Thornhill/German Mills

[ShaheedaT]

Heya!

I just joined yesterday and since I am very new at birding and backyard bird feeding, I have a question for all: I was told hummingbirds only visit some parts of Toronto/Ontario, if it lies in their migratory path; does anyone know if the German Mills area would be so lucky? Also, what kind of birds visit the German Mills area? I would like to be prepared for them and put out the right kind of seeds, etc.

Thank you.

Cheers!  

[Halton Hills]

.


All you can do is try and you may be nicely rewarded.

The hummingbirds (Ruby Throated) usually arrive around Mother's Day so it's a good idea to put out the feeder at the end of April. You might get lucky and have a visitor.....the question will be whether they stay or not. You may even be lucky enough to have an Oriole who will try to pop off the bee guards from the feeder. The key is patience.....just because you don't see any action doesn't mean that nobody's been there.....you just may have missed the event. The local features will also play a role in who you get to see......depending on amount and size of trees or green areas or ravines.

As far as the other feeder goes.......Black Oil Sunflower Seed is usually the best route to take. It will attrack the most variety of birds. Stay away from the cheap mixes.....as they may bring in Starlings and House Sparrows. You can try a Niger (Thistle) feeder as well and you might end up with some lovely Goldfinches.

With the sunflower seed.....among others......you might attract some Chickadees, Nuthatches, Bluejays, Cardinals, Doves, Woodpeckers, various Sparrows and Finches, Grackels, Redwinged Blackbirds, etc.

Good luck and I'm sure you will have success.  

P.S.  You'll need to consider the innevitable "Squirrel" issue. You can use a baffle on a pole or hanging feeder.....but you'll need to make sure the feeder is high enough or far enough away from any trees. Or you can spend the money on a good quality "Squirrel Proof Feeder".......I personally like the "Squirrel Buster Plus" and am very happy with it's success......see photo below.

.

.

[ShaheedaT]

Thank you for all the tips!

I have a Mini Squirrel Buster, but my brother put it in such a way that all the squirrels can get to the feed because there is an adjacent branch nearby that allows access. They refuse to eat the corn cob that I put out for them and continue to eat from the feeder. I'll have to change that spot (although we are thinking of getting a pole with a blocking stump in the middle that does not allow squirrels and raccoons to climb it). We also have lots of trees in my area (In my backyard I have a cheery tree, a baby maple and four oaks, I think--I really hope this brings lots of urban wildlife).

So far, I have spotted a male and a female Northern Cardinal (yay!), lots of sparrows and small birds that I cannot identify, a pair of Mourning Doves, lots of Grackels (which hog the feeder and drive other birds away--greedy buggers!), a couple of American Robins, some birds that looked yellow but had brown feathers on their back (so I am thinking they are either Common Yellowthroats or Goldfinches), and a Red-winged black bird.

I shall definitely put a hummingbird feeder later on in April, and I cannot wait to see what other visitors the feeder brings!  

P.S. I also have two rabbits that visit everyday and might have burrows in my front yard. They are so adorable!

[Howieh]

The small birds are probably chickadees or nuthatches (if you don't have a field guide try using google to identify them). I am usually in German Mills Park about twice a week and besides all the birds mentioned above I've also seen yellow warblers, rose breasted grosbeaks, cedar waxwings, kingfishers and the 'resident' (year round) great blue heron (saw him yesterday). I live across the street from Bestview Park and I've seen hummingbirds there but never in German Mills Park, but I've only been birding GMP for two years. I really enjoy GMP, even on weekends it's a lot quieter than most Toronto parks.

[Bluffs Birder]

Welcome Shaheeda,

The yellow/brown birds that you mentioned would be American Goldfinches as Common Yellowthroats are not this far north yet, they're part of the Warbler family and they don't start showing up until very late April and then throughtout May.

The Goldfinches are in their transformation process from drab looking brown birds in the winter to their beautiful bright yellow and black plumage of the summer months.

Happy Birding!
Walter