Monday February 13, 2012
Every Monday I choose a reader's question to highlight, answering real-life birding inquiries. This week, Lila Anne from West Virginia asks...
"I want to put up a bird feeder at a local senior home, but several residents have told me it's dangerous because the birds won't migrate and feeding them actually hurts them. Is this true?"
The idea that feeding birds keeps them from migrating is one of the most popular bird feeding myths, but it's a persistent one. Wild birds may visit feeders frequently, but they still get a great deal of food from natural sources and if they are migratory, they'll still leave when the time is right. It's a great idea to put up a feeder now, but be sure to take precautions that it is a safe feeder - bird feeders can inadvertently threaten birds if they are not safe models, positioned properly or cared for regularly. Well done, however, I'm sure the feeder will become a source of delight for many of the home's residents!
Do you have a birding question you're curious about? Submit it to Mailbag Monday - new questions are always needed to feature!
Dangerous Bird Feeder
Photo © Melissa P
Sunday February 12, 2012
This winter may be a mild one so far for many backyard birders, but the recent northern cold snap and late season storms can be dangerous, even fatal, to birds. Fortunately, it is easy to
attract birds with shelter, and there are many types of shelter that can be provided to help winter birds, including:
I'm happy to have good evergreen shrubs in my yard that provide daily shelter for sparrows, finches and quail, and I'm planning additional bird-shelter landscaping this spring. What winter shelter do you provide to your backyard birds? Share your tips in the comments!
Winter Sparrow
Photo © Melissa MayntzSaturday February 11, 2012
Nearly one year after the
earthquake and
tsunami that caused a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan, a study of birds in the radioactive area has shown drastic population and genetic changes. According to the
Irish Times, the study compared the Fukushima birds to the same species in the
Chernobyl fallout region, and the rates of mutation and population decline are far higher in Japan. The study is only the first of its kind and its findings are in dispute, however, and further research is needed to ascertain the full effect of radioactive contamination on wild birds. Some scientists argue that the lack of human activity in the fallout regions will actually benefit birds and other wildlife that can thrive more easily without interference.
Do you think birds and other wildlife can recover from and adapt to a nuclear accident? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Fukushima Nuclear Plant
Photo © kawamoto takuoFriday February 10, 2012
A new pair of
African penguins at the
California Academy of Sciences has already bonded, giving caretakers hope that the endangered birds may successfully mate and raise chicks. According to
Care2.com, the female penguin - Sinclair - was moved to the Academy only recently, after failing to bond with any males at her former home at the Tulsa Zoo in Oklahoma. She brings the Academy's total to 16 penguins, with more on the way from additional transfers.
While Sinclair and her partner, Agulhas, demonstrated
courtship behavior that included bowing and touching, are they really "in love?" The idea of
bird emotions is still debatable, but many wildlife officials, especially those who interact intimately with birds over long periods of time, do believe birds feel emotions, though perhaps not in the same way or to the same degree as humans.
Have you seen examples of bird emotions? Share your experiences in the comments!
African Penguins
Photo © Rick's Images 
