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Ontario's extinct parrot still yields lessons
Carolina Parakeets were Ontario’s only parrot; however, they went extinct. This image of the birds was created by John James Audubon in...

Paul Nicholson
Nov 20, 20224 min read


Fall migration continues into early December
The Common Redpoll, a winter finch, arrives back in Middlesex County in November. Photo by Paul Nicholson. In the same way that some...

Paul Nicholson
Nov 1, 20222 min read


Bird watching as a portal to wellness
In addition to being an accomplished bird watcher, Kelly-Sue O’Connor of Blenheim, Ontario has embraced the healing aspects of birds and...

Paul Nicholson
Oct 17, 20224 min read


Raptor migration is underway
Like most other birds, raptors and vultures migrate south through the fall. The height of the Turkey Vulture migration is early October....

Paul Nicholson
Sep 26, 20223 min read


Paddle-to-the-birds
Bird watching from a canoe or a kayak can produce bird watching experiences like no others.

Paul Nicholson
Sep 14, 20222 min read


Sound ID Feature of the Merlin App is Game Changer
Let’s say that you are bird-curious. Maybe you even have a pair of binoculars and a field guide, but that’s it. You are in for some game...

Paul Nicholson
Aug 16, 20223 min read


Walking On Stilts
Bird legs come in all sizes and colours. The predominant colour is likely black, but terns can have red legs, stilts wear pink and...

Laure Wilson Neish
Aug 4, 20224 min read


An Introduction to Binoculars
One of the many excellent things about bird watching is that there are few barriers to getting started. Unlike pastimes such as skiing or...

Paul Nicholson
Aug 3, 20223 min read


Are some birds invasive species?
Many nature lovers know that plants such as European Common Reed (or Phragmites), Dog-strangling Vine, Russian Olive, and buckthorn are...

Paul Nicholson
Jul 27, 20223 min read


PEEPS ON THE MOVE
To some, Peeps are those colourful marshmallow chicks sold to candy-lovers at Easter time. To birdwatchers, peeps are a collective...

Laure Wilson Neish
Jul 20, 20226 min read


London’s Environmentally Significant Areas are great for birds and nature lovers
Right within London’s borders are twenty-one natural spaces that have been designated by the city as Environmentally Significant Areas or...

Paul Nicholson
Jul 6, 20224 min read


Nesting Season is Upon Us
Spring migration ended in early June, and that brings us to the heart of nesting season. All of the birds typically seen across...

Paul Nicholson
Jun 27, 20223 min read


A durability test of markers applied on windows to prevent bird collisions
What type of marker is best for drawing on windows to prevent bird-window collisions? Last spring, I started an experiment to find out...
Brendon Samuels
Jun 3, 20225 min read


Zero Carbon Footprint Birding
When it comes to ecological footprints, birders are all over the map, sometimes literally. Some bird enthusiasts are content to admire...

Paul Nicholson
Jun 3, 20223 min read


An update on the Bank Swallow Breeding Colony in the Byron Gravel Pit
Photo courtesy of Andrew Murray, taken in summer 2020 at the Byron gravel pit showing Bank Swallows gathered outside their nest burrows....
Brendon Samuels
May 14, 20228 min read


Surprising facts about some Southwestern Ontario birds
Although an American Woodcock has much in common with upland game birds such as grouse and pheasants, it is actually a sandpiper in the...

Paul Nicholson
Apr 6, 20223 min read


All About Canada Geese: An Interview with Salthaven's Brian Salt
We sat down with Brian Salt, the founder and director of Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre based in Strathroy,...
Brendon Samuels
Mar 22, 20226 min read


Invitation To Observe - Ontario's Breeding Bird Atlas
The word “atlas” is a rather dry term. It brings to mind a collection of maps collated into a travel guide or a dusty compendium pulled...

Laure Wilson Neish
Mar 16, 20227 min read


To list or not to list: That is the question.
For some bird watchers, keeping track of their sightings is very satisfying. Other birders are simply content to see what they see and...

Paul Nicholson
Mar 15, 20223 min read


The many aspects of bird photography
The glint in this Prothonotary Warbler’s eye, the interesting foliage, and the colour contrasts contribute to the success of this bird...

Paul Nicholson
Mar 7, 20223 min read
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