Our biweekly online show is a digest of what is happening in the Avian World. Our site gives you the opportunity to showcase your bird photography and discuss topics important to you. Our resident ornithologist Dr. David Bird will also answer any bird-related questions you have!
SEASON 5 EPISODES
- View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories: Winner’s Circle: I’ve often talked about how important it is to make sure your nectar isn’t cloudy and hasn’t spoiled, but I think this may be the first time I talk about what happens to nectar if too much rainwater gets into it and dilutes it. Simply put - Hummingbirds are really particular about how their nectar tastes and if too much rainwater…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: EnviroMinute: The Stories with Dr. Bird - A Pair of Loons Celebrate Their Silver Anniversary: I often get asked how to keep Grackles off my feeders, and quite honestly, we’ve stopped worrying about it too much here because we’ve found that our backyard birds have literally formed a pecking order and no one seems to be going hungry. That being said - on Backyard Feeding…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories: Winner's Circle: At least once during the Hummingbird Season I like to talk about nectar: how to make it and how to maintain it. So on Backyard Feeding this episode I do exactly that, and remind you not to use anything but regular white sugar in your nectar. Brown sugar, molasses or any raw sugars are harmful for Hummingbirds. I also introduce a…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: EnviroMinute: The Stories: Even though our Hummingbirds have disappeared recently, I’m determined to carry the torch and keep my feeders filled and clean for their return. One of my favourite vantage points to watch Hummers is through my kitchen window, and the only place to put a feeder outside the window is in the hedge. It’s good to keep the feeder in the shade because…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories: Winner’s Circle: We’ve had a bit of rain over the past week and WOW are things ever growing. It almost looks like I’m standing outside in a snowstorm with all the pollen flying through the air. With some of the crazy weather we’ve been having I just wanted to remind you that keeping bits of your yard ‘wild’ can go a long way…- View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: EnviroMinute: Stories: Well, summer is here, and with it, lots of birds and...lots of construction! If you happen to notice fewer species of birds at your feeder, bear in mind, lots of birds are nesting right now. We have a lot of Goldfinch traffic, as well as the everpresent Woodpeckers. If you have a feeder with black oil sunflower seeds that gets emptied regularly, now…
- View the full episode here: https://vimeo.com/547651462 Backyard Feeding: https://vimeo.com/547649885 Ask Dr. Bird: https://vimeo.com/547649792 The Stories: https://vimeo.com/547649951 Winner’s Circle: https://vimeo.com/547650103 Well, we got some great feedback about Woodpeckers, Jack Dupuis wrote back telling me he used shiny party streamers from the dollar store that worked very well and Karen Carter found some bird deter-ers on Amazon that she mentioned worked very well. Let me know if any of you have more suggestions because I’d love to…
View the full episode here: https://vimeo.com/541790584 Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: EnviroMinute: The Stories with a report on Woodpeckers by Dr. Bird.: Everyone get your binoculars ready - Global Big Day is coming up on the 8th of May. If you aren’t familiar with it, Global Big Day is when every bird lover around the world goes out and counts birds, then logs all the information on eBird.org. It provides vital information for scientists and…
View full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories: Winner’s Circle: Spring is here and I finally get to spend time out in the garden. Over the past few years I’ve been trying to plant only native plants in my yard and garden. They tend to be heartier, require less water, and attract bugs that will feed the birds. Well it turns out I’m not the only one who thinks it’s important -…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding/EnviroMinute: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories: Spring is here! With that...comes nesting season! This episode I’m combining Backyard Feeding with EnviroMinute, because it is about reducing waste AND helping the birds at your feeders. Recently I’ve started saving our eggshells so I can crush them up and mix them with my birdseed and scatter them around the garden. This helps the birds in two ways: females need as much…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories: Winner’s Circle: Well as much as I’ve enjoyed this winter, I’m ready for spring! Apparently the birds are ready as well because migration has started. If you are thinking about putting up a nesting box, now is the time to do it. My go-to source for nestbox info is Nestwatch.org which has all the information you need about what birds in your area…
Full episode here: Backyard Feeding/Brome Bird Book: EnviroMinute: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories: Well even though I’m seeing hints of spring, winter is still very much here for awhile. I have to regularly clear the snow off my feeders and Ludwing Chang sent me a picture of one of his feeders with so much snow on it the seeds ports got blocked off. So keep an eye out - our area is famous for its…
View full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: Stories: Winner’s Circle: Well it’s cold here, but my feeders are still full of Redpolls and other Finches! It’s amazing how comfortable they are around me - one let me get within a foot of it to film. David talks about the Superflight/Finch Irruption on Backyard Feeding this episode and then answers a question about birds warming themselves next to Christmas Lights (yes...I know a few…
Does Feeder Color Make A Difference? Surviving Without Tail Feathers, Storing Potatoes, Rescuing a Black Swan in Québec. View full episode here: Backyard Feeding: EnviroMinute: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories: BRRRRRRR. It’s cold outside! We are back into regular January weather and it’s chilly! So chilly that when some local residents around Lake Selby Quebec - about 30 minutes from here - found a Black Swan swimming around their lake, Raymond Haddad and Elaine Gagnon…
