Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton One late winter day, just as the weather was turning mild, a large flock of cedar waxwings descended onto the old crabapple tree in my backyard. It was a sight to behold. There were so many of these lovely birds, recognizable with their narrow black facial mask, a…
Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton The American robin, with its brick-red breast, yellow beak, and grey wings, is a much-loved harbinger of spring and always a welcome visitor after our long, cold winters. Most sightings start just when the ice and snow are melting. These birds are well suited to city living and…
Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton As days become shorter, winter solstice approaches. Long shadows fall over the garden while many migratory birds begin their long, often dangerous, journey south. For gardeners who care about wildlife, autumn is a good time to pause and reflect on the effects of artificial light—especially hazardous for migrating…
Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton That winter’s night when a snowy owl perched in the boughs of my old crabapple tree will long be remembered as a magical moment for this gardener. Under a full moon, perhaps it was looking for mice or voles? These small mammals sometimes emerge at night in my…
Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton. Three species of woodpeckers visit my well-wooded, older suburb. Usually, they are most noticeable during mating season with their loud drumming sounds to attract a mate. The smallest is the downy woodpecker, about 16.5 cm long, which often forages in the old apple tree. The hairy woodpecker, about…
Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton If my bedroom window is open, one of the best ways to wake up on a summer morning is to hear the sound of mourning doves cooing softly outside in the garden. To my ears, at least, their sounds are sorrowful but also sweet. Mourning doves are a…
Julianne Labreche, Master Gardener, Ottawa-Carleton N= Native Plant Bird Friendly Shrubs and Small Trees Evergreen Trees for Birds Deciduous Trees for Birds Perennials for Birds Bird-Friendly Annual Flowers Bird-Friendly Vines Grasses for Birds These are alternatives to Miscanthus, considered an invasive plant species. www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/grow-instead Groundcovers for Birds Useful Birding Apps Merlin Bird ID Website: merlin.allaboutbirds.org…
Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission One pleasure every summer is watching American goldfinches forage for seeds among the flowers and grasses of my front-yard pollinator garden. These beautiful little birds, only about 10 cm in length, are attracted to many of the same plants as butterflies. According to The Cornell…
Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission Twenty-three different kinds of hummingbirds have been identified in North America, but the rubythroated hummingbird is the only one that visits our Ottawa and Ontario regions. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are not only beautiful but truly remarkable. Weighing less than a nickel, these tiny birds migrate north…
Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission As any gardener knows, gardening mistakes are as common as dandelions. Heaven knows, I’ve made a fair share of them myself during nearly four decades of gardening. As the old saying goes, everyone makes mistakes, but wise people learn from them. Here are a few…
Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission The blue jay is notably recognizable by its shrieking, sharp calls and its beautiful blue, white, grey and black plumage. Considered to be an intelligent bird, it has a complex social system and tight family bonds. Where you can find Blue Jays These birds are…
Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission White-breasted nuthatches are sometimes called ‘upside down’ birds because of their unusual ability to perch and move upside down on trees. In any position, they can probe into bark furrows, cling to a tree, and move up and down to forage or hide food. It…
Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission Frequent visitors to my backyard garden are the curious little black-capped chickadees. They are easily recognizable with their black cap and bib, white cheeks, and warm buff-tone flanks and sides. Usually they visit my garden in small flocks for safety. Sometimes they arrive with other…
Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission Many different species of sparrows visit my backyard garden, no matter the season. Sparrow sightings in the Ottawa area include song sparrows, chipping sparrows, swamp sparrows, house sparrows, white-crowned sparrows, and white-throated sparrows, among others. Even the dark-eyed Junco is part of the North American…
Author: Julianne Labreche, Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton; published with permission My bird feeders are a source of life in the stillness of winter. From my backyard window, I can watch the fluttering of wings at the edge of the garden. Northern cardinals perch on snow-covered evergreen branches. Woodpeckers hide black sunflower seeds in the crannies…
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