Bird Conservation

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Ten Easy Ways to Help Migrating Birds

Every fall, billions of birds are on the move, making the annual migration from Canada to warmer climes in the United States, the Caribbean, Central and South America.

About 40% of the world's bird species are considered migratory. In North America about 75% of bird species migrate, but in Canada alone roughly 90% of bird species take off for the winter.

There are many things you can do to encourage birds to visit your yard during their migration, and to ensure that their journey is a safe one. Here are ten:

1. Rein in your pets.
   Leash dogs in natural areas, and keep beaches Fido-free in the breeding season. Keep cats indoors in the spring and fall and belled throughout the year.
   
   

2. Chickadee at a feeder

   Throw old bread in the bin.
   Old baked goods are prone to mould, and fill a bird’s belly without meeting its nutritional needs. Mould can kill waterfowl. Instead of feeding old bread to the birds, offer dry seed, grains or fruits instead.
   
   
3. Put waste in its place.
   Birds become entangled in plastic bags, fishing line and other garbage, resulting in injury, strangulation or easy predation.
   
   
4. Break up your windows with stickers, decals or strips of colour. Unbroken reflections baffle birds, causing them to fly into the glass.
   
   

5. Drive Carefully

   Drive carefully, especially in rural areas. Roadside birds take flight at an angle—possibly straight into your vehicle’s path—so slow down.
   
   
6. Cap your chimneys and dryer vents, but only if absolutely sure that they aren't already home to Chimney Swifts (Chimney Swifts prefer using old-style chimneys). Wire mesh overtop of your chimney will keep birds from roosting or roasting in your furnace or fireplace. If Chimney Swifts are nesting in your chimney, or if you have an old-style (brick) chimney, make sure to use a swift friendly cap that allows swifts in and out but prevents larger birds like starlings and owls from entering.
   
   
7. Provide a water source.
   Bird baths need only be an inch or two deep and have a shallow slope. If you have cats that prowl the neighbourhood, it's best to mount the bath on a pedestal. Bird baths should be cleaned once a week with a stiff brush.
   
   

8. Sunflower

   Plant Native plants.
   They provide shelter, places to raise young, and food sources. Good choices include aspen (Populus), willow (Salix), dogwoods (Cornus), Saskatoon berry (Amelanchier), sunflowers, Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Columbine, bee balm (Monarda), Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium), and Asters. White Cedar and White Spruce provide year-round green and good cover. No yard? Try planters.
   
   
9. Don’t use herbicides on your lawn.
   Not only is the resulting monoculture duller than birding at high noon, these poisons get ingested into the food chain and washed into the waterways. If it says “-cide” on your weed remedy, avoid it.
   
   
10. Get the lead out.
    Sinkers cause acute or chronic lead poisoning of thousands of birds in Canada each year. Use non-toxic alternatives.