Sisters Marnie and Amy Clarke donated 40 acres of their 19^th century Hudson farm to the Nature Conservancy of Canada in 1991. The gifted land was to become the Clarke Sydenham Nature Reserve “for the benefit of residents of Hudson who appreciate and enjoy woods and fields, birds and wildlife in general.”

Meanwhile, a small group had formed to care for injured and orphaned birds in the area. Word of their good works spread, and demand grew to the point that the part-time conservationists decided to formalize and expand their activities. This is how Le Nichoir began operations 25 years ago in an old barn on the retained portion of the Clarke property. Incidentally, the annual rental fee for the barn was $1 plus two bottles of “good scotch whisky”!

What followed is a remarkable story of extraordinary people doing extraordinary things, strongly supported by their community.

Today, Le Nichoir is recognized as the largest centre of its kind for songbirds in Canada. The main building houses a clinic with x-ray capabilities, a bird nursery, a bird-food kitchen, a classroom, and a reception area incorporating La Plume Verte boutique. Outside and around the building are individual aviaries for insectivores, songbirds, waterfowl and woodpeckers, all set in natural landscaping that even includes a vegetable garden to grow food for the birds.

It’s a history worth celebrating, so stay tuned! We will retrace the steps of our history throughout this year’s newsletters, beginning with this one and continuing with those that follow. We hope you enjoy the trail!

To mark this special anniversary, Le Nichoir will offer a plethora of online activities throughout 2021.   Our biologists have planned a series of online seminars on a variety of topics. We hope you’ll join us to learn about local birds, their fascinating lives, their conservation, and our shared environment.  

We will kick off the series with two sessions dedicated to birds during their breeding:  

Bird Couples (French) – Tuesday, March 23rd, 2021, 7 p.m.: Explore the complex world of birds’ private affairs. This presentation is given in French with a bilingual question period. Register to save your spot (required). 

Chicks and Nestlings (English) – Tuesday, March 30th, 2021, 7 p.m.: Learn about what bird parents do to raise their clutch, from choosing the right territory to raising successful juveniles. This presentation will be given in English with a bilingual question period. Register to save your spot (required).

Although there are no set fees to purchase a ticket for the seminar, donations of any amount are encouraged.  The funds collected during these events will go to support the centre’s programs.

Check out our upcoming events on our website and Facebook page. 

As we spring into a new year, we would like to share with you our annual newsletter.

Download your copy here.