Species Profile:Northern Flicker

For Preferred BirdTracksthis specialYou because have receivededition you are of a A special BirdTracks edition from Fall 2012 preferred WBU customer!

PRST STD Customers Only U.S. POSTAGE Frequently Asked Are you enjoying BirdTracks? We’d appreciate your feedback and comments MARIETTA,PAID OH PERMIT NO 161 the next time you visit our store.

: Our backyard adjoins a railroad right-of-way that we walk through Qregularly. We recently found a small nest about three feet above ground. It was tightly woven into what seemed to be a plant that was more ® by Kevin Cook ’s weed than shrub. Whose nest could it be? and our partner Q : Exactly what bird it could be depends on where you live, but a few likely widespread species include Yellow Warbler, Field Sparrow, or American Goldfinch. A You can distinguish them by structure and materials. Sparrows use bulky material for the outside but build a more compact structure. Warblers and goldfinches use fine, slender materials and build a very tight, compact structure that usually includes much plant floss from thistles, willows, or cottonwoods. Tracks BIRD by DR. DAVID BIRD Species Profi le: Northern Flicker : Birds seem absolutely determined to drink from my roof gutter instead of the birdbath I bought for them. QHow can I get them to use the birdbath where I can see them? orthern Flickers are one of my favorite birds, if only because they Northern Flicker, : A roof gutter that holds enough water to attract birds in not functioning properly. A gutter that holds wa- areN amazingly easy to identify from a male. ter will deteriorate and can contribute to structural damage from wood rot. distance. eir bottom coloration dotted AJust to prevent costly damage to your house, you need to get the gutter rehung or replaced so that it drains with numerous black bars, the red patch completely and does not hold water. Once you solve the maintenance problem, your bird problem will solve on the back of the head, and especially itself. the large white patch on the rump, make them a distinctive bird indeed! row in that undulating fl ight pattern, so char- : I see Dark-eyed Juncos around my summer residence in Michigan and around my winter residence in New acteristic of the woodpeckers, and the QMexico, and I often wonder if they could be the same birds. Is it possible the juncos migrates the way I do? fl icker’s unwoodpecker-like tendency to : Possible, yes; likely, no. feed on the ground and it becomes hard Banding studies allow us to work out such details. Birds can be uniquely marked so that band numbers, to confuse this species with anything colors,A or positions indicate where the bird was captured and marked. Subsequent sightings or recaptures then else. yield information about how far various birds travel and in what directions Another unique morphological feature Statistically, juncos from the upper Midwest tend to move primarily north-south and remain east of the Great is the bright feather shaft color seen on Plains. If you see Dark-eyed Juncos in the summer, you reside far enough north that you could be in an area the undersurface of the wings. Our fl ick- where the juncos are more sedentary and less likely to migrate at all. ers were once considered to be two sepa- Your winter juncos in New Mexico are far more likely coming from Alaska and northwestern Canada. rate species, the Yellow-shafted Flicker in eastern North America and the Red-shafted Flicker in the West, but the N F— American Ornithologists Union weighed In every issue of BirdTracks Continued from page 5 the evidence and concluded that these N F— Continued from page 1 we feature questions from two morphs—along with three other vis- fl icker box can prevent this behavior and Want to do somethingTIP: to help out our ibly diff erent ones found in Baha, Cuba, of birdbaths to fl ickers. Little is known like many of our songbirds, arrive on you, our best customers. accommodate fl ickers by replacing lost fl ickers? Because snags (dead trees) Grand Cayman, and Guatemala—are about drinking and bathing in this the breeding grounds in early April. We welcome your nesting habitat. e Certifi ed Birdfeeding are highly preferred for nesting and really only one species, the Northern species. A few birds have been seen to e northern populations of fl ickers suggestions, comments Specialists at Wild Birds Unlimited can feeding but in short supply, consider Flicker, with fi ve subspecies. ANN MIDDLETON/WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED drink from natural catch-basins, such as are more migratory than the rather help you attract and accommodate these and questions. We also leaving up the main trunk of that dead away that the bird is a fl icker. Flickers bayberry, gooseberry, sour gum, wild knotholes in trees, but descriptions of sedentary southern ones. fascinating birds. or dying tree you’re planning to have Adaptability bathing behavior are almost nonexistent. In early May both members of a pair, hope to share your tips and Flickers breed in their fi rst spring, and Although fl ickers prefer forest edges, adore eating ants! About half of their pepper berry, woodbine, elder, sun- removed. Convince your local town open, savannah-like woodlands, and re- summer diet is ants. Joining ants at the fl ower, fl owering dogwood, blackberry As for feeders, Northern Flickers will with the male dominating, carve out a ideas for enhancing our at least one individual reached its ninth authorities and local forestry compa- dine on sunfl ower seed and cracked cently fl ooded areas with plenty of snags, top of the menu are predaceous ground and raspberry, smooth sumac, and other nesting hole in about two weeks. At the enjoyment of backyard birthday in the wild. nies to better manage the cutting of corn, but they are not likely to become rate of one per day, the female lays six birds and wildlife with But not all is well with the Northern they are also quite comfortable right in beetles. Because insects are not always sumacs. Although I would not recom- regular guests, mainly because they real- Flicker. Perhaps due to our overzeal- dead trees so that some snags are left your backyard in a town or city. eir available throughout the year, fl ickers mend the fi rst two species, some of to seven semi-glossy white eggs. Fed by for fl ickers and other wildlife species. ly do prefer to eat insects on the ground. both parents, the youngsters fl edge in 24 other BirdTracks readers ous desire to rid the world of dead and selection of trees for feeding, roosting, will shift to fruits and seeds in winter. the other ones listed might be good to High-fat off erings such as suet cakes and to 27 days. all over North America. decaying trees and the associated serious A density of around 90 snags per 250 and nesting is highly variable. Depending on whether we are talking attract fl ickers to your yard. Jim’s Birdacious Bark Butter can prove Depending on the habitat and scarcity competition for nesting holes from the acres would allow fl ickers to reach Whenever I get a phone call describ- about yellow-shafted or red-shafted We’re less certain about the appeal attractive, especially to the red-shafted of suitable nesting trees, fl ickers might Write to us at: ubiquitous European Starlings, fl ickers 100 percent of their potential nesting ing a brownish bird with black spots birds, some of their favorites include Continued on page 5 Northern Flickers in the West. use an artifi cial nesting box. e box’s di- BirdTracks have been declining in numbers since density. Danger to the public has to be feeding on the ground, I know right the fruits of poison ivy and poison oak, Flickers are present year-round mensions should be 16 to 24 inches high, c/o BWD 1966. Where pesticides are heavily used considered, but surely not every snag across most of the continental United with an interior size of 7 by 7 inches; the on lawns to kill insects, including the has to be removed. PO Box 110 Feature News on the Fly Readers’ Questions ...... 