Birds of Athens

195 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Athens (Ontario) since 2010, across 9,619 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee and American Crow.

Athens is backyard-bird country: 79% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, American Crow and American Robin make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.

17 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk and Osprey.

Records peak in June and are lowest in November — about 6.7 times as many in the busiest month. Part of that is birds (migrants and breeding arrivals), part is people: more birders are out in good weather, so treat the curve as activity, not a census.

Smiths Falls, 19 mi to the north, has more species on record (221 against 195). Birds logged far more often around Athens than there include Red-bellied Woodpecker, Scarlet Tanager and Indigo Bunting.

Daylight runs from 15 h 34 min at midsummer to 8 h 49 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:21 AM in mid-April and 5:18 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.

• Blue Jay

  Peanuts in the shell · Black-oil sunflower · Suet

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts

• American Crow

  Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps

• American Robin

  Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets

• American Goldfinch

  Nyjer (thistle) · Hulled sunflower chips · Black-oil sunflower

• Mourning Dove

  Millet · Cracked corn · Black-oil sunflower

• Smiths Falls19 mi north · 221 species
• Prescott22 mi east · 240 species
• Gananoque23 mi south-west · 257 species
• Perth24 mi north-west · 220 species
• Carleton Place36 mi north · 247 species
• Munster37 mi north · 238 species