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BIRD
COLUMN FOR By
Benjamin P. Burtt I
have decided to write this column every other week from now on. Thus the next
one will be published on Sunday October 19. FEEDER
SURVEY STARTS TODAY The
October feeder survey starts today and ends Saturday the 11th. Please watch
when you can and send in a report promptly after you complete your
observations. For
each species, report the largest number you see at any one time during the
week. For example, if you see 12 jays this week, but never more than three at
a time, then three is what you put on the list. List all the species in the
order shown in your field guide. Put each species on a separate line with the
number first, followed by the birds name. Please write the number of species
at the top of the list. At
the end of the week, put your list on a postcard or in a letter and send it
to B.P.Burtt, QUESTIONS Dear
Prof. Burtt: I like having the house wren around, but I have heard that wrens
cause trouble for bluebirds and other hole nesting birds. Is this true?
--J.L. Phoenix. Dear
J.L.: The house wren does try to prevent other birds from nesting in holes
nearby and it frequently causes quite a bit of trouble for these birds. If a
bluebird house is put near some shrubbery there may be great difficulty in
their nesting there because of wrens trying to use the same box. If
wrens are nearby as bluebirds build their nest, they will "buzz"
the bluebirds. This harassment may continue throughout incubation. Often
wrens will puncture or even remove the eggs of other species. In
one yard a day after the young bluebirds had hatched and the parents were
away, the wrens went into the bluebird box and killed all of the youngsters. You
can prevent some of these problems by carefully choosing the location of the
box. Wrens prefer brushy places and bluebirds like open country. Put the
bluebird boxes in open areas and then add a few more boxes in brushy places
for the wrens. Generally
the wren wins out over the bluebird, but now and then a bluebird will defend
its nest vigorously. One reader mentioned several years ago that a bluebird
did hold a wren down on the ground and kill it. Mr.
Burtt: Can you tell me when we should stop feeding the hummingbirds for the
season? P.B. (town not given in email.) Dear
P.B. Your question suggests that you have read that we "should"
take the hummingbird feeders down so that we will not keep them from going
south on time. That
is a myth and is not true. Birds migrate at about the same time each year,
but different species migrate on different dates. All
birds migrate when there is still plenty of the food. It is the shortening of
the daylight that tells them to go and not a shortage of food. Having food
available will NOT keep them from migrating. In
fact, birds always migrate while there is still plenty of food available.
They must be able to stock up and have energy reserves for the long
migration. If they do not go until food is scarce, they could be too weak to
migrate. Sometimes
a bird is ill and does not have the strength to migrate. It can not go until
it gets its strength back. In such a case it may save the birds life for you
to have food out that is easy to get. Most
hummingbirds start south in late September. Now and then a few will linger in
We
should put food out until they have all migrated. Keep food available until
October 15.
Dear
Ben: What type of binoculars do your recommend? We have seen an increase in
the number and kinds of birds in our yard and would like to see them more
clearly from a distance. -E. T. Syracuse. ( by email) Dear
----- ( No greeting or salutation ): Do you have a recommendation or website
for selecting binoculars used in bird watching? - - E. V., Dear
R.T. and E. V.: There are several decisions to be made when selecting
binoculars. Useful information to help you make these decisions can be
obtained from two recent publications. I
suggest that you send a stamped , self addressed long envelope to each of the
following addresses. Write,
the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Write
Bird Watchers Digest, ================== Benjamin
P. Burtt, a ==============
=========== ==================
CAPTION: The house wren is a familiar summer bird around our homes and it often cocks its tail as shown here in Roger T. Petersons painting. Note the arrow pointing to the eye ring. It has a pleasant bubbly song, but it destroys young and eggs of other birds that nest in holes nearby. By the end of October it will be further south. (Courtesy of the Houghten Mifflin Co.) To get in touch with Benjamin P. BurttVia Mail: Write to B.Burtt, Stars Magazine, Via E-mail: Send to
features@syracuse.com. Be
sure to put “For B.Burtt” in the subject line. |