As you may have heard, a small group of naturalists, businesses and individuals have been working to get Ottawa certified as a Bird-Friendly City. There are some exciting changes and mandates expected with the new Migratory Bird Regulations that came in to force in June last year, and the resolutions coming out of COP15 that we will share in the coming months. But today, here are some New Year resolutions that you can do to this year to help Ottawa become more bird-friendly:
- Make your windows bird safe – Windows can mislead birds. They see trees and sky reflected and try to fly through. Thousands of birds die this way each year. Make sure that all your windows are visible to birds. Put up visual markers that break up reflections and make glass more visible to birds. If you live or work in a building with reflective or transparent glass talk to your landlord or condo board about solutions to make buildings more bird-friendly. If you feed the birds, make sure that your feeders are within 50 cm of your windows or right on the window. Placing feeders immediately next to or even on a window ensures that birds will not build up enough momentum to seriously injure themselves if they crash into the window when they are spooked.
- Participate in citizen science programs – Make your bird observations count for science by volunteering for citizen science programs. There are activities for everyone, from beginner and family programs to activities designed for advanced birders. The Christmas Bird Count and Project Feeder Watch are good winter activities. Tune in to the Ottawa Field-Naturalists Club for local bird and wildlife events throughout the year. Check out Wild Birds Unlimited for bird food and feeder ideas.
- Avoid using pesticides and chemical fertilizers – They can be harmful to birds, you, your family and your pets. Avoid using them whenever you can. Since many birds spend their winters in Central or South America, buying shade grown or bird-friendly coffee is something you can do all year. Gilligallou in Almonte sells Creemore Coffee that helps Migratory birds by selling shade grown coffee.
- Help reduce climate change – Climate change can impact migration patterns and food availability for birds. Do your part by going green: walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation. Be energy efficient by using compact fluorescent or LED light bulbs. Wash your clothes in cold or lukewarm water. Install programmable thermostats. Look for the Energy Star® label when buying new appliances. Cut back on waste.
- Make your yard, local park, or school a haven for birds – Yards and neighbourhood spaces (including around schools, community buildings, businesses and abandoned property) can provide much-needed bird and wildlife habitat supplying water, food and shelter. Launching naturalizing projects at home or in the community can be a fun way to spend time outdoors connecting with nature, family, friends and neighbours. Check out the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library and the Fletcher Wildlife Garden or Ecoasis for ideas.
- Keep an eye on your pets outdoors and cats indoors – An average of 270 million birds die each year because of human activities. About 75% of them are killed by domestic and feral cats. You can be a more responsible pet owner by not letting your cat run free outside. There are lots of ways your cat can enjoy being outdoors. You can create a catio or teach your cat how to walk on a leash.
- Get involved with a nature conservation group – Volunteer with a conservation group engaged in bird protection, habitat restoration or public education like Ottawa Field Naturalists, Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Centre, Ecology Ottawa, or the Ottawa Bird Team (Bird-Friendly Cities).
- Make a charitable donation to a nature conservation organization, buy a Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp, and/or use products from sustainable farming, fishing and forestry industries – Help protect bird habitats. Check products for certified sustainable labeling such as Ecocert Canada, Bird Friendly, Canada Organic, Marine Stewardship Council, Forest Stewardship Council, Sustainable Forestry Initiative or Canadian Standards Association.
