Giving Thanks for Our Birding Community
Thanksgiving is a wonderful reminder to slow down, spend time with the people we care about and appreciate the simple things that bring us joy. For us, that includes time spent outdoors, the beauty of the changing season and, of course, the birds that connect us to nature every day.
This weekend, we're especially thankful for our incredible birding community. We hope you'll find some time to connect with family and friends, get outside and enjoy the birds around you. Our team will be taking Sunday and Monday off to do the same!
Thanksgiving Weekend Hours
Friday, October 9: 10 am–6 pm
Saturday, October 10: 10 am–5 pm
Sunday, October 11: CLOSED
Monday, October 12: CLOSED
Take Your Flock on a Fall Scavenger Hunt!
Add a little birding fun to your Thanksgiving adventures with our family-friendly Fall Birding Scavenger Hunt! See how many birds, sounds, colours and signs of the season you can find while exploring outdoors.
Pick up a copy in-store — along with a pocket-sized bag of seed for the trails — or download and print one at home. We've even included some of our favourite Ottawa-area birding trails to help you decide where to explore!
Help Birds Prepare for Winter, Then Relax and Enjoy the Show.
The days are getting shorter, temperatures are dropping and birds are already preparing for the challenges of the season ahead. While we're settling into a cozy new season, our backyard birds are busy finding reliable food, caching seeds and building the energy reserves they'll depend on as colder weather arrives.
Your backyard can play an important role. Providing dependable sources of high-quality food, fresh water and shelter now can help birds prepare for winter — while setting your backyard up for some of the best bird watching of the year.
Caching Season is Here!
Have you noticed chickadees, nuthatches and jays making quick trips to your feeders? Many birds cache food, hiding seeds and nuts in hundreds — or even thousands — of locations to retrieve later when natural food becomes harder to find.
Keep feeders stocked with high-quality, energy-rich foods such as sunflower, peanuts and No-Mess blends to help your backyard birds build their winter pantry.
Build Your Foundational Feeders
A dependable feeding station starts with feeders that can stay filled and available throughout the colder months. Foundational feeders offering high-quality seed, suet and other energy-rich foods give birds reliable places to feed as natural food sources become less predictable.
Seed Cylinders are an especially convenient option for fall and winter. Their compressed design lasts longer than loose seed, means fewer trips outside to refill your feeder and keeps food available for your birds during busy winter feeding periods.
Get Seasonally Savvy
As temperatures drop, birds benefit from foods packed with the fats and calories they need to maintain their energy and body heat.
Our Seasonally Savvy Winter SuperBlend is specially selected for the season, combining high-energy ingredients designed to help support the birds visiting your feeders throughout the colder months. Add SuperSuet®, Jim's Birdacious® Bark Butter® or peanuts for even more high-fat options.
Don't Forget the Water
Birds need water year-round for drinking and bathing, but dependable open water can become much harder to find once temperatures dip below freezing.
Now is a great time to prepare your winter water source. A heated bird bath or bird bath heater can keep water accessible during freezing weather and make your backyard even more inviting to winter birds.
A little preparation now can make a big difference all winter long. Visit us in-store and we'll help you choose the right foods, feeders and water solutions to keep your backyard birds well supported through the colder months — while you relax and enjoy the show.