More bird myths

[Bobbie Ireland]

I have always been fascinated by animal myths, especially since moving to Ireland, where the mythic and fantastical are just below the surface.

One myth involves Barnacle Geese... pretty little geese that winter on Irish shores. It was once thought that they did not hatch from eggs, but from "goose barnacles", which echoed their facial  markings. And they are still called "Barnacle Geese" because of this.

Lent, of course, always meant abstinence from meat... but since it was believed that Barnacle Geese hatched from barnacles, consuming them during Lent was acceptable...

There is always a "work-around"...

[Donna]

If you raise a wild bird such as a pigeon, bluejay, mockingbird, etc. it will bond (imprint with humans) and be tame for life, unable to make it in on their own in the wild.

False!
This is so very false, when a bird is ready to fly away, it will. It is the most basic primitive instinct in the bird ~~ to spread those wings and take flight. How could anyone believe this myth? Ever tried leaving a cage or parakeets or cockatiels open? They are gone gone gone no matter who raised them, no matter how tame. Same applies to much larger parrots. They fly away!!

Pigeons carry diseases and even avian flu

False!
"Pigeons are not a public health hazard. Nobody in public health is losing any sleep over pigeons."

Top 10 Bird-Feeding Myths
by Bill Thompson, III
Editor, Bird Watcher's Digest

10. Feeders Keep Birds From Migrating. If this were true, we'd have hummingbirds and orioles clinging to our feeders all winter long. Birds migrate when their natural internal "clocks" give them the urge to migrate. Migration is driven by instinct and external factors such as sunlight and weather, not by the availability of sunflower seed or food at feeders. One thing to note is that birds need extra food during migration, so it's a nice idea to keep your feeders stocked in case a hungry migrant plops down in your yard looking for food.

9. Bird Feeding Is Really Bad/Good for Birds. Let's face it, birds did just fine before we decided, a few hundred years ago, to feed them. Birds do not need the food we provide for them. It's a nice compromise between our desire to see birds in our backyards and the birds' willingness to take advantage of our largesse. Birds do not rely solely on our feeders for their survival, and they certainly do not rely on our feeders for necessary nutrients, so it's wrong to say that feeding is "good" for birds. By the same token, when bird feeding is done in a conscientious manner, it is also not bad for birds. Yes, messy feeding stations can harbor disease, and food can sometimes spoil at our feeders, but if these scenarios are avoided, bird feeding is enjoyable for us and attractive to the birds. If you wish to stretch the argument to include whether millions of bird feeders have an impact on bird populations, then yes, we can argue about the negative effects of bird feeding. But let's not do that now. Let's go on to the next myth.…

8. Birds Will Starve if You Stop Feeding in Winter. Birds have evolved over the eons as incredibly adaptive, mobile creatures. Unless a bird is sick or debilitated, it can use its wings (or legs) to range far and wide in search of food. Birds that cannot move in search of food are likely doomed to perish anyway, which is part of the natural scheme of things. So when you're going away on vacation for two weeks in the middle of a cold, snowy winter spell, it's nice if you can arrange for a neighbor to keep your feeders filled. Most serious feeder operators wouldn't think of letting their feeders go empty. But if it happens while you're gone, as it has happened to me, realize that your birds did not all starve, they just went somewhere else to find food. Now you'll have to work to lure them back!

7. The Mixed Seed at the Grocery Store Is Bad. I believed this with all my heart until recently when I saw some decent mixed birdseed for sale at a fancy grocery store. Granted, the stuff at my local chain grocery store is still absolute junk, unfit for rock doves. But some seed producers seem to be getting the message that quality seed is worth selling. The trick to telling the junk seed from the better stuff is to read the ingredients. Junk seed has almost none of the following: black-oil sunflower, peanut bits, safflower, millet, or sunflower hearts. It will have lots of milo, wheat, barley, cracked corn, and upon visual inspection, perhaps some empty hulls, sticks, and other inedibles. The best mixes feature a hearty helping of sunflower seed in some form.

6. Birds Won't Eat Milo. Years ago in an early issue of Bird Watcher's Digest, one of our editorial cartoons stated emphatically that "Real Birds Don't Eat Milo." Readers in the eastern half of North America nodded in agreement, but those folks in the Southwest howled their ridicule and protested loudly. Red milo is a staple of western bird feeding, especially in the Southwest where a variety of quail, doves, towhees, and sparrows readily eat it. In the East and upper Midwest, birds don't seem to eat milo much at all, so any mixed seed with a large percentage of milo will probably go mostly uneaten.