Full episode here: https://vimeo.com/501870684 Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories: Winner's Circle: Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! We’ve gotten a good dump of snow this past week which has turned everything into a real winter wonderland. Everything is so beautiful! If you have a lot of snow in your area make sure it doesn’t pile up so much that deer can reach your feeders. Not only is it a…
View full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: EnviroMinute: The Stories: Happy New Year! Here, like in so many places, we had a very quiet Christmas and New Year which was actually a nice change for now. Winter is finally here with snow piling up on the trees remininding me how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful area. The Nature Conservancy of Canada is suggesting that instead of throwing out your…
SEASON 4 EPISODES
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories: Winner's Circle: Only a few days left before Christmas!!! Despite the strangeness of this year, everyone around here is excited for Christmas morning. On Backyard Feeding, I mention both Project FeederWatch and the Christmas Bird Count. Both are citizen scientist initiatives that have really helped researchers and conservationists have a good idea of what's happening in the avian world. The Christmas Bird Count…
Full episode here: Backyard Feeding: EnviroMinute: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories: Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for Christmas. It’s finally started snowing, we got our Christmas tree up last weekend and I’ve got my festive clothing ready to go! Because it’s been such a tough year, our town has encouraged us to turn our Christmas lights on early. We turn ours on when it gets dark but turn them off right…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories: Winner's Circle: With the holidays approaching, I thought we could dedicate this episode to food! Dr. Bird shares some ideas about homemade suet on Backyard Feeding and goes on to answer a question about using bacon drippings in suet on Ask Dr. Bird. On Brome Bird Book we learn about a new study that aims to figure out why and how birds are so…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: EnviroMinute: The Stories: It's amazing - last week we were shovelling snow and this week it's warm enough to go swimming. As crazy as it is at least it gives me the chance to do a little more cleaning up in the backyard. Backyard Feeding this episode is about cleaning your bird/nestboxes. It's recommended to clean them twice a year, before and after nesting season.…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories: Winner's Circle: The last episode I was wearing a toque and freezing, two weeks later - I'm dressed for summer. I love warm fall weather! Because of the early frost and snow in many places in September, a lot of the berries on trees froze and are now fermenting. So that means it's drunken bird season! There have been reports from all over…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: EnviroMinute: The Stories: With fall weather coming, it's not a bad idea to think about adding a weatherguard to your feeders. We have only one model, the Squirrel Buster Plus that has a dedicated weatherguard, but you can either purchase a 3rd party one to hang over your feeder or if you're bored and like to DIY, aluminum pie and pizza trays are an excellent…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: The Headlines: Winner's Circle: Well a few nights of heavy frost and my garden is finished! We picked what we could and left the rest for the local wildlife to fatten up on for the winter. Just a reminder, migration is in full swing and if you have the chance to turn off any exterior lighting, it can really help birds from becoming disoriented while…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: EnviroMinute: The Stories: Well...it's that time of year to harvest, harvest, harvest! Not only are we harvesting all the yummy things we planted this summer, but I've also decided to harvest some local berries for our birds. I'll freeze them and then put them out later this winter when things are at their grimmest and greyest. At the same time, I'm checking my milkweed to…
View full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories: Winner's Circle: We spent the last week of August essentially off the grid. It was great to unplug for a little while even if it was a bit hectic running around after my youngest son who's hit a point where he never stops moving. Fall migration is in full swing, so just a reminder to keep your feeders full and stock them with as…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: EnviroMinute: The Stories: More on Hummers this episode! I discovered that filling my hummer feeders halfway still allows the Hummers to drink properly but cuts down on spillage which goes a long way in not attracting bees and wasps and prevents them from being able to reach the nectar. David talks about something that two people in very different areas witnessed, a lone Snow Goose…
Full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories with Special Guest Jesse Huth: Winner's Circle: Yes! I'm still talking about Hummers! It must have been an omen because since last episode, we have so many Hummingbirds in the backyard I've had to put up more feeders. Although between the vegetable garden and my flowers I can't imagine they are going hungry, but still... On Backyard Feeding my son Ciaran helps me give our…
