Spring Sanctuary Tour

On the morning of May 27th, 2017, twenty-six participants joined the bird walk event. To avoid disturbing the different habitats within the sanctuary, the bird walk was conducted along the perimeter of the area. Over two hours, a variety of bird species were observed within the sanctuary, including Black-capped chickadee, Red-breasted nuthatch, American Goldfinch, Northern Cardinal, and a collection of sparrows and warblers.

Overall, there was positive feedback from the community on The Manchester Bird Sanctuary. Citizens would like to see educational interpretive signage on the history of the sanctuary and the species of birds that are often sighted in the different habitats. They would also appreciate signage reminding the local community to respect the property as a wilderness area and to stay along the perimeter when bird watching.

About the Manchester Bird Sanctuary

The Manchester Bird Sanctuary is an urban green space located in Saint John, New Brunswick. It was donated for preservation by private benefactor to the City of Saint John in June of 1975. Since that time, the land has seen very little ecosystem management or planning, leaving the sanctuary's function often misunderstood and under-appreciated within the community. In past studies, there were 48 species of birds identified as utilizing habitat in the Manchester Bird Sanctuary, a stunning diversity representative of the availability of distinctly different habitats within the area.

ACAP has been working with the City of Saint John to revisit the only previous field survey and management plan of the sanctuary (ACAP Saint John, 2003) and build upon its research with in-depth long-term management recommendations along with public education initiatives. These will include the design and installation of interpretive signage at select public vantage points along the perimeter of the site and clean-ups of human debris from of the edges of the property to maintain a more pristine appearance, and to foster civic pride in the area.

In 2015, a number of tree plantings and staking events took place with the help of volunteers. “Living bird feeders” were planted in the sanctuary. These plants produce berries for the birds and other wildlife and provide ground cover for the forest ecosystem, increasing biodiversity in the sanctuary.

A key focus of this initiative is to identify and delineate sensitive habitats that can be conserved as integral elements to a functional urban bird sanctuary. The three primary habitats of concern include old growth nesting habitat, wetlands, rearing habitats for migratory birds, and dense vegetation to serve as protective cover to conserve wildlife corridor integrity. This project will actively engage adjacent landowners to participate in enabling the conservation of these critical habitats.

 

Make your home and yard bird friendly

There are many easy actions you can take in your yard to benefit birds in a big way. The following are suggestions from the Nature Conservancy and The Cornell Lab, leading bird experts in North America:

  • Plant native flowers, bushes, and trees in your yard to replace open lawn areas. For example, berry bushes act as “living bird feeders” and also provide shelter and thorny plants provide added shelter for birds from predators. Also avoid using lawn chemicals that enter the food chain for birds; through the insects and plants they eat.
  • Relocate bird feeders and bird baths to within 3 feet of a window. Bird strikes are significantly more likely to be fatal when they take off far enough away from the window to be flying at top speed when they hit. When feeders are placed next to window glass, or affixed to the window or frame, birds may still fly into it, but seldom with enough force to injure themselves. Alternatively, you can apply UV reflective window decals such as CollidEscape to prevent window collisions.
  • Bring your cat indoors for a short time. Gradually shorten the amount of “outside” time your cat gets until the cat is comfortable staying indoors.
  • Don’t assume that baby birds need your help. If a bird is feathered and hopping around, it has left the nest and is being fed by its parents. Don’t try to catch the bird and keep your cats and dogs away from the animal. If the bird is un-feathered call the Department of Natural Resources at 506-856-2344 or the Atlantic Wildlife Institute at 506-364-1902 for advice. You can take pictures or video of the bird from a distance to share your experience!
  • Pile up fallen limbs and branches in your yard, approximately 5-6” thick, instead of removing them. Brush piles provide important shelter and food sources for ground-feeding birds.
  • Leave a few dead trees as they attract woodpeckers who will make holes in search of food, thus creating natural habitat for birds.
  • Provide a source of fresh, clean water for birds during dry or hot weather. Any shallow dish will do, place a rock in the middle to serve as a perch and place it atop a pedestal to keep birds safe from predators.
  • Clean your feeders to prevent mold and bacteria from spreading and making feeder birds sick.
  • Creating nesting boxes is a fun project that creates habitat for birds in your yard. Visit these sites for step by step guides: Birds Canada & Gardeners World.

 

 
 
Google+