WARMER WINTER BRINGS US RARE VISITORS

As 2015 comes to a close, it will be remembered as one of the most exciting and memorable birding years in Ottawa- Gatineau and Eastern Ontario in a long time.

A flood of rarities started in May and continued into December. At least three new species for the area were documented and included a Little Egret in JuneJuly and a Mountain Bluebird and a Bullock’s Oriole in November-December. The Little Egret was found near Carp and the Pink-footed Goose east of Casselman, making Eastern Ontario a major destination for birders and photographers from all over Ontario, Quebec and northeastern United States.

Hopefully, Santa left a bird feeder, binoculars and a field guide under your tree this year because winter offers feeder watchers a great opportunity to study birds close at hand. This week I received a variety of feeder reports of common visitors such as Black-capped Chickadees, Blue Jays, Whitebreasted Nuthatches, Redbreasted Nuthatches, European Starlings, Mourning Doves, Hairy Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, Northern Cardinals and small numbers of House Finches and American Goldfinches.

Once a very rare visitor to our region, the Northern Cardinal has been a well-established resident since the mid-1970s. This is due to the increase in winter bird feeding over the past five decades. Like the Northern Cardinal, the Carolina Wren and Red-bellied Woodpecker, too, were very rare 40 years ago but over the past decade both species have increased along the northern edge of their breeding range. Unfortunately, during extreme and prolonged cold spells they have difficulty surviving. Even in more southern areas such as Point Pelee National Park, their numbers are affected by cold temperatures.

Late lingering species continue to be reported including Northern Flickers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, White-throated Sparrows and Song Sparrows. During the next couple of weeks keep an eye out for anything unusual. Once we have snow cover and cold temperatures, I’m sure some interesting species will turn up at feeders. Watch for lingerers including Brown Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, Eastern Bluebird and even the Yellow-rumped Warbler. Keep your feeders full and your camera handy.

As always, a natural consequence to an active bird feeder is visiting birds of prey. Whenever there is a regular concentration of birds at an urban feeder, there is also a likely possibility of a Cooper’s Hawk, a Merlin or a Sharp-shinned Hawk eyeing your feeder. All of these birds of prey will gladly feast on your clientele.

Although occasionally reported, the Peregrine Falcon is an extremely rare visitor to feeders. After more than 40 years of feeding birds, I have never observed a Peregrine prey on feeder birds, but I have had the two smaller falcons, Merlin and American Kestrel, successfully hunt birds at my feeder.

At rural feeders, birds of prey may include Northern the Goshawk, Northern Shrike and Barred Owl.

I’ve continued to receive numerous emails on sightings of the American Robin and concerns about its winter survival. Robins are very hardy birds. Although we often associate the Robin with eating worms, during the winter months they can survive easily on berries or fruit. With the fall abundance of this food source, there are more Robins in our area than usual. During milder winters it is not uncommon to have hundreds overwintering in Eastern Ontario. If you do happen upon a flock of American Robins, carefully check through the birds, as surprises are always possible.

Remember, there are still a number of Christmas Bird Counts taking place in Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais. If you would like to join any of these counts please check www.bsceoc.org/national/cbcmain.html I’d like to thank all birders, photographers and feeder watchers who sent reports and/or photographs during the past week. Please email bird observations and/ or photographs to: dilabiobirding@ gmail.com; Subject line: Ottawa Citizen Birds. For photos, please provide date, location, and photographer’s name and for bird reports, observer, date and location. The birding Code of Ethics and guidelines of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club can be found at www.ofnc.ca/birding/Code-of-Conduct.pdf. To reach the Wild Bird Care Centre for orphaned and injured birds call 613-828-2849. Report bird bands to pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/bblretrv/. Access to the Shirley’s Bay Causeway is restricted. You must obtain permission from the Range Control Office before entering the area. Please call 613-991-5740 for permission. View more great photos online at ottawacitizen.com/category/life/world-of-birds

BRIAN MORIN The Evening Grosbeak has become a scarce winter visitor over the past 20 years but still occurs in small flocks. During the 1960s and 1970s hundreds could be found in our region.

BRUCE DI LABIO BRIAN MORIN Northern Cardinals are somewhat shy and tend to visit feeders usually at early morning or at dusk.

The American Kestrel is our smallest falcon and is a scarce winter resident. Most individuals migrant south when it becomes cold.

VIRGINIA McEWEN The Red-tailed Hawk is a regular winter resident in small numbers. Occasionally individuals are attracted to backyard feeders.