Jesse Thomas
SPECIAL TO THE ET CETERA

Many bird species that generally migrate south can find enough food sources in the Humber Arboretum, to keep them here all winter.

“We do not want to replace the bird’s natural food selection, but come late November we begin feeding them,” said Jimmy Vincent, a nature interpreter at the arboretum.

“Whether some birds stay for the winter or migrate south depends on food availability.”

The Arboretum staff has set up bird feeders behind their building and spread seed on the ground.

“The black capped chickadees are a big thing for us around here,” said Vincent. “We start feeding them here from bird feeders but we also feed them right from our hand.”

“We are seeing cardinals, robins, woodpeckers and mockingbirds staying here in the winter,” he said. “Some think the birds look fatter but they have down feathers they puff up that help keep them warm.”

Bird feeders and fruit trees keep birds such as robins and mourning doves around, which also keeps birds of prey such as hawks staying to feed on them.

“We are seeing mallards stay here all year round,” said Mark Peck, director of ornithology at the Royal Ontario Museum. “The Canada goose is random, they will sometimes stay around, same with the long-billed duck, the greater scaup and bufflehead.”

Such waterfowl have typically migrated further south but when they are able to find open water they will stay all year.

The owls that migrate here from farther north are a big attraction at the Arboretum.

“This time of year we start to see our owls showing up,” said Chris Biatek, a tour-guide with the Arboretum’s Owl-Prowl. “The long-eared owl is the most common owl living in the area.”

Other owl species present include the great horned owl, the Eastern screech and the Northern saw whet.

“The owls hunt in the evening and sleep late at night, said Biatek. “During the day, you will see them roosting in a tree. This is probably the best time to see them.”