The Campbell Blue Jays, a family team from Oro took part in the Carden Challenge for the first time. Here is their story.
We have always enjoyed walking on Couchiching Conservancy nature reserves, especially Grant’s Woods and Scout Valley. We also love enjoying wildlife in natural spots and it is important to us that these places stay wild as the boys grow (Jacob 7, Gavin 4, Benjamin 1). Jacob is a white tail with the Orillia Beaver Colony and for his North Star Award he decided to do something that will help birds as they contribute beauty and colour to our community. When we saw the challenge in the newsletter, he decided he would like to raise money for wild spaces as habitats for the birds we love. Our team consisted of our family, Matt, Katie, and the three boys.
We participated from our home in Oro, lately we have been seeing more species than before in our 5 years of living here. I’m not sure if it is the steps we are taking to attract them or if it is that we are more aware of the species and more mindfully paying attention.
Jacob’s favourite sighting was the goldfinch, we usually see them around our house in the spring, but they seem to be staying closer to our property lately.
Gavin’s favourite sighting was a frog at a creek in the cow field beside us and the great blue heron, we were ready to come inside for lunch and we happened to look up and see one flying over the house.
Benjamin can’t share his favourite sighting yet, but he loved sitting outside on the porch and pointing out birds to us.
Katie’s favourite sighting has been the orioles that we see coming to our oranges and we also have a nest hanging over our driveway that is fun to watch, and we also saw a bobolink – their song is so beautiful.
Matt spotted a bird that we haven’t seen around our property before, the purple finch – and since the challenge we have seen a family of them visiting the bird feeder in our backyard.
The real highlight of the challenge though was sharing the outdoors as a family and seeing the boys’ excitement at identifying the birds.
We enjoyed doing the challenge this year and look forward to participating next year as well as visiting the Carden Alvar to enjoy the wildlife and outdoors that we feel so fortunate to have so accessible and close to home.