Backyard Birders Get Tips at Harper Center
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| Hummingbird [U.S. Fish & Wildlife] |
But there's a way to keep the peace in your back yard, said Leslie Reed-Evans.
"Hummingbirds are very territorial and will fight with other birds to protect a specific feeder," the executive director of the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation said on Tuesday. "Hanging several feeders in different parts of your yard should reduce this activity."
Reed-Evans, a local bird expert, was at the Harper Center to talk about the habits and types of local birds.
 Tree swallow [U.S. Fish & Wildlife] |
She also identified several helpful local birds, like house sparrows, who feed their hatchlings spiders, and tree swallows that can eat three times their weight in mosquitoes a day.
Methods on how to attract certain types of birds were also discussed. For example, many birds are attracted to specific types of food, colored flowers and feeders. And colorful feeders and flowers tend to attract more colorful birds.
"Male birds tend to be more colorful and sound oriented to attract mates, while females tend to be plain colored to blend in more with the environment to protect their young from predation," said Reed-Evans.
Evans also offered some tips for those looking for a specific type of bird. "Birds will migrate or stay in an area based on their diets," she said. Bug eaters and carrion birds will travel south for the winter and seed eaters will stay in our area.
If you're watching for big birds like hawks, eagles and owls, look for smaller birds "mobbing." Mobbing is when smaller birds swarm around a tree to harass roosting predatory birds and to act as a warning to others. So if you see a bunch of smaller birds making a lot of noise in a tree chances are there is a large predator around.
The final tidbit Reed-Evans offered was for bird watchers out there frustrated with squirrels — give them want they want.
 (2).jpg) [U.S. Fish & Wildlife]
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"To keep squirrels away from your bird feeders make a separate, easier-to-access, feeder for the squirrels with food that they prefer like dried corn and fruit or pumpkin seeds," she said.
Reed-Evans has worked for the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation since 1993 and leads a variety of events, such as bird walks and nature hikes. For more information on the WRLF call 413-458-2494 or visit www.wrlf.org.
