Earth Day is for the Birds

We see the chick-a-dees, finches, and woodpeckers at backyard feeders in winter. In this area, it is the sight and sound of the red-winged blackbirds that signal spring – even more than the robins do. These birds, and many more, are found in 4 new books.

The Case of the Growing Bird Feeder and The Case of the Noisy Neighbour are delightful picture books that encourage young children to learn by doing. Daisy and Scott model nature “research” as they gather clues by observing, reading, and recording. They actually consult library books and keep field notes! When they “pause and have a mindful moment” we glimpse the magic of nature. The books end with a few helpful, simple definitions and the directions for a related nature craft. The creativity that produced these Gumboot Kids Nature Mysteries is bound to rub off on their readers.

We have Jeffrey Domm, wildlife artist and author, to thank for the next two books. My First Ontario Bird Book is a beginner’s guide based on experience, not age. The book is so well organized that the reader moves through the material with ease. The first parts provide background (especially the icons and their explanations) to assist with the rest of the book. Following are the three chapters: Backyard Birds (16), Common Water Birds (9), and Woods and Fields (14). There is a colourful two page spread for most birds so all the information is seen at a glance. Even the seasoned “twitcher” might learn a thing or two from the special facts in the Did You Know? section.

Lorimer Field Guide to 225 Ontario Birds is a concise, full-colour guide to wild birds and birding hotspots throughout southern Ontario. Well-organized from start to finish, the first parts guide the reader through the visual keys to be used for size, flight, seasons, feeding, habitat, and lookalikes, along with a quick size reference and listing of expert-chosen birding spots. Following are Water Birds with six groups including shorebirds, and ducks and other divers. Land Birds has 24 groups including owls, tree-climbing, and swallow-like. Each bird occupies a full page showing those six visual keys plus facts about colouring, voice, and food. All in all an excellent resource.

Previously mentioned Birding Hot Spots is of special interest, especially the Southeastern and Eastern Ontario areas which have listings under Stony Lake, Brighton, Prince Edward County, Napanee, Kingston, and Ottawa. Closer to home, the Marmora and Lake section lists trails including Nayer’s Common Wetland right in town. An inventory of 20 species in its forest, meadow, and water habitats is included. You might see a heron, owl, or killdeer there.