My Backyard

Audubon Society of Rhode Island

Local Residents Concerned about Seasonal Bird Behaviors

(September 28, 2009) – Nature is an amazing thing. Instincts long hardened into the brain become active when day length changes, when temperatures dip, or when moisture dries up. Survival skills and inbred behaviors ensure that wildlife endures the changes of the seasons. That is why, when summer is waning and days begin to grow shorter, the birds seem to disappear. 

They have not actually disappeared, thankfully. They are simply not ‘hanging out’ where humans may have become used to seeing them. Audubon Society of Rhode Island naturalist Kim Calcagno notes that she receives numerous calls and emails this time of year from concerned people who have noticed a remarkable dearth of birds in their yards and local parks. “Just as we can set the seasonal clock by the springtime robin and woodpecker phone calls, the start of autumn is distinctly marked by the profusion of calls asking what has happened to the birds,” she says.

Well, what DOES happen to the birds?  Calcagno explains that it is part behavioral and part nutritional. “During the spring and summer, birds are focused on breeding. They come out to find a mate. They search to find nesting material. They forage endlessly for all those mouths to feed,” she explains. “The birds you see are constantly taking risks by coming out in the open and exposing themselves to predators to get these things done. Once breeding is over for the season, they have some time before the winter comes to ‘lay low’ a bit, staying out of the view of predators and keeping out of the open areas. This behavior is normal and comes with the season.”

There is another reason why the birds seem to clear out, however. That has wholly to do with food. Many people are disappointed to hear the birdseed they lovingly put out for their feathered friends is not the birds’ first choice. The seed you put out, even in the cold of winter, is only a percentage of the birds’ complete diet. The birds take advantage of it, but do not require it (and will not starve if you go away on vacation, so don’t worry.) “In late summer and early fall, the forests and fields are simply burgeoning with trees and shrubs that are full of ripe fruit, berries, seed pods and other fresh, highly nutritious and easily obtainable food,” adds Calcagno.  “The birds are foraging in these trees, thickets and meadows in search of these treats. Whether a bird will migrate or will stay in the area and face the cold of winter, this fall harvest helps them build up the necessary fat and muscle for the work ahead. They take advantage of the food sources while they can. It will be winter soon enough and they will once again have to work harder to find food.”

Now, of course, there are sometimes sources not related to nature that cause the disappearance of birds. Noise from local construction, clearing of land, and the use of pesticides can affect local bird populations. It has been long a concern in the scientific community that across North America there has been a steep decline of songbirds over the last fifty years. Some species are down by 50% or more. This is due to many different reasons including human encroachment, dynamic changes in habitats, chemical use, invasive species and climate change. Sometimes decline is temporary and unfortunately sometimes it is not. Calcagno notes that most of her callers are observing the normal fall behavior of birds, and many of the species will return after a few weeks of scarcity.

It is very heartening to see so many people notice the changes happening in nature. If you would like to learn more about wildlife, bird feeding, or have questions about nature the Audubon Society of Rhode Island presents many programs year-round about wildlife and local environmental issues.  Visit www.asri.org to learn more about Audubon and view the calendar of upcoming fall and winter programs.