Upcoming Events

JANUARY 2025


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Nuthatches: The Upside Down Bird - FREE Virtual Presentation      Click HERE to Register

Nuthatches are small, agile birds that exhibit the unique behaviour of climbing down tree trunks headfirst. Their strong claws and compact body shape provide them with exceptional maneuverability, allowing them to navigate through tree branches effortlessly while using their specialized bills to extract food. Join WBU Barrie and WBU Newmarket as we explore their natural history, adaptations, and effective methods for attracting these fascinating birds to your backyard. This presentation is a must hear for anyone who wishes to attract or learn more about these fascinating little birds.

Registration:
This presentation will be approximately 60 minutes in duration including time left at the end for questions. The seminar is FREE to attend. We invite you to sign up for the live presentation below. On the day of the event you will be emailed a link to join the presentation at 7:00 pm on Monday January 27, 2025.

Required Technology:
To view the below presentation you will need to have the Google Meet App downloaded to your preferred device. You can also view from a browser such as Chrome provided you're logged into your Google account. Google Meet invites will be emailed out the morning of the presentation to the email registered below. Please carefully check the spelling and check your junk mail to ensure you've not missed the invitation.

This seminar will be presented by WBU Barrie and WBU Newmarket's very own bird, wildlife and native plant gardening expert Kristen Martyn. We hope you can join us! In the mean time don't forget to check our live stream to watch some nuthatches enjoying Kristen's backyard bird feeding station: https://www.youtube.com/@KristenMartyn/live

 

FEBRUARY 2025

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Beginner Bird Embroidery Workshop
Calling all crafters! Join Wild Birds Unlimited Barrie and Wild Birds Unlimited Newmarket for our delightful beginner embroidery workshop, where you'll embark on a creative journey guided by an expert instructor. Perfect for newcomers eager to delve into the art of stitching, this session features a charming cardinal pattern that will help you develop your skills while crafting something beautiful. With a wealth of knowledge and a passion for teaching, our experienced instructor will support you throughout the process, covering everything from material selection to mastering basic stitches. By the end of the workshop, you'll be well on your way to completing your embroidery piece and you'll also have the confidence to take on more projects in the future. All necessary materials are provided, so just bring your enthusiasm and creativity to this welcoming and friendly environment—don't miss this chance to learn and create! Please note this workshop is roughly 2 hours in duration and your piece may need to completed at home.

Date, Time and Location:

  • Monday, February 24, 2025 at 6:30 pm at WBU Newmarket (16655 Yonge Street, Unit 2, Newmarket, ON)
  • Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at 6:30 pm at WBU Barrie (515 Bryne Drive, Unit B, Barrie, ON)

Cost: $75.00 + HST per person (each person participating is required to complete their own registration form)

Contact - For more information about these and other events and to make a payment please contact:
WBU Newmarket: [email protected], (905) 868-9696
WBU Barrie: [email protected], (705) 726-7600

 

FREE Virtual Presentation: Managing Blackbirds
Anyone who has fed birds knows how troublesome large flocks of Blackbirds can be. These flocks often include European Starlings, Common Grackles, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and occasionally Red-winged Blackbirds, all of which can empty a feeder faster than a squirrel! In this presentation we'll review various strategies to restrict their access to your feeders, allowing you to reclaim the joy of bird feeding (including ways to feed them if you choose!). We will also explore these different bird species to enhance our understanding of them. This presentation is a must hear for anyone who enjoys feeding the birds in their backyard. 

Registration:

  • This presentation is approximately 45 minutes in duration. The seminar is FREE to attend. We invite you to sign up to receive a email notification. On the day of the event you will be emailed a link to view the pre-recorded presentation at Wednesday February 19, 2025.

Date, Time and Location:

  • Wednesday, February 19, 2025; Virtual via emailed link

Contact - For more information about these and other events and to make a payment please contact:
WBU Newmarket: [email protected], (905) 868-9696
WBU Barrie: [email protected], (705) 726-7600

Pre-Recorded Presentations: Please email wbunewmarket384 (at) gmail.com to Receive Viewing Link

The presentations below have been pre-recorded and are available to watch online at your leisure. We will be sure to post here as new presentations become available. To view the below presentations kindly email us [email protected]. We hope you enjoy them!

Gardening for the Birds

Creating a refuge in your own backyard will improve the lives of birds and other wildlife and it is a fun and rewarding activity for your family, too. Through this presentation Kristen explores how you can create a garden for the birds and other wildlife to enjoy.  This presentation focuses on the four key elements of attracting wildlife as well as the use of specific types of plants (with emphasis on native plants). This presentation is packed full of photos of local backyard birds and wildlife, and is a must hear for anyone who enjoys gardening and is always looking for ways to bring wildlife into their yard. 

Gardening for the Future

We are entering into a new age of gardening. One where our yards and gardens are one of our closest links to the natural world and provide vital habitat to birds and wildlife. This presentation focuses on how to create functional gardens that attract more birds and wildlife and support local ecosystems by enhancing biodiversity. Join WBU's resident native plant expert Kristen as she explores several key topics in wildlife gardening including the use of native plants, garden styles and attracting birds and wildlife. Throughout this presentation Kristen will touch on experiences from her wildlife gardening journey.