5. Blackbirds/Squirrels Won't Eat Safflower Seed. Safflower was once considered by many feeder operators to be the anti-blackbird and anti-squirrel food. Cardinals seemed to love it, but blackbirds and squirrels did not. That's not really true anymore, but nobody knows why. Many folks who feed safflower report that any bird or mammal that eats sunflower will also eat safflower. Safflower seed is still a nice alternative food to offer&emdash;it works in any feeder suitable for sunflower seed and it can be bought in bulk at feed stores. A blackbird and squirrel deterrent it is not, but then again, what is?

[Donna]

The world of birding is full of myths. Some have been handed down for generations, while others have cropped up more recently.

When it comes to winter birding, it seems there are more myths than usual. Here are a few of the common ones I know. Hopefully, I can help debunk these myths once and for all!

Myth #1:
Birds will freeze to death when temperatures get well below 0°.

Fact:
Birds are well equipped to survive the coldest of temperatures. They store fat during the short days of winter to keep themselves warm during the long nights.

During those freezing nights, they fluff their feathers to trap heat and slow their metabolism to conserve energy. They also look for good places to roost, whether it's a birdhouse, natural tree cavity, grass thicket, evergreen or shrub.

Myth #2:
American robins always fly south for winter.

Fact:
If there is sufficient food on their breeding grounds, American robins, bluebirds, and a host of finches and owls remain in the area where they spent the summer.

Myth #3:
You should take birdhouses down in winter because birds don't use them.

Fact:
On the contrary — a birdhouse makes a great roosting house in winter. Eastern bluebirds will pile into houses to spend cold nights. One photographer once even snapped a picture of 13 male bluebirds in a single house!

Myth #4:
If you leave town during winter, the birds that rely on the food from your feeders will die.

Fact:
Research has proven this one wrong. Scientists have shown that chickadees, for example, will eat only 25% of their daily winter food from feeders. They find the other 75% in the wild.

In addition, with so many people feeding them nowadays, birds in your yard will simply fly to a nearby neighbor to get their food until you return home.

Myth #5:
All hummingbirds migrate south for winter.

Fact:
Though most hummingbird species in North America do migrate south for the winter, the Anna's hummingbird remains on its West Coast breeding grounds.

Myth #6:
Birds always migrate in flocks.

Fact:
Though many birds migrate in flocks-common nighthawks, American robins, swallows and European starlings, for example-other species migrate alone.

The most amazing example of this is a juvenile hummingbird that has never migrated before, yet knows when to fly, where to fly, how far to fly and when to stop. And it does this all alone.

Myth #7:
Migration means north in the spring and south in the winter.

Fact:
Some bird species migrate to higher elevations in the spring and down to lower elevations in the winter. Examples include rosy finches and ptarmigans in the West.

Myth #8:
Birds' feet will stick to metal bird feeders and suet cages.

Fact:
Most suet cages have a laminated covering, so you don't have to worry about birds' feet sticking to it. But in general, their feet can endure cold weather. Birds have a protective scale-like covering on their feet, and special veins and arteries that keep their feet warm.

Myth #9:
Peanut butter will get stuck in birds' throats, and they will choke.

Fact:
Peanut butter is a very nourishing food for birds, especially in winter when the production of fat is important to their survival. The myth that it will stick in their throats simply isn't true.

Myth #10:
American goldfinches are bright yellow year-round.

Fact:
As fall approaches, American goldfinches lose their bright-yellow plumages, replacing them with feathers that are a dull, brownish-green. Many people don't recognize these birds in winter, even though duller-colored birds are still at the feeders. They assume that their "wild canaries" have migrated south for winter.

Myth #11:
Woodpeckers drill on house siding in winter for food or to create nesting cavities.

Fact:
Though there are cases where woodpeckers find food in wood siding (and may even nest inside the boards), nearly all the drilling in late winter is done to make a noise to court mates. This is their way of singing a song to declare territory.

Myth #12:
If you have warm water in a birdbath when the temperature is below freezing, birds will bathe in it and freeze to death from wet feathers.

Fact:
Birds will drink from a heated birdbath, but if the temperature is well below freezing, they will not bathe in it and get their feathers wet.

If you're still worried, offer warm water to drink, but make it too deep or inaccessible for the birds to bathe in.


