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.