Birds & Bird-Friendly Living - RESOURCES
Muskoka is part of "The Land Between" - The bioregion in Central Ontario where the Canadian Shield meets the St. Lawrence Lowlands. This transition zone has a high level of biodiversity, with northern and southern species living together. And the highest bird diversity in Ontario!
This video is a great place to start if you want to get into bird watching. From how to choose binoculars,
where and when to look for birds and some helpful pointers, you will be learning your first few species in no time :-)
Bird Monitoring, Data & Citizen Science
- Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas
https://www.birdsontario.org/ - eBird
https://ebird.org/home - Motus Wildlife Tracking Dashboard
https://motus.org/dashboard/#f={} - Birds Canada
https://www.birdscanada.org/ - Bird Distribution and Abundance Data: The Land Between
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J_pE_-ag0OubBnOOFXOFgpysZ4W1QPL0/view?usp=share_link - Bird Buddies Resources: The Land Between
https://www.thelandbetween.ca/birding-in-the-land-between-copy/
Nesting Periods & Seasonal Sensitivity
- Nesting Calendar Query Tool
https://naturecounts.ca/apps/rnest/warning.jsp?lang=EN - General Nesting Periods – Environment and Climate Change Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/avoiding-harm-migratory-birds/general-nesting-periods/nesting-periods.html#toc1 - Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (MBCA)
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-birds-legal-protection/convention-act-regulations.html - Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 (MBR)
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-game-bird-hunting/status-update-modernization-regulations.html - Nest Protection under the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 (fact sheet)
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/avoiding-harm-migratory-birds/fact-sheet-nest-protection-under-mbr-2022.html - Guidelines to avoid harm to migratory birds
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/avoiding-harm-migratory-birds/reduce-risk-migratory-birds.html - Species Conservation Registry (MECP)
https://www.ontario.ca/page/species-conservation-registry
Shorelines, Loons & Waterfowl
- Natural Edge Program
https://naturaledge.watersheds.ca/ - Natural Shorelines: Love Your Lake
https://loveyourlake.ca/natural-shoreline/ - Waterfowl on the Shore
https://watersheds.ca/waterfowl-on-the-shore/ - The Way Forward for People and Waterfowl
https://watersheds.ca/the-way-forward-for-people-and-waterfowl/ - Fantastic Loons and Where to Find Them
https://www.birdscanada.org/fantastic-loons-and-where-to-find-them - Fewer Loons on Your Lake?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/what-on-earth-1.7619290 - FOCA Loon Fact Sheet
https://www.foca.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/FINAL-Loon-Fact-Sheet_Fillable.pdf - From Toes To Talons: A Feet-First Dive Into Wetland Adaptations
https://www.birdscanada.org/from-toes-to-talons-a-foot-first-dive-into-wetland-adaptations
Hummingbirds
- Hummingbird Hazards (Canadian Wildlife Magazine)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Rvr0DCClFoVvDp-qt_1wB3b3ZnXUIO8D/view?usp=sharing - How You Could Save the Life of an Early Arriver (Muskoka Region)
https://www.muskokaregion.com/life/hummingbird-migration-feeder-flowers/article_e3eced86-a8d2-590d-a141-43b2e6526aaa.html - Feeding FAQs
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/hummingbird-feeding-faqs - Attracting and Feeding Hummingbirds
https://hummingbirdscanada.ca/hummingbirds/attracting_and_feeding - The Real Diet of Hummingbirds
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/not-all-sweetness-and-light-the-real-diet-of-hummingbirds/ - Praying mantises often capture hummingbirds at feeders in home gardens
https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/hummingbirds-beware-praying-mantis-killers-1.4203443
Owls & Species-Specific Habitat
- Six Ways to Welcome Owls to Your Backyard
https://blog.cwf-fcf.org/index.php/en/six-ways-to-welcome-owls-to-your-backyard/ - Owls of Ontario
https://www.ontariowildliferescue.ca/wildlifecentres/?care=owl
Birds of Prey (Raptors)
- Facts and statistics about birds of prey
https://www.ifaw.org/ca-en/journal/facts-statistics-birds-of-prey - Birds of Prey Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_of_prey# - Hawk vs Eagle 6 Key Differences Explained
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y4cI7Mfd2ziFMFkkhvITu3nDsXujqHe1/view?usp=share_link - Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, and Northern Goshawk
https://www.hww.ca/wildlife/birds/sharp-shinned-hawk-coopers-hawk-and-northern-goshawk/ - Hawks and Falcons of Ontario
https://www.ontariowildliferescue.ca/wildlifecentres/?care=hawk - Eagles of Ontario
https://www.ontariowildliferescue.ca/wildlifecentres/?care=eagle
Bird Conservation & How to Help
- 9 Simple Actions To Help Birds
https://www.ecospark.ca/blog/9-simple-actions-to-help-birds - Choosing the Right Feeder and Seed
https://www.birdscanada.org/choosing-the-right-feeder-and-seed-a-guide-to-keeping-backyard-birds-healthy
Creating Bird-Friendly Habitat & Gardens
- Bird Gardens
https://birdgardens.ca - Find Your Bird Garden Zone
