More info: The webcam at this northern site is a great location to see winter finches like redpolls and grosbeaks as well as two species of Jays and even Ruffed Grouse. The bird feeders are in a spacious backyard which has a large birch tree that the birds love, as well as a mixed stand of conifers and several fruit and berry producing shrubs. Close by is a small swamp as well as larger stands of woods and a small lake. The feeder system has a rotating set of feeders that provide black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer seed, whole and shelled peanuts, and peanut butter suet.
The bird feeder is part of Project FeederWatch which is a winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders at backyards, nature centres, community areas, and other locations in North America. FeederWatchers periodically count the birds they see at their feeders from November through early April and send their counts to Project FeederWatch. The data helps scientists to follow movements of winter bird populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance.
There are 495 species of birds to spot in Ontario and close to 300 species that breed there. Peak seasons for numbers and variety of bird species are during the spring and fall migrations as songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl and birds of prey choose select sites for temporary pit stops en route to and from their nesting destinations.
Visit the Canadian Wildlife Federation webpage for concise information on the best practices of bird feeding.