Nature Events

Spring Bird Banding Cancelled

Sadly, we have cancelled the spring bird banding event due to DOVID-19. However, in the fall we will happily welcome Brian Promfret again and plan for a beautiful day outside together.   

 

The Bluebird Trail: Spring Bluebird Trail Walks 2020 Cancelled

Although this spring we will not be able to offer these walks, we know that next year we will be wonderful! Bluebird Trail walks are held each Tuesday morning throughout May. Marion Robertson hosts the walks, offering an opportunity to observe blue birds in their natural habitat while learning more about them. Come and watch the Eastern Bluebirds as they build their nests and raise their young!

 The Eastern Bluebird is a cavity nesting bird, which mean that they depend on dead trees for their homes. Unfortunately habitat loss, pesticides and competition with imported Sparrows and Starlings meant that in the early 1900’s their population began to decline. Once as common as the Robin, there was suddenly concern for the survival of the species. In response, people across North America began creating Bluebird nesting boxes along nature trails. This movement, which began in the 1930’s, has been so successful that the Eastern Bluebird is now off the endangered list. 

Here at Crieff, local resident Marion Robertson of puslinchnaturallynativetrees.ca helped establish our own bluebird trail at Crieff Hills. Beginning in 2010, Marion and a team of volunteers put up eighteen nesting boxes for not only Bluebirds but Tree Swallows as well. More boxes have been added since, bringing the total to twenty five. Each year the boxes are cleaned and made ready for the spring season.

The first year we welcomed five Bluebirds and eighteen Swallows. That number has more than doubled since then! Each year we have nesting pairs of both birds and plenty of young ones. We have added two Wood Duck boxes which have successfully hosted nesting families as well.  

Guests are always welcome to keep an eye out for the flashes of blue in the forest and scout out the bird boxes on our property. Please be sure to keep your distance from the boxes, however, so as not to disturb the birds.