The Rural Voice, 2000-01, Page 26is face lights up as
he sits at the
kitchen table
talking about the
enjoyment he has gotten
over the past three
decades feeding the birds.
In between milkings at
the barn. Siebolt
Siertsema of Auburn has
been filling his many bird
feeders religiously to help
his feathered friends
through the winter.
"I just like to look at
them. I can sit here (in
the kitchen) and watch
them fight over the feed,"
he says with a good
natured chuckle. "It
doesn't matter how many
there are but one is
always chasing the others
around."
One of the most
interesting birds the
Siertsemas have had near
their feeders was a nearly
frozen Western Grebe.
After a windy snow
storm, he found the bird
outside while filling his
feeders. This bird is a
rarity because it was
drastically off course.
Grebes usually live in the
Western United States,
spending winters the Gulf
Coast and are rarely seen
on land. After telling his
daughter Nancy, who
studied environmental
science. it wasn't long
before the Audubon
Society from Toronto
contacted them to offer
suggestions. However,
the weekend excitement
was over on Monday
when he released the
bird.
Many are learning what Siertsema learned from his
father years ago, feeding the birds is inexpensive, fun and
you don't have to be a genius or expert to enjoy it. Since
the early '90s birding has become the fastest growing
hobby in North America, said Tom Dunbar, a wildlife
biologist who owns the River Line Nature Company based
in Goderich. The company specializes in birding
paraphernalia.
However, despite people's best intentions to feed the
birds throughout the winter by the time the January rolls
around, with two or three stormy days in a row, people
C EE
ENTERTAINMENT
For many farmers and rural residents feeding
the birds provides winter enjoyment at the
same time it helps birds survive
Story and photos Uy Sarah Caldwell
Si,sema fills
of numerous bird
std Auburn -
area daky farm. ``l like to
ktok at them" he says of
the birds he attracts.
22 THE RURAL VOICE
calories is the recommended
don't check on their
feeders, said Dave
Fiddler, an avid naturalist
from near Owen Sound
who teaches courses on
how to start birding.
People say that it's too
cold out, but this is the
time when it is critical.
"To not bother in the bad
weather defeats the whole
purpose," said Fiddler
who has been feeding the
birds for 30 years.
If you live in a rural
area making the
commitment to have
someone till your feeders
while you are away on
acation is key. There
may be no other food
source for the birds in a
close radius.
"We are feeding
approximately 150-200
birds." said Fiddler. "If all
of a sudden we get them
well into the heavy part of
winter then leave them we
are putting the birds in a
fix since there is not
enough natural food to
support the numbers
coming to the feeders."
said Fiddler.
Getting started at
attracting birds to your
property doesn't need to
be elaborate. Recycling
two -litre plastic bottles
into bird feeders, making
suet cakes from household
ingredients to attract
woodpeckers and growing
your own bird seed, such
as sunflowers and corn
can make birding an
affordable enjoyment.
Food: A high quality mix
of grains loaded with
way to fill your feeders.
Some things to look for when buying birdseed is to pick
a feed that doesn't contain fillers such as hard shelled white
millet, red milo or red peanuts. On the farm if you are
mixing your own feed be careful not to use too much corn.
It is a winter food and there are few species that will really
eat it around here (Huron County), said Dunbar. Wheat is
also a filler grain to steer clear of. However, if your feed is
attracting the birds stick with it as there are always
exceptions.
"The reason the straight grains, like black oil sunflower
seeds, have been so popular is because they are better than