Fluffed up from cold

[Bird Crazy]

Starlings around here do migrate in flocks. We have flocks of mixed black birds, which include Red winged black birds, Grackles, Starlings, and Brewers (I think don't have my bird book handy) blackbirds. Every spring and fall they gather in mass and then take off. It is really cool its like a river of black birds. I have watched the "river" go by for over half an hour before. That is a heck of a lot of dark birds. I missed them this year they just seemed to be gone. I was probably at work boo hiss

[anneintoronto]

Thanks for the continued bird myths, Bobbie and Donna!
I really love reading them and, occasionally saying to myself, "See!  I knew that wasn't true!", but I won't admit to which ones!!     

I was really relieved by the following one, although I had been hoping that it wasn't true anyway!:

If you raise a wild bird such as a pigeon, bluejay, mockingbird, etc. it will bond (imprint with humans) and be tame for life, unable to make it in on their own in the wild.

False! YES!
This is so very false, when a bird is ready to fly away, it will. It is the most basic primitive instinct in the bird ~~ to spread those wings and take flight. How could anyone believe this myth? Ever tried leaving a cage or parakeets or cockatiels open? They are gone gone gone no matter who raised them, no matter how tame. Same applies to much larger parrots. They fly away!!

As I told you before, I have a young pigeon living indoors, by the balcony door of my livingroom, because the balconies are being repaired and the railing/paneling are being replaced and the little squab hatched at an inopportune time...  I am thrilled that his parents continue to come in the open balcony door window to feed and groom him, as I didn't want to have to do it -- let's face it, I'm not good at regurgitating food and his head is really too small for me to get down and nip at his wee feathers!!  And it would be hard on the knees!!

It's too bad that it's so cold outside, though!  With the window open, it's cold in here and Eric, the Box Turtle, is having to wear his Winter coat all the time!!!  He is not amused!! 

So thanks for the encouraging info and the great laughs!!

Anne C. (Toronto, ON Canada, eh!)

[Donna]

When the peregrine falcon attacks, it nosedives towards the bird it will take,
With one claw it hits the bird, not over the back or in the neck, but with surgical
accuracy it inserts a claw through the cranium of the bird, in the middle of the
crown of the head in a lightning fast trepanning. In the hands of a talented falktamer,
an enlightened falconer, the peregrine falcon becomes identical with its
archetype, with the human thought. Man and bird become one being, they live
together day and night, until the man becomes the bird and the bird becomes the
man. In other words it becomes a part of him that it has always symbolized—the
hens and roosters without discovering that the hen is created in the image of a
woman and the rooster in the man’s, must have not paid attention. Nature points

loquacity are serious warnings. A normal man should blush when he sees a
rooster. The hen, at least, can lay an egg.

[Bird Crazy]

  OK

[Donna]

OK

OK then 

[Wing Goose]

Anne C.
Thanks for your story about your young pigeon.  Glad the parents are there
 to help you with the feeding and grooming.  In fact, I can't see you
 doing that either.  teehee !

   
     Lola

[anneintoronto]

Can you believe I just carried home 4 lbs of wild bird seed, in my knapsack, for the parents of my resident squab, so that they will continue to feed my little feathered noise maker!  Greater love hath no....!  He is growing by leaps and bounds, but still hasn't made a move out of his high class tub!  Lazy so and so!! He won't even pick up a single seed for himself -- something that I hope will change soon, if he's ever going to fly the coup!! He's got the neatest patch of white on his head -- guess I'd better share some photos of this little beggar, before he peeps belligerently one too many times and I make him into a lovely pigeon pie!!  Anyone have a good recipe? 

Anne in Toronto

Anne C.
Thanks for your story about your young pigeon.  Glad the parents are there
 to help you with the feeding and grooming.  In fact, I can't see you
 doing that either.  teehee !

   
     Lola

[anneintoronto]

Here are some photos of my little pigeon squab boarder.  He is finally quiet now, but what a noisy day!!  Mr. Demanding has lots of loud requests of his poor parents!!  And when I go near, he fluffs up and attacks with great whacks of his wings or a good peck of the beak!!  All right, I KNOW I shouldn't go near, but he is so fun to bait!  But, for all his grown-up temper, he hasn't climbed out of the tub and started exploring!  But, never fear, he will and I'll be tripping all over him soon!  I've never had a pigeonette fledge from inside my apartment, so this will be a first.  Just out the cat door, across the cement floor that remains and off into the wild blue yonder!!  I hope!  Otherwise, it will be the big toss!  

Here is the URL:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=652873763310%3A719886271&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharer

or the Tiny ULR: http://tinyurl.com/2azs5c3


Anne C. (Toronto, ON Canada, eh!)

