Birdwatchers tally annual
count for Audubon Society

Lynn Valley Ecology Centre coordinating Dec. 19 event

THIS YEAR, I am eagerly
crossing off the days in a
countdown to Dec. 19th.

On that day I will take my place

proudly among the birdwatchers
of the land, a first-time partici-
pant in the North American
Audubon Society Christmas Bird
Count.

The count is annually cocrdi-
nated by the Lynn Canyon
Ecology Centre, with local results
being tallied for our information
before being sent on to the
Audubon Society headquarters in
New York.

While I’ve reported on these
happenings dutifully in the past,
this is the first year I’ve lived ina
home that would actually allow
me to take part in the proceedings
and breathe the excitement along
with all you other feather fanatics
on the North Shore.

Here at home base, we've been
prepping for the big event all fall,
trying out various foodstuffs to
lure a variety of creatures to the
porch. Preliminary observations
can now be reported as follows:
© Stellar’s Jays are very messy
and do not hesitate to scatter seed
mix wildly in an attempt to reach
the sunflower seeds at the bottom
of the pile, rather than politely

ECO INFO

choosing the seed that’s closest to
them.

@ While the jays and squirrels
love peanuts in the shell, they are
not as keen on the shelled peanut
hearts, for reasons I do not un-
derstand but which disappoint me
greatly as [ had hoped these
pre-shelled peanuts would warm
their small wintry hearts with
gladness.

@ While the jays are leaving the
suet alone, it’s proved a drawing

card for a very pretty Northern
Flicker. We also spotted a Red-
Bellied Sapsucker, another kind of
woodpecker, in our yard once and
hope to lure him back.
@ Junkos and chickadees flock
about in the trees en masse, but
only seem to visit the feeder one
at a time so the other guys can
stand guard for predators.
® Squirrels can get into
everything, despite not having
wings, but who cares because
they're so cute.
@ Putting the feeder outside our
Sliding kitchen doors may have
been a tactical error as the
assorted wildlife have all perfected
highly pleading looks that make a
guilt-free cup of coffee at the
table an impossibility unless you
have fed them (several times) first.
Well, those are my field obser-
vations, Here are some official
wintertime bird tips that were once
given to me by Wendy and John
Morton of the Wild Bird Nature
Shop at 1190 Marine Dr., North
Van,
© By attracting birds — especially
swallows or wrens — to your
garden, you are furthering the
cause of organic gardening as they
are natural pest controllers.

See Feeders page 17

Friday, December 3, 1993 — North Shore News - 15

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