Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Q Recently, I have been seeing cowbirds in my yard. I wish they would go away be-
cause I've heard that they lay their eggs in other birds' nests. What can I do about
it?
A
It's true that cowbirds lay their eggs in the nests of other birds that raise the hatchling
cowbird,oftenattheexpenseofatleastoneortwooftheirownyoung.Cow-birdsinhabit
open grassland areas or areas near the edge of forests, and their range and their numbers
in many areas have expanded as humans cut down forests for agriculture and develop-
ment. In some wildlife refuges and other areas managed for critically endangered song-
birds, cowbirds are legally trapped and humanely euthanized. But this isn't permitted in
mostareas.CowbirdsarenativeAmericanbirds,coveredbythesamelegalprotectionsas
robins and hummingbirds. It's important to remember that cowbirds are fascinating birds
in their own right and can only survive as nest parasites.
The most important thing you can do is to stop subsidizing them. Close down feeders
that they visit or switch to foods they don't like as much, such as striped sunflower or
safflower seed. On a wider scale, encourage your local, county, and regional planners to
limit the fragmentation of forests. We don't have much power in most zoning and de-
velopment situations, and even when our yards are covered with native vegetation rather
than turf, roads and driveways create enough openings for cow-birds to feel welcome. So
they're an exceptionally frustrating problem. I wish I had a magic solution!
Q I was excited to see a hawk in my yard a few weeks ago, until it started attacking
the birds at my feeder. I even watched it eat one of my doves! What should I do?
A
Afewhawks,mostoftenCooper'sHawksand,inareasofCanadaandaroundtheGreat
Lakes in the United States, Merlins (noisy, small falcons) have adapted to nesting in res-
idential neighborhoods and have discovered that feeding stations are a reliable place to
find easy prey. If you don't want your backyard to be a regular hunting ground for them,
it's a good idea to close down your feeders for a few weeks so the raptors can develop
a different routine. If they nest in your yard or a neighbor's, you may want to keep your
feeders closed for the summer and enjoy the opportunity to watch the nesting habits of
these interesting raptors. But remember that hawks are birds, too. It's hard for them to
understand that a bird feeder isn't a place for birds to feed on birds.
Q A Baltimore Oriole has taken over my hummingbird feeder and won't let the little
guys eat. What should I do to help my hummers?
