Bird Friendly Ottawa

06/01/2026

LOVE this program!

05/31/2026

There's still a little bit more time if you would like to join us for some fun at Petrie Island. If not, you can come on your own, it's an amazing place to visit!

05/31/2026

Come join us at Petrie Island for a fun morning!

05/29/2026

On Tuesday, our co-chair Deb was invited to CTV to discuss making your backyard attractive to birds and what makes Ottawa a certified Bird Friendly City. Check out this clip where she chats with Will Aiello on CTV's Capital BBQ Patio, including discussing details on our Petrie Island Bird Walks this Sunday, May 31st.

Thanks to CTV and Will for having us!

3 key Bird Safe City areas supported by BFO's amazing partners:
- Habitat: native plants from Fletcher's Wildlife Garden and their plant sale and bird feed from Wild Birds Unlimited
- Reduce threats: keep cats indoors or on a leash or for older cats, use a bird-safe collar to help prevent some predation; treat windows to make them visible
- Education: CTV gave us the opportunity to share info on bird friendly yards!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lnv7KLy6D-w&list=PLLzHOgGvydCnTvxEqu_yNxmAuELJH2oAU&index=24


@.wildlife.garden CTV Ottawa Morning Live

05/28/2026

Sign-up for free native trees from the amazing team at Ecology Ottawa!

05/28/2026

Good info - don't offer or provide injured birds with water. Instead, collect them and get them to a qualified rehabber!

A bird's airway is not where yours is. The opening to the trachea — called the glottis — sits on the floor of the mouth, right behind the tongue, as a tiny slit. When a bird drinks on her own, she controls that opening with precision, timing each sip to the millisecond.

When a stressed bird is held and liquid is pushed into her mouth, she panics. Her breathing accelerates. The airway opening fires erratically, out of sync with swallowing. A single drop entering the windpipe slides into rigid lungs that cannot cough it out.

She may look fine for an hour. The damage is already happening inside.

This applies to water, sugar water, electrolyte solutions — any liquid forced into the mouth of a bird you're holding.

🌿 If you find a bird in distress:

- Quiet dark box — darkness calms her. Calm keeps her airway synchronized.
- Shallow water inside the box — no deeper than chest height. If she can drink, she will, on her own terms.
- Moisten, don't pour — damp cotton swab on the outside of the bill. Never inside the mouth. Never a dropper.
- Get help — licensed wildlife rehabilitator at ahnow .org. They have tube-feeding equipment and species-specific training.

The instinct to offer water is one of the kindest things a person can feel. The method is what makes it safe. Now you know the right one 🐾

05/27/2026

As everyone is out identifying (mostly) male warblers, here's some help identifying some of Ottawa's lovely and stunning FEMALE birds!

Female birds with confusing names.