A Little Bit More
If you have your own bird feeder or access to one, it’s likely that you’ve seen one of our most popular visitors in North America, the Northern Cardinal. Cardinals are particularly fond of sunflower seeds, and their handling of them is impressive. But you now know there is more to that bill than just large size and strong jaw muscles; the biting surfaces are specially modified for cracking seeds, which explains the speed and ease with which cardinals hull their food.
Percentages differ, depending upon whom one asks, but the fact remains that a very large number of people all across the continent feed birds. “Feeding” birds may run the gamut from throwing scraps onto the snow to placing elaborate bird feeders in strategic places around the yard with special foods to attract birds. It is widely accepted that bird feeding has affected bird populations, but to what degree and in what manner is not so easily agreed upon. Although popular belief has it that one can’t stop feeding the birds in winter once they’ve started, since birds are so mobile, they’ll simply go elsewhere to find food if you do stop, so it’s not a problem. Only those ailing birds that are unnaturally dependent upon your bird feeder are likely to suffer if you stop feeding. But no matter what the bird’s gain from visiting your feeder, it’s clear what you gain – a great deal of pleasure!
Activities
Science – Feed the Birds
Objectives: Close view of local birds
Materials: Birdseed, way to offer food to birds
Feeding birds is such an interesting and easy activity, that I’m encouraging you to try it with your students. You don’t need any fancy equipment to do this at all and even a simple shelf outside your window or even the window ledge will do the job. You will need to purchase birdseed – no breadcrumbs - however! If you’re doing this for school, you may even be able to get a discount from your local feed store.
Place birdseed on an appropriate feeding shelf/structure outside your classroom window and wait to see what happens. If you have several choices for placement, choose the one that puts the food nearest shrubs and trees. Birds are extremely alert to changes in their surroundings and I think you’ll be surprised at how quickly they see your offerings. If you don’t have many/any trees or shrubs near your feeder area, it will take longer before birds are aware of what you have.
Once birds are arriving at your feeder, it would be interesting to note which species were first to arrive, what are the different species visiting, how long a particular bird stays for each visit, how many individuals (you’ll have to count all that come at one time), and maybe even which of the offerings they seem to like best if you’re presenting more than one kind of food.
If you don’t already have a bird field guide to your area, this would be an excellent addition to your library or classroom. There is a set of field guides that we’re offering at a discount and you can find info on this assortment and purchasing information on our home page. Field guides add a great deal to the enjoyment of wildlife by giving you a lot of basic information in a very concise manner. With one of the field guides, you should also be able to identify all the birds that use your feeding station. Enjoy!
Key Concepts
Structures and Functions, Behavior and Regulation
Questions
Do you have a question for a naturalist? Go ahead and ask!
It's easy -- just fill out this form, submit your question and you'll receive an answer shortly.