Birds Archives - Page 69 of 79

February 3, 2011June 30, 2020

Huddling for Warmth

Beaver in snow, Courtesy US FWS — Beaver in snow
Image Courtesy US FWS

When temperatures dip below freezing and wind hurries on its way, we often find ourselves looking for another warm body to huddle near and share heat. Children snuggle into laps and dogs lean close.

Many animals huddle to stave off the cold. Species that are strong individualists in balmy seasons seek warmth from a group when temperatures drop. Many non-colonial rodents will share a den come winter.

[Kevin Colver recording: Songbirds of the Southwest Canyon Country]

Pygmy nuthatches jam themselves tightly together into tree cavities as do flying squirrels. Through the winter, worker honeybees huddle tightly around a central patch of wax comb where developing larvae are growing. The larvae die if temperatures drop below 83 degrees, so a living blanket of worker bees shivers to generate the heat equivalent to a 40 watt incandescent bulb.

An animal loses heat in direct proportion to its surface area. By huddling together, each animal reduces its exposed surface area. This in turn allows them to reduce their metabolic rate and so conserve energy at a time when food can be scarce or inaccessible.

Nests or dens occupied by numerous individuals can be much warmer than ambient. A snow covered lodge with at least 2 beaver occupants can be as much as 35 degrees warmer than the outside air temperature. A study of taiga voles showed that underground nests containing 5 to 10 residents remained 7 to 12 degrees warmer than the surrounding soil and up to 25 degrees warmer than the air above. Individuals take turns going out to forage so their nest remains toasty.

Living in close proximity does have its problems. Disease and parasites are readily transmitted in tight quarters. Local food competition could potentially lead to hunger or starvation. Predators may more easily discover prey in groups. But for many animals, the advantages of huddling for warmth far outweigh the risks during our chilly winter months.

This is Linda Kervin for Bridgerland Audubon Society.
Credits:

Photos: Courtesy US FWS

Audio: Courtesy Kevin Colver, https://wildstore.wildsanctuary.com/collections/special-collections, https://wildstore.wildsanctuary.com/collections/special-collections

Text: Linda Kervin, Bridgerland Audubon Society
Additional Reading:

Life in the Cold: An Introduction to Winter Ecology. Peter Marchand. 1991, University Press of New England. https://www.amazon.com/Life-Cold-Introduction-Winter-Ecology/dp/0874517850

Lives of North American Birds. Kenn Kaufman. 1996, Houghton Mifflin Company. https://www.amazon.com/American-Peterson-Natural-History-Companions/dp/0395770173

The Birder’s Handbook. Paul R. Ehrlich, David S. Dobkin and Darryl Wheye. 1988, Simon & Schuster, Inc. https://www.amazon.com/Birders-Handbook-American-including-Regularly/dp/1435277589

December 9, 2010March 4, 2026

Christmas Bird Count

The Christmas holidays bring us a bevy of welcome annual traditions. We listen to the melodies of the Nutcracker and traditional carols.

[Black-capped Chickadee recording by Kevin Colver: Songbirds of the Rocky Mountain Foothills]

Many also listen for bird melodies as we join in the annual Christmas Bird Count. These are exhaustive, one-day surveys of all the individuals of every species of bird found in a locality. Christmas Bird Counts began 111 years ago in New York City as a holiday alternative to the excesses of a hunt that targeted all birds. Provo’s count followed soon after in 1903.

From that first inspiration, the Christmas Bird Count has spread to all 50 states and throughout the Americas. Last year, there were 2,600 counts, totaling 56 million individual birds representing over 2,300 species. Last holiday season, hundreds of Utahns participated in 24 local counts, reporting 184 bird species from Saint George north to Bear Lake.

I always join Logan’s Bridgerland Audubon count, which has been running for 54 years. Last year, with 62 participants we found 99 bird species in our standard count circle of 150 square miles. That’s remarkable for a chilly winter’s day, considering that many of our feathered friends have hightailed it south for the winter. But note that some northerly species, such as Rough-legged Hawks, view Utah as the balmy endpoint of their fall migration.

Christmas Bird Counts offer something for everyone, from novices to seasoned birders. Some choose simple feeder counts; others undertake vigorous back country walkabouts. Some will be up in the predawn, listening for owls.

