Backyard Birding

Reader Lucy asks,

A bird kept ‘attacking’ our windows last summer - not flying into them, but pecking at the glass (not the putty) and flapping his wings at (we’re guessing) his reflection. Why would that be, do you think?

Yes, that is actually quite a common behavior in birds, especially in spring. Male birds become very territorial, driving intruders out from their range. When their attention falls on a mirror or the reflective surface of a window, the result can be at times amusing and at times annoying. Two years ago, a woodpecker claimed a small patch of New York state, and set about to drive his reflection out of numerous side view mirrors. He caused quite a bit of damage.

Anne Miller has had two mirrors on her Pontiac Grand Prix smashed and watched the bird attack her neighbor’s Malibu.

“I told him to shoo. He did. Then he came right back and finished the job,” she said. “Instead of flying off, he walked across the windshield and did the passenger mirror. I was flabbergasted.” Desert News

Most birds, however, do not cause any damage and will eventually go away on their own. Anything which breaks up the reflection is also likely to help them move on to deal with real threats to their territory. A plastic shopping bag can be tied over car mirrors and the same techniques used to prevent collisions can also be helpful.

birding, backyard birding, bird feeding, territorial birds

So you’ve set up your bird feeders. You’ve provided water for your birds. You have planned for shelter against predators. Birds have finally found your feeders. And then one crashes into your window. Millions of birds are killed each year by colliding with windows, making it the most dangerous aspect of feeding birds. What can you do? And how can you prevent future collisions?

First it is important to understand why birds collide with windows. It is not because the glass is invisible to them. They are not trying to seek refuge in your living room. Instead, they are seeing the reflection of the sky. They see a patch of blue, or perhaps an inviting tree and dive for cover. Anything that you put inside the window (curtains, blinds, etc.) will only obscure your view without providing any additional protection for your birds. Here are some tips which may help:

1. Break up the reflection. Our local nature center hangs ribbon in front of the window which blows in the wind. Some people even hang old CDs from string to further demarcate windows.

2. Stickers. Those hawk outline stickers do not fool the birds. They don’t think a hawk is nearby, but it does help them to recognize that there is a hard surface there.

At our bird store, we found some special stickers (see picture) which reflect ultraviolet light. To us, they appear as a blurry leaf outline on the window. But birds can see ultraviolet, and thus see bright blue reflections several places on the window.

3. Don’t wash your windows. Dirt doesn’t reflect blue sky.

4. Move your feeders further from the house so birds have time to fly over your house rather than into it.

5. Move your feeders closer to the house so that when birds strike, they are not moving as fast.

6. Attach a feeder directly to the window.

7. Install a screen.

8. You can also purchase a fine mesh to put over windows. Birds may fly into it, but can fly away unharmed.

Should a bird collide with your window, there are a few simple things you can do to maximize their chance of survival. When a bird bounces off the window, it often drops to the ground, stunned. The biggest danger is generally succumbing to a predator. You will notice how easy a stunned bird is to approach. Remember that it is technically illegal to handle or keep an native North American wild bird. The bird police won’t come after you for trying to rescue a bird, but don’t be tempted to keep it.

Approach the bird slowly and lift it gently. Place it in a box, cover it with a blanket and move it to a safe location. Make sure it is safe from predators and curious children. Leave it there for about 15 minutes. There is no need to check on it, and the more it is left in peace, the sooner it will calm down. Take the blanket off and walk away. Generally, the bird will fly off shortly after the cover is removed.

backyard birding, bird feeding, bird watching, windows, window collision

This question was asked of a teacher by (who else) a ten year old boy. Little did he know that it would be posted to a national birding e-list. Much discussion ensued. Of course, any animal which eats generates gas and this gas must go somewhere. So while birds possess a relatively short intestinal tract, thus producing a smaller amount of gas, they do produce some. And it is expelled through the normal means.

For a few more interesting facts about our feathered friends, take a peep at The Feeder.

backyard birding, birding, birdwatching, humor

House finches are rather frequent visitors at our sunflower feeder. The house finch is a small, sparrow sized bird which may easily be confused with its cousin, the purple finch. It tends to not have as much purple, however, and more streaking on the flanks. They appear brighter red in spring, but for an interesting reason. They do not molt in the spring as some bird do, but rather have feathers which are tipped with gray after their fall molt. This gray coloring wears off over the winter, leaving their feathers more brilliant for the breeding season.

