Rondeau Ric

Virginia opossum at the water feature in the yard. Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, Jan 23, 2022. In the past few days we have had white-tailed deer, racoon and now an opossum drinking from the water feature. Didelphis virginiana The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is Canada’s only marsupial. It belongs to one of three marsupial families native to the Americas. The Virginia opossum’s northernmost range reaches into Southern and Southeastern Ontario,Southern Quebec, and the lower Fraser valley, British Columbia. source - https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/opossum

A pair of red-breasted nuthatches deciding who had rights to the small water feature we have in the yard. Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada,Sept 24, 2020. Sitta canadensis Red-breasted Nuthatches sometimes steal nest-lining material from the nests of other birds, including Pygmy Nuthatches and Mountain Chickadees. source- Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Tufted titmouse at the little stream in the yard. We use a small submersible heater to keep the water open. Shallow stream to keep the birds from bathing in sub-zero temeratures. Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, Jan 17, 2022. Baeolophus bicolor Tufted Titmice hoard food in fall and winter, a behavior they share with many of their relatives, including the chickadees and tits. Titmice take advantage of a bird feeder’s bounty by storing many of the seeds they get. Usually, the storage sites are within 130 feet of the feeder. The birds take only one seed per trip and usually shell the seeds before hiding them. source- Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, May 5, 2018. Not much activity this time of year so here is one from the archives. Setophaga citrina The white spots on a Hooded Warbler's tail help them capture more insects, possibly by startling the insects into taking flight. An experimental study conducted in Pennsylvania found that birds with temporarily darkened tail feathers were less successful at capturing insects than those with white spots on their tails. source- Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, Jan 7, 2022. Not anything unusual for our area, however the selection of birds is limited this time of year. We are trying to keep our little water feature open this winter, so far so good. Spinus tristis Goldfinches are among the strictest vegetarians in the bird world, selecting an entirely vegetable diet and only inadvertently swallowing an occasional insect. source- Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, January 7, 2022. We don't get many red-wings during the winter but we do have one visiting on a regular basis this year. Agelaius phoeniceus The oldest recorded Red-winged Blackbird was 15 years, 9 months old. It was banded in New Jersey in 1967, and found alive, but injured in Michigan in 1983. It was able to be released after recovering from its injuries. source- Cornell Lab of Ornithology.