Where have all the birds gone?

Q. Where have all the birds gone?

A. If I said I was asked this question 50 times this week I don’t think I’m exaggerating. Here’s my theory, I don’t think you have to be worried, it’s just a very good winter for birds that decide to hang around New Brunswick. Quite a few “askers” of the question added, “but last year…” Last year I couldn’t even make it to the compost pile without snow shoes. My son (4 at the time) who I out weigh 4 fold could run around on top no problem. I read in a Mountain Equipment article that when you punch through the snow and plunge to your nether regions, it’s referred to as “post holing”. I made the mistake of telling him this and every time I would break through, was struggling to free myself and thinking I really should teach the kid CPR, he would trot over, stay just out of reach and yell “post hole” in my ear. But, I digress…

My leg ( I just measured) is 35 inches and I didn’t bottom out, so needless to say, most of the shrubs and flowers that we plant and let grow wild were snow covered. I’ve always noticed when a bird has the choice between fresh “natural” seed and that in a feeder, they usually choose the seed on the stem. Seed companies even expect a decrease in nyjer seed consumption in early summer that coincides with the dandelion seed maturing. Not being one to use sprays or even cut the grass too often I notice most of the finch enjoying dandelion seeds. In winter we don’t deadhead anything and notice the Purple Coneflower, aka Echinacea, to be a finch winter favourite, not that this flower needs any more good press.

This year, a walk in the woods or through a wild meadow is turning up quite a few birds, and since this habitat is more spread out than feeder yards, I’m hoping there are just as many or more birds in New Brunswick than last year. This theory gains traction every time there is a little blast of winter, activity at my feeders and reports from others increase. Also, over the last couple weeks there has been a slow steady rise in numbers of the birds you do expect at feeders, Mourning Dove, Chickadee, Goldfinch and Blue Jays (probably because they forgot where they hid the bushels of peanuts from last summer) are steadily increasing. The group I’m really missing this winter are the ground feeders, Sparrows and Junco are conspicuously absent, but they are the ones that would most take advantage of the wild seed that remains uncovered this winter.

The two common species of woodpecker, the Downy and Hairy, seem to remain constant year round. In the last few days however they are easier to pick out, they are starting to warm up their voices and tune up their drums in preparation for the breeding season. I often have 5 or 6 in one tree without noticing them, but when they are all doing the eeka, eeka, eeka, call or drumming on a particularly resonant branch, (stove pipe, ladder, window sill, or the favourite in our yard, the bat house) they are quite noticeable. The other woodpecker we are noticing more this week is the grandfather of them all, the Pileated, although not a common feeder visitor they can sure make themselves heard. Their distinctive calls are incredibly loud when the bird is near and their foraging is reminiscent of a wood carver with chisel and mallet, but the drumming of the Pileated can almost be felt in your spleen, like the bass at a rock concert.

One good thing that came out of the last two rugged winters, is how great the cloths line is for hanging bird feeders. I could put half a dozen feeders out with reasonable spacing and wouldn’t even have to change out of my slippers to fill them. Since then I use the cloths line all winter and will probably install another dedicated line this spring when my wife kicks me off. I have a great spot in mind that will run over some small thick shrubs, the feeders will be high enough for viewing but close enough for a quick dash to cover. Without a line I wouldn’t be able to easily make my way to the feeders and would have to cut a path that would also allow neighbourhood cats to hunt under the feeders. Not that I have a Pigeon problem, but I doubt a pigeon would be able to get through the thorny tangle to get at the spillage. A cloths line is a great way of getting your feeders out near the trees so the birds find them and get used to coming, then you can slowly move the feeder closer to the house for better viewing, all this and a cloths line is a fraction of the price of an iron hanger.

You’ll want to be able to remove the feeders easily so you can reel the line all the way in, I discovered these great little tarp clips from Lee Valley that keep the feeders from blowing together at one end of the line, before that I used shower curtain hangers with a cloths pin on either side.

I’ve had frequent conversations with one person who can’t seem to attract any birds to his feeders. Over the months we went through everything, he changed seed, got different feeders added suet and more, I was inclined to blame the mild winter for this but, his neighbours had all kinds of birds on the same things he is using. Finally one last inquiry may have solved the dilemma, all his feeders are placed under the roof of the veranda. Although this often works, I think at least some of the feeders should be place out near the trees, after the birds find these and settle in they will likely notice the feeders under the roof. I guess I should have asked for pictures or gone for a visit.

written by Dwayne Biggar at The Bird Garden