The “fall slowdown” appears to have come to an end as birds are definitely beginning to appear at feeders more regularly again. Usually an abrupt change in weather will trigger the increase in activity. We’ve certainly had that. Goldfinches are settling back into feeding stations wearing their dull winter plumage, Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Titmice are making repeated trips to feeders, sometimes to actually eat but sometimes taking seed to cache away for future use, and woodpeckers are showing interest once again in suet. And by now you may be seeing some of our winter visitors like Juncos, White-throated and White-crowned sparrows, and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. No reports yet, however, of Purple finch or Pine Siskin.
American Goldfinch
Goldfinch in winter plumage.
It’s worth noting that caching seed is serious business for some species, like Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches. Studies have shown Chickadees have keen spatial memory, and can remember precise cache locations using visual cues like distance and direction from landmarks such as rocks and vegetation. In fact, scientists have concluded Black-capped Chickadees increase the size of the brain (in the area associated with memory) as caching ramps up in the fall. Most chickadees and nuthatches make hundreds of trips caching seed by seed in bark crevices and tree crotches. And they may cache food in hundreds of different locations about their home range. Why that many different locations? Instinctively, they know it does not make sense to put all their food in one place. Ever changing conditions and possible raids by other birds and animals ensure they will find food remaining in the many places they have stored.
We tend to underestimate our small backyard visitors but they are well equipped to handle extreme conditions. Tiny birds like Kinglets and Black-capped chickadees are able to survive 25 degrees below zero temperatures. A songbird’s feathers is an intricate system of layering and interlocking that creates a wind and water barrier, yet allows them to fly. For a more in depth look at bird’s feathers go to Cornell labs article on Everything You Need To Know About Feathers.
And…
In recent weeks many of you have seen Bluebirds frequently visiting nest boxes. This is a very common activity for Bluebirds and it is likely a reinforcement of a mating pairs’ bond, or perhaps a male showing a new potential mate a good nesting spot for the future.
We are often asked “when is a good time to put up a bluebird box”? Actually, every day is a good day to put up a bluebird box. In other words, there is no particular best time. After all, the sooner they have the opportunity to see it the greater likelihood for success next spring.
Fall, though, is a good time to put up a nest box because Bluebirds do show interest. Many people that had successful nesting bluebirds will see them return to nest boxes in the fall and actually go through some of the motions of courting and nesting. Sometimes Bluebirds will even put nest material in a box. What you are seeing is not a confused pair of Bluebirds trying to nest but likely just a bonding behavior. So, if you want to get a head start on attracting bluebirds now is a great time to put up a bluebird box. It’s also a good time to do a little maintenance on existing nest boxes. Clean out old nest debris now so Bluebirds don’t build on top of it in the spring. The old decomposing debris can attract insects that can pose a danger to developing chicks.
Specially designed Roost Boxes for Bluebirds are available. Roost boxes are different in that the entrance hole is at the bottom and there is a “ladder” like perching arrangement on the interior allowing several birds to be very close without being physically on top of one another, thus having shelter and cumulative body warmth. You can actually convert your nest box into a roost box by removing flipping the door of the box so the entrance hole is at the bottom, then placing some sturdy, branchy sticks vertically in the interior creating multiple “natural” perches.
Some other things to consider for fall and winter backyard birding include creating brush piles, keeping a water source available, and of course suet. Instead of dragging branches out to the street for pick up consider creating a few brush piles for the birds for the winter. They are excellent cover for all kinds of birds and they produce immediate results. A brush pile is a bird magnet. Keeping a water source ice free in winter is also a sure-fire bird attracter. Water is extremely important to songbirds even in the coldest temperatures. We have thermostatically controlled birdbath de-icers and birdbaths in stock. And of course suet is an extremely beneficial food source for many kinds of birds throughout winter and spring. Woodpeckers are the main consumers of suet but Chickadees, Titmice, Nuthatches, Wrens, Jays, and many others will be seen eating chunks of the high energy food source. For several winters now I have had Bluebirds visiting my suet feeders regularly. Suet is the food source most likely to attract a “surprise” visitor, like Orange-crowned warblers, Ruby or Golden-crowned Kinglets, or Brown Creepers.
Suet can bring in birds not always seen at feeders.
A heated water source attracts winter birds.
Brush piles are a great natural way to attract birds.
Enjoy the fall season and keep an eye on your feeders. You never know what may appear.