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November 29, 2023 | Myrna Pearman, Chin Ridge Seeds (en-CA)
For several weeks this fall, a rare and beautiful bird enthralled birdwatchers from all over Alberta. The bird, a Yellow-throated Warbler, appeared in the backyard of a bird-feeding enthusiast east of Breton, Alberta on the afternoon of October 22, 2023. This was only the third record for the species in Alberta!
October 16, 2023 | Myrna Pearman, Chin Ridge Seeds (en-CA)
Fall is a good time to start/resume a bird feeding program. Not only will supplemental feed help our avian neighbours survive harsh conditions, bringing birds into our yards and gardens also livens up the cold prairie winters.
July 21, 2023 | Myrna Pearman, Chin Ridge Seeds (en-CA)
I highly recommend feeding birds during the summer months. The exception would be in areas where it is illegal (e.g., some National Parks) or where there is a risk of attracting bears. Otherwise, summer bird feeding adds great interest to any yard or garden because it attracts colourful and interesting bird species and provides new opportunities to observe bird behaviour, including courtship, nesting, and the feeding of young.
June 07, 2023 | Myrna Pearman, Chin Ridge Seeds (en-CA)
Across the Canadian Prairies, June and July are the most active and interesting bird-related months of the year because it is nesting season! Upon arrival at their breeding grounds, birds need to recover from their migration before commencing the challenging tasks of setting up territories, finding mates, building their nests and raising their families.
May 09, 2023 | Myrna Pearman, Chin Ridge Seeds (en-CA)
For bird lovers across the Canadian Prairies, May is one of the most exciting months of the year. As the gloom and cold of winter is displaced by warmth and longer hours of daylight, birds start arriving on their breeding territories or delight their human observers as they pass through on their way farther north.
April 12, 2023 | Myrna Pearman, Chin Ridge Seeds (en-CA)
The story of the House Finch is a fascinating one. Native to Mexico and the Western U.S., a few individuals were released in New York in 1940 after failed attempts to sell them as caged birds. The birds quickly spread westward, where the two breeding populations have now converged.
March 06, 2023 | Myrna Pearman, Chin Ridge Seeds (en-CA)
If you would like to complement your regular seed and suet feeding offerings, I highly recommend trying bark butter! Bark butter is created by melting and mixing together peanut butter and lard (rendered pork fat). The safest way to do it is to dump the two ingredients (I use a large tub of peanut butter to a one-pound block of lard) into a large pot and turn the stove on low heat until both ingredients have melted,
January 11, 2023 | Myrna Pearman, Chin Ridge Seeds (en-CA)
January is a difficult time of year for many people. The bustle of the holiday season has come and gone, the dark and cold of winter still envelopes us, and the return to everyday realities can be challenging. One of the best ways to cure the January blues is to enjoy nature!
December 02, 2022 | Myrna Pearman, Chin Ridge Seeds (en-CA)
As we head into the holiday season, bird watchers will be marking their calendars with an additional yuletide activity – the 123rd annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Interestingly, the CBC-now the longest-running and most important bird census in the world - didn’t start out as a wildlife-friendly activity. Prior to the turn of the 20th century, hunters engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas "Side Hunt."
October 28, 2022 | Myrna Pearman, Chin Ridge Seeds (en-CA)
Setting out backyard bird feeding stations is one way that we can help birds in winter. Bringing birds into our yards and gardens can also liven up our cold prairie winters. There are two main types of bird food that can be offered in the winter: seeds (including nuts) and suet.
