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Welcome to BirdTracks® Online!
An email newsletter from
Wild Birds Unlimited for March 2004.

In This Issue:
 - Welcome migrating birds to your yard!
 - It's that time of the year! (Bird courtship displays.)
 - Woodpeckers: Attract or exclude.

Welcome migrating birds to your yard!
Our feathered friends will soon return from their winter homes. For bird lovers, it's a time to welcome backyard favorites and a time to catch a glimpse of unusual species passing through. Be sure to provide fresh water and fresh seed for these weary travelers.

About migration: Hormones activate migration behaviors, such as feeding heavily in preparation for the extensive journey. Birds must "stock up" before departing on what is often a journey with few stops to eat or sleep.

Most small land birds migrate at night, preferring clear skies with northerly winds. No matter how prepared a bird is to begin its migration, most will postpone the trip if bad weather is on the way. It is apparent that birds are very perceptive to changes in barometric pressure.

By varying their type of flight, birds preserve considerable energy while making their long trip. Some birds glide and then begin flapping their wings to regain height. Others use flapping bursts and then change to an inactive state in which the wings are folded close to the body.

More information is available by speaking to the Certified Birdfeeding Specialists at your nearest Wild Birds Unlimited store or by accessing these additional resources:

Web site: www.wbu.com/edu/migr.htm
Brochure: www.wbu.com/edu/brochures/BirdMigration.pdf
Hummingbird migration maps: www.hummingbirds.net/map.html

It's that time of the year!
Bird courtship displays are an indispensable introduction to mating and raising young. Male birds use a vast array of "pick up" techniques to earn the attention of a female. Pairs will engage in curious behavior, with the female generally choosing which male she considers a suitable mate. She shops for a mate using criteria such as looks, ability to provide, and in some species, for a male that knows how to build a nest that can withstand a monsoon! Most significantly, she chooses to mate with a suitor with superior genes.

For numerous species, bird song plays an imperative role. Some birds sing more at the beginning of breeding, sometimes lasting through nesting time. Others are silent once they have found a mate. The woodpecker will tap on dead branches and occasionally on tin roofs to attract a potential mate. Apparently, a large "play list" assists some species in drawing females, so a male often mimics the songs he hears to expand his song selections and make himself more popular.

Some birds touch bills, feed one another or groom the feathers of a potential companion. Many male birds are outfitted in alluring colors during mating season. You can be sure they use it to their full advantage. In some instances, the amorous male simply flies in front of the female, displaying his most luminous colors or unique markings to award her the full pleasure of his company.

More information: www.wbu.com/edu/nest.htm
Nesting Behavior Chart: www.wbu.com/edu/brochures/NestingBehaviorChart.pdf

Woodpeckers: Attract or exclude
During spring migration you may be lucky enough to see some woodpeckers visiting your yard that you would not normally be accustomed to seeing this time of year. Wild Birds Unlimited has the suet and seeds to help nourish these birds during their journey or keep them fed if they call your backyard home.

Woodpeckers may also become troublesome around your home. For tips on how to attract and how to exclude these birds, please access these additional resources:

Web site: www.wbu.com/edu/woodpeckers.htm
Brochure: www.wbu.com/edu/brochures/StopWoodpeckers.pdf