Home on the Range

All birds have a range. This is the geographical area where the species can be seen at different times of the year. Range can be divided into breeding range and wintering range. Because some species are very flexible in their survival needs, their ranges can be huge. The European starling for instance, flourishes in practically every corner of Canada, and its range is still expanding! It can live in the country, the suburbs, or a city with no problem. Other species have tiny ranges. The Acadian flycatcher is found only in what’s left of the Carolinian forests of southern Ontario. Because its habitat needs are so specific and that habitat is disappearing, the species is listed as endangered on the COSEWIC list. (Endangered means it is in imminent danger of vanishing altogether.) Territory, however, is the area that one specific bird stakes out to use for breeding, feeding, or both, and that it defends against other birds of the same species. The ranges of many species have changed dramatically in past decades. Some are expanding—perhaps because the species is protected or it has adaptable habitat needs. Other ranges are shrinking alarmingly, and the species has disappeared from parts of it because of environmental or other changes. An increased interest in feeding winter birds has influenced the expanding ranges of some species, such as the cardinal, evening grosbeak, and mourning dove.

When you see a robin in your schoolyard, that means your schoolyard is part of its range. On the other hand, if you don’t see a robin in your schoolyard, it could mean one of two things: 1) your schoolyard does not fall into its range; or 2) robins actually do range in your area, but there is nothing in your schoolyard to attract them: no water, no worms or insects, and no trees to perch, nest, or shelter in. The activities in this kit will help you to assess why you see certain birds in your neighbourhood and perhaps find out why you don’t see them.