Frequently Asked
Questions
(An abbreviated version of this column was
first published in the October 6, 2003 issue of The Buffalo News.)
In
its May/June 2003 issue the editors of Bird Watcher's Digest celebrated their 25th year of publication with an
article listing the 25 most frequently asked questions addressed to them by
"backyard birders."
Because
I have also been asked so many of these same questions, I offer a half-dozen of
theirs here with my responses - drawing only in part upon their wisdom.
What
is the best time of year to put out a bird feeder? Anytime. Most bird feeding is done in winter but,
especially during and after the breeding season, birds will visit feeders and
often bring their young. However, do not expect birds to visit a new feeder
immediately: it may be weeks before your first customer arrives.
I
don't see as many birds as I used to. What's happening? There are many reasons for this. Bird populations
fluctuate and local populations change as land use changes. If your
neighborhood is filling in and lawns are replacing meadows and woodlands, you
should expect these changes. (For example, our pheasants left when a road was
built behind our home.) But individual observations of such changes are often
untrustworthy: seasonal censuses by the Buffalo Ornithological Society taken
for over 60 years suggest that the regional bird population is more stable than
may seem apparent. A few species like the brown thrasher are indeed threatened
but others, like the wood thrush about which I am often asked, appear to be holding
their own or even increasing across the area.
How
can I keep birds from flying into my windows? I add their answer to my own given in earlier
columns: "Silhouettes of flying hawks...do work but they perform best when
applied on the outside of the glass. Hanging ornaments such as wind-chimes,
wind socks, and potted plants in front of windows also helps. Misting the
outside of the window with a very weak detergent or soda solution will
eliminate the reflection but will also impair visibility for you. Awnings, eave
extensions and window screens will eliminate all reflection.... Plastic cling
wrap applied to the inside or outside of the window can also be
effective."
How
can I get birds to visit my birdbath? Moving
water is a good attractant. Suspend a water container punctured with small top
and bottom holes over it to provide a continuous drip. Note: winter birdbaths
regularly refreshed with warm water are especially well received.
I
found a bird with a band on its leg. What should I do? Contact the Bird Banding Laboratory at the Patuxent
Wildlife Center in Maryland. Their phone number is 800-327-2263 and their web
address is www.pwrc.usgs.gov/. Eventually they'll send you information about
where and when the bird was banded.
I
found an injured bird. What should I do with it? Although they are not always strictly enforced, the
regulations regarding the handling of any wild animals have become increasingly
strict. If you handle a bird, you are probably breaking the law and in some
cases endangering yourself as well. Dead or dying birds may be afflicted with
West Nile virus. Your best bet is to leave any animal alone and let nature take
its course. You may wish to report dead birds, especially crows, to the
Department of Environmental Conservation at 851-7010 and injured animals of any
kind to a licensed rehabilitator. You can obtain a referral from your
veterinarian or from the Messinger Woods
Wildlife Center or at 648-5179.
Readers
who want answers to a list of a hundred similar inquiries should contact Bird
Watcher's Digest at 800-879-2473 or PO Box 110, Marietta, OH 45750 to order
their Backyard Bird Watcher's Answer Guide.
You may also find information at the Bird Watcher's Digest website.