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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