Backyard Birds: The Importance of Water

Like human beings, water is just as important for birds. In fact, it may be even more important than food for them. Since they have such a high metabolic rate, and water is needed to digest their food, moisture is depleted from their bodies quickly. It's estimated that the water intake for birds may be as high as 15% to 20% of their body weight. Furthermore, if their feathers aren't clean, they can't fly as well. Consequently, if we don't provide them water, they have to look for another source.

If you're going to buy a bird bath to supply their water needs, there several things you will want to consider. First, most song birds can't swim. Consequently, the bird bath should be shallow with gently, sloping sides. Secondly, the texture of the bird bath should to rough to provide secure footing.

In addition to the type of bird bath, the location is very important, too. For your convenience, the bird bath should be close to the water faucets so cleaning and refilling it is easier. Secondly, it shouldn't be near shrubs or trees where predators like cats will be able to hurt them. An escape path with close cover is also important.

Bird Mating: Are Birds Monogamous?

Did you ever wonder whether birds are monogamous. Before exploring this question, it's important to understand there are different types of monogamy. According to WikiAnswers, there are three types of monogamy: sexual monogamy, social monogamy, and genetic monogamy.

Sexual monogamy can either be for a season or a lifetime. Comparatively, in social monogamy, the birds cooperatively raise their chicks, but they have flings outside the relationship. With genetic monogamy, the DNA confirms the chicks have only father, but the couple may not be together.

According to David Lack, a famous ornithologist, 92% of the 9,700 birds species were monogamous. However, with the advancement in science, especially DNA testing, researchers are finding out birds may not be aa monogamous as we thought. Several studies have helped to change our ideas on this subject.

One study found that female red-wing blackbirds mated to males that had a vasectomy had eggs in their nests. Another study that examined blood types and protein analysis found that up to 40% of the nestlings were not fathered by the social father. However, the reasons why some female birds are unfaithful are still unclear.

To see a chart of monogamous birds, click here.

Attracting Cardinals

Did you know the cardinal is the state bird of seven states. Cardinals were named after the cardinals of the Roman Catholic which wore red caps and robes. With their bright red plummage, black faces, and prominent crest, cardinals are a favorite bird of many. In fact, it was once sold as a caged pet, but it was banned under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. Whereas the male is a bright red color that we commonly associate with cardinals, the females are a drabber reddish-gray color.

Cardinals do not migrate. Cardinals like to inhabit and nest in low, dense shrubs, trees, or vines. Monogamous birds, when courting the female, the male will feed the female beak-to-beak. Their nests are usually built one to fifteen feet above the ground. Made out of twigs, paper, roots, bark, and leaves, they line the nests with vines, grass, or hair. During breeding season, while the female incubates the eggs, the male defends the territory and finds food for both of them. Usually, they have between two to five eggs. If you see a female cardinal singing in the nest, it may be call alerting the male that she needs food.

Northern cardinals are grainvores. Up to 90% of their diet consists of weed seeds, grains, and fruits. However, they will eat insects too. The insects they eat include: beetles, cicadas, grasshoppers, and spiders.

If you want to attract cardinals, since they are a larger bird, they need either a platform feeder or a hopper feeder. A ground bird, they usually forage on the gound for food. Since cardinals like fruit too, especially grapes, planting grapes or berries in your yard can also attract them. In the feeders, black oiled sunflower seeds, cracked corn, millet, and safflower are good choices. Cardinals also like a suet mixed with sunflower seeds or peanut butter.

Noise Pollution Effects on Birds

Did you realize it is not only enviromental contaminants that effects birds? A study at the University of Colorado at Boulder shows strong evidence that noise pollution affects birds, too. Although there is no clear definition of noise pollution, noise pollution are waves that interfere with naturally occuring waves in the environment. The biggest source of noise pollution comes from transportation.

The study compared birds nesting near a natural gas extraction site with noisy compressors to birds nesting in the quieter, adjacent woodland sites. They found that the diversity of bird species declined near the natural gas extraction sites while the bird nesting success was higher at the woodland site. The researchers found that only 21 species of birds were nesting near the gas extraction site while 32 different species nested in the nearby woodland area. However, two birds species seemed to prefer the gas extraction sites. The majority of the nests of black-chinned hummingbirds and house finches were found at the natural gas extraction sites. One theory for this is that their ability to produce vocalizations at a higher frequency than those generated by the compressors may enable them to live there. Additionally, their higher nesting success may be due to less egg predation by the western scrub jay. Western scrub jays apparently prefer the quiet, woodland areas.

In an European study, researchers studied urban-dwelling great tits compared to forest-dwelling great tits. They found that urban dwelling great tit's songs were shorter, faster, and a higher frequency than the great tits living in the forested areas. Bird songs are not only important for mate attraction, but they are used to defend their territories, too.

In addition to these studies, other studies have found that city noise drives away birds with low-pitched songs. Seemingly, as forested areas dwindle and noisy, sprawling urban areas take over the country-side, a bird's ability to survive is becoming increasingly dependent upon their ability to adapt their vocal calls. Unfortunately, those that can't adapt may one day become extinct.

