Birds of all sizes -- & 1 very big cat

                                 Alaskan Eagle                             ADN pic             

Like many others during our recent snow storm, I kept watch for birds, wondering how they would get food and keep warm during that bad weather – bad for New Jersey, that is.

But how about birds in Alaska, our one Arctic state?  How in that frigid world do birds make it because “if they can make it there, they’ll make it anywhere.” 

A story in the Anchorage Daily News described Alaskan birds’ strategies to stay cozy.  They shiver, gorge on food and surround their bodies with down, and it works for birds as large as bald eagles and as small as black-capped chickadees.

Big birds like ravens head for cities, where dumps and dumpsters are dependable food sources.  Chickadees stuff themselves, gaining 10% of their body weight each day, then shiver all night, keeping warm.  Other species huddle together for warmth or bury themselves in snow, an insulation.

                         Alaskan raven                ADN pic

Snowy owls keep warm by fluffing up their very thick feathers from face to feet.  And invariably surprising some people, many birds spend time in the water  because it’s crucial to keep their feathers clean.  As for how they keep their feet warm, that’s detailed in the story. https://tinyurl.com/yckzj3hh

Meanwhile, back here with cold and hungry NJ birds: The best I could do was keep the bird feeder filled with seeds and assure a block of suet was available nearby.  And I often tossed seeds and nuts onto the deck table after shoveling off the deep snow.    

Avian pecking order

A Washington Post feature on “Which birds are the biggest jerks at the feeder?” reveals a secret pecking order among hungry birds.  Using a database with nearly 100,000 bird interactions, ornithologists have formulated a “hidden hierarchy” showing which ones are dominant at feeders and positing why – not always having to do with bird size.  

Hummingbird

For instance, to take advantage of every second of feeding time, hummingbirds “punch way above their weight,” but although the pileated woodpecker may look threatening with its fierce bill and strong build, it’s actually docile for its size. 

While goldfinches are squabblers, usually among themselves, beyond that, they’re limited by their half-ounce size, and chickadees must defer to just about every other bird.

Who’s king of the feeder in the Northeastern US?  The American crow, who beats out even the assertively noisy blue jay.  And crows’ power position is followed closely by the common grackle, red-bellied woodpecker and European starling.   

Most other bird species fall below blue jays in the avian hierarchy – they range from robins, mourning doves, cardinals and sparrows through wrens, nuthatches, finches and chickadees.

Song sparrow

At least one source on the subject (Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources) recommends feeding birds during cold winter months – providing a “nutritional bridge” they need for survival – when insects and other warm weather food supplies aren’t available.  

Because most other wildlife like deer, raccoons and squirrels, can work through heavy snow to find food sources, feeding them is discouraged.   

Great Backyard Bird Count – coming up!

Here’s a wonderful one minute-plus video about an annual event for the good of birds all over the world.  From Feb. 16-19, people everywhere are invited to count the birds they see in their backyards and communities.  The information they submit will help scientists help birds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RdXDGcqHTg

And this hour-plus video also includes specs about Merlin, an app anyone can use to help identify birds.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2FM_W8Vhmk

Year of the Tiger

February 1 marked the start of the Lunar New Year, based on a calendar that tells time partly by the cycles of the moon.  Every year is named for one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.  People in China, Vietnam, Korea and other countries, including the US, celebrate this festive event.

The new USPS “forever” stamp celebrates the Year of the Tiger (at a time when wild tigers are more threatened than ever).  Buy some “tiger stamps” and (as you’ll see here) beautify your mail!

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Please comment – maybe on your favorite bird or whether your bird feeder observations match the hierarchy here – at 1moreonce.blogspot.com