[Great Horned Owl recording by Kevin Colver: Songbirds of the Southwest Canyon Country]

Every count’s data contributes to long-term research about winter dispersal patterns of birds and their population trends. If you like birds, join in the fun and make the Christmas Bird Count one of your holiday traditions.

All counts are scheduled between December 14 and January 5. Utah’s Christmas Bird counts are listed on our website: just search for Wild About Utah or go to the UtahBirds website directly. Our Logan count is on Saturday, December 18. That evening, we’ll all flock together for a big potluck party where we tally up our bird count totals.

This is Linda Kervin for Bridgerland Audubon Society.
Credits:

Photos: Courtesy National Audubon,
https://www.audubon.org/
Sounds: Courtesy & Copyright Kevin Colver, https://wildstore.wildsanctuary.com/collections/special-collections
https://wildstore.wildsanctuary.com/collections/special-collections
Text: Linda Kervin & Jim Cane, Bridgerland Audubon Society

Additional Reading:

Christmas Bird Counts in Utah, Utahbirds.org, Milt Moody, Webmaster, https://www.utahbirds.org/cbc/cbc.html

The 109th Christmas Bird Count: Citizen Science in Action, National Audubon Society, Inc. https://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/index.html
Idaho Circles: https://app.audubon.org/cbcapp/findCircles.jsp?state=US-ID&start=1
Utah Circles: https://app.audubon.org/cbcapp/findCircles.jsp?state=US-UT&start=1

December 2, 2010February 12, 2026

Cutler Marsh-Amalga Barrens Important Bird Areas

Important Bird Area Sign, Photo Courtesy Lyle Bingham, Bridgerland Audubon Society — Cutler Marsh
Copyright © 2010 Mike Fish

Important Bird Area Sign
Courtesy Bridgerland Audubon Society

Cutler marsh near the Ibis rookery
Copyright © 2006 Stephen Peterson

White-faced Ibis
Copyright © 2010 Mike Fish

Ibis flying over Cutler marsh
Copyright © 2006 Stephen Peterson

Dan Zamecnik, Bryan Dixon, & Chris Cokinos setting up to count ibis
Copyright © 2006 Stephen Peterson

Jean Lown, John Stewart, & Frank Howe counting ibis on the marsh
Copyright © 2010 Bryan Dixon

Hi, I’m Holly Strand

Earlier this year, Cutler Marsh and nearby Amalga Barrens in Cache Valley were recognized as one of the world’s most important bird habitats. This recognition came from Birdlife International and its US partner — the National Audubon Society. In an earlier episode I talk about the criteria for becoming an Important Bird Area –or IBA for short. The Cutler Marsh-Amalga Barrens IBA was recognized because of its large population of nesting white-faced ibis.

The strange thing is—that 30 years ago—there were relatively few ibis in the area. But when the Great Salt Lake flooded in the mid 1980s, many of its rookeries went under water. So some ibises moved to higher ground in Cache Valley. And apparently found it to their liking.

Local birders were amazed at the influx. Wayne Martinson, head of Utah’s IBA program advised the local Audubon Society to start formal counts. The worldwide total of white-faced ibis estimated to be 150,000. So to become a globally important IBA, the Marsh and Amalga Barrens would have to hold at least 1,500 birds.

Bryan Dixon of Bridgerland Audubon Society organized the censuses. Observations were made during the breeding season from 2005 to 2010. Observers defined an imaginary vertical plane to the north and south of the rookery. They would count the birds as they crossed the plane into the rookery and subtract the birds that flew out. Birds on the ground could not be counted for they were hidden in the bulrushes and cattails. Observers kept a respectable distance; if approached the adult birds might abandon its eggs or chicks.

The results took the census takers by surprise. The first years count was well over 6000. The second year’s count was 8094 birds. The site had 5 times as many birds as was needed to be designated as a globally important IBA. Then in 2007, the birds mysteriously vanished. Not a single ibis was counted in the rookery. Perhaps a severe weather discouraged nesting? The reason is still unclear. But the following year the ibis returned and by 2009, the count exceeded 7000.

