Birds, like people live by a calendar. The birds’ calendar is a built-in mechanism for behavior, dictated by the relative position of the sun to the earth. Actually, all life on earth is influenced by the sun, but birds seem to respond to its changing positions in a more dramatic way. The birds’ calendar is so accurate that a backyard bird watcher can pretty well guess what month it is by looking at the birds in the backyard. Sometimes you can even tell if it is early or late in a particular month by the kinds and appearance of the birds that are present. If I saw a male Blue Grosbeak with very little blue left and a Brewer’s Sparrow at my feeder, I would know that it was September in Portal, Arizona. When we lived in South Dakota, the first Mountain Bluebird of the year indicated that it was February.
Birds are weather prognosticators, also. They are sensitive to pressure changes in the atmosphere and can anticipate storms. If we see our birds feeding more heavily than usual, we can anticipate a storm. On warm clear days they feed less at our feeders. In the north prepare for snow, here, in Portal, we anticipate winter rains and probably strong wind and maybe even a little snow several times a year.
The arrival of the breeding season also influences the activities of birds. As the breeding season comes on in May, most birds establish their own breeding territories. Those that claim our yard as their nesting area chase away others of the same species. In some cases, the feeding station and the bird bath are common grounds where all birds such as Canyon Towhees and Black-throated Sparrows, of territorial species are permitted to visit. Others such as the thrashers and quail will chase until a clear dominance is established.
It can therefore be said that the birds in our backyards are all living on a predetermined, but ever-changing schedule, affected by the seasons, temperature, weather and their instincts to breed, migrate and defend territories, all of which is dictated by the position of the sun.
Because we know this, we can predict with some certainty that during the month of January, for example, certain species of birds will be at feeding stations in specific part of the country, and that backyard bird watchers can do certain things to ensure maximum use of the their backyards by the birds in their area. With this in mind, we have set up a Birding Calendar to help you develop and maintain you backyard as an ideal place to see birds throughout the year. By following the suggestions on a month-to-month basis, you stand a better chance of attracting more birds to your yard. Click on the month below to see how to use the calendar to attract mor birds to your backyard.
Attracting Birds in December.
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