Chickadee and Milkweed
The pieces included in RTPI’s current exhibition, “Neil Rizos:The Art of Exploration” – including this drypoint print of a Black-capped Chickadee – are available for purchase, and would make wonderful gifts for bird, art, or nature enthusiasts! Of this piece, Rizos wrote: “I’ve stayed away from this bird as a subject because it is so cute that almost any image would be appealing no matter the quality or lack of quality of the design. But then I saw this bird on a dried milkweed and the similarity of shapes, sizes and values between the bird and the plant gave me the...
Read MoreBlack-capped Chickadee
This may be the last look at a seasonal Sunday bird with snow this winter as it is now meteorological spring! Now that we have crossed into March, cavity-nesting birds like this Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) will be looking for nesting sites. If you enjoy hosting wild birds by providing nest boxes, now is the time to get them ready. Have you ever put out dog fur for birds to use as nesting material? Chickadees, and other small songbirds that use nest boxes and cavities like the Tufted Titmouse, will take fur that you put out in say, an empty suet cage, and use it to line...
Read MoreBlack-capped Chickadee
The Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is as familiar a backyard resident as can be, but did you know these birds migrate, too? Well, some of them anyway, in a particular way. Young birds move south and irrupt during certain years based on the reproductive success of the summer and the local conditions. The best way to see this is finding a number of them in migratory hotspots in the autumn. If you are at an area such as a beach along the shore of Lake Erie where you typically find zero and suddenly see a flock of six or eight, there you go. I have seen up to 18 in a little flock...
Read MoreAmerican Goldfinch
This American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) is still molting into its wintering look while enjoying the pine cones on this black pine tree. Though not native, black pines are a huge fall magnet for birds, and this one tree alone also had Black-capped Chickadee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, and White-throated Sparrow in it. Will we be seeing conifers filled with White-winged and Red Crossbills soon? Or at least more Pine Siskins and Common Redpolls in the area? Perhaps so judging by how many American Goldfinch seem to have moved recently, and the reports of other finches to our north.
Read MoreClean Nestboxes!
It’s that time again – spring cleaning! In this case you should be all set and ready to go now with cleaning out the homes of birds in your yard, sprucing them up a bit if needed before Eastern Bluebirds, Black-capped Chickadees, Tree Swallows and more arrive or start building. It’s a terrific excuse to get kids outside and engaged with nature as the days get longer, warmer and far more pleasant. It may also be a good reason for you to step away from the desk and get some fresh air as well. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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