Stalked by the Birds
I will admit the first time the birds stalked us, it was a little disconcerting. "Are those birds actually following us?" We were cross-country skiing in Stony Swamp, an area southwest of Ottawa with 40 km (24.85 miles) of trails, and a tiny flock of chickadees seemed to be keeping up. Later, we learned that people feed the birds so, yes, they were following us!
Stony Swamp is the most ecologically diverse protected area in the Ottawa Valley. It's full of interesting habitats, rare plants, and a variety of reptiles, amphibians and mammals, but you're here for the birds...
While out for a lovely autumn walk yesterday, the first little chickadee practically bumped into me so I put out my hand and it landed several times but I had no birdseed. Later, we met some people who had some to share. Two species were landing on our hands; black capped chickadees and I believe the other was a white-breasted nuthatch. They were going crazy for the sunflower seeds. A chipmunk waited nearby to scamper in and snatch what fell.
Habitats in the area include a sugar maple bush, small alvar clearings, boggy wetlands, regenerating pastures and an area recovering from a large fire of 10 years ago. There are boardwalks over the areas that can get soggy so walking is usually pretty good. Signs of birds were everywhere and it helps that local clubs have donated birdhouses and feeders, putting out birdseed in winter.
References
Stony Swamp
Best Birding Trails near Ottawa
NeilyWorld Birding Ottawa website
NeilyWorld Birding Ottawa - Southwest
Ottawa Field Naturalists Club - Birding in the Ottawa Area
Images
First photo by Ian Thompson, on Stony Swamp's Lime Kiln Trail.
Other photos from the iPad of @kansuze.
@kansuze
An interesting post!
Feeding wild birds, I think, does not cause any harm to them, since being free in nature, they will not lose their instincts.
But feeding animals in zoos is another matter!
It's my opinion.
I don't think they should be fed in the summer when there is food around. I don't mind so much in winter.
I agree with you!
I don't advocate the behaviour of feeding wild animals, we see the same in diving; messed up feeding habits! Nevertheless... is pretty cool to see the birds up close; I love birdwatching and most of the time it's a binocular hunt! :)
I'm surprised it isn't discouraged here. On the one hand, I wonder how much birdseed hikers actually bring in - it's not convenient - but 1/2 dozen birds were expecting something. Birds also behave like this in remote places where they haven't learned to fear humans.