Dallas, Pennsylvania

Many Wild Birds Head North as Part of Spring Migration

 

There are many signs this month that winter has ended and better weather is on the way. As the trees begin to bud and the first flowers nose their way out of the ground, the internal clocks of many North American songbirds send a message that it’s time to head north.

 

More than 300 bird species found in the United States and Canada spend the winter in the lush forests of Mexico and South and Central America.  As the seasons change, they know it’s time to travel to their summer breeding grounds, where they’ll find the right food and nesting materials to welcome a new brood into the world.

 

Many of these trips span more than 7,000 miles and some involve flying nonstop over the Gulf of Mexico. Without a compass or other navigational tools, it’s believed that many birds find the right course by orienting their route to the positions of the stars. Others seem to be sensitive to the earth’s magnetic field.

 

Bird feeding enthusiasts enjoy each spring’s migration, because it brings a wide variety of species to their feeders. Throughout their journey, migrating birds are on the lookout for places to rest and refuel. Some may stay in an area for a few days while they prepare to travel farther north. Others might drop in for a quick nibble and drink before taking flight again.

 

By providing a source of fresh water and food and having a backyard habitat that gives birds plenty of places where they can rest out of the reach of predators, birds will be able to build up the energy they need for successful migration.

 

Many bird feeding enthusiasts keep a list of all the species that have visited their yards. By varying the food types available in your yard, you can attract different species.

 

It is also the time of year when male wild birds begin to use multiple techniques to draw the attention of females, and these courtship practices can be as entertaining as they are complex.

 

Bird courtship displays are integral to mating and raising young. Female birds often choose suitors based upon traits ranging from appearance, to the ability to provide food, to evidence that the male can build the strongest and safest nest.

 

This is a fun time to watch the behavior of backyard birds. In some species, birds engage in behaviors that seem to parallel human romance.

 

With some species, the male simply flies in front of the female to show off his luminous colors or unique markings. In others, songs are more important to impress the female with his musical repertoire. Some birds touch bills or groom each other during courtship. Male jays and cardinals often present sunflower seeds to their potential mates while Morning Doves and mockingbirds fluff up their feathers and does a two-step dance.

 

Birds also approach “faithfulness” very differently. Originally it was thought that many birds mated for life – such as geese, swans and eagles – only seeking a new mate when the original partner died.

 

Recent research shows that some species are faithful to their pair bonding only for a season while others actually have multiple mates simultaneously. For example, after hummingbirds mate, the male will court another female. Male House Wrens build multiple nests and let the female choose the one she prefers. Then, the male may try to attract another female to occupy one of his other nests.

 

Remember that Wild Birds Unlimited specializes in bringing people and nature together with bird feeding and nature products, expert advice and educational events.