Originally a western species, the house finch can now be found throughout most of the United States. Its range expansion is an interesting story. My bird guide shows populations on the east and west coast with a large gap in the middle of the country. Nowhere do the two ranges meet. How did the bird come to expand its territory in such an odd fashion? In the 1940s, pet dealers from California began shipping them to New York City as cage birds known as “Hollywood finches.” Since they are wild, this was illegal and the US Fish and Wildlife Service eventually discovered the practice. They began arresting dealers. In order to avoid arrest, some dealers released the caged birds. The population grew and their range expanded. More current range maps show that the the two populations’ ranges have since joined.

They are especially attracted to sunflower seeds, but also enjoy the Nyger seed offered in tube feeders. Ours particularly like the platform feeder. They are not particularly shy, and often will be among the last birds to flee when there is commotion near the windows.

house finch, birdwatching, backyard birding, birding, bird feeding

When we were planning our feeding station, a patch of dead lawn never entered into consideration. We have a patch of dead lawn, to be sure, but all we have ever thought about in terms of using it for birds was what to plant there. Our birds, on the other hand, seem to like it just as it is. Just look at these two sparrows enjoying their dust bath!

Dust bathing and “anting,” however, are very important to the overall health of birds. It helps to rid them of parasites, realign feathers and soothe skin irritations. Anting, where birds place ants in their feathers or spread their wings out for ants to crawl on them, has been documented in over 200 species of birds.

The Post Gazette offers directions for building your own dust bath. And for the record, our birds frequently engage in this behavior on hot days, even though the bird bath is nearby and waiting with fresh water.

birding, backyard birding, birdwatching

If you set up nest boxes in your yard, it is highly recommended that you place them within reach so that they may be monitored easily. They require regularly monitoring for one simple reason: house sparrows.

Population declines of several native species are widely attributed to competition with house sparrows, which are not native to North America. Nest boxes for wrens, chickadees and other small song birds should have holes which are too small for the sparrow to enter. Kestrels, blue birds, woodpeckers and many other species are too large however, and sparrows will likely take up residence in the boxes you provide.

To monitor nest boxes, you need only a pen and notebook. This is a wonderful opportunity to observe your birds very closely, but it is essential to do the work quickly and quietly with minimal disturbance to the birds.

1. While waiting for birds to nest, check the box frequently. Learn to identify sparrow nests so that you can remove them if they begin to nest. Because they are an invasive species, it is legal to remove their nests, eggs, the young and even trap and destroy the adults if necessary.

2. Once a native bird has begun nesting, do not check the box in the morning. This is when birds lay their eggs. They are more likely to be searching for food in the afternoon, so it will be less stressful on the birds to check the nests at this time.

3. Once a bird has begun incubating, give her a few days before checking the nest. Observe the nest box from a distance. Watch for the parent birds to come and go, and make sure they are not being attacked by sparrows which can injure and even kill larger birds.

4. Once the nest is established, you can check it once or twice a week. Take notes and enjoy this glimpse into the natural world.

5. Remember not to check the nest in inclement weather which could bring harm to the baby birds. Also do not check the nest when the nestlings are close to fledging. This would increase their likelihood of leaving the nest prematurely.

backyard birding, birdwatching, birding, nest box, sparrows

An often overlooked tool of backyard birding is a simple notebook kept near where you view your feeders most. This gives family members an opportunity to record what is happening at the feeders. Kept much like a diary, it is an engaging way to learn about the birds which frequent your yard. When you sit down to watch your birds, take a moment to write down the date, the time and the weather conditions. Whatever you see…or don’t see…is worthy of describing further. We tend to be most diligent about recording new species, or those we do not see very often. But I try also to write about little things we observe, such as the way the fledged sparrows beg for food from the adults, or how the blue jay cracks his sunflower seeds on a branch near the window. We include sketches, and interesting information we found in the bird guide. This encourages you and your children to observe closely what you see at your feeders.

Suddenly, you don’t just see a mob of little birds pecking away. You begin recognizing individuals, note the unique ways each species feeds and begin to see a glimpse of the social structure of your visiting birds. Over time, you will likely also begin to know when to look for migratory birds to arrive at your feeders, when to expect to see their courtship behaviors and when the first fledglings are likely to appear in your yard.

This also gives you an opportunity to describe the birds and other wildlife that passes through your yard. My four year old son likes to watch the bluebirds hunt at the back of the property. They perch on a branch of one of the saplings, dive into the grass in the field and return to the same branch to eat their prize. He can watch them for half an hour, uninterrupted. We also have red tailed hawks who soar over the farmland off to the southwest of us. We watch them circle, dive and soar above the landscape. Sometimes they seem to swoop for the pure joy of flight. They have come in close, observing our feeders. Luckily, red tailed hawks are not usually interested in songbirds. More than likely, they are looking for one of those pesky squirrels.