5 States, and during breeding season entrance hole diameter about 2½ inches. fl icker’s favorite foods, fl ickers feeding Species Profi le: Northern Flicker ...... 1 Hotspots and Nose Dives ...... 3 they expand their range northward Place it up about 10 to 20 feet in a tree in Marietta, OH 45750 at ground level are highly susceptible to into most of Canada and into Alaska any open habitat. Cedar and fake stucco Red-shafted adult male Or send an e-mail to: poisoning and often show up with ner- Birds in Depth e Backyard Watcher as well. You can expect to see fl ickers, siding are susceptible to fl ickers making Northern Flicker. [email protected] vous system tremors in wildlife rehabili- Built Tough as Nails ...... 2 Top 10 Countdown to Fall ...... 4 BRIAN E. SMALL/ WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED nesting or roosting holes. Mounting a ISTOCKPHOTO.COM tation centers. 5 CONTENTS 1 For Preferred Wild Birds Unlimited Customers For Preferred Wild Birds Unlimited Customers For Preferred Wild Birds Unlimited Customers Birds in Depth News on the Fly e Backyard Watcher by BILL THOMPSON, III Hotspots and Nose Dives Builtby JOHN SCHAUST Tough as Nails by DAVID BIRD BIRD TRIVIA: Tophether you’d like 10to admit it or not,Countdown Let your garden go. It’s hard to resist is food to is intended forFall those skulking n writing about the Downy Emperor Penguins Face the Heat and wetlands con- summer is almost over and autumn the urge to pull up all the dead tomato, species that may be reluctant to come Woodpecker, the famous naturalist Red-headed As global temperatures continue servation. The first W 6 I Woodpecker. is nearly upon us. Spring cleaning gets squash, and other plants in the garden to our feeders—the sparrows, thrashers, and artist John James Audubon to rise and melt the sea ice, the birds two goals have always Did you know that... more attention, but for the backyard bird once the growing season is over. And catbirds, towhees, and others that are observed that it was, “not surpassed that have the most to lose are the been part of the watcher there’s just as much to do in fall some gardening experts encourage this too shy to venture across our yard to the penguins in the Antarctic, accord- by any of its tribe in hardiness, NAWMP. The third The deep-body temperature of the as in spring. immediate yanking and burning of the centralized feeding stations. I am sure that industry or vivacity.” ing to scientists analyzing models to goal underscores the Ostrich is 100.94 degrees I like the anticipation of fall. At our old plants to reduce the chance of plant chipmunks and field mice enjoy this ban- In today’s terms we would just say forecast their future. Indeed, if current disease carrying over to the next spring. quet, too. But then again, they might lure importance of people place fall migration is almost always bet- that it is downright tough! trends continue, the Emperor Penguin, Fahrenheit, and that of the tiny ter than spring migration—we get more We’ve never subscribed to that theory, an American Kestrel or Red-tailed Hawk e Downy Woodpecker, along with standing four feet tall and featured in to the success of wa- Ruby-throated Hummingbird is birds, and we get more unusual birds. e but then we don’t spray pesticides or into the yard seeking a mammalian meal. all of its woodpecker relatives, has an the Oscar-winning films March of the terfowl and wetlands 102.02 degrees Fahrenheit? only thing missing is fresh spring plumage herbicides, either. We’re not just organic, amazing array of adaptations that al- Penguins and Happy Feet, may march Keep hummer feeders up. You’ve conservation. A com- and the symphony of singing males. To we’re laissez faire organic, which trans- probably heard the myth: Take down lows it to live a punishing existence that no more. These penguins in particular panion Action Plan is ensure that you get the most out of this lates to “lazy.” Our birds thank us by feed- 2 raise their young exclusively on sea The Swainson’s Hawk covers more your hummingbird feeders in the fall or most other birds would probably con- also in the work. fall’s migration, I offer these suggestions ing on the old seedheads of our flowers sider a life condemned to hard labor. ice; if that ice breaks up and disap- the hummers will “forget” to migrate. It’s than 5,000 miles in its southern for the birds in your backyard. and garden plants. Sparrows, towhees, not true. Birds, including the humming- Even a woodpecker’s skin is tough. pears early into the breeding season, and juncos skulk in the thick, dead veg- It is actually thicker than most other massive breeding failure will result. Barn Swallow Num- migration over a period of 50 days, Water in motion. Moving water birds at our feeders, are programmed bers Nose-Diving etation. Sure, the garden lacks a certain by instinct to migrate when their in- birds’, providing it with an extra level As a double whammy, the loss of the translating into 100 miles per day 10 in your birdbath created by a tidiness, but it’s always full of birds, of protection while knocking about on sea ice will also affect the birds’ food All Over the World of flight? mister, dripper, or WBU Water Wiggler ner clocks tell them to leave. Changes the rough bark of trees. It also helps to supply by causing severe declines in Breeding Bird is a fantastic way to attract birds. During Let your lawn go. It’s all about seed- in daylight (in terms of the length and defend against the painful bites of ants the numbers of the phytoplankton and Survey data collected spring and fall migration, when species 5heads. Stop mowing a section of your intensity of sunlight), affect the birds’ and other insects on which it feeds. zooplankton which are dependent on by Canadian scien- The highest price ever paid for a not normally found in your area are lawn in late summer and let the long departure date and time, as do changes in Woodpeckers are not only thick- that ice to breed and which serve as tists have revealed bird book was $3.96 million for a passing through, an attractive birdbath grass go to seed. is is your own natural weather. But there’s no way your feeder a 2.9 percent an- will interfere with a bird’s migratory urge, skinned, they are hardheaded, too. nutrition for the squid, fish, and krill set of John James Audubon’s can make them stop to bathe or drink. bird food. Passing buntings, sparrows, While excavating a cavity, a