Intros

So we've been birding for about a year and a half now, including keeping records of our sightings. Our interest really got started when we travelled to England and visited with my uncle Gordon and aunt Sandra. They took us to a bird park and we sat in blinds and watched a variety of birds. Something just sort of sparked within us and we took it up.

We live on approximately an acre lot in Oakville, Ontario. We live at a dead-end road that backs onto a conservation area and the 16 Mile Creek. Our lot has approximately 15 fairly mature oak trees and some maples as well. The border of our property has a mixture of pine trees as well. On our lot we put up 2 niger seed bags (only one in the summer), three mixed seed feeders, two sunflower seed feeders and two suet feeders. We also have a tray feeder that Dave built, where we put out orange halves and grape jelly for the orioles when they migrate through here. Dave also made two feeders that have a nail in the centre and we pierce an orange or apple onto it. We've seen woodpeckers and squirrels both enjoying the fruit. Last, but not least, we also put out peanuts. These are enjoyed by the bluejays year-round and by chipmunks and the occasional squirrel in the summer months.

In the backyard, the lot is fairly open (no trees due to the location of the septic bed). We put out a single mixed seed feeder that also holds two suet cakes. In the summer we put out two hummingbird feeders out back as well. We have also planted a flower garden that is devoted solely to flowers enjoyed by hummers and butterflies. For Christmas this year we received two oriole feeders so we look forward to setting those up in the upcoming spring/summer months as well.

So the purpose of this blog is to share our birding finds with people. We have learned alot and have really come to enjoy seeing our regulars at our feeders each day. I thought I would try to share one a day on here. We'll see how that goes.