FLOWERS

• Aster
• Bachelor Button
• Black-eyed Susan
• California Poppy
• Chrysanthemum
• Columbine
• Marigold
• Sunflowers
  

TREES

• Alder
• Bayberry
• Birch
• Cedar (Juniper)
• Cherry
• Chestnut
• Crab Apple
• Dogwood
• Eastern Hemlock
• Fir
• Hawthorn
• Hazelnut
• Japanese Maple
• Plum
• Yew

• Mountain Ash
• Oak
• Pine
• Spruce
• Sumac

• Walnut

SHRUBS & VINES

• Bittersweet
• Blackberry
• Blueberry
• Boxwood
• Cotoneaster
• Elderberry
• English Ivy
• Grape
• Holly
• Honeysuckle
• Juniper
• Mulberry
• Myrtle

• Raspberry
• Snowberry
• Viburnum
• Virginia Creeper

• Witchhazel

• Bee Balm
• Blazing Star
• Bleeding Heart
• Cardinal Flower
• Century Plant
• Columbine
• Coral-Bells

• Dame’s Rocket
• Delphinium
• Fire Pink
• Foxglove
• Fuchsia
• Hollyhocks
• Impatiens
• Lily
• Nasturtium
• Paintbrush
• Petunia
• Phlox
• Red-Hot Poker
• Sage
• Sweet William
• Yucca
  
  

SHRUBS

• Azaleas
• Beauty Bush
• Butterfly Bush
• Flowering Quince
• Lilac
• Red-flowering Currant
• Salmonberry

VINES

• Honeysuckle
• Scarlet Runner Bean
• Trumpet Creeper Vine

During winter many people will be feeding wild birds, either in their own backyards, down
at the beach or at a marsh.

For those of you who are feeding at home, here are some of the favourite foods of certain birds:

SUET BLOCK : Chickadees, Nuthatches, Woodpeckers, Flickers, Creepers
(available from most Supermarkets and pet stores)

CRACKED NUTS:  Chickadees, Nuthatches, Towhees, Juncos, Finches,

RAW PEANUTS:  Woodpeckers, Sparrows, Grosbeaks, Jays
(unsalted, of course)

SUNFLOWER SEEDS   Chickadees, Nuthatches, Towhees, Juncos, Finches,
(hulled or whole unsalted- Sparrows, Grosbeaks, Jays)

CUT APPLES:          Robins, Woodpeckers, Flickers, Starlings
SOAKED RAISINS
CHOPPED GRAPES

WILD BIRD SEED Many varieties of birds, including Towhees, Juncos, Finches, Sparrows, Jays, Pine Siskins

NIGER THISTLE: Goldfinches, Pine Siskins

SUGAR/WATER:   Hummingbirds
(1 part sugar/4 parts water- keep fresh)

DON’T FORGET TO HAVE WATER AVAILABLE TOO!

In the winter, when it is freezing outside, wild birds have difficulty finding water so it is important that a constant supply of water is available to them. It has been found that they do not like to have water in deep containers so a shallow dish is preferred. In the summer the birds also like to have a shallow water dish available for bathing.

It is important to keep your bird feeders clean, as mouldy seeds can be one of the causes of Aspergillosis in birds. Sadly many die from this disease. Regularly washing your feeders in a mild solution of water and bleach (9 parts water/1 part bleach) will ensure the feeders are kept sterile.

If you are feeding birds at the beach or at a marsh, you can feed

WHOLE WHEAT                 Geese, Ducks, Pigeons
CORN or HEN SCRATCH

SOAKED DOG KIBBLE**     Gulls, Crows

** Kibble must be soaked prior to feeding to wild birds, otherwise it will absorb any liquid the bird drinks and swell up inside their crop.

DO NOT FEED BREAD - bread is often the first kind of food humans give to birds but, especially in the winter when there is little other food available, birds receive very little nutrition from bread and may die from a diet high on bread as this can cause malnutrition. Stale bread with mould can cause Aspergillosis (a lung disease).

SEED EATING birds have short, thick bills for crushing seeds and shelling them.
Examples: Sparrows, Grosbeaks, Buntings, Finches.