wood- upon which the penguins feed. Even nual decline in Barn The Make sure your bath is clean and in a and finches will thank you by spending unless the bird is hindered from migrat- Swallow populations Birds of North America ing by some other factor such as illness pecker’s head can strike a tree’s surface without these issues, only half of Em- in 1989? spot where you can easily observe it time in your grass. During the past 16 at speeds up to 13 mph. e force of safety glasses. e dust mask consists peror Penguin chicks typically survive during the past three throughout the day. winters we’ve lived on our farm, our un- or injury. Sick or injured birds and late this impact (approximately 10 Gs) of tufts of stiff feathers that grow over the breeding season, and half of those decades. The decline mown lawn sections have attracted Pine migrants from points to the north of you is getting worse, Keep the cat indoors. Migrant birds Siskins, Tree Sparrows, Lincoln’s Spar- will benefit from your late-fall feeding would be enough to create brain dam- both nostrils to prevent small bits of die before the next year. For instance, are not familiar with your backyard’s age in most other birds, and a human How Do wood from entering their nostrils, and the Dion Islet colony—once thriving at steepening in the 9 rows, one Grasshopper Sparrow, plus the station. Leaving your hummer feeders up past 10 years to 7.6 delights or dangers. A lurking cat can usual species (juncos; goldfinches; Indigo will do no harm, and it might even do brain is 50 times more likely than a the safety glasses are in the form of a 250 pairs in the 1970s—dropped to 20 take a heavy toll during migration as unwoodpecker’s to suffer injury at this Woodpeckers Know protective third eyelid thatb helps to pairs in 1999 and then to zero by 2009. percent annually. In Buntings; and Song, Chipping, and Field some good. (Make sure your feeders are the country’s largest suspecting birds are lured into your yard Sparrows). Of course, be sure to follow clean and the solution is fresh.) speed. (Imagine running headfirst into prevent debris from entering their eyes. coasts of Washington State and Brit- by habitat, water, and food. It’s a good a tree at full speed!) Where to Peck? e other end of a woodpecker is North American Wildlife province, the Ontario local lawn-care ordinances. Make your windows safe for Breeding Bird Atlas data support the ish Columbia. The study, carried out idea to keep your cat indoors throughout Woodpeckers are able to survive this Woodpeckers may find their also built tough. Its sharply pointed Management Program: A Big Boost in 2009 – 2010, involved examining the year, but it’s especially important migrants. Migrant birds get restless for Ducks and Geese disturbing trend—Barn Swallow num- FeatherGuard helps 1 pounding due to numerous adaptations, hidden prey by sound and/or tail feathers are especially strong and the stomach contents of 67 Northern during fall migration, when adult birds reduce bird strikes. and almost hyperactive in the fall. Watch including a skull that is uniquely struc- rigid and have been compared to the United States Interior Secretary Ken bers have dropped by 1/3 during the a Red-eyed Vireo chase a warbler all over smell: past 20 years. In the U.S., the decline Fulmars washed up on the shoreline are joined by naïve youngsters making tured to cushion the blows. e skull con- climbing spikes that telephone line Salazar signed the 2012 Revision of the from Long Beach, California to Van- their first southward flight. your yard and you’ll see what I mean. sists of lightweight, spongy, air-filled bone, • As a woodpecker strikes workers use to grip onto poles. has been slightly smaller at 1.4 percent All this activity around your house can a tree, it may zero in on the North American Waterfowl Manage- in the same period. If the situation does couver Island. Fulmars are especially Replace old, dirty nests. It seems that and yet it is incredibly strong due a rein- A woodpecker’s tailbone, its lower ment Plan (NAWMP) on May 31 at the useful for studies aimed at measuring have tragic results if one or more of your forcing meshwork of bony support struts. hollow sounds that echo off vertebrae, and its tail’s supporting not reverse, the Barn Swallow will be a our late-summer broods of bluebirds windows is in a location where flying of the tunnels (galleries) of 75th anniversary National Conference strong candidate for Canada’s endan- the ocean’s health because they for- are8 always the messiest. By the time A woodpecker’s skull is also very small in muscles are also large in comparison age almost exclusively at sea over vast birds strike the glass. Silhouettes of flying relationship to the size of its brain. us, wood-boring insects (like to other birds. ese modifications of Ducks Unlimited, Inc., in Nashville, gered species list. Although the species the young have fledged, the insides of hawks or falcons work, but they perform thumping a watermelon). is widespread and found virtually all ranges and they consume just about the nest box are caked with droppings, Leave your leaves. Leaving your fallen there is little room for the brain to rattle allow a woodpecker’s tail to serve as Tennessee. The 2012 NAWMP Revi- anything floating on the surface. This best when applied on the outside of the around during severe impacts and suffer a stout kickstand that supports its sion sets forth three overarching goals over the world, BirdLife International feather dust, and insect parts. We always leaves alone helps your birds both glass. Hanging ornaments such as wind • Woodpeckers may also has released a recent report indicat- finding is particularly troubling because 4 damage. Protection is also provided by a weight as it climbs trees and exca- for waterfowl conservation: 1) abun- give the houses a good sweeping out in directly and indirectly. e leaves trap chimes, wind socks, and potted plants hear the audible “chewing” ing that breeding populations of Barn it is well known that the plastic dis- the fall and replace the filthy old nest flexible layer of cartilage found between vates cavities. dant and resilient waterfowl popula- and hold moisture from dew and rain, also helps. Misting the outside of the sound that many insect Swallows in Europe are also decreasing, places the space in the stomach that the with a clean new cup of dried grasses. It’s which helps keep your lawn from drying the bones of the skull and beak, which grubs make by feeding on e woodpecker’s unique tail is tions to support hunting and other birds need to fill with nutritious food window with a very weak detergent or cushions the shock of each blow. just one of its many adaptations you albeit moderately, and showing no signs good to think of bluebirds, chickadees, out. As the leaves break down (mowing baking soda solution will eliminate the the inner bark of trees. uses without imperiling habitat; 2) of recovery. The cause of the decline and it can also lacerate the stomach or a downy woodpecker snuggled deep over them can hasten this) they add valu- And speaking of the beak, with all of can witness as these hardy birds lining. Some gizzards were completely reflection but will also impair visibility