The Nature Conservancy of Canada is encouraging people to do their part to give birds an easier time in the winter.
Sarah Bradley, NCC’s Stewardship Coordinator for Central Saskatchewan, says that while birds are adapted to the winter, there are things people can do in their own backyards to make survival easier during the harsh temperatures.
“Those little songbirds, they need that cover to be able to shelter from the wind and from the predators, so having a more natural landscape in your backyard can help with that. You can also plant fruit-bearing trees and shrubs in your backyard. Things like mountain ash or high bush cranberries. Things that are going to stay on the tree or shrub over winter are going to help feed some of those fruit eating birds.”
Bobolink (Photo by Stacey Carnochan)
Along with giving the birds a natural landscape to live in, Bradley says that leaving a bird feeder outside will give the birds something good to eat during the winter.
“Most birds are actually very well suited to Saskatchewan’s cold climate, particularly those colder temperatures in the winter. So, you can help them by placing a bird feeder outside of your house and stocking it with fatty seeds, particularly those black oil sunflower seeds are highly sought after by birds in the winter.”
Bradley adds that winter is a great time for people to start birdwatching, as more birds will gather at a feeder in the winter than during other seasons. She says there are a few resources to help people just getting started with birdwatching.
“You can try the Merlin app, which is an app that will automatically identify birds for you by sight or by recording a song. You can also look at E-Bird which is a citizen science platform that shows what other birders are seeing around you, so you can see what to expect, what’s normal at that time of year in your location.”
Whether you’re a birdwatcher or just someone who wants to help out, providing food and shelter for our feathered friends is easy to do and is sure to make a positive impact.