My children enjoy participating as well, whether it is my younger son dictating what he sees or my oldest daughter writing and sketching what she sees. It is a wonderful way to keep track of your efforts to attract birds and what you have learned about them while observing them and reading about them.

birdwatching, birding, backyard birding, notebooking

Citizen Scientist’s across the country take part in research on our nation’s bird populations by counting birds. Scientists then analyze the data to determine population and distribution trends. The Audubon Society has recently analyzed the data from 40 years of surveys to conclude that many of our most common species are in decline.

Since 1967 the average population of the common birds in steepest decline has fallen by 68 percent; some individual species nose-dived as much as 80 percent. All 20 birds on the national Common Birds in Decline list lost at least half their populations in just four decades. National Audubon Society

Habitat loss is tremendous problem for many of these birds as is predation by house cats. There are several things you can do to help:

1. Support wildlife habitats in your community.
2. Make your yard into a habitat for local wild life with native plantings.
3. Keep your cats indoors. A study in Wisconsin indicated that cats may be responsible for killing 19 million songbirds in Wisconsin alone.
4. Provide shelter at your feeders. Brush near feeders should be cleared so cats do not have a place to hide.

backyard birding, birding, birdwatching

I was finally able to capture a picture of the male oriole which has been frequenting our feeders. He has been eating the sunflower seeds which drop under the ground feeder, but we finally decided to cut up an orange for him. He never took it off the platform feeder, but when we placed it on the ground, he devoured the offering. He didn’t even seem to mind me at the window photographing him.

We have a female which frequents our suet feeder as well. She generally eats hanging upside down. While she is shy around us and takes flight at the slightest motion near the sliding glass door we are watching her through, she stands her ground against the red-winged blackbird which occasionally tries to oust her from her perch.

We never see the two together, but assume they are a pair. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to find their nest! We have only looked at pictures of the beautiful baskets they weave. Their beautiful song also fills the air while I am outside tending to the feeders and our gardens. You can learn more here and also listen to a recording of their song.

The sparrows appear to be almost finished raising their broods. The fledglings have begun visiting the feeders. They stand on our back porch, fluttering their wings wildly until an adult hops over and feeds them. They will stand in a pile of spilled seeds and still wait for someone to give them food!

The baby squirrels are getting big, and we are strongly considering investing in a single pole to hang all of our feeders from as well as a squirrel baffle. They are eating entirely too much sunflower seed! Other than that, there hasn’t been any real excitement this week.

Related Tags: Baltimore Oriole, oriole, birdwatching, birding, backyard birding

I have to confess that I actually like pigeons. Their soft cooing, their little strut and the sound of them squabbling under the bridge as we walk through town are a nice break from all the cars. We live pretty far outside of town, but there are three white pigeons who live down by the railroad tracks. I love the way they take off and then change direction in perfect unison, as if their flight were choreographed. While I don’t advocated feeding pigeons, here is a nice sing along to share with your family:

The rock pigeon has been domesticated for at least 5,000 years. Because they have traveled around the world with their owners, escape frequently and survive so well in the wild, it is impossible to determine their original, natural range. They were introduced to the Americas in the 17th century when early American settlers released them along the Atlantic coast. Because of their ready association with humans, these birds do very well in heavily populated areas and are a frequent sight in even the busiest cities.

Because of their incredible homing abilities, these pigeons have been used to carry messages across long distances and also for recreation as racing pigeons. A great deal of research has been done on these birds. In fact, PigeonWatch has this to say:

Domestic and feral pigeons are among the most intensively studied of all birds. Knowledge of avian flight mechanics, thermoregulation, water metabolism, endocrinology (prolactin was discovered through work with pigeons), sensory perception, orientation and navigation, learning, genetics of color, pattern, behavior and other characteristics, and Darwinian evolutionary biology, has depended heavily on research using domestic and feral Rock Pigeons.

Still, scientists have a number of questions related to this very common bird. If you would like to contribute to the research, check out PigeonWatch’s program.

