Other Birds

1. Birds: Wild & Domestic
2. Poultry
   • July Update
3. Project Feeder Watch
   • Offices

I used to write a regular column for the Gabriola Sounder called "Birds: Wild & Domestic."

Poultry
My interest in chickens started when I was two years old. My first photograph shows me feeding my grandmother's birds. In later years I became involved with heritage breeds, trying to preserve them and distribute them to other breeders. When I moved to Gabriola Island I had fifteen different varieties, with my main breeds being French Marans and Chanteclers.

I had to simplify the operation due to some health problems and the flocks went to a friend who lives on Gabriola Island. She had to let most of them go to her niece and I think that is where they are now, but she still has some of her own. My current 'flock' consists of a trio of Welsummers which are very handsome birds and prolific egg layers, too. They came from a friend, Tom Vanderstine, who lives on Quadra Island. He has several different breeds including Marans and Chanteclers which he got from me.

Update: July 2002
My poultry flock now consists of 2 males and 8 females of the Buff Brahma bantam variety. The Welsummers have been passed on to a friend. The bantams are a good show type and I can increase the flock easily as they are good sitters.

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Project Feeder Watch
I participate in Project Feeder Watch which is a research/education project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, Bird Studies Canada, and the Canadian Nature Federation. It entails watching your feeding stations and reporting your observations. Everything is explained when you sign-up for the project and you receive, a feeder watcher's handbook, a large beautifully illustrated calendar, a large coloured poster of feeder birds and all the necessary data forms.

Your observation times can be fitted into your daily schedule or done on weekends. The annual fee for participation is $25 and this is used to further research into birds.

Project Feeder Watch Offices

Bird Studies Canada
PO Box 160
Port Rowan, ON N0E 1M0

Phone: 1-888-448-BIRD
Website: http://www.bsc-eoc.org/national/pfw.html

Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, New York 14850

Phone: 607-254-2427
Website: http://birds.cornell.edu/PFW

You receive regular communications about the project, including an annual report of the data summary.

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