View this presentation on our YouTube Channel YouTube.com/WBUBarrie using the following link: youtu.be/cRu3aL8QZf8

Goldfinches: Where Did They All Go?

Have you ever wondered why your flocks of goldfinches suddenly disappear? You're not alone we get asked this question every summer. "Where are all the goldfinches?" and "Why aren't they eating my Nyjer/ WBU Finch Blend?" Join WBU's Kristen for a presentation that looks at private lives of American Goldfinches and the natural cycles that influence their presence in our yards. We'll also examine some helpful tips for attracting these golden beauties to your yard.

View this presentation on our YouTube Channel YouTube.com/WBUBarrie using the following link: youtu.be/WDORj4uoyNY

Hummingbirds: Nature's Miracle

Against all odds - hummingbirds are truly nature’s miracle!  The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is one of the smallest birds in the world, and yet it is a champion acrobat and long-distance flyer. This presentation focuses on hummingbird feeding and foraging, nesting behaviour, migration and profiles some interesting hummingbirds.  Through this presentation Kristen looks at the fascinating lives of hummingbirds and provides helpful tips for attracting them to your yard.

Managing Blackbirds

Anyone who has fed the birds knows what a nuisance large flocks of Blackbirds can be. These flocks usually consist of: European Starlings, Common Grackles. Brown-headed Cowbirds, and occasionally, Red-winged Blackbirds; and can deplete a feeder faster than any squirrel! Join us online as we discuss different ways to limit their access to your feeders, and to take back the enjoyment of bird feeding again (including feeding them if you wish to!). We'll also learn about these different birds so we can understand them better. This free presentation is a must hear for anyone who enjoys feeding the birds in their backyard. 

Mason Bee Education

Blue Orchard Mason Bees are a species commonly found in North America and can be released in your garden to successfully pollinate your flowers, trees, shrubs, fruits and vegetables. Mason Bee cocoons can be released when conditions are optimal, when daytime temperatures have reached about 10-13°C (50-55°F) or 10% of spring blooms are happening. Simply release them in your yard and provide your garden and neighbourhood with instant pollination and biodiversity. Female bees will return to the area they hatched to lay their eggs and having a pollen bee nest available to them will ensure the bees continue to flourish in your area.  

Moving Beyond the Butterfly Garden

Want to learn more about gardening for all kinds of wildlife? WBU Barrie and WBU Newmarket present Moving Beyond the Butterfly Garden, a presentation by Laura Thomas of Hidden Habitat a native plant nursery offering ecological landscaping and garden design services. We will explore a holistic approach to gardening for wildlife where we look beyond what is needed a pollinator patch or butterfly garden. Learn how your garden can provide habitat for more than just butterflies and that by implementing strategies that support a diversity of species from songbirds to salamanders, you improve the ecological integrity of your garden and make it more welcoming to butterflies and beyond.

View this presentation on our YouTube Channel YouTube.com/WBUBarrie using the following link: youtu.be/AK8Zm2V5WVo

Nesting Neighbours

Nesting season is here! Our year-round resident backyard birds are actively searching for a place to raise their families. Ever wonder who prefers what, or how to attract them to nest in your yard? Join us online for our presentation about Nesting Neighbours. This presentation focuses on what bird house and nesting accessories will work best in your yard, where you should place nest boxes, what birds use nest boxes and how to provide the best nutrition for birds and their growing families.

Orioles – Birds with a Sweet Tooth

Join us as WBU Newmarket’s Kristen Martyn talks everything orioles: types of orioles, their natural history, nesting, oriole behaviours and of course how to attract orioles to your backyard! This presentation concentrates on how you can best prepare your yard to attract these nectar and fruit loving birds using food, water and several other key features. This presentation is packed full of photos of these brilliantly coloured backyard birds and is a must hear for anyone who feeds the birds or would like to learn more about the birds in their area.

Powerful Pollinators

You’re probably familiar with some of the pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. However, you may be surprised to learn the identity of some of the other pollinators. Join Kristen as she takes a closer at the pollinators including the different groups of pollinators and how you can support them in your yard. Spoiler alert- pollinators need more than flower nectar. This presentation is packed full of interesting facts and pollinator photos.

Preparing Your Yard for Spring/Summer

Join us as we learn about how to best prepare your yard for the spring and summer seasons. Now is the time to create a backyard oasis for the birds and for you!  This is an exciting time of year when many of our migrants being to return, including Baltimore Orioles, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, not to mention all the babies! This presentation concentrates on how you can prepare your yard for the birds during the warm months using food, water and several other key features. This presentation is packed full of photos of local backyard birds and is a must hear for anyone who feeds the birds or would like to learn more about the birds in their area.  

Wild Bird Rehabilitation with the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre

Have you ever wondered what it's like to work at a wild bird rehabilitation centre? Join Patty from the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre (www.wildbirdcarecentre.org) one of the only rehabilitation centres in Ontario dedicated exclusively to the care of wild birds, to learn all about wild bird rehabilitation. We will then explore a few other topics including what to do if you find a baby bird or injured bird (including suspected window collision).

View this presentation on our YouTube Channel YouTube.com/WBUBarrie using the following link: https://youtu.be/aOyjk5DxqKY