
Red-headed woodpecker © Ken Gibson CC BY-SA 2.0
Any birder who’s seen one, will tell you about the excitement of spotting a red-headed woodpecker. With a striking crimson head and a loud, harsh call, this unmistakable woodpecker takes centre stage on the backyard suet or drilling away into a tree. But unfortunately, things are changing quickly for this woodland standout. A May 2021 ...
Display of 80 anthropogenic debris pieces found in a single nest © Melina Damian
When you think of a bird’s nest, what’s the first image that comes to mind? Probably a bunch of sticks and leaves bundled together – right? Unfortunately, for birds that live in urbanized areas, they often use anthropogenic debris (otherwise known as garbage) to build their nests. This can result in entanglement or ingestion and ...
The third Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas (Atlas-3) Launch Weekend video series provides volunteers with everything you need to know about atlassing and how you can get involved. Thanks for your interest in and support of Ontario’s breeding birds. Beginner Atlassing Welcome new birders! This session will cover beginner bird identification, as well as the different ...
Laurel Creek Conservation Area © Carl Hiebert / Grand River Conservation Authority