that pounding, why doesn’t it wear down • Woodpeckers have a visit your yard. Woodpeckers can wetlands and related habitats suffi- has not yet been pinpointed. inside the box on a cold winter night. able nutrients to the soil. Fallen leaves for you. Awnings, eave extensions, and full of plastic. As an indirect hazard to also attract and are fed upon by insects, to a ragged nub? Wear down it does, but better sense of smell than easily be attracted to feeders filled cient to sustain waterfowl populations Plastic Trash Ingestion by Pacific the seabirds, the plastic also accumu- Feeder check up and inventory. I window screens will eliminate all reflec- special cells on the end of the bill are most birds, and may be able with suet and no-melt dough and at desired levels, while providing plac- When fall is here, winter is getting which in turn are fed upon by birds such tion and stop the collision problem. Northwestern Seabirds Among lates high levels of contaminants which as robins, blackbirds, thrushes, bluebirds, constantly replacing the lost material. is to detect the strong odor of are especially drawn to the variet- es to recreate and ecological services the Highest in the World leach out into the birds’ bodies to cause ready7 for its grand entrance. If you live Plastic cling wrap applied to the inside or keeps the chisel-pointed bill strong and the formic acid that ants, ies containing nuts, like Wild Birds that benefit society; and 3) growing According to a July 2012 report in the in a region where winter is harsh, now catbirds, thrashers, and so on. A healthy outside of the window can also be effec- bark beetles, and termites health and reproductive problems. One lawn is always a birdy lawn. resilient, while it actually self-sharpens Unlimited Naturally Nuts. Used in numbers of waterfowl hunters, other Marine Pollution Bulletin, seabirds are way to tackle this problem is for the is the time to look over those large-ca- tive. One of the most effective solutions with every blow. excrete (smells like Sweet combination with a WBU Tail Prop we have found is a simple device called conservationists, and citizens who ingesting more plastic trash than ever public to buy fewer drink products in pacity feeders that have been in storage Scatter seed. I know bird feeding is With all this heavy hitting, woodpeckers Tarts candies). feeder, you can get an up-close and since last spring. Are they fit for another best done from feeders, but I still feel FeatherGuard, which combines bright enjoy and actively support waterfowl before and the rates are the highest in plastic bottles; many of these end up in are sure to create a lot of fast flying debris. personal look at one of the toughest the world in those birds living off the the ocean. winter of use? Do they need a good good3 when I scatter a handful of mixed color and motion to warn birds away To protect themselves, they have evolved guys in the neighborhood. BILL THOMPSON, III cleaning? Do you want to upgrade or ex- seed, sunflower hearts, peanut bits, or from windows. Whatever you do, make their own version of a dust mask and pand your feeders and offerings? Avoid WBU Select Blend under the brush piles sure it works to break up the window’s the holiday rush and get your shopping and thick shrubbery around our lawn. reflection or prevent birds from striking 3 2 JULIE ZICKEFOOSE done now! the glass. 4 For Preferred Wild Birds Unlimited Customers For Preferred Wild Birds Unlimited Customers For Preferred Wild Birds Unlimited Customers Birds in Depth News on the Fly e Backyard Watcher by BILL THOMPSON, III Hotspots and Nose Dives Builtby JOHN SCHAUST Tough as Nails by DAVID BIRD BIRD TRIVIA: Tophether you’d like 10to admit it or not,Countdown Let your garden go. It’s hard to resist is food to is intended forFall those skulking n writing about the Downy Emperor Penguins Face the Heat and wetlands con- summer is almost over and autumn the urge to pull up all the dead tomato, species that may be reluctant to come Woodpecker, the famous naturalist Red-headed As global temperatures continue servation. The first W 6 I Woodpecker. is nearly upon us. Spring cleaning gets squash, and other plants in the garden to our feeders—the sparrows, thrashers, and artist John James Audubon to rise and melt the sea ice, the birds two goals have always Did you know that... more attention, but for the backyard bird once the growing season is over. And catbirds, towhees, and others that are observed that it was, “not surpassed that have the most to lose are the been part of the watcher there’s just as much to do in fall some gardening experts encourage this too shy to venture across our yard to the penguins in the Antarctic, accord- by any of its tribe in hardiness, NAWMP. The third The deep-body temperature of the as in spring. immediate yanking and burning of the centralized feeding stations. I am sure that industry or vivacity.” ing to scientists analyzing models to goal underscores the Ostrich is 100.94 degrees I like the anticipation of fall. At our old plants to reduce the chance of plant chipmunks and field mice enjoy this ban- In today’s terms we would just say forecast their future. Indeed, if current disease carrying over to the next spring. quet, too. But then again, they might lure importance of people place fall migration is almost always bet- that it is downright tough! trends continue, the Emperor Penguin, Fahrenheit, and that of the tiny ter than spring migration—we get more We’ve never subscribed to that theory, an American Kestrel or Red-tailed Hawk e Downy Woodpecker, along with standing four feet tall and featured in to the success of wa- Ruby-throated Hummingbird is birds, and we get more unusual birds. e but then we don’t spray pesticides or into the yard seeking a mammalian meal. all of its woodpecker relatives, has an the Oscar-winning films March of the terfowl and wetlands 102.02 degrees Fahrenheit? only thing missing is fresh spring plumage herbicides, either. We’re not just organic, amazing array of adaptations that al- Penguins and Happy Feet, may march Keep hummer feeders up. You’ve conservation. A com- and the symphony of singing males. To we’re laissez faire organic, which trans- probably heard the myth: Take down lows it to live a punishing existence that no more. These penguins in particular panion Action Plan is ensure that you get the most out of this lates to “lazy.” Our birds thank us by feed- 2 raise their young exclusively on sea The Swainson’s Hawk covers more your hummingbird feeders in the fall or most other birds would probably con- also in the work. fall’s migration, I offer these suggestions ing on the old seedheads of our flowers sider a life condemned to hard labor. ice; if that ice breaks up and disap- the hummers will “forget” to migrate. It’s than 5,000 miles in its southern for the birds in your backyard. and garden plants. Sparrows, towhees, not true. Birds, including the humming- Even a woodpecker’s skin is tough. pears early into the breeding season, and juncos skulk in the thick, dead veg- It is actually thicker than most other massive breeding failure will result. Barn Swallow Num- migration over a period of 50 days, Water in motion. Moving water birds at our