Local bird and conservation enthusiasts have a hands-on opportunity to personally enhance the area’s nesting habitat for select bird species, thanks to a free upcoming workshop offered by the Raisin Region Conservation Authority (RRCA) on November 5, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Cooper Marsh Conservation Area in South Glengarry.
Of the over 200 bird species found at the popular Conservation Area, two in particular have benefited from the Marsh’s network of artificial nesting structures: the wood duck and the tree swallow.
“Over the years, both species faced significant struggles due to habitat loss and other challenges,” says RRCA Project Coordinator, Caroline Doroshenko. “Specifically designed nesting boxes, such as those found throughout Cooper Marsh, have contributed significantly to increasing wood duck and tree swallow populations, helping to substitute for lost habitat by providing them with safer nesting places sheltered from heavy rain, wind, and predators.”
Participants at the RRCA workshop will get a chance to build a tree swallow nesting box and learn about various other nesting structures and the bird species that use them.
“We will also offer several guided installation, maintenance and monitoring demonstrations at various sites within Cooper Marsh,” says Doroshenko.
As spaces are limited, pre-registration to the free workshop is required at rrca.on.ca. All ages are welcome to participate, but it is recommended for adults and children ages 7 and up.
All the bird boxes built during the workshop will be installed at local RRCA habitat enhancement projects. The RRCA is also set to install 25 additional wood duck boxes at Cooper Marsh Conservation Area this fall and winter.
The nesting box workshop is the fourth in a free educational series being offered by the RRCA and its partners through the Cooper Marsh Biodiversity project, a multi-year effort to protect and enhance the Marsh’s rich biodiversity through habitat planting and enhancement, invasive species control, biodiversity monitoring, and outreach. This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, a Government of Canada’s Department of Environment and Climate Change program in partnership with Conservation Ontario. Funding for the project was also provided by Ontario Power Generation.
For more information visit rrca.on.ca or contact (613) 938-3611 or info@rrca.on.ca.
