birds in winter
ROgER bIRD
Birds can add another dimension to any out-
door activity.
A lot of them skip the trip south in winter, or
get to our neck of the woods from really deep
cold further north, so there are lots to see.
If you’re cross-
country skiing or
snowshoeing in the
Greenbelt, there are
feeders stocked with
seed and suet by
volunteers every-
where from Mer
Bleue in the east to
Stony Swamp in the
Pileated
west. Here’s where
woodpecker
you get chickadees
often eating out of your hand, woodpeckers,
nuthatches and winter finches like the evening
grosbeak.
There’s usually open water on the Rideau
River between the Ottawa Tennis Club and
Cummings Bridge on River Road. Diving ducks
(the kind that swim underwater to catch fish)
and “puddle” ducks like mallards that feed
with their bums in the air, are often there. That
stretch of water had a harlequin duck, seriously
astray from its normal range in Atlantic Canada,
a couple of years ago. Goldeneye, hooded mer-
gansers and black ducks are often there too.
Even more ducks are on open water in the
Ottawa River, especially the Deschênes Rapids
and around the Champlain Bridge.
As well, different gangs of gulls move in and
spend the winter here. Instead of the common
ring-billed gull (the
“…and the birds
“McDonald’s gull,” from
left town ‘bout a
its discovery of free
month ago, except
food in those parking
for the ones that
lots), winter brings
are built for snow.”
great black-backed
Juno Award winner, gulls (North America’s
Lynn Miles, Ottawa
largest), and glaucous
Singer /Songwriter
gulls in their all-white
plumage. They are quite a sight, and have no
interest in your french fries.
If you keep a feeder in your backyard you
can see juncos, chickadees, house finches,
redpolls and goldfinch at least.
Best idea, whenever you’re out and
about, stop and listen. Birds are often heard
before they are seen. A pair of binoculars
are a big help, and they don’t have to be the
expensive kind.
www.OttawaOutdoors.ca OTTAWA >> WINTER 2007/2008 13
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48