feeders, are programmed bers Nose-Diving etation. Sure, the garden lacks a certain by instinct to migrate when their in- birds’, providing it with an extra level As a double whammy, the loss of the translating into 100 miles per day 10 in your birdbath created by a tidiness, but it’s always full of birds, of protection while knocking about on sea ice will also affect the birds’ food All Over the World of flight? mister, dripper, or WBU Water Wiggler ner clocks tell them to leave. Changes the rough bark of trees. It also helps to supply by causing severe declines in Breeding Bird is a fantastic way to attract birds. During Let your lawn go. It’s all about seed- in daylight (in terms of the length and defend against the painful bites of ants the numbers of the phytoplankton and Survey data collected spring and fall migration, when species 5heads. Stop mowing a section of your intensity of sunlight), affect the birds’ and other insects on which it feeds. zooplankton which are dependent on by Canadian scien- The highest price ever paid for a not normally found in your area are lawn in late summer and let the long departure date and time, as do changes in Woodpeckers are not only thick- that ice to breed and which serve as tists have revealed bird book was $3.96 million for a passing through, an attractive birdbath grass go to seed. is is your own natural weather. But there’s no way your feeder a 2.9 percent an- will interfere with a bird’s migratory urge, skinned, they are hardheaded, too. nutrition for the squid, fish, and krill set of John James Audubon’s can make them stop to bathe or drink. bird food. Passing buntings, sparrows, While excavating a cavity, a wood- upon which the penguins feed. Even nual decline in Barn The Make sure your bath is clean and in a and finches will thank you by spending unless the bird is hindered from migrat- Swallow populations Birds of North America ing by some other factor such as illness pecker’s head can strike a tree’s surface without these issues, only half of Em- in 1989? spot where you can easily observe it time in your grass. During the past 16 at speeds up to 13 mph. e force of safety glasses. e dust mask consists peror Penguin chicks typically survive during the past three throughout the day. winters we’ve lived on our farm, our un- or injury. Sick or injured birds and late this impact (approximately 10 Gs) of tufts of stiff feathers that grow over the breeding season, and half of those decades. The decline mown lawn sections have attracted Pine migrants from points to the north of you is getting worse, Keep the cat indoors. Migrant birds Siskins, Tree Sparrows, Lincoln’s Spar- will benefit from your late-fall feeding would be enough to create brain dam- both nostrils to prevent small bits of die before the next year. For instance, are not familiar with your backyard’s age in most other birds, and a human How Do wood from entering their nostrils, and the Dion Islet colony—once thriving at steepening in the 9 rows, one Grasshopper Sparrow, plus the station. Leaving your hummer feeders up past 10 years to 7.6 delights or dangers. A lurking cat can usual species (juncos; goldfinches; Indigo will do no harm, and it might even do brain is 50 times more likely than a the safety glasses are in the form of a 250 pairs in the 1970s—dropped to 20 take a heavy toll during migration as unwoodpecker’s to suffer injury at this Woodpeckers Know protective third eyelid thatb helps to pairs in 1999 and then to zero by 2009. percent annually. In Buntings; and Song, Chipping, and Field some good. (Make sure your feeders are the country’s largest suspecting birds are lured into your yard Sparrows). Of course, be sure to follow clean and the solution is fresh.) speed. (Imagine running headfirst into prevent debris from entering their eyes. coasts of Washington State and Brit- by habitat, water, and food. It’s a good a tree at full speed!) Where to Peck? e other end of a woodpecker is North American Wildlife province, the Ontario local lawn-care ordinances. Make your windows safe for Breeding Bird Atlas data support the ish Columbia. The study, carried out idea to keep your cat indoors throughout Woodpeckers are able to survive this Woodpeckers may find their also built tough. Its sharply pointed Management Program: A Big Boost in 2009 – 2010, involved examining the year, but it’s especially important migrants. Migrant birds get restless for Ducks and Geese disturbing trend—Barn Swallow num- FeatherGuard helps 1 pounding due to numerous adaptations, hidden prey by sound and/or tail feathers are especially strong and the stomach contents of 67 Northern during fall migration, when adult birds reduce bird strikes. and almost hyperactive in the fall. Watch including a skull that is uniquely struc- rigid and have been compared to the United States Interior Secretary Ken bers have dropped by 1/3 during the a Red-eyed Vireo chase a warbler all over smell: past 20 years. In the U.S., the decline Fulmars washed up on the shoreline are joined by naïve youngsters making tured to cushion the blows. e skull con- climbing spikes that telephone line Salazar signed the 2012 Revision of the from Long Beach, California to Van- their first southward flight. your yard and you’ll see what I mean. sists of lightweight, spongy, air-filled bone, • As a woodpecker strikes workers use to grip onto poles. has been slightly smaller at 1.4 percent All this activity around your house can a tree, it may zero in on the North American Waterfowl Manage- in the same period. If the situation does couver Island. Fulmars are especially Replace old, dirty nests. It seems that and yet it is incredibly strong due a rein- A woodpecker’s tailbone, its lower ment Plan (NAWMP) on May 31 at the useful for studies aimed at measuring have tragic results if one or more of your forcing meshwork of bony support struts. hollow sounds that echo off vertebrae, and its tail’s supporting not reverse, the Barn Swallow will be a our late-summer broods of bluebirds windows is in a location where flying of the tunnels (galleries) of 75th anniversary National Conference strong candidate for Canada’s endan- the ocean’s health because they for- are8 always the messiest. By the time A woodpecker’s skull is also very small in muscles are also large in comparison age almost exclusively at sea over vast birds strike the glass. Silhouettes of flying relationship to the size of its brain. us, wood-boring insects (like to other birds. ese modifications of Ducks Unlimited, Inc., in Nashville, gered species list. Although the species the young have fledged, the insides of hawks or falcons work, but they perform thumping a watermelon). is widespread and found virtually all ranges and they consume just about the nest box are caked with droppings, Leave your leaves. Leaving your fallen there is little room for the brain to rattle allow a woodpecker’s tail to serve as Tennessee. The 2012 NAWMP Revi- anything floating on the surface. This best when applied on the outside of the around during severe impacts and suffer a stout kickstand that supports its sion sets forth three overarching goals over the world, BirdLife International feather dust, and insect parts. We always leaves alone