Hats off to Bridgerland Audubon Society’s Bryan Dixon for organizing the counts! For some photos of the new IBA and the white-faced ibis, go to www.wildaboututah.org

For Wild About Utah, I’m Holly Strand

Credits:

Theme: Courtesy & Copyright Don Anderson as performed by Leaping Lulu
Photos: Cutler Marsh, Courtesy & Copyright 2010 Mike Fish
IBA sign, Courtesy Bridgerland Audubon Society
Ibis: Courtesy US FWS, Dave Menke Photographer
Cutler marsh near the Ibis rookery, flying ibis, setting up the count, Courtesy and Copyright 2006 Stephen Peterson
Ibis counters, Courtesy and Copyright 2010 Bryan Dixon
Text & Voice: Holly Strand

Sources & Additional Reading:

Cutler Marsh-Amalga Barrens IBA site description https://www.audubon.org/important-bird-areas/cutler-reservoir-and-marsh-ut08

Ryder, Ronald A. and David E. Manry. 1994. White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of the Worls Online: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/whfibi/cur/introduction [Updated February 12, 2026]

Important Bird Areas, Audubon Society, www.audubon.org/bird/IBA/ Note: Website changed to https://www.audubon.org/important-bird-areas
See also
https://www.audubon.org/important-bird-areas/state/utah
https://www.audubon.org/important-bird-areas/cutler-reservoir-and-marsh-ut08 [Accessed September 19, 2021]

Protecting the most important habitats for birds, BirdLife International, https://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/programme-additional-info/important-bird-and-biodiversity-areas-ibas [Accessed September 19, 2021]

Cutler Reservoir and Marsh, Important Bird Areas(IBAs), BirdLife International, https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/29572-cutler-reservoir-and-marsh-ut08

November 11, 2010January 31, 2026

Bird vs. Window

Contractor applies anti-bird strike film to a window. Photo Courtesy US FWS, Brett Billings Photographer — Contractor applies anti-bird strike film to a window
Photo Courtesy US FWS
Brett Billings Photographer

Hi, I’m Holly Strand.

Every fall, I cringe when I hear the soft thumps caused by feathery bodies slamming into the windows of our house. Etched designs into the window glass do not seem to deter these miniature kamikaze pilots.

The most intense period of window strikes occurs when birds are feasting on our chokecherries and crabapples. The birds get intoxicated from the naturally fermented fruit and their judgement flies out the window—or rather, into the window. Robins, waxwings and other fruit eaters are the most frequent flyers under the influence.

Ornithologists estimate that in the United States alone well over 100 million birds are killed each year by window collisions. Many accidents occur when birds see trees, sky, or clouds reflected on a glass but do not see the hard transparent window surface itself. Sometimes the birds are merely stunned and recover in a few moments. Often, however, window hits lead to severe internal injuries and death.

Ornithologist Pete Dunne found that feeders placed 13 feet away from a window corresponded with maximum deaths. However, a feeder place within a meter of window actually reduced the accident rate. Birds focus on the feeder as they fly toward the window. If they strike the glass leaving the feeder, they do so at very low speed.

You can redirect the accident prone birds by putting up awnings, beads, bamboo, or fabric strips. Stickers or silhouettes will help if they are spaced 2-4 in. apart across the entire window. At our house, taping some reflective ribbon to the window so that it flutters in the breeze has been very effective.

If you find a bird dazed from a window hit, place it in a dark container with a lid such as a shoebox, and leave it somewhere warm and quiet, out of reach of pets and other predators. If the weather is extremely cold, you may need to take it inside. Do not try to give it food and water, and resist handling it as much as possible. The darkness will calm the bird while it revives, which should occur within a few minutes, unless it is seriously injured. Release it outside as soon as it appears awake and alert.

For Wild About Utah, I’m Holly Strand.

Credits:

Photo Courtesy US FWS, Brett Billings Photographer, https://www.fws.gov/digitalmedia/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/natdiglib&CISOPTR=9516
Text: Holly Strand

Sources & Additional Reading:

Dunne, Pete. 2003. Pete Dunne on Bird Watching: The How-to, Where-to, and When-to of Birding. HMCo Field Guides. https://www.amazon.com/Pete-Dunne-Watching-Where-When/dp/0395906865

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Bird Notes from Sapsucker Woods. https://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/notes/BirdNote10_Windows.pdf (Accessed Nov 30, 2008)

Leahy, Christopher. 1982. The Birdwatcher’s Companion. NY: Grammercy Books. https://www.amazon.com/Birdwatchers-Companion-North-American-Birdlife/dp/0691113882/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228882143&sr=1-1

Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Utah, Ogden, UT https://www.wrcnu.org/