In celebration of Earth Day, Le Nichoir is offering a free activity exploring the many ways birds help the planet.

Come join one of Le Nichoir’s biologists for a walk in the Clarke Sydenham nature reserve for a series of fun activities for all ages.

Note that part of the activity will be held outdoor, dress according to the weather.

Reservation required by phone 450 458 2809 or education@lenichoir.org

When: Earth Day April 22

Time: 10 am to 12 pm

Where: Le Nichoir, 637 Main, Hudson J0P 1H0

Cost: Free

Tuesday May 8th

Seminar – Chicks and nestlings – how birds raise their young

Early May is the time when the birds are coming back to their breeding territories and when some, like the cardinals, have already started nesting. To celebrate spring, we will be offering a presentation on the challenges birds have to face to successfully raise their chicks.

Note this presentation will be given in English with a bilingual question period.

Space is limited. Reservation required by phone 450 458 2809 or education@lenichoir.org

When: May 8th, 2018

Time: 7:30 pm to 9 pm

Where: Le Nichoir, 637 Main, Hudson J0P 1H0

Cost: 5$

Wednesday February 7th

Seminar – Bird couples

Just in time for Valentine’s day, come to the centre to learn about bird couples and the courtships of the bird world. Ever wondered if birds really mate for life? How do they choose their mate? One of our biologists will be there to answer these questions and more.

Note that this presentation will be given in French with a bilingual question period.

Space is limited. Reservation required by phone 450 458 2809 or education@lenichoir.org

When: February 7th, 2018

Time: 7:30pm to 9pm

Where: Le Nichoir, 637 Main, Hudson J0P 1H0

Cost: 5$

Saturday February 3rd

Family activity – Finding food in the winter

For birds, the hardest part of winter is not the cold but the lack of food. Some species have solved this problem by migrating south, but those that stay had to find other ways. Come join one of Le Nichoir’s biologists for a walk in the Clarke Sydenham nature reserve for a series of fun activities for all ages to learn about how birds survive the cold season.

Note that part of the activity will be held outdoor, dress according to the weather. Bring your snowshoes!

To make sure everyone can enjoy this activity, there is no fixed cost for this activity; you donate what you can.

Reservation required by phone 450 458 2809 or education@lenichoir.org

When: Saturday, February 3rd, 2018

Time: 10am to 12:30pm

Where: Le Nichoir, 637 Main, Hudson J0P 1H0

Cost: Donation of any amount

Do Birds Matter?

We believe they do. And, we believe you do to. 

When you find an injured bird, where do you turn to? Probably Le Nichoir. We are here to help when you find a bird in distress.

You care enough to call us and to transport birds to the Centre. Our team of wildlife biologists, students and volunteers are committed to providing helpful advice and compassionate and professional care to every wild bird brought to us.

Every fall we invite caring people like you to show support for the work we do at Le Nichoir.

Your gift during this annual campaign is extremely important to us because it allows us to continue to be here for you and for the birds in 2018.  Over 90% of our budget comes from individual donations and fundraising activities.

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird was admitted for care after colliding with a window. To mimic an optimal natural diet, she was fed a customized blend of sugars, proteins and other nutrients every 30 minutes. After a 2 week recovery period she was released to continue her life.

Amazingly, a tenacious goose recently pierced by an arrow succeeded in raising a clutch of goslings on an area golf course before being caught and admitted to Le Nichoir for care. X-rays showed that in addition to the arrow, the goose had also been shot several times. The goose was transferred to the Pierrefonds Animal Hospital where a team of vets performed surgery to remove the arrow. The goose was subsequently cared for at Le Nichoir while it recuperated. It was banded and released in late August.

An exhausted and dehydrated Chipping Sparrow caught on a sticky trap was brought to Le Nichoir.  It took fluid therapy and several hours of repeated careful washings with a toothbrush to remove the glue. The sparrow was banded and released.

Just 3 of the over 1,800 bird stories we could tell so far this year…

Did you know?

• Over 100 different species of birds are brought to the Centre each year.
• Our biologists will have responded to over 12,000 emails and phone calls this year.
• Last year, 154 volunteers donated over 5,700 hours to help care for the birds.
• Individuals from over 180 Quebec municipalities have brought birds to Le Nichoir for care this year.
• Almost every admission is due to an unfortunate human impact.

In addition to being here 365 days a year when you call us for advice or you admit a bird for care, we also invest our resources into education.

Education is key to conserving bird populations and their habitats.

At Le Nichoir we use our unique perspective on the impact human activity has on wild birds to develop and deliver 3 interactive education programs for children: Bird Adaptations – Custom made for Habitat, Avian Detectives and for very young children – What is a Bird?

Our goal is to create in children an understanding, an interest and a desire to conserve wild birds.

Your gift will help make our unique education programs available to more Quebec children – an investment for the future of our local birds.

You are part of the important community who make Le Nichoir’s commitment to conserving our local birds a reality. Today and tomorrow.

Thank you for your trust and for making a gift during this campaign.

Sincerely,
Susan Wylie, B. Sc. Wildlife Biology
Executive Director

Jo-Annie Gagnon, B. Sc. Wildlife Biology
Education Coordinator

Weiyi Liu, B. Sc. Wildlife Biology
Operations Coordinator

Birds will soon enter the hardest time of the year for them. For those that migrate, migration is the most dangerous part of the year. For the species that evolved to stay, winter is harsh and food is scarce.

Is there anything we can do to help them survive? Should you remove or put a feeder? How do you make your yard a place where birds can rest and eat?

Le Nichoir is offering a seminar by one of our biologists to answer these questions and more. Come discuss with us and bring your questions!

The seminar will be given in English with a bilingual question period

Space is limited. Reserve your place at education@lenichoir.org or  450 458 2809

When: Wednesday, October 11th

Time: 7:30 pm to 9 pm

Where: Le Nichoir, 637 Main, Hudson J0P 1H0

Cost: $5

This year Le Nichoir’s volunteers and staff changed the format of the Open House to offer more to visitors. The new Centre allowed a larger outdoor venue, and the weather could not have been more perfect.

Bird Protection Quebec, Club Ornithologique  de Vaudreuil-Soulanges and Joël Coutu led  bird watching tours every 30 minutes. And, for the first time, Le Nichoir also offered a series of workshops hosted by the David Suzuki Foundation, Morgan Arboretum and Joël Coutu.

The open house was a great opportunity to visit our new facility and experience first hand the Centre’s education program at the interactive education kiosk.

The event drew both new and familiar faces interested in observing Le Nichoir’s patients and meeting a variety of environmental organizations including Sierra Club Canada, Nature-Action Québec, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, COBAVER-VS and Chief Top Leaf.

The Hudson Fire Department and Le Nichoir’s volunteers were also there to give a hand.

A very big thank you to our sponsors and to the Town of Hudson for the use of their tents.

Annual Open House

Saturday July 22th10 am – 2 pm
637 Main, Hudson QC J0P 1H0

Your opportunity to get to know Le Nichoir’s volunteers and staff and, most importantly, an opportunity to observe many of the different species of birds found in Quebec.

A rain-or-shine event.

Admission is free and everyone is invited!

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