helps your birds both glass. Hanging ornaments such as wind • Woodpeckers may also has released a recent report indicat- finding is particularly troubling because 4 damage. Protection is also provided by a weight as it climbs trees and exca- for waterfowl conservation: 1) abun- give the houses a good sweeping out in directly and indirectly. e leaves trap chimes, wind socks, and potted plants hear the audible “chewing” ing that breeding populations of Barn it is well known that the plastic dis- the fall and replace the filthy old nest flexible layer of cartilage found between vates cavities. dant and resilient waterfowl popula- and hold moisture from dew and rain, also helps. Misting the outside of the sound that many insect Swallows in Europe are also decreasing, places the space in the stomach that the with a clean new cup of dried grasses. It’s which helps keep your lawn from drying the bones of the skull and beak, which grubs make by feeding on e woodpecker’s unique tail is tions to support hunting and other birds need to fill with nutritious food window with a very weak detergent or cushions the shock of each blow. just one of its many adaptations you albeit moderately, and showing no signs good to think of bluebirds, chickadees, out. As the leaves break down (mowing baking soda solution will eliminate the the inner bark of trees. uses without imperiling habitat; 2) of recovery. The cause of the decline and it can also lacerate the stomach or a downy woodpecker snuggled deep over them can hasten this) they add valu- And speaking of the beak, with all of can witness as these hardy birds lining. Some gizzards were completely reflection but will also impair visibility that pounding, why doesn’t it wear down • Woodpeckers have a visit your yard. Woodpeckers can wetlands and related habitats suffi- has not yet been pinpointed. inside the box on a cold winter night. able nutrients to the soil. Fallen leaves for you. Awnings, eave extensions, and full of plastic. As an indirect hazard to also attract and are fed upon by insects, to a ragged nub? Wear down it does, but better sense of smell than easily be attracted to feeders filled cient to sustain waterfowl populations Plastic Trash Ingestion by Pacific the seabirds, the plastic also accumu- Feeder check up and inventory. I window screens will eliminate all reflec- special cells on the end of the bill are most birds, and may be able with suet and no-melt dough and at desired levels, while providing plac- When fall is here, winter is getting which in turn are fed upon by birds such tion and stop the collision problem. Northwestern Seabirds Among lates high levels of contaminants which as robins, blackbirds, thrushes, bluebirds, constantly replacing the lost material. is to detect the strong odor of are especially drawn to the variet- es to recreate and ecological services the Highest in the World leach out into the birds’ bodies to cause ready7 for its grand entrance. If you live Plastic cling wrap applied to the inside or keeps the chisel-pointed bill strong and the formic acid that ants, ies containing nuts, like Wild Birds that benefit society; and 3) growing According to a July 2012 report in the in a region where winter is harsh, now catbirds, thrashers, and so on. A healthy outside of the window can also be effec- bark beetles, and termites health and reproductive problems. One lawn is always a birdy lawn. resilient, while it actually self-sharpens Unlimited Naturally Nuts. Used in numbers of waterfowl hunters, other Marine Pollution Bulletin, seabirds are way to tackle this problem is for the is the time to look over those large-ca- tive. One of the most effective solutions with every blow. excrete (smells like Sweet combination with a WBU Tail Prop we have found is a simple device called conservationists, and citizens who ingesting more plastic trash than ever public to buy fewer drink products in pacity feeders that have been in storage Scatter seed. I know bird feeding is With all this heavy hitting, woodpeckers Tarts candies). feeder, you can get an up-close and since last spring. Are they fit for another best done from feeders, but I still feel FeatherGuard, which combines bright enjoy and actively support waterfowl before and the rates are the highest in plastic bottles; many of these end up in are sure to create a lot of fast flying debris. personal look at one of the toughest the world in those birds living off the the ocean. winter of use? Do they need a good good3 when I scatter a handful of mixed color and motion to warn birds away To protect themselves, they have evolved guys in the neighborhood. BILL THOMPSON, III cleaning? Do you want to upgrade or ex- seed, sunflower hearts, peanut bits, or from windows. Whatever you do, make their own version of a dust mask and pand your feeders and offerings? Avoid WBU Select Blend under the brush piles sure it works to break up the window’s the holiday rush and get your shopping and thick shrubbery around our lawn. reflection or prevent birds from striking 3 2 JULIE ZICKEFOOSE done now! the glass. 4 For Preferred Wild Birds Unlimited Customers For Preferred Wild Birds Unlimited Customers For Preferred Wild Birds Unlimited Customers Birds in Depth News on the Fly e Backyard Watcher by BILL THOMPSON, III Hotspots and Nose Dives Builtby JOHN SCHAUST Tough as Nails by DAVID BIRD BIRD TRIVIA: Tophether you’d like 10to admit it or not,Countdown Let your garden go. It’s hard to resist is food to is intended forFall those skulking n writing about the Downy Emperor Penguins Face the Heat and wetlands con- summer is almost over and autumn the urge to pull up all the dead tomato, species that may be reluctant to come Woodpecker, the famous naturalist Red-headed As global temperatures continue servation. The first W 6 I Woodpecker. is nearly upon us. Spring cleaning gets squash, and other plants in the garden to our feeders—the sparrows, thrashers, and artist John James Audubon to rise and melt the sea ice, the birds two goals have always Did you know that... more attention, but for the backyard bird once the growing season is over. And catbirds, towhees, and others that are observed that it was, “not surpassed that have the most to lose are the been part of the watcher there’s just as much to do in fall some gardening experts encourage this too shy to venture across our yard to the penguins in the Antarctic, accord- by any of its tribe in hardiness, NAWMP. The third The deep-body temperature of the as in spring. immediate yanking and burning of the centralized feeding stations. I am sure that industry or vivacity.” ing to scientists analyzing models to goal underscores the Ostrich is 100.94 degrees I like the anticipation of fall. At our old plants to reduce the chance of plant chipmunks and field mice enjoy this ban- In today’s terms we would just say forecast their future. Indeed, if current disease carrying over to the next spring. quet, too. But then again, they might lure importance of people place fall migration is almost always bet- that it is downright tough! trends continue, the Emperor Penguin, Fahrenheit, and that of the tiny ter than spring migration—we get more We’ve never subscribed to that theory, an American Kestrel or