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The Fletcher Wildlife Garden (FWG) is a unique 7-hectare complex of thickets, woodlot, pond, ravine and open weedy fields located in the middle of Ottawa. Birding at the garden is excellent and, when combined with the adjacent Rideau Canal, Dominion Arboretum, and extensive fields of the Central Experimental Farm, the FWG provides a diversity of habitat attractive to a wide range of birds. As of July 2009, we've recorded 148 species, but we continue to update the list which includes birds observed within the garden, the area immediately adjacent, and flying overhead. Please report your own sightings to us at vanessa@magma.ca. Much of our bird list was compiled by the late Bill Holland whose daily visits to the garden made him an institution and a wonderful source of information for beginning birders. We are very grateful to him for his work.
By mid-May the great spring migration is well underway. Now is the time to get out at dawn and scan the ravine, thickets, the Ash Woods and the slope below it. You should find a variety of birds including warblers, flycatchers, vireos, sparrows, and thrushes. Look also for American Woodcock along with White-throated Sparrow and Fox Sparrow searching last year's leaf litter for insects.
Birds migrate north from the tropics to find safe sites to rear their young. Many of the birds observed in the garden nest in the Ottawa region, although not at the FWG where for some species the habitat is too limited. But while they may not breed in the garden, they clearly find it a valuable stopover point for feeding and resting. Backyard habitats designed to encourage wildlife provide these same benefits. We've placed nest boxes all over the garden, particularly around the pond where they have been taken over by numerous pairs of Tree Swallows. Barn Swallows have occasionally nested under the eaves of nearby buildings, and we have put nesting ledges on the Interpretive Centre for both Barn Swallows and American Robins. A pair of American Kestrels regularly use the nest box placed high on the old barn, a substitute for natural cavities. As the Fletcher Garden has reverted to a more natural state, we've found increasing numbers of birds nesting in the garden such as Yellow Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, and Baltimore Oriole.
When the weather shifts to snow and falling temperatures, flocks of winter finches may be found in some numbers if their northern food supply decreases. At the FWG, look for Pine Grosbeaks, Common Redpolls, and sometimes Evening Grosbeaks. Northern Shrikes appear quite regularly. There are two feeders in the garden, one near the Interpretive Centre and another south of the Ash Woodlot, supplied with seed from the OFNC. On particularly cold days, the feeders are busy spots, attracting a variety of birds including chickadees, nuthatches, finches, Northern Cardinals, and Mourning Doves. They are also the place to check for the occasional rarity. In the winter of 2004/2005 when Great Gray Owls were abundant in the region, one was sometimes seen in the garden.  photo by Gillian Mastromatteo
These are the 149 species observed at the garden and in the immediate area. Breeding evidence is noted with an asterisk alone (*); species that we think are nesting are followed by an asterisk and a question mark (*?).
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Many of the birds found in the garden live here year round. These 'resident' species include Downy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, House Sparrow and House Finch. However, keep an eye out for other resident species. Cooper's Hawks have been found all year at the garden in recent times. 
By mid-March that true harbinger of spring, the Red-winged Blackbird, is heard giving its ringing "Oka-ree" call, soon followed by Killdeer, Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallow, and Barn Swallow. 
As summer gives way to fall, birds increasingly feel the call to warmer climates. From late August through September is a time of great activity. Swallows begin flocking in large numbers in July, and warblers, vireos thrushes and other species arrive again, fuelling up for the long journey south. Scan the thickets spilling down the ravine for Fox Sparrows, and the taller trees for Blue-headed Vireos and other passerines. Birds usually sing less once the breeding season is over, becoming quite silent except for various chirps or "chip notes."