Pigeons can carry disease, but the risk to humans is often exaggerated. Still, it is always a good idea to recognize the symptoms, especially if you live near a rookery, frequently come into contact with their droppings, or have a compromised immune system. Here is a helpful fact sheet put out by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

pigeons, rock pigeon, birding, birdwatching, birds, backyard birding, urban birding

Northern Flicker, wordless wednesday

After posting about providing water for your birds, a number of people came searching for information on bird baths so I thought I would provide a summary of some of the different types of baths out there.

Pedestal bird bath

This is what we have. It is a simple bird bath available almost anywhere. The most important thing to consider when selecting this model of bath is the depth of the water. Birds prefer the shallow type. The slope should be gradual and the ultimate depth no more than three inches. If you already have a deeper bath, you can try laying a few stones in the bottom. I have read that birds prefer to bathe low to the ground, and have noticed this to be an issue among some ground feeders. Most birds seem to accept the bath fine, but our American tree sparrow and the juncos we had this winter just hop around the base scratching at the drips.

They are also available made of different materials, such as concrete, plastic or metal.

Hanging bird baths

These are great, especially if you have limited space. A shallow dish hangs from a tree, pole or other overhang. These are also a lot lighter than the concrete bird baths, and easier to clean.

Bowl-type bird bath

Similar to the pedestal bird bath, this is a simple, shallow bowl which can be set on your deck, balcony or even directly on the ground. You can purchase one for the purpose, or even use an overturned trash can lid or other shallow dish. We set out an old pie dish with water in it for our juncos this winter and it worked very well. These are also light and easy to clean, which is a plus.

Sprinklers/misters

Birds love the sound of water and anything you put in your yard which sounds like running or dripping water is likely to attract birds. These have an additional advantage besides watering your lawn: they attract hummingbirds. It can be quite enjoyable to watch these delightful little birds as they dart in and out of the mist!

There are a number of companies which offer a wide selection of baths in enough styles to suit your tastes. Here are a few companies I know of, but one of the best places to start is your local wildlife habitat store. Attendants there can answer any questions and you will get a chance to see the baths before purchasing.

Birdbaths.com
Birdingguide.com

(Please note, I am not affiliated with either of these companies, and there are a lot of others out there. I only am providing some links for your convenience and because you can get a better idea at what is available by searching through their products. I have never ordered from either company, so please don’t take these links as an endorsement or recommendation.)

birding, backyard birding, bird baths, birdwatching, habitat

For those who do not already know, a blog carnival is essentially a collection of links on a central theme. Bloggers submit entries they think other carnival participants would like to read and the host puts them together in a single entry.

Since it is good “netiquette” for contributors to then provide a link back to the carnival, I will occasionally be posting on carnivals which do not necessarily have anything to do with birding. I love carnivals and have been participating in them almost since I started my first blog!

This week, my post about our robins is participating in the Carnival of Homeschooling. If you have some time, check out some of the other contributions. Even if you do not homeschool, there are usually a lot of entries about educational activities to do with your children.

blogging, carnivals, carnival of homeschooling

According to her profile, Keri Dearborn is a writer, poet, and urban naturalist in the Los Angeles Area. She has taken on an interesting project, studying her own backyard and recording the tremendous biodiversity found on her suburban property just two blocks from one of the busiest freeways in the United States. The Backyard Biodiversity Project begins in her driveway. You might be surprised at all she found. Hmm…that sounds like a good lesson in observation. Just studying the driveway. She is only up to day eight, so it won’t take long to catch up and see just how many species this naturalist can log in her own backyard habitat.

Hat Tip: A Gardener’s Notebook (where you can listen to his podcast about the birds in his garden)

birding, backyard birding, biodiversity, gardens

Two years ago, a robin nested in the pine tree outside our back porch. I would sit with my daughter in the back yard and listen to the babies cheep and watch as the mother bird came to feed them. She rarely flew directly to the nest. From the bushes in the back, she would fly up into the ash tree, hop through it and then to the pine tree. If we didn’t watch closely, we would lose track of her before she arrived at the nest.

To satisfy our curiosity, I helped my daughter climb onto the roof of the porch. From there, we were the same level as the nest, but far enough away to observe without disturbing. The nest appeared empty until mom came near. Then we could see three tiny heads pop up, mouth gaping and cheeping wildly.

It is an amazing experience to watch new life and share the natural world with children. These moments of quiet observation build an appreciation for the natural world around us.

If you are curious to learn more, Journey North offers a great deal of information about the American Robin, including lesson plans which can easily be adapted to your child.

Rebecca of Little Homeschool on the Prairie also shares her family’s experiences with nestlings in their back yard this year.

backyard birding, birding, robins, nests, nestlings