A Summer Song: Backyard Birding
One of the most enjoyable aspects of summer is waking up to the sound of song birds outside your window. Some species, such as the Northern Mockingbird, sing during the night but most birds sing in the morning when there is little wind or convection. Calls at night broadcast up to 20 times further than songs of equal amplitude broadcast at midday, and singing from a treetop increases the broadcast coverage since sounds near the ground can be blocked or absorbed. In a monogamous species it is almost always the male that sings to attract a mate and establish his territory. The songs of dozens of males simultaneously advertising their territories make up the dawn chorus and at times can seem chaotic. Birds that have similar pitches will avoid superimposing songs and will begin their song immediately after the other bird has stopped. Some species of birds exhibit local dialects that may vary from the same species just a few miles away.
Viewer Tip: You can create wildlife habitat to attract birds and other wildlife to your own back yard by providing the four basics of food, water, shelter and a place to raise young. Try adding a few different types of feeders and a water source, such as a bird bath, to your yard.
This tip was provided by the Georgia Wildlife Federation. Learn more about attracting wildlife to your backyard: www.gwf.org/resources/habitats.html.
Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
(Source: Hollows, Peepers, and Highlanders, An Appalachian Mountain Ecology by George Constantz)