Bird feeders - Which is the Best?

Many people wonder what kind of bird feeder is the best one to purchase. Other than liquid feeders, there are seven types of feeders. These include: wood hopper feeders, tube feeders, thistle feeders, platform feeders, ground feeders, suet feeders, and peanut feeders.

Wood hopper feeders are usually made out of cedar. One side of the roof lifts up to poor the seeds into. The long sides are made out of plastic with a slight opening between the plastic and the base of the feeder for the food to come out. One advantage to this type of feeder is that they hold alot of bird seed.

Tube feeders are tube shaped with intermitten holes for the seed to come out with a perch. One advatage to this feeder is that there is no where for squirrels to sit while stealing food. Another advantage of these types of feeders is that some are divided into three sections so you can hold different types of seeds. Thus, it may encourage more of a variety of bird to frequent the feeder. Usually small woodland birds like chickadees, nuthatches, titmouses, and woodpeckers frequent this type of feeder. A disadvantage is unless it is a big unit, if you have alot of birds, you have to fill the feeder frequently. Furthermore,as the amount of seed becomes less and less, the birds no longer have access to the food at the top ports and perches. If there is not a dish at the bottom of the feeder, larger birds will not be able to utilize the feeder. However, if there is a dish at the bottom, since it is open to the elements, you will have to clean out it frequently.

Thistle feeders are usually a tube-shaped feeder designed to hold a very small seed called thistle. Finches, chickadees, siskins, and sparrows like thistle.

A platform feeder is usually a square frame with a screen base. It has several advantages. First, you could put down a variety of food for the birds including fresh fruit. Secondly, birds in a variety of sizes can use the feeder. A disadvantage is there is usually not a roof so the food can become easily ruined by rain or snow. It also gives squirrels easy access to the food. Bluebirds, cardinals, cedar waxwings, chickadees, doves, finches, jays, mockingbirds, orioles, siskins, sparrows, starlings, tanagers, titmice, woodpeckers, and yellow-breasted chats all like platform feeders.

Like the name implies, ground feeders sit on the ground. Unlike most birds, some birds are ground feeders. Like the platform feeder, ground feeders usually don't have a roof so they encounter the same problems as a platform feeder. Furthermore, it is even easier for the squirrels to steal food from. Doves, juncos, and sparrows are attracted to these kind of feeders.

Suet feeders are a small wire cage designed to hold a block of suet. They are usually hanging. Woodpeckers, wrens, titmice, mockingbirds, finches, chickadees, and bluebirds enjoy suet.

Peanut feeders are made out of a wire grid that is tubular shape. The opening in the wire grid are big enough for the birds to pick out the peanuts. Cardinals, woodpeckers, chickadees, doves, fiches, jays, sparrows, starlings, and titmice are attracted peanuts.

The type of feeder you purchase will be dependent upon which kind of birds you have the area, what kind of birds you want to attract, and how much of a problem you have with squirrels. You might want to buy several different kinds of feeders so you have a variety of birds.

The Right Way to Feed Backyard Birds

When feeding birds, besides feeding them the right foods, one of the most important things to remeumber is never let your feeder go empty for very long. In some ways, birds are like people, birds need to eat on a regular basis. Although they prefer to eat three times a day: morning, midday, and before dark. They should eat a minimum of two times per day. After a night of going without food, breakfast is very important to replenish their energy needs for the day. Likewise, for the same reasons, supper is equally important. Birds will not eat after nightfall.

Some people have wondered if feeding the birds deters them from migrating. However, researchers believe it doesn't harm the birds. In fact, if a sudden storm occurs before migration, it can help them to survive. Just remember, if you start feeding the birds, especially during the winter, they become dependent on you, and you need to continue to feed them.

When Should I Stop Feeding the Birds?

Many backyard bird lovers are under the mistaken impression birds only need to be fed during the winter. If bird lovers stop feeding them too soon in the spring, between incubating their eggs and defending their territory, they do not have as much time to search for food. While a female is producing eggs, she can use half of her daily food intake. On the other hand, a male burns alot of energy defending his territory. After raising their young, many birds will moult too. Since the feathers and sheaths are 90% protien, it is an energy-intensive process. Furthermore, if you stop feeding too soon, the ground may still be frozen. When the ground is frozen, the insects are still inactive. As the temperatures get warmer and you see less birds flocking to your feeders, you can probably stop feeding them then. During the summer is when a bird's food least needs to be supplemented, but it still doesn't mean it isn't important. By feeding throughout the summer, it reduces the competition for food, and for those birds that migrate, it helps build up fat reserves for the long trip ahead. If you do decide to stop feeding the birds, wait until the end of May or beginning June to discontinue feeding them. However, the best policy is to continue feeding them throughout the year. In addition to food, it is important to remember birds need water. Water is crucial for food digestion. Some birds can suffer more from the lack of water than the lack of food. If you dont provide water for them, they will either have to fly to another water source or get their water from snow. Either way, it takes away energy they could use for other functions. The temperature should be approximately 80 degrees. You will probably need to purchase a heater for your birdbath.