Good to Know

Water and Birds

Water is the lifeline of all life on Earth. 71% of the whole world is covered in water, but just little over 3% is drinkable. David Suzuki, our world renowned Canadian environmentalist and scientist constantly reminds us, “Water is Life.”

The theme this year for World Migratory Bird Day on May 13 is “Water-Sustaining Bird Life.”

Were it not for birds, Canada woulds be a barren wasteland, as birds are responsible for 92% of trees growing across our vast country. As they fly over the landscape, the tree seeds in their poop are dropped everywhere. Their poop helps to fertilize the tree seeds as they sprout into saplings. Scientists tell us that birds eat around 500 million of tons of insects including 15 million larva every year! This pest-eating service of birds is worth billions of dollars a year to our economy.
Vultures perform a valuable service by eating dead animals. Since vultures rarely come in contact with humans, vultures serve as a barrier to prevent diseases from proliferating in dead animals and spreading to humans. A serious decline in vulture populations has resulted in feral dogs in many countries eating carrion and spreading deadly rabies.

As well, birds play a vital role in the pollination of plants. Hummingbirds are master pollinator as their long beaks can reach into long-throated flowers. Here in Ontario, we can help ruby-throated hummingbirds thrive, by planting red flowers and hanging up hummingbird feeders.

Install a solar bird bath with a fountain as birds are attracted to moving water.

Scientists tell us Lake Simcoe supports an astounding 141 different species of birds.

Soon millions of birds will be migrating north and they all depend on an ecologically healthy aquatic ecosystems to keep them healthy and strong. Unfortunately, Lake Simcoe faces a number of detriments impacting its ecological health.

One major challenge facing Lake Simcoe is algae bloom triggered by too much phosphorus and nitrogen entering the watershed. Recently, a study demonstrated that algae bloom, as well as, killing cold water fish such as trout and herring, also jeopardizes the health and life expectancy of songbirds by compromising their immune systems, reproductive rates, and contributing to weight loss. Importunately, algae bloom is particularly harmful to migrating birds on their long and arduous journeys north.

Residents can help reduce algae bloom by avoiding the use of chemical fertilizers, rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, on their lawns.

Lake Simcoe also faces another existential threat. Excessive road, parking lots, and sidewalk salt is entering Lake Simcoe at an alarming rate.

Right now models indicate that 64% of plant and animal life are detrimentally impacted by salt contamination. LSRCA warn us if salt concentrations continue to increase at the current rates, by 2110 we will exceed the chronic exposure guidelines.

When a lake’s salt concentration keeps increasing, the sources of food for wildlife including migratory birds decrease. Only, marine birds have built -in water desalination systems. Too much salt will eventually weaken and kill non-marine birds. As insect eating birds die off, we will see an increase in mosquitoes.

There are alternatives to salt, such as, using brine salt and beet juice to de-ice roads. Here in Barrie the good news is the City uses salt brine and molasses quite successfully on arterial roads while sanding other roads.

To reduce the amount of salt being used, residents and municipalities can work together by applying best practices that have been developed. Here in the Lake Simcoe watershed, many owners of large parking lots and snow plow operators have been trained in the “Smart About Salt” program.

Finally, as residents of a Bird Friendly City, we can all take actions

by writing to ourvgovernment representative, and join one of the following organizations such as Nature Barrie, Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition, Living Green, and AWARE.

On Saturday, May 13 World Migratory Bird Day, Nature Barrie will be hosting a Nature Barrie Bird Walk - starting at the Spirit Catcher from 10:30 to 12, rain or shine.

Register at jcoey@rogers.com.