Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
A
Nope! The main cue that urges birds to migrate is the change in day length during
spring and fall. Studies show that this instinct is so strong that when migratory birds are
temporarily held in captivity with plenty of food, they become restless when it's time to
migrate. They even fly against the side of the cage facing the direction they must travel.
Migrating birds are typically in a hurry to reach their breeding grounds in spring or
to travel to their wintering grounds in fall. Even if they find your feeder along the way,
most birds typically won't stop for more than a few days unless weather conditions are
dire or they've lost a critical amount of weight and need to fatten up. During especially
bad weather, feeders may mean the difference between life and death for some of these
birds.
During spells of bad weather over the course of spring migration, when there may
be little food available before the burst of plant growth and emerging insects, birds that
seldom come to feeders, such as warblers and tanagers, may visit, particularly for suet.
Keepingfeedersactive duringspringandfallwillattract local birdsthataresearching for
the most reliable feeding areas, and their presence will entice migrants passing through
your neighborhood to visit.
At times, a lost or injured bird may show up at your feeder, but remember that the in-
jury or mix-up in the bird's migratory instinct wasn't
caused
by your feeders. Your feed-
ers can buy some time for these individuals and give them a better chance to move on
when they are ready.
Some people stop feeding birds throughout the summer months when other sources
of food are more abundant. However, the nesting season demands a lot of energy from
birds as they produce eggs and bring food (mostly insects) to their young. At these times,
birdsmaywelcometheopportunitytovisitafeederforaquickmeal.Idoclosedownmy
feedersiflocalbirdsstartbringingtheirfledglings,becausegrowingbirdsrequirealotof
protein and calcium, which birdseed and suet just don't provide.
FEEDING AN ADDICTION (OURS!)
In addition to helping out the bird population,
keeping bird feeders provides hu-
manswithenjoymentandsatisfaction,affordingusintimateglimpsesof,andconnections
to, the natural world in our own backyards. Bird feeding often serves as a “gateway”
activity that leads people into deeper experiences with nature, benefiting themselves and
often leading them into active conservation activities that benefit the birds in return.
Q I've been feeding birds for decades, but now I find myself on a pretty rigid budget
and can't afford to spend so much. How can I keep feeding my chickadees and other
favorite birds without going broke?
