There is no better time to be thinking about gifts – gifts for Christmas, gifts for the New Year with a focus on our favourite topic, birds. Presents can be for our loved ones or friends but in the end, the real beneficiaries are the birds themselves. Don’t forget about yourself. Perhaps this is the time to upgrade your optics or to finally deal with annoying squirrels by purchasing a squirrel-proof feeder. Trust me, outmaneuvering ninja squirrels is a great stress reliever for the backyard birder.

Best of all, share your enthusiasm with children. Whether your kids or grandkids, this is the age where the magic of nature pays the biggest dividends. When we share our passion, we can help them to develop a lifelong relationship with these fascinating creatures.

By Brian Morin

Publishers of Ontario Birding News