Backyard Birding

Backyard birding math, from Journey North:

Last time you read Be Mine! Robins and Their Mates. We said that one scientific study showed that about 75% of all fledgling robins die before November their first year. Of those that survive that long, about half die before the next November. About half of all 2-year-old robins die each year, and about half of all robins of every other age die each year, too. If this is true, what’s the answer to…

Challenge Question #9:
“If 200 robins were fledged in a town one year, how many of the fledglings would be alive in November? How many would be alive the following November? How many would be alive the November after that? How many years would it be before all these fledglings had probably died?”

The numbers in the study surprised me. No wonder robins generally raise two broods every year. Then one bird might survive the winter!

Don’t forget the comment contest going on for the month of August here at 451 Press. Every comment counts!

backyard birding, birding, birdwatching, story problem

birding, grosbeak, rose-breasted grosbeak, backyard birding

Do you remember Woody Woodpecker?

This interesting character who became popular back in the 1940s was based on the pileated woodpecker, a species that cannot be confused with any other living species, as the note on the US Geological Survey site says.

The pileated woodpecker is a unique bird. They bore rather large, characteristically rectangular holes to find insects in trees. Small trees have been known to snap in half after their excavations. Their call is a loud “yuck yuck yuck” which is reminiscent of Woody’s laugh. You can listen to it here, at whatbird.com. There nesting behavior is interesting as well. They have been known to make more than 10 exits from their nest burrowed into a tree in order to confuse predators and allow multiple paths to escape!

I am happy to note, however, that the range map they show is wrong. While the pileated woodpecker did disappear from Nebraska, it has returned in recent years.

I did not realize that they could be enticed into your yard by anything but a suitable rotting tree to eat from and nest in, but apparently some can be attracted by large nesting boxes.

woodpeckers, Woody Woodpecker, backyard birding, birdwatching, pileated woodpecker, cartoons

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

I found a little birdwatching puzzle to help challenge the mind this weekend. Within a 16-letter grid, you are to find seven species of birds. Hmm…I’ve only found two. I think I need to print this one off and work on it some more. Maybe while my daughter is at Karate.

birdwatching, puzzles