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Welcome to BirdTracks® Online!
An e-mail newsletter from Wild Birds Unlimited for March 2003.

In This Issue:
1. The odyssey of migration.
2. Birds are singin’ and dancin’ and buildin’ nests!
3. Need binoculars? Consider this . . .
4. A celebration of conservation.
5. Thanks for counting the birds!

The odyssey of migration.
March is the time the internal clocks of many North American songbirds signal that it’s time to head north. More than 100 bird species found in the United States and Canada spend the winter in the lush forests of Mexico and South and Central America. As the seasons change these birds know it’s time to head to their summer breeding grounds. (Red-bellied Woodpecker, Carolina Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse shown here.)

And what a journey they make! Some of their trips top 7,000 miles and include flying over the Gulf of Mexico. Amazingly, birds migrate without the benefit of a compass or other navigational tools. Some birds seem to migrate by orienting themselves to the stars. Others seem to have a built-in magnetic compass.

Keep an eye on your backyard feeders during this time of year because you may see some varied species passing through your area. Migrating birds are always on the lookout for places to rest and refuel. You can invite these birds into your yard by providing a source of water and having a backyard habitat that includes plenty of places birds can rest away from potential predators.

And keep a field guide and set of binoculars close at hand so you can identify the birds that stop by. The Certified Birdfeeding Specialists at Wild Birds Unlimited can help you attract birds that migrate through your area because they know when different species are likely to pass through and what foods might help attract them to your yard.

Birds are singin’ and dancin’ and buildin’ nests in your backyard!
Look around your backyard for signs that love is in the air. You’ll likely spy some action, as this is the time of year birds start courting a mate. And, what rituals they have! (Blue Jays shown here.)

If you have woodpeckers in your yard, you probably have already heard how these birds attract a partner – by rat-tat-tatting on your house or gutter downspouts. They can make quite a racket – the louder the better! Other birds use sound to attract their mates but do so with a song or repertoire of songs. The same rule applies – more is better! A male with a larger repertoire of songs may be considered more attractive than one with only a few songs.

Seabirds and waterfowl bob their heads, bow and flutter their wings to attract their mates. Cranes are well known for their fantastic dancing as they begin their courtship. Mourning Doves and mockingbirds also will fluff out their feathers and dance a little mating two-step. Jays and cardinals will offer their female partner a sunflower seed as a gift of affection.