[Donna]

Here are some photos of my little pigeon squab boarder.  He is finally quiet now, but what a noisy day!!  Mr. Demanding has lots of loud requests of his poor parents!!  And when I go near, he fluffs up and attacks with great whacks of his wings or a good peck of the beak!!  All right, I KNOW I shouldn't go near, but he is so fun to bait!  But, for all his grown-up temper, he hasn't climbed out of the tub and started exploring!  But, never fear, he will and I'll be tripping all over him soon!  I've never had a pigeonette fledge from inside my apartment, so this will be a first.  Just out the cat door, across the cement floor that remains and off into the wild blue yonder!!  I hope!  Otherwise, it will be the big toss!  

First, really cool pics, second, how did mom and dad know he was in there? Their not afraid to come in? Wow, this is a first for me. Where do mom and dad sleep at night? Lastly, do you leave your sliders open all day for them? Do tell more on this. Gonna be hard when they leave but...you always have a family on your deck. What happened to Rocky & Dovey?  Sorry so many ?'s.

[anneintoronto]

No problem with the questions, Donna!  After so many successful hatchings and fledglings, I forget that other people don't know the strange and wonderful life of the downtown, balcony pigeon fancier! 

Let's see -- Rocky and Dovey were around for 3 seasons and then just disappeared...I guess about 3 or 4 years ago...  They were my first pigeon family and I was very attached to them!  Occasionally, after those years, I think I may have seen Rocky out on the balcony, but neither were too distinctive and it was hard to be sure.  This present couple and their offspring, with so many strange head feather patterns and white wings, have been easier to follow.  Only one of their offspring didn't have white wings or head pattern -- he was born this year in July and was a variegated grey colour and has fledged and there's no way I am going to ever be able to recognize him... Too bad!  But I did see his sister, just this morning, about a block away, eating in the grass!  She has a neat topnotch, so there was no question!

Earlier in the season, I'm rather reluctant to admit, Squiggles, Black Dove (I'll have to get you a photo of her -- all black with white wings), and 3 of their offspring took to wandering into the apt and, as they never pooped (don't ask me -- I have no idea!), I let them...  After Kevin and all, I was lonely and they were lovely!  They would just sit beside me on the floor or follow me around...  There's nothing like sitting on the can, with 3 pigeons sitting in the hallway, waiting for you! Nothing!   Anyway, again for unknown reasons, they pretty well stopped coming in mid Summer...  However, it's just as well that they were comfortable with the apartment, as it has come in very handy now.

When I got the notice that the balcony repairmen were starting on my balcony on August 31st, I decided to haul junior in, while I could still have the balcony door open...so it would be easy for Squigs and Dove to see him.  Then, when the workmen came and riveted the balcony door shut (to keep sleepwalkers for going out, I supposed...  ), I opened the balcony window (I'd removed the screening years ago for better wind cross currents...), and put some seeds up there -- okay, it was bribery!!  But I think that the parents would have come anyway...  Like Mariah & Kaver, they are experienced and excellent parents, and I don't think that I ever doubted that they would come in...  And they didn't let me down!  They've been attentive, firm -- the hatchling would really make a lot of peeping noises when he saw his parents and they taught him to be quiet, so as not to attract attention to himself -- they were so patient and firm, it was amazing!!  And he did learn!!  And they have fed him on time and groomed him...  Absolutely wonderful!  Especially 'cause I wasn't about to start regurgitating food and grooming his feathers!!    At night, Squigs and Dove are just outside, sleeping on the balcony floor.  24/7 they keep other "intruding" pigeons away, guard their prize son with the diligence of M&K guarding their nestbox!!

Yes, I'll miss the fun of the family rearing activities, but Squigs and Dove, and sometimes some of the year's offspring, will stay the whole Winter.  They lived out there for 3 years now, through all kinds of weather!  The balcony is theirs, just as much as it is mine!  And I am glad to share, even if it takes some sweeping to keep it clean.  It's the least I can do for such faithful friends!!  And, it will all start over again next Spring!!

Anne in Toronto ...and, if any of you don't approve, you can consider that I'm helping to grow healthy pigeons for Rhea Mae & her offsprings' eating pleasure!! 

[Patti from Kentucky]

Very cute...I'm envious, though I do have a backyard where I get to watch the hummingbird yards daily.  Sad that it'll only last a few more weeks.

Patti

[Donna]

Wow Anne, that's quite interesting. The "can" part cracked me up. You answered my next question, has any other bird tried to get in? Guess not with mom and dad on guard duty. We all need to find our niche in life and I guess you found yours. At least you know they'll be back in the Spring to do it all over again. Thanks for answering my questions. Good luck with fledging.