Full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: EnviroMinute: The Headlines: This week we had to film in the studio. It was raining so hard... Since we haven't been seeing a lot of Hummingbirds this summer, I thought maybe if I spent a lot of time talking about them, they would visit my feeders a lot more. We've had quite a few calls from concerned bird lovers who haven't been seeing that many either. I…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories: Winner's Circle: It's that time of year again when we often come across baby birds on the ground. David talks about what we should do about it and how to identify a bird in trouble and one that's just learning how to fly. He also gives us info on what to do if you spot a strange bird in your backyard. Some great…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: EnviroMinute: The Stories: It seems with the world being a bit quieter, Chipmunks have been a bit busier. We're being bombarded with calls about chimpunks and how to manage them around your birdfeeders. I've certainly noticed quite a few more in our backyard this summer, particulary because they've been collecting sunflower seeds and hiding them in the garden. On Backyard Feeding this week I've got…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories: Winner's Circle: So this week I finally had the chance to try out my homemade suet 'against' Mark's high quality. Well...it's a learning process. I did get some nibbles but Mark's was by far the more popular of the two. I'm going to keep trying to see what I can do to improve it. Have any of you tried making your own suet…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: EnviroMinute: The Stories: And...POOF, Just like that it's full on summer. We've gone from shovelling snow to wearing sunblock in a really short period of time. That's ok though because spring is here so we'll be shooting more and more episodes outside. Every week, I get a few emails and messages about how to make your own suet, so on Backyard Feeding this week, I…
View full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: Brome Bird ID Challenge Winner and Stories: Winner's Circle: BBN 4-11 Keep Brown-Headed Cowbirds Off Your Feeders A lot of people are complaining about Grackles, Starlings and Brown-headed Cowbirds invading their feeders and keeping other songbirds away. On backyard feeding David will explain why it's so important to try and discourage Cowbirds from using your feeders and I show you a couple of tricks on how…
View full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: EnviroMinute: The Stories with the Brome Bird ID Challenge: It’s such a difficult time of year for everything, winter jacket in the morning, t-shirt in the afternoon, a cup of cocoa by the fire in the evening while watching the snow - that being said, spring is very much on its way up here. We are working in the backyard, trying to find ways to keep…
View Full Episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories: Winner's Circle: I hope everyone is keeping busy and not getting too bored. We can't seem to find enough hours in the day, between work and homeschooling, and getting the backyard ready for spring. But this weekend I found enough time to try out a project I've wanted to start for awhile. I often get messages from people letting me know they've…
Full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: EnviroMinute: The Stories: These are definitely interesting times we're living in - with so much additional stress and uncertainty in our lives, it's a great time to take a few minutes a day and watch the birds if you can. More and more studies are coming out showing the benefits of birdwatching on mental health, and these days, we need all the help we can get! If…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: The Headlines: Winner's Circle: You know how I'm always asking you to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count, the Christmas Bird Count, or all the other Citizen Science initiatives? Well it's to help with projects like this! eBird has just released 500 interactive maps that show where and when different species of birds are at any time of year. They've put these maps together…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: EnviroMinute: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories: Amazing results from the GBBC this year with record numbers of participants from all over the world. Head over to gbbc.birdcount.org to see the detailed results. It's that time of year again where I want to remind everyone to keep their feeders clean. It's a lot more difficult in the winter here, but I still bring them in every 3 weeks or…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories: Winner's Circle: Hello Everyone! What an incredible photo contest this month. We've had the most submissions ever and the colours are just spectacular! I hope you all participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count and logged your findings. I was doing that and also participating in Project FeederWatch so I've been busy counting all weekend. I just wanted to remind you and let…
We usually manage to fit this in on a regular episode but last episode was too soon and next episode will be too late so here we go! Don't forget to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count which is this weekend from the 14th to the 17th of February. You can count for all 4 days or just 1 if that's all you have time for. Just count birds for 15 minutes a day…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: EnviroMinute: Ask Dr. Bird: The Headlines: I'm not sure how many of you may have heard about the weather bomb that hit Saint John's Newfoundland a couple of weeks ago, but the snow accumulation was so fast that most people weren't able to leave their houses. It seems like these crazy weather systems are becoming more common every season. Backyard Feeding this week is just a reminder to…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding/Ask Dr. Bird: The Headlines: Winner's Circle: Brrrr....Winter is back with a vengeance. It's been really cold this week and I've been filling my feeders daily to keep the birds happy. So to continue my talks about what and what not to feed birds, this episode is all about mealworms and how dried mealworms can be used in various Squirrel Buster bird feeders. Dr. Bird also answers a question…
View the full episode here: Backyard Feeding: EnviroMinute: Ask Dr. Bird: The Stories: Welcome back from the holidays! I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year celebration. We had a wonderful time here, even though the weather has been so mild, we've done as much biking and walking as we have sledding and skating. Which is one of the things I talk about on Backyard Feeding this episode. We've had a few people…
