Conservation Corner
Christmas for the birds

‘Tis the season to deck the halls, trim the tree, eat, drink and be merry! Trimming outdoor trees with edible ornaments for winter birds and wildlife is a kidpleasing, fun holiday tradition.

The birds’ antics and bright plumage will add a splash of colour on the winter white landscape and delight you as they share in the Holiday feast!

Many birds that feed on seeds, nuts and insects tough out the cold, dark winter with us. Food is critical. A chickadee weighs only as much as a handful of paper clips and needs to eat 10% of their body-weight every day! Winter food is so important, even their brains seasonally enlarge to help them remember where they hid their food caches. Help them keep warm with these treats:

Garlands: String unsalted peanuts, popcorn, raisins and cranberries on colourful yarn. Make some short, 3

items long pieces for a portable feast. Avoid knotting the end, so the goodies are easy to slide off.

Fruity Ornaments: Slice and hang apples, pears and oranges on ribbons or wire. Cookie cutters can be used to shape the apple and pears into stars and other festive designs. Waxwings, towhees and mockingbirds adore these fruity treats.

Peanut Butter Pinecones: Cover pinecones with peanut butter or suet, then roll in birdseed, to make a yummy high energy treat for nuthatches, chickadees, and woodpeckers.

Bird Pudding: Mix a pound of melted lard (or leftover cooking fat), one cup hot water, two cups oatmeal, one cup flour, and four cups birdseed. Let harden and hang in onion bag or suetcage.

Feeders: Make a feeder with clean pop-bottles, milk cartons, jugs and wood. Feeders make it easy to

attract birds all winter long. Different seeds attract different types of birds; try a mix high in sunflower seeds to start.

Trees, Shrubs & Flowers: Plant berries, nuts and nectar producing plants to attract birds all year long.

Items to Avoid: Some foods can harm birds and wildlife. Save your chocolate for friends and family; it contains theobromine which is toxic to birds. Make sure seeds are fresh and feeders dry. Moldy seeds contain toxins.

Don’t have existing trees to decorate? Recycle an old Christmas tree. A birding guide and binoculars can help you identify your winter guests. Add your own recipes and make your tree a gourmet bird restaurant!

Love bird watching? Want to help scientists track how bird populations are doing? Bird Studies Canada aims "to advance the understanding, appreciation and

conservation of wild birds and their habitats." Environmental changes from shifting land-use and climate can affect many species. Bird populations are indicators of environmental health. Long-term monitoring of bird populations around the world helps detect population declines, increases and tracks introduced species.

Christmas Bird Count: Three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree! People just love counting birds.

The 107th Christmas Bird Count is a holiday tradition for over 50,000 birders across Canada, the United States and Latin America. Counts occur December 14- January 5.

To find a count near you, visit Bird Studies Canada at www.bsc-eoc.org/cbc/compilers. jsp .

Project Feeder Watch: Report the birds you see at your feeder this winter. Watch birds from November

through March, keep track of the kinds and numbers and record the data online. There is a classroom version of the project. To find out more visit Bird Studies Canada at w w w. b s c - e o c . o r g / national/pfw.html.

“Conservation Corner” is a monthly column that looks at the theory, practices, technology and benefits of land & water stewardship.

The NVCA is your public agency dedicated to the preservation of a healthy environment. As your partner, the NVCA provides the expertise to help protect our water, our land and our future.

For comments or suggestions about this column or the Healthy Waters program, contact Shannon Stephens at the NVCA at (705) 424-1479 ext 239 or e-mail us at sstephens@nvca.on.ca or visit our website at www.nvca.on.ca.