Naturally
Birds that had completed their molts appeared impeccably dressed. On a day filled with fur and feathers, and covered in colorful fall leaves, I watched a fox sparrow sort through the fallen leaves in search of sparrow chow.
I eliminated some common burdock plants. In my walks over the years, I have encountered a kinglet, goldfinch and hummingbird that had been killed after becoming entangled in a burdock. The birds had become caught by the hooked bracts surrounding the flower heads and seed heads. The more a bird struggled, the more ensnared it became. Other small bird species have been reported to have succumbed this way after seeking insects or seeds. These include gnatcatchers, nuthatches, chickadees, warblers and siskins.
I watched a fluffy (furry) moth shiver to warm itself enough to be able to fly.
Q&A
“What percent of birds migrate?” I attended a Bell Museum Master Class presented by a representative of the National Audubon Society who said 19% of global bird species and 70% of North American birds migrate. He added that 80% are nocturnal migrants and 96% of land birds feed insects to their chicks. According to a large-scale analysis of data gathered by 21 bird observatories from northern Europe and Canada on nearly 200 species, birds have advanced the timing of their migration by an average of just over a week since the late 1950s and early 1960s. Short-distance migratory birds start their migrations by 1.5 to two days sooner per decade on average. Long-distance migrants start 0.6 to 1.2 days earlier. The change is more pronounced in the spring migration than in the fall.
“What’s a good tree to plant for birds?” Trees that provide nuts and berries for food, and feed caterpillars are great. Doug Tallamy, professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware and author of numerous books found that oaks support 557 species of caterpillars, black cherry supports 456 species and maples support up to 297 species of caterpillars. Tallamy made it simple: “No insects, no baby birds.”
“I heard you mention Bergmann’s rule on the radio. What is it?” Bergmann's is an ecogeographical rule that states within a broadly distributed taxonomic clade, populations and species of a larger size are found in colder environments, while populations and species of a smaller size are found in warmer regions. This is because larger animals have a lower surface area to volume ratio than smaller animals and radiate less body heat per unit of mass and therefore stay warmer in cold climates. The higher surface area-to-volume ratio of smaller animals in hot and dry climates facilitates heat loss through the skin and helps cool the body.
“Where do birds sleep?” Diurnal birds find places safe from predators and sheltered from the weather. Depending on the species, these roosts could be in dense foliage, in cavities, perched high in trees or close to tree trunks holding the warmth of the day’s sun. The downwind side of a tree trunk might be a bird’s choice. Some birds spend the night on the ground, facing into the wind. Other birds might use buildings. Waterfowl sleep floating in the water. Wading birds like herons and egrets sleep standing in water or on land.
“How can I attract goldfinches to my yard?” Goldfinches are granivores, so provide nyjer seed and/or black oil sunflower seed, and water. Good choices for your garden are sunflowers, black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, asters, cosmos, milkweed, Joe Pye weed, cleome and native thistles.
“How can I tell a downy woodpecker from a hairy woodpecker?” The hairy is much larger, but that can be difficult to discern when you’re not seeing both species at the same time. The male of each species has a red nape spot, which is lacking on the female. A diagnostic feature is the bill. The downy has a short, stubby bill. The hairy has a bill nearly as long as its head. If it’s dinky, it’s a downy. If it’s huge, it’s a hairy.
“What’s the difference between a horn and an antler?” Antlers grow as an extension of an animal’s skull and are generally found only on males of the deer family. However, female caribou do have antlers. Horns are made of compressed keratin growing from a bony core and are never shed. These permanent cranial appendages can be found on both male and female bighorn sheep, cattle (there are naturally polled breeds), bison and others. Antlers are seasonal, shed and regrown yearly while horns are permanent. An exception is the pronghorn, whose horns are shed annually.
Thanks for stopping by
“There are two ways to slide easily through life: to believe everything or to doubt everything; both ways save us from thinking.”—Alfred Korzybski.
“When life gives you rain, jump in the mud puddles.”
Do good.
©️Al Batt 2022
River otters eat fish, clams, crayfish, mussels, amphibians, aquatic beetles, bird eggs, fish eggs, turtles, injured or molting ducks and geese, muskrats and small terrestrial mammals (chipmunks, mice and young rabbits). Photo by Al Batt.
In September, I was a teller at the Moonshell Storytelling Festival at Mahoney State Park in Nebraska. It was a blast, as was the company of this lovely creature.
A thirsty red-bellied woodpecker bellies up to the birdbath.