Red-tailed Hawk e Downy Woodpecker, along with standing four feet tall and featured in to the success of wa- Ruby-throated Hummingbird is birds, and we get more unusual birds. e but then we don’t spray pesticides or into the yard seeking a mammalian meal. all of its woodpecker relatives, has an the Oscar-winning films March of the terfowl and wetlands 102.02 degrees Fahrenheit? only thing missing is fresh spring plumage herbicides, either. We’re not just organic, amazing array of adaptations that al- Penguins and Happy Feet, may march Keep hummer feeders up. You’ve conservation. A com- and the symphony of singing males. To we’re laissez faire organic, which trans- probably heard the myth: Take down lows it to live a punishing existence that no more. These penguins in particular panion Action Plan is ensure that you get the most out of this lates to “lazy.” Our birds thank us by feed- 2 raise their young exclusively on sea The Swainson’s Hawk covers more your hummingbird feeders in the fall or most other birds would probably con- also in the work. fall’s migration, I offer these suggestions ing on the old seedheads of our flowers sider a life condemned to hard labor. ice; if that ice breaks up and disap- the hummers will “forget” to migrate. It’s than 5,000 miles in its southern for the birds in your backyard. and garden plants. Sparrows, towhees, not true. Birds, including the humming- Even a woodpecker’s skin is tough. pears early into the breeding season, and juncos skulk in the thick, dead veg- It is actually thicker than most other massive breeding failure will result. Barn Swallow Num- migration over a period of 50 days, Water in motion. Moving water birds at our feeders, are programmed bers Nose-Diving etation. Sure, the garden lacks a certain by instinct to migrate when their in- birds’, providing it with an extra level As a double whammy, the loss of the translating into 100 miles per day 10 in your birdbath created by a tidiness, but it’s always full of birds, of protection while knocking about on sea ice will also affect the birds’ food All Over the World of flight? mister, dripper, or WBU Water Wiggler ner clocks tell them to leave. Changes the rough bark of trees. It also helps to supply by causing severe declines in Breeding Bird is a fantastic way to attract birds. During Let your lawn go. It’s all about seed- in daylight (in terms of the length and defend against the painful bites of ants the numbers of the phytoplankton and Survey data collected spring and fall migration, when species 5heads. Stop mowing a section of your intensity of sunlight), affect the birds’ and other insects on which it feeds. zooplankton which are dependent on by Canadian scien- The highest price ever paid for a not normally found in your area are lawn in late summer and let the long departure date and time, as do changes in Woodpeckers are not only thick- that ice to breed and which serve as tists have revealed bird book was $3.96 million for a passing through, an attractive birdbath grass go to seed. is is your own natural weather. But there’s no way your feeder a 2.9 percent an- will interfere with a bird’s migratory urge, skinned, they are hardheaded, too. nutrition for the squid, fish, and krill set of John James Audubon’s can make them stop to bathe or drink. bird food. Passing buntings, sparrows, While excavating a cavity, a wood- upon which the penguins feed. Even nual decline in Barn The Make sure your bath is clean and in a and finches will thank you by spending unless the bird is hindered from migrat- Swallow populations Birds of North America ing by some other factor such as illness pecker’s head can strike a tree’s surface without these issues, only half of Em- in 1989? spot where you can easily observe it time in your grass. During the past 16 at speeds up to 13 mph. e force of safety glasses. e dust mask consists peror Penguin chicks typically survive during the past three throughout the day. winters we’ve lived on our farm, our un- or injury. Sick or injured birds and late this impact (approximately 10 Gs) of tufts of stiff feathers that grow over the breeding season, and half of those decades. The decline mown lawn sections have attracted Pine migrants from points to the north of you is getting worse, Keep the cat indoors. Migrant birds Siskins, Tree Sparrows, Lincoln’s Spar- will benefit from your late-fall feeding would be enough to create brain dam- both nostrils to prevent small bits of die before the next year. For instance, are not familiar with your backyard’s age in most other birds, and a human How Do wood from entering their nostrils, and the Dion Islet colony—once thriving at steepening in the 9 rows, one Grasshopper Sparrow, plus the station. Leaving your hummer feeders up past 10 years to 7.6 delights or dangers. A lurking cat can usual species (juncos; goldfinches; Indigo will do no harm, and it might even do brain is 50 times more likely than a the safety glasses are in the form of a 250 pairs in the 1970s—dropped to 20 take a heavy toll during migration as unwoodpecker’s to suffer injury at this Woodpeckers Know protective third eyelid thatb helps to pairs in 1999 and then to zero by 2009. percent annually. In Buntings; and Song, Chipping, and Field some good. (Make sure your feeders are the country’s largest suspecting birds are lured into your yard Sparrows). Of course, be sure to follow clean and the solution is fresh.) speed. (Imagine running headfirst into prevent debris from entering their eyes. coasts of Washington State and Brit- by habitat, water, and food. It’s a good a tree at full speed!) Where to Peck? e other end of a woodpecker is North American Wildlife province, the Ontario local lawn-care ordinances. Make your windows safe for Breeding Bird Atlas data support the ish Columbia. The study, carried out idea to keep your cat indoors throughout Woodpeckers are able to survive this Woodpeckers may find their also built tough. Its sharply pointed Management Program: A Big Boost in 2009 – 2010, involved examining the year, but it’s especially important migrants. Migrant birds get restless for Ducks and Geese disturbing trend—Barn Swallow num- FeatherGuard helps 1 pounding due to numerous adaptations, hidden prey by sound and/or tail feathers are especially strong and the stomach contents of 67 Northern during fall migration, when adult birds reduce bird strikes. and almost hyperactive in the fall. Watch including a skull that is uniquely struc- rigid and have been compared to the United States Interior Secretary Ken bers have dropped by 1/3 during the a Red-eyed Vireo chase a warbler all over smell: past 20 years. In the U.S., the decline Fulmars washed up on the shoreline are joined by naïve youngsters making tured to cushion the blows. e skull con- climbing spikes that telephone line Salazar signed the 2012 Revision of the from Long Beach, California to Van- their first southward flight. your yard and you’ll see what I mean. sists of lightweight, spongy, air-filled bone, • As a woodpecker strikes workers use to grip onto poles. has been slightly smaller at 1.4 percent All this activity around your house can a tree, it may zero in on the North American Waterfowl Manage- in the same period. If the