Which birds warrant a spot at the backyard feeder and which don’t?
That question was up for debate during yesterday’s Bracebridge general committee meeting.
The committee was debating a wider bylaw to ban the feeding of wildlife within the municipality. A provision had been included to allow for the feeding of “songbirds” from bird feeders but that sparked a broader discussion on which birds, if any, should be allowed to feed in local backyards.
Councillors generally agreed that feeding wildlife like deer, moose and bears created a plethora of problems, such as potential traffic hazards, and dangerous human-wildlife encounters. However, there was some debate regarding the issues caused by backyard bird feeders.
Councillor Don Smith said he had significant issues with the legislation as it was presented. He questioned how bird feeders could be allowed when they were known to attract bears and deer. He pointed out that the motion would lead to yet another rule that had to be enforced by an already busy bylaw department. Smith also pointed out that the bylaw includes a contingency to ban live trapping in Bracebridge, something most people likely were not aware of.
Councillor Barb McMurray said she had some concerns with the term “songbirds” as other types of birds such as hummingbirds and woodpeckers should also be allowed at feeders. She was less enthusiastic about crows and ravens.
McMurray was advised by staff that the bylaw had been amended to include the term “backyard birds” which would include the types of birds she had specified. Birds like pigeons and geese will continue to be excluded.
Councillor Andrew Struthers said residential developments in Bracebridge continue to encroach on wild spaces and displace local wildlife.
“No bylaw is perfect and there probably will be revisions required but this is a good starting point,” said Struthers.
The motion was ultimately passed with councillors Smith and Barry Hammond voting against. The motion must still be ratified by Town Council during their June 15 meeting.
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Dinny McCraney says
This whole discussion is ridiculous!
If I feed birds, it gives me pleasure and harms no one,
If deer and bears go after the feeders, I take them down. Should I eliminate plants and flowers in my garden because deer eat them?
Fireworks are banned except on 2 occasions a year, yet the town welcomed a store on the main street which sells fireworks for personal use. We hear fireworks going off almost every weekend…(hopefully not during the fire ban) But it continues despite the bylaws.
Dogs aren’t allowed to run at large or bark, but the neighbourhood cats roam all over my property, use my gardens as bathrooms, and terrorize the birds nesting in my bushes!
Please focus on those things which can be enforced and do it!
Mac Redden says
If Bracebridge wants to protect wildlife fine cat owners that let their cat roam off their owner’s property as mentioned.
“Cats #1 Threat to Birds
Predation by domestic cats is the number-one direct, human-caused threat to birds in the United States and Canada.
In the United States alone, outdoor cats kill approximately 2.4 BILLION birds every year.
Although this number may seem unbelievable, it represents the combined impact of tens of millions of outdoor cats. Each outdoor cat plays a part.”
Also letting a cat roam outdoors drastically shortens it’s life.
“Indoor cats tend to live longer than their outdoor counterparts, typically reaching 10 to 15 years of age. Cats who spend their lives exclusively outdoors live an average of just 2 to 5 years.”
Dana Viking says
So now”backyard birds” are specified in the bylaw rather than “songbirds”. This gets more ludicrous by the day. In fact is this some kind of a joke. Doesn’t the Town CAO have anything better to do? Who comes up with this nonsense..
Well I guess I’ll put up a sign on my feeder : “Backyard birds only. By order Mayor Maloney. “. And the bylaw officers can then waste our tax money trying to figure it out.
Gary Lachance says
Surely our council in Bracebridge can find more important issues to discuss, rather than bird feeders. Possibly some discussion on how to improve the request for building information and move permits forward faster. Just a thought!
Betty Ann McNabb says
I can’t believe I am reading such a ludicrous discussion by our elected council. There are much more important matters in the Town of Bracebridge than birds in citizens back yards. The town has impinged on wild life territory with all the new subdivisions. People move to Muskoka to live in our own piece of paradise. I think it would make more sense to educate people on the wild life that exists in Muskoka rather than making its citizens put a bubble around their property. We have had bears, coyotes, deer, wild turkeys, raccoons and moose around our property. As far as I am concerned the discussion council had is “for the birds”. Find some more important issues to discuss!
Sybil Jackson says
Watching the bird feeders is enjoyable and I have only once seen a doe at one of mine. I watched the Agenda tonight and was shocked to learn how many roadside zoos there are in Ontario. I wish governments at all levels would ban these. How do people obtain lions, tigers, bears, etc. in this province anyway?