Nature/Outdoors
(ARA) - The arrival of the first robin in your backyard is a sure sign of spring, one welcomed by virtually any bird-watcher who has weathered a cold winter. But did you know that you can help migratory birds such as robins as they travel one of nature's most amazing journeys? The bird species and populations appearing in your neighborhood and at your backyard feeder may vary drastically from month to month depending on your region of the country. It is easy to wonder where all your feathered friends go during the winter. Some bird species only travel a few miles, like down a mountain side, away from the peak. Others travel great distances - over thousands of miles.
The often-misunderstood travels of birds can be revealed by looking at one of the most interesting phenomena in the animal world: migration. Migration is the relocation of a population from one geographic location to another, recurring on a regular, seasonal basis.
Birds can use assistance to make their migration voyages more successful. They need access to food sources, not just during their long trips between staging areas, but before they leave on their journey and after they arrive in their new location. Clean bird feeders full of a high quality bird seed like Scotts Songbird Selections Regional Blends, fresh water and native plants can be beneficial to the weary winged traveler.
Although many fish, mammals and insects migrate throughout the course of a year, birds are by far the most mobile animals on earth. Due in part to their incredible adaptations and the ability to fly, migration allows birds to access distant food resources, avoid the stressors of cold weather and seek out environments more conducive to breeding, nesting and raising young.
Ornithologists believe birds are triggered to migrate by external factors such as the number of daylight hours, temperature or amount of rainfall. The marvelous process of migration can take birds on trips at speeds of 18 to 25 mph for song birds and faster for stronger flyers such as ducks and hawks. Some birds fly at night to avoid predators and some, like the Arctic Tern, travel a route so long each year that it equals more than 22,000 miles round trip.
In North America, the majority of migratory birds travel four major flyways or paths: the Pacific, Central, Mississippi and Atlantic Flyways.
Fall is the time when many northern bird populations begin to relocate and head farther south in search of food sources and warmer weather. In the spring, those same birds will return north to breed, nest and raise young. En route, many birds will need to stop for rest and snacks to refuel their tiny bodies for the remaining leg of the journey. In response, nature has developed "staging areas" at many locations along these intercontinental routes. Large, open areas with ample food supplies may attract big groups of the same species year after year and can become known to bird watchers, photographers and ornithologists alike. Predators also take note of these popular stops and take full advantage.
Although birds are uniquely adapted to the incredible trials of migration, it can still take a toll on even the most durable of birds. Up to half of the birds in North America who head south for the winter won't make the return flight, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Bad weather, predators, hunters and other dangers, such as collisions with tall buildings and cars, can take the lives of many of the migrants en-route.
"Feeding birds year-round is really important," says John Robinson, chief ornithologist for Scotts. "For example, in the winter, food may be difficult to find in northern climates. At other times of the year (and even in southern climates) birds need to have access to healthy food sources and water to aid in the laying of eggs, feather development, raising of young, or to help selected species prepare for the long flights of migration."
Planting trees near windows or installing window awnings can reduce reflections and lessen the danger of collision. In addition, simply placing your bird feeders within a few feet of a window helps to slow birds down and lowers the chances of an accident. Everyone wins by placing a feeder near a window, because doing so will increase your viewing enjoyment when feathered friends stop by.
So, the next time you happen to look to the sky just as a large flock of songbirds flies overhead, you don't have to wonder where they're going or where they've been. Just fill up your bird feeder and hope you can help them on their long journey home.
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