INSECT EATING birds have slender, pointed bills that enable them to pick up insects.
Examples: Vireos, Kinglets, Warblers, Wrens

Some INSECT EATING birds have a very wide mouth for catching insects on the wing.
Examples: Swallows, Nighthawks, Swifts.

PROBING birds have long, slender bills for probing in mud in search of food.
Examples: Snipe, sandpipers

PREYING birds have strong, sharp, hooked, bills for tearing flesh of prey.
Examples: Owls, Hawks, Falcons, Eagles

STRAINING birds have flattened bills for straining food from mud.
Examples: ducks, geese

GROUND FEEDING birds have short, stout bill for feeding on the ground.
Examples: quail, grouse

FISH-EATING birds have long, sharp bills for spearing fish.
Examples: Herons, Egrets

We do not recommend feeding wild animals for a number of reasons:

• the animal may become too dependent on you and if you move away
  it may have difficulty finding its natural food.
  
• the food you are feeding may not be nutritionally good for the animal
  and may cause it to have health problems.
  
• the animal, especially if young, may become tame and used to being
  around humans. This may cause it to be harmed by uncaring humans
  (or killed by hunters) due to its lack of fear of humans.
  
• the animal may go on to a neighbouring property and build a den in
  the roof or under a house much to the annoyance of the neighbour.
  This may result in the neighbour employing a Pest Control Company
  to remove the animal and her young. If relocated, this causes the
  animal a lot of stress and is often fatal due to her being unable to find
  food, being in territorial disputes and having no den for her young.

PLASTIC SIX PACK HOLDERS

can be deadly to untold numbers of small animals, birds and fish. Please ensure any you have or find are cut into small pieces (all of the rings must be cut) before being discarded or recycled . If thrown, uncut, into the garbage these rings can still kill, as many birds look for food in garbage dumps.

WIRE MESH

should be coated, otherwise this, and METAL SUET CONTAINERS, can, in very cold weather, cause a bird’s feet to stick to the wire or container and severe tearing can result.

TWINE

When removing this from cooked roasts, chicken, turkey, etc. wash it and cut into small pieces. Long pieces of twine when eaten by an animal may cause intestinal problems resulting in death. Some birds may also use this as nesting material and the parent birds or nestlings may become entangled in it.

KITE LINE OR FISHING LINE

Discarded kite or fishing line can result in birds and sea mammals becoming entangled and often results in death. We, at Gibsons Wildlife Rehab. Centre have received into care gulls and ducks with fishing hooks and lines entangled around their wings and mouth. Many have died from the resulting injuries.

GLASS JARS

Should not be used to store melted fat. Animals find this food clinging to the broken glass at garbage dumps. Consequently, glass is swallowed and mouths are cut and the animals or birds are left to suffer and eventually die.

TALL BUCKETS

And other containers left outside to become filled with rain water can mean death to small animals and birds. Turn all tall receptacles over to be on the safe side. If you collect rain water for indoor plants or to use yourself, please secure tops of buckets with nylon mesh.

OLD GARDEN NETTING

As soon as your crop is over, please remove this. Birds can become tangled in the netting and be injured trying to escape.

To prevent wild animals/birds making their home in your home, the following preventative measures are suggested in early Spring before animals and birds etc. begin to den/nest.

• Cap chimneys, place wire mesh around the opening and
  over any vent openings.
  
• Clean out eaves troughs, patch any holes under roof.
  
• Check roof twice a year for loose or rotten shingles or tiles.
  
• Board up any holes around the exterior of your home.
  
• Keep garbage inside; use bungee cords across lids of garbage
  cans kept outside.
  
• Do not leave pet food outside.
  
• Use electric fencing along fence lines, pools, etc.
  
• Make sure dumpsters remain closed at night.
  
• Do not invite bears by leaving fallen fruit lying around.

TOO LATE - UNWANTED RESIDENTS

If you find a nest or den in your home, first check for babies. Leave
babies and mothers alone until the young are old enough to leave with
their mother. Adult animals without young can be encouraged to leave
(check with your local Wildlife Rehab. Centre for advice).

Preventive repairs can be made after the animals have left.

Relocating animals is NOT a humane solution for solving the problem.
The animal finds itself in a strange area. Food supply may be insufficient
or it may be the territory of another animal. Mother animals with young
will be in a desperate situation, with no den for safety and in unfamiliar territory.