situation does couver Island. Fulmars are especially Replace old, dirty nests. It seems that and yet it is incredibly strong due a rein- A woodpecker’s tailbone, its lower ment Plan (NAWMP) on May 31 at the useful for studies aimed at measuring have tragic results if one or more of your forcing meshwork of bony support struts. hollow sounds that echo off vertebrae, and its tail’s supporting not reverse, the Barn Swallow will be a our late-summer broods of bluebirds windows is in a location where flying of the tunnels (galleries) of 75th anniversary National Conference strong candidate for Canada’s endan- the ocean’s health because they for- are8 always the messiest. By the time A woodpecker’s skull is also very small in muscles are also large in comparison age almost exclusively at sea over vast birds strike the glass. Silhouettes of flying relationship to the size of its brain. us, wood-boring insects (like to other birds. ese modifications of Ducks Unlimited, Inc., in Nashville, gered species list. Although the species the young have fledged, the insides of hawks or falcons work, but they perform thumping a watermelon). is widespread and found virtually all ranges and they consume just about the nest box are caked with droppings, Leave your leaves. Leaving your fallen there is little room for the brain to rattle allow a woodpecker’s tail to serve as Tennessee. The 2012 NAWMP Revi- anything floating on the surface. This best when applied on the outside of the around during severe impacts and suffer a stout kickstand that supports its sion sets forth three overarching goals over the world, BirdLife International feather dust, and insect parts. We always leaves alone helps your birds both glass. Hanging ornaments such as wind • Woodpeckers may also has released a recent report indicat- finding is particularly troubling because 4 damage. Protection is also provided by a weight as it climbs trees and exca- for waterfowl conservation: 1) abun- give the houses a good sweeping out in directly and indirectly. e leaves trap chimes, wind socks, and potted plants hear the audible “chewing” ing that breeding populations of Barn it is well known that the plastic dis- the fall and replace the filthy old nest flexible layer of cartilage found between vates cavities. dant and resilient waterfowl popula- and hold moisture from dew and rain, also helps. Misting the outside of the sound that many insect Swallows in Europe are also decreasing, places the space in the stomach that the with a clean new cup of dried grasses. It’s which helps keep your lawn from drying the bones of the skull and beak, which grubs make by feeding on e woodpecker’s unique tail is tions to support hunting and other birds need to fill with nutritious food window with a very weak detergent or cushions the shock of each blow. just one of its many adaptations you albeit moderately, and showing no signs good to think of bluebirds, chickadees, out. As the leaves break down (mowing baking soda solution will eliminate the the inner bark of trees. uses without imperiling habitat; 2) of recovery. The cause of the decline and it can also lacerate the stomach or a downy woodpecker snuggled deep over them can hasten this) they add valu- And speaking of the beak, with all of can witness as these hardy birds lining. Some gizzards were completely reflection but will also impair visibility that pounding, why doesn’t it wear down • Woodpeckers have a visit your yard. Woodpeckers can wetlands and related habitats suffi- has not yet been pinpointed. inside the box on a cold winter night. able nutrients to the soil. Fallen leaves for you. Awnings, eave extensions, and full of plastic. As an indirect hazard to also attract and are fed upon by insects, to a ragged nub? Wear down it does, but better sense of smell than easily be attracted to feeders filled cient to sustain waterfowl populations Plastic Trash Ingestion by Pacific the seabirds, the plastic also accumu- Feeder check up and inventory. I window screens will eliminate all reflec- special cells on the end of the bill are most birds, and may be able with suet and no-melt dough and at desired levels, while providing plac- When fall is here, winter is getting which in turn are fed upon by birds such tion and stop the collision problem. Northwestern Seabirds Among lates high levels of contaminants which as robins, blackbirds, thrushes, bluebirds, constantly replacing the lost material. is to detect the strong odor of are especially drawn to the variet- es to recreate and ecological services the Highest in the World leach out into the birds’ bodies to cause ready7 for its grand entrance. If you live Plastic cling wrap applied to the inside or keeps the chisel-pointed bill strong and the formic acid that ants, ies containing nuts, like Wild Birds that benefit society; and 3) growing According to a July 2012 report in the in a region where winter is harsh, now catbirds, thrashers, and so on. A healthy outside of the window can also be effec- bark beetles, and termites health and reproductive problems. One lawn is always a birdy lawn. resilient, while it actually self-sharpens Unlimited Naturally Nuts. Used in numbers of waterfowl hunters, other Marine Pollution Bulletin, seabirds are way to tackle this problem is for the is the time to look over those large-ca- tive. One of the most effective solutions with every blow. excrete (smells like Sweet combination with a WBU Tail Prop we have found is a simple device called conservationists, and citizens who ingesting more plastic trash than ever public to buy fewer drink products in pacity feeders that have been in storage Scatter seed. I know bird feeding is With all this heavy hitting, woodpeckers Tarts candies). feeder, you can get an up-close and since last spring. Are they fit for another best done from feeders, but I still feel FeatherGuard, which combines bright enjoy and actively support waterfowl before and the rates are the highest in plastic bottles; many of these end up in are sure to create a lot of fast flying debris. personal look at one of the toughest the world in those birds living off the the ocean. winter of use? Do they need a good good3 when I scatter a handful of mixed color and motion to warn birds away To protect themselves, they have evolved guys in the neighborhood. BILL THOMPSON, III cleaning? Do you want to upgrade or ex- seed, sunflower hearts, peanut bits, or from windows. Whatever you do, make their own version of a dust mask and pand your feeders and offerings? Avoid WBU Select Blend under the brush piles sure it works to break up the window’s the holiday rush and get your shopping and thick shrubbery around our lawn. reflection or prevent birds from striking 3 2 JULIE ZICKEFOOSE done now! the glass. 4 For Preferred Wild Birds Unlimited Customers For Preferred Wild Birds Unlimited Customers For Preferred Wild Birds Unlimited Customers For Preferred BirdTracksthis specialYou because have receivededition you are of a A special BirdTracks edition from Fall 2012 preferred WBU customer!

PRST STD Customers Only U.S. POSTAGE Frequently Asked Are you enjoying BirdTracks? We’d appreciate your feedback and comments MARIETTA,PAID OH PERMIT NO 161 the next time you visit our store.