https://birdgardens.ca/find-bird-garden-zone/ - Plant Selector
https://birdgardens.ca/plant-selector/ - Bird Gardens Plant Database: The Natural Edge Program
https://naturaledge.watersheds.ca/plant-database/ - Gardening for Birds
https://www.birdscanada.org/gardening-for-birds - Bird-Friendly Gardening Tips
https://www.birdscanada.org/bird-friendly-gardening-6-tips-from-sarah-and-dans-backyard - Grow a Thriving Habitat for Birds
https://www.birdscanada.org/grow-a-thriving-habitat-for-birds-what-to-plant-this-spring - Best Plants and Trees for Birds – A Starter List
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/the-best-plants-and-trees-to-plant-for-birds-a-starter-list/ - Creating a Bird-Friendly Habitat
https://www.almanac.com/content/creating-bird-friendly-habitat - Attracting Birds to Your Muskoka Garden Year-Round
https://www.muskokaregion.com/life/attracting-birds-to-your-muskoka-garden-year-round-takes-planning/article_4e9a9e04e5da.html - Birdscaping 101 – Keeping Birds Safe in the Garden
https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/discover/gardening/2021/march/birdscaping-101-how-to-keep-birds-safe-in-the-garden
Feeders, Cats & Backyard Care
- Choosing the Right Feeder and Seed
https://www.birdscanada.org/choosing-the-right-feeder-and-seed-a-guide-to-keeping-backyard-birds-healthy - Keep Cats Indoors
https://www.birdscanada.org/you-can-help/keep-cats-from-roaming-outside
Preventing Window Collisions
- Stop Birds from Hitting Windows
https://flap.org/stop-birds-from-hitting-windows/#diy - Make Windows Safer for Birds
https://www.birdscanada.org/you-can-help/make-windows-safer-for-birds - Crash Course: Saving Birds One Window at a Time
https://watersheds.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Crash-Course-handout.pdf - Bird-Safe Window Options
https://birdsafe.ca/window-options/ - Preventing Glass Collisions
https://abcbirds.org/solutions/prevent-home-collisions/ - DIY Acopian BirdSavers
https://youtu.be/P_jy7qAY_-k - Simple Tips to Prevent Collisions
https://umbrellaservices.ca/blog/save-unsuspecting-bird/ - Make Windows and Glass Safer for Birds
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/get-involved/resources-educators/make-windows-safe-birds.html - Preventing Bird Collisions at Home
https://birdsafe.ca/preventing-collisions-home
Bird Identification Guides
- Airborne Birds – Nightjars, Swifts, Hummingbirds & Swallows
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16fiThpZwispwykqlOdx4HKQqXtnTWbDD/view?usp=share_link - Birds of Prey – Vultures, Osprey, Eagles, Hawks, Owls & Falcons
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tKyqlQbxnfarTBnzVKGg_HRr_saM4Is5/view?usp=share_link - Common Raven - Hinterland Who's Who
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K48d5fNJswRn4Hs__glis04Z5vQqqjSY/view?usp=share_link - Cuckoos, Flycatchers, Shrikes & Vireos
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iL-qeP31BUjTuDw_goLq577yAeGp86o8/view?usp=share_link - Grebes, Gulls, Terns, Loons, Cormorants & Pelicans
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PavijbUmJcOlfIcCSNtqTV-Io0ggGcdT/view?usp=share_link - Ground Birds – Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys & Doves/Pigeons
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1avBFRnOhpJ2KlQdQ3pXL9s-jQuqD8okB/view?usp=share_link - Larks, Chickadees, Titmice, Nuthatches, Creepers, Wrens, Gnatcatchers & Kinglets
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qEo_KWx8fP8iH2deK_irCXrDbM74likY/view?usp=share_link - Marsh Birds – Rails, Gallinules, Coots, Cranes, Bitterns, Herons, Egrets & Ibises
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c0eGr9WysgKTNar-IopaeD_e2Vu_285D/view?usp=share_link - Shorebirds – Avocets, Plovers, Sandpipers, Phalaropes & Other Shorebirds
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rYAJgNABtH1qV0pm42Qy9hpX6zHbWtcH/view?usp=share_link - Thick-billed Birds – Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, Jays & Crows
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18fU1loWn5OtHLXHiFnYhBAVHMIwLisST/view?usp=share_link - Thrushes, Mockingbirds, Starlings, Waxwings, Pipits, Blackbirds & Tanagers
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Vqsp4-DyY-sQLZDpybQ9fig7MPxxXTt8/view?usp=share_link - Warblers
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d9AxXRKBNsY1c9UiqI8vB8cZo57N0-DF/view?usp=share_link
Birding Activities & Local Resources
- Muskoka Guided Birding Events
https://www.discovermuskoka.ca/birding-in-muskoka-nature-takes-flight/ - Bird Buddies Resources: The Land Between
https://www.thelandbetween.ca/birding-in-the-land-between-copy/
Laws, Protection & Human-Wildlife Interactions
- Birds protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-birds-legal-protection/convention-act.html - Canada Geese: Frequently Asked Questions
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-bird-conservation/managing-conflicts/frequently-asked-questions.html
Reporting
- OPP: 1-888-310-1122
- Environment and Climate Change Canada: enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca or 1-800-668-6767
- Crime Stoppers: Report anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) for a potential reward
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Senior Wildlife Officer (if urgent): andrew.bruce@ec.gc.ca or (905) 319-6965