Birds get their own website

Opportunity for all ‘birders’ to seek many species on P.E.I.

“This number includes all the species breeding on P.E.I., all the common species not breeding on P.E.I. and some ‘rarities’.” Denise Motard

A website for bird of P.E.I. is all set to go for the birdwatchers.

The website birdsofpei.info includes short descriptions, anecdotes on the birds, along with photos.

It includes topics such as bird feeding, bird watching, conservation, interesting behaviour in birds and contact information.

Denise Motard manages the site and adds pictures and details of birds found on the Island.

The site was started in May 2017 and has 230 species of birds found on P.E.I.

“This number includes all the species breeding on P.E.I., all the common species not breeding on P.E.I. and some ‘rarities’,” said Mortard.

The site is a great source for people interested in birds, are bird watchers and bird lovers, she said.

Mortan said she is sending information to public libraries and citizens of municipal wildlife and conservation so they can use the information.

“I’m contacting the ministry of education to make the resources available to students.”

Mortan was a bird-lover since her childhood.

She has a scientific background and on her retirement trip she took photos of birds from Hawaii, New Zealand and Japan.

She said she decided to share her photos with people through a website.

This prompted her to develop a website for birdwatchers.

The website is entirely a personal initiative, said Mortan.

“I don’t have any funding from government,” she said.

The money is personal and work is volunteer.

Mortan is looking to expand the site with the goal of including 368 bird species observed so far on P.E.I.

BRIAN MCINNIS/THE GUARDIAN A family of Canada geese are startled and take flight in this Guardian file photo. Canada geese are common on Prince Edward Island and are one of the bird species that breed here. These geese were living in the pond at the entrance to the P.E.I....

BRIAN MCINNIS/THE GUARDIAN Bald eagles live in the province year around and are a common sight. These immature birds were at Long Pond in the Dalvay section of the P.E.I. National Park one recent winter.