Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society  

MARS MOMENT #7- DARK EYED JUNCO’S

BY SANDY FAIRFIELD

The sights and sounds of returning songbirds tell us that Spring is just around the corner. With a few exceptions most small birds migrate south for the winter months some as far as Central America. It is quite amazing to know that some Hummingbirds will fly all the way to Costa Rica and back in a year. If you enjoy feeding the birds that do remain here year round you will have noticed one of the most frequent visitors to your feeder, the Dark Eyed Junco. Juncos’ are also known as "snow-birds" and unlike some of us they arrive just before the snow and depart when it has gone. Wintering in the Southern part of B.C. they will migrate to their Northern breeding grounds but April. A small bird approximately 5-6 inches tall, they are easily identified by their dark capped-heads and dark backs. Their undersides are white and when they fly their black tail feathers part and show flashes of white as they zip in and out of the vegetation. It is also thought that the flashing tails help them locate one and other to stay together in a small flock. Around the bird feeders they provide the watcher with great insight into their behavior. Junco’s feed in small flocks, each with a dominant male bird and a definite "pecking order". The dominant bird will peck and chase away the sub-ordinates, who will fly away rather than engage in a fight. They will also "head-dance" bobbing up and down to assert their dominance or attract a mate.

Juncos’ are predominantly seed eaters, but will catch insects, and if you look at their short sturdy beaks they are designed to crack open seed casings. Observing a birds’ beak will usually tell you what it eats, for example, hooked beaks are for tearing flesh, flat beaks for straining, and long slender beaks for probing. Feeding birds’ should be a year round commitment, and bird feeders plus planting bird friendly flowers you will attract many different species. However, without proper care and understanding feeders can be a health hazard to our bird population. Diseases are a constant threat to bird-life, unclean feeders are a perfect breeding ground for a fungus called "aspergilli’s" which produces a deadly avian respiratory infection. This fungus thrives on moist rotting seeds, a similar mould will grow in unclean Hummingbird feeders. Salmonellosis is another common cause of deaths at bird feeders. This is a bacterial infection lives in a birds intestine and is passed through its feces. Pine Siskins are particularly prone and feeders should be cleaned thoroughly with 10% bleach in warm water preferably in a sink other than the kitchen as this disease can be transmitted to humans.

Improper placement of feeders exposes birds’ to their biggest threat, CATS. Cats are the major cause of small bird injuries at MARS, bacteria in cats’ mouths are lethal, usually resulting in the birds’ demise. Bells’ placed around a cats neck will help warn a bird that a cat is approaching. We recommend placing the feeders in an area that offers hiding places and cover from overhead or ground predators. Changing a feeders location and raking and disposing of wasted food and droppings will also help keep birds healthy. Care should also be taken with home made feeders to make sure they are free from protrusions that could damage feathers and feet. National Wildlife Week this year is April 4 – 11, the theme is "Back-yard Birds". We encourage you all to find out more about our local birds and invite you to MARS on April 4^th to our yearly Open House. This is a great opportunity to tour our facility and find out more about our society. We will be providing more details of this event and other events planned during the week closer to the date. For more info. or questions please call MARS @ 33-2021 or visit our Web site at www.wingtips.org

Photo Dark eyed Junco victim of Cat attack