Backyard Birding

After posting the identification practice with a house finch that had an eye disease, the bird returned. This time, I had two house finches on the platform. I got the camera to be able to compare the two and turned out with something more interesting. It seems I know have two house finches infected with House Finch Conjunctivitis:

This disease first appeared in wild bird populations in the winter of 1993-94 among house finches on the East Coast. It has since spread rapidly. Although the disease does affect some other species, this is rare. Why it is so prevalent among house finches is unknown, but some speculate it is due to the lack of genetic diversity among house finches in the Eastern Region.

It is characterized by red, swollen or puffy eyes which produce mucous. It can also affect the upper respiratory system. Some birds do survive to become healthy again, but since it effects their vision, it seriously compromises their survival. As the disease progresses, they can become blinded. Affected birds will often be found alone at feeders and may remain near them, subsisting off the dropped seed. They may fly into windows, fall prey to cats and other raptors and may even allow you to get very close to them. Do not try to catch them. Unless you have a special license, it is illegal to handle native songbirds.

If you note evidence of house finch eye disease in the finches visiting your feeder and wish to help, you can sign up to contribute to a research study by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. You can also get more detailed information along with photos from their website.

The disease does appear to cause some discomfort since infected birds will often be seen rubbing their eyes on branches or the sides of feeders. This may help spread the disease. To help minimize the risk to your other birds, practice good sanitation measures.

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When providing seed for wild birds, it is important to regularly check the condition of your seed. Even if you have a feeder designed to protect the seed from the effects of wind and rain, nothing is guaranteed to work in all conditions. Wind, rain and dew can all bring moisture into a feeder, causing the seed to either sprout or mold. In The Backyard Bird Feeder’s Bible, author Sally Roth mentions that moldy seed is not really a health concern for wild birds. Unlike a caged bird who has no choice in what seed to eat, a wild bird will simply choose to forage elsewhere. When your birds forage elsewhere, however, you do not get to see them in your yard which is the whole point of providing the seed in the first place.

No feeder is immune to this problem. During a recent trip to the Hitchcock Nature Center in Iowa, we found this feeder which had obviously been neglected for a little while at least.

To keep this from happening to your feeders, take a moment to check the condition of the seed every time you set out more seed. Check for evidence of mold or moisture. Moldy seed should be removed immediately. You will also want to sanitize your feeder to prevent it from regrowing on your new seed. Moist seed should be removed and the feeder should be dried thoroughly. We also let our feeders run out of seed every couple of weeks to make sure that all old seed is regularly consumed.

If you have had a feeder out for more than two or three weeks without so much as a sparrow, you may want to check your seed even more closely. Goldfinches are particularly picky about the freshness of their seed. Ours always prefer to pick over the stands of flowers which have gone to seed rather than eat from the feeders, save from the Nyjer feeder. If moisture and mold seem to be a regular problem, you may want to set out less seed to make sure that the birds are able to consume all that you set out on a daily basis.

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After two weeks of traveling, we came back to a bird feeding station that is completely overgrown with weeds. This is how your bird feeding station should NOT look:

Not only is this garden unsightly, it poses a potential hazard to birds. I am glad that we chose to let our feeders run out of seed before we left. We were no longer attracting any birds to our feeders before we even left. It is a perfect hiding place for the neighborhood cats to stalk up on my birds. Last year, we had a cat which laid in a small patch of flowers and kept an eye on the birdbath. Early this year, I chased off another cat with a cowbird she had caught in a similar manner.

Birds appreciate nearby brush where they can find shelter when spooked. It is important, however, to provide a feeding area clear of undergrowth so that birds have a clear view of approaching predators so that they have a better chance at escape.

Needless to say, it will be another day or two before we set up our feeders. We have some serious weeding to do!

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Raptors are making a come back in some urban environments. Such large birds of prey generally require large open spaces for their hunting, and are among the first birds affected by urban sprawl. Some seem to be adapting, however.

“It’s a very positive development for conservation and mankind,” said Daniel E. Varland, co-editor of the book Raptors in Human Landscapes. Varland lists peregrine falcons, red-tailed hawks, osprey and Cooper’s hawks as among those birds of prey that are surviving in cities. In some parts of the country, he said, small falcons called merlins have moved into urban areas. projo.com

I love these magnificent birds. In fact, I often pause in my night time blogging to step out on the porch and listen to the Great Horned owls. Watching the red-tailed hawks hunt in the field is always interesting And one of the most exhilarating moments of our birding hobby was when one swooped down low over our backyard, close enough to see those eyes as they surveyed every inch of our backyard.

Owls and red-tailed hawks do not generally cause much of a problem for feeders, however. There are several types of hawks which feed on songbirds, the most common of which are the Cooper’s hawk and the sharp-shinned hawk. These can be drawn in by the activity at your feeder, and may even make a kill. While it is exciting to get a close-up view of these amazing predators, providing them a cafeteria-style meal is probably not your first purpose in backyard birding.

To protect your birds in the event a hawk discovers your feeders, it is important to have shelter near your feeders. If you place your feeders approximately ten feet from a shrub or tree (especially a pine tree), your birds will have quick cover. At these times, it is especially important to have something in place to prevent window collisions because the birds will be making a quick, thoughtless dive.

If the hawk is persistent and begins to “camp out” in your yard, you may have to consider taking down your feeders for a little while. Within a few days, they will begin to disperse and the hawk should move on.

To learn to identify the two most common hawks which are likely to prey on your feeder birds, this page from Cornell is very helpful. I have seen sharp-shinned hawks in our neighborhood, but never in our yard. Our feeders are nestled near our house, surrounded on two sides by walls and on one side by a large bush. I do not think there is an easy way for hawks to approach the feeders without crashing into the house, and the birds have a quick escape route. Or maybe there are simply enough people feeding birds in our area that the concentration of birds in our yard has not attracted any particular interest from predators.

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Bird feeders are a wonderful way to attract a variety of birds to a yard. We all enjoy the color, sound and life this hobby brings to our yards. But can it be detrimental to the birds? If you do not clean your feeders regularly, they can become a means for spreading avian diseases. In order to limit the spread of disease at your feeders, consider the following:

1. Feeders should be cleaned once per month, year round.
2. Use a mild bleach solution to clean all of your feeders, one part bleach to nine parts water. Immerse the feeder completely for three minutes and allow to dry.
3. Clean up droppings regularly.
4. Change the water from your bird baths regularly, and clean it as necessary.
5. Provide space. Multiple feeders and perches for waiting birds brings a greater diversity of birds. It also allows them space to limit transmission of disease.
6. Clean up excess seed, especially when it is wet. Damp seed molds. Check your feeders after a rain to make sure the seed is dry. If not, replace it.
7. Store seed where rodents cannot get to it. Closed plastic containers work well. If stored outdoors, be aware of raccoons who can get into almost anything.
8. If you notice a sick bird at your feeder, begin cleaning more frequently.

If you keep these measures in mind, you can keep this hobby enjoyable for your family and safe for your birds.

[tags]birding, bird feeding, backyard birding, birdwatching, bird feeder[/tags}

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.

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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.

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