Migration

So many of my summer friends are flying south to spend winter in Central or South America and
then return to North America in the Spring. Although these friends are leaving, new friends
will arrive to spend winter in Alabama. My next newsletter will introduce you to these winter
migrants. Have you ever wondered why birds migrate? There are two reasons: temperature and food. No matter what the reason why they leave, it all depends on the bird’s survival. These southern habitats have readily available food sources and habitats for the birds to spend their winter “vacation.”

What triggers the need to migrate? Even though there could be plenty of food in a habitat, the birds will still migrate. The changing of length of the day from sunrise to sundown, lets birds know that it is time to travel. As the day length shortens, birds become “antsy.” They start gorging on food to build body fat for the long journey. Some birds, like Chimney Swifts” will congregate together and travel south in a large flock. Other birds migrate by themselves. Most birds migrating
through Alabama will cross the Gulf of Mexico to reach Central and South America. That’s a long journey to fly. Doppler radar, used to track storms, can also track migrating flocks of birds flying at night. You can see these nighttime migrants by looking through a telescope at the moon. You will see
these migrating birds as they cross in front of the moon.

Have you thought about birds in South America migrating north for their winter? Some birds do. No matter where birds migrate to, they always migrate back to their breeding grounds.

Which bird species do you think migrates back to North America
first? Post your answers below under comments!

Bird Sounds

Hello. Hello. Hello.

Many readers have asked me about bird voices. Did you know that birds do not have a larynx, or voice box, like people? We have a syrinx, which sets much lower in our bodies. It can be found at the bottom of the trachea but right above both bronchi tubes, which are the passageways to the lungs. Because the syrinx has two airways joining it, birds can sing two notes at one time. We do not have to sing a duet with another bird. We can sing a duet with ourselves!

When it comes to sounds, we (birds) have three sets of sounds: chips, songs, and calls.  Chip notes are short, quick, and high-pitched. These notes help us to  know where our mates or flock friends are or that we have found  food. Songs are sung to attract a mate, establish territory, or sometimes during flight. These songs are very complex, and many times, we sing more than one note at a time. Birds are so talented! 

Some songs, we are born knowing. Some songs we have to learn from our parents. You may sometimes hear baby birds practice their songs, just like you may practice singing or playing an instrument. Sometimes mistakes are made, but they practice, practice, practice, until they learn how to sing the song right.

Have you noticed that people in different parts of the United States speak differently? They have regional dialects. Birds can have dialects, too. A Northern Cardinal song in New York may sound slightly different from the Northern Cardinal song in Alabama.  Therefore, you really need to find song recordings of birds from your area! When I or my family (mockingbirds) sing, we repeat our songs three times.

I will have to write about call notes next time. Mike Mocker is calling me right now.

Bye, Bye, Bye!

If you would like more details about bird voices, check out these web sites:

http://www.earthlife.net/birds/song.html

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/studying/birdsongs/sounds

Millie and Mike

Hello friends! How have you been doing? What do you think about all of the storms? There have been so many storms blowing through Alabama that my house (tree) fell over. Now I have to find a new tree and build a new nest. This is going to be a busy Spring. Usually my husband, Mike Mockingbird, and I just fix up the old nest. But now we have to start all over again.

First Mike found a great Sweetgum tree for us, and it is located just on the opposite side our neighbor’s house. Ok, our neighbors are people. They built a house next to us. Now we are building a house next to them! Hee hee hee.

First, we have to find the right spot on the tree. We like to build our nest no closer than 3 feet from the ground and no higher than 10 feet. After a thorough inspection, we found a sturdy branch 8 feet above ground that is hanging over the roof of the people’s house. Mike and I started gathering sticks. Well, actually, Mike built most of the nest. I hung out on a branch guarding the area to make sure nothing was going to sneak up on us. Mike worked hard to build the outer part of the cup shaped nest. Now we needed something softer in the center of the sticks. I gathered some cut grass and Mike gathered some moss. Then he flew off and returned with some dryer lint. My neighbor people set it out for me and my friends to use. Mike and I put the grass and moss in the center of the nest and then lined it with the lint.  It made a soft, warm, cozy area to lay my eggs. It won’t be long and Mike and I will try to have a family! The next time you hear from me, I will be a Momma Mockingbird! 

A few great trees to plant for birds:

Tulip Popular, Liriodendron tulipifera

Dogwood, Cornus florida

Different types of Oaks, Quercus sp.

Eastern red Cedar, Juniperus virginiana

Red Mulberry, Morus rubra

Different types of Maples, Acer sp.

Sweetgum, Liquidamber styraciflua

Be careful with Sweetgum and Red Mulberry. People do not like the sweetgum balls and the red fruit from the mulberry make a big mess.