Migratory birds are those species that generally migrate south each fall from breeding grounds to their wintering grounds.
They may winter in habitats throughout the Pacific Region and CNO, or even farther south
into Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. In the spring they
return north to their breeding grounds, where they have young and the cycle
repeats. Migratory birds are definitely in the
majority in contrast to resident birds that do not
migrate, such as Rock Doves, European Starlings, and House Sparrows.
Of the 836 protected migratory bird
species, some 59 species are game birds. That is, hunting seasons are, were, or
could be developed for them. Here, we are talking about ducks, geese, swan,
various species of doves, snipe, rails, certain pigeons, and gallinules. In
contrast to the hunted birds, there are 777 species (93 percent) considered
nongame birds. They are represented in groups such as marsh and wading birds
(6%), birds of prey such as hawks, owls and eagles ( 9%), shorebirds (10%), sea
birds (16 %), and perching birds (59%). This last group make up the song birds
that come to our feeders, and the neotropical migratory birds that usually do
not (because they are insect eaters and not seed eaters). We hear much talk
about these "neotrops" today. They are the warblers, vireos,
flycatchers, hummingbirds, swallows, and others that migrate to wintering
grounds south of the United States - in Mexico, South America and Central
America, and in the Caribbean.
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All migratory birds are listed as
a trust species for the Department of the Interior according to the Migratory
Bird Treaty Act of 1916. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has the primary responsibility for
administrating the Act, its amendments, and
subsequent acts through the Division of Migratory Birds and Habitat Programs.
Declining species and species groups are a major priority. The Migratory
Bird Management Office in Washington D.C. published a list of declining
species in 2002 known as the Birds of Conservation
Concern.
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Through a regulatory
process that begins each year in January and includes public consultation,
the Service establishes the frameworks that govern all migratory bird hunting in
the United States. Within the boundaries established by those frameworks, State
wildlife commissions have the flexibility to determine season length, bag
limits, and areas for migratory game bird hunting. Each state has primary
responsibility and authority over the hunting of wildlife that resides within
state boundaries The State fish
and wildlife agencies that sell hunting licenses are the best source of
information regarding hunting seasons, areas open/closed to hunting, etc.
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For Migratory Waterfowl Hunters:
In order to hunt migratory waterfowl (ducks, geese, etc.), you must possess both
a state hunting license and a Federal
Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp (Duck Stamp). For information on Federal
regulations and migratory bird hunting information such as season timing and bag
limits, see the Division of
Migratory
Bird Management Web sites.
To obtain a license, contact the state
in which you wish to hunt or fish. Usually you can buy a license at any retail
outlet dealing in hunting and fishing equipment or sporting goods stores. They
generally also have regulation booklets, Federal Duck Stamps, and season/bag
limit information available. Duck stamps are generally available at local Post
Offices and refuge visitor centers.
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Notify the US
Geological Survey, Bird
Banding Lab at 1-800-327-BAND of any aluminum bands that are inscribed with
"CALL 1-800-327 BAND" or "WRITE BIRD BAND LAUREL MD 20708
USA" followed by an 8 or 9 digit number. Older bird bands were
inscribe as "AVISE BIRD BAND WASH DC".
The lab does NOT track
every band such as plastic covered aluminum bands on pigeons or bands on
falconry birds. Contact the American
Racing Pigeon Union, Inc. or the National
Pigeon Association to find out more about
bands on pigeons or your State
Natural Resource Department for further information on falconry bands.
The more information you can provide, the more likely the individual bird
or marking project can be identified.
Important information to note
include:
Size, shape, color
of marker, color of codes, shape and placement of codes on the marker (a
sketch can be more useful than a written description),
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Age and sex of the
bird if available,
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Date the bird was
observed,
Exact location of the
bird,
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Your name, address,
and preferably a daytime telephone number in case there are any questions.
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If you encounter a bird on the ground
with no apparent injuries, especially during the spring time, you have most
likely found a young bird of "fledgling" that is learning to fly.
Young birds often leave the nest
before they are capable of flight. They spend a few pre-flight days hopping on
the ground and flapping their wings. The parents keep an eye on it and feed it when necessary.
The best
thing to do with this bird is to leave it alone if it is in a safe area.
Bring your cats or dogs indoors for the day. It
can be placed up on a tree branch or in a shrub if in a dangerous situation but
must remain in the same area so its parents can find it.
Do not believe the myth that if you handle a nestling, the parents will smell
your scent and abandon the chick. Mammalian predators do follow scents
though. If you approach a nest too often, or too closely, you may actually be leading a
predator to it.
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While feeders serve as great focal
points to observe our avian neighbors, they can also become vectors for
disease.
Diseased birds show a wide variety of symptoms such as unresponsiveness; unkempt
feathers; "warts" around the eyes, beak, and feet; or you may see
nothing at all. In some cases, the birds will stop using a contaminated
feeder entirely.
The following 8 steps will help
keep your feeder safe for birds:
1.
Give Them Space: Avoid crowding by providing ample feeder space.
2.
Clean Up Wastes: Keep
the feeder area clean of waste food and droppings. A broom and shovel is
good, but a shop vac will help even more.
3.
Make Feeders Safe: Use
feeders without sharp points or edges. Even small scratches allow bacteria
and viruses to infect otherwise healthy birds.
4.
Keep Feeders Clean: Clean and disinfect feeders regularly. Use one part of liquid
chlorine household bleach in nine parts of warm water to disinfect. Make
enough solution to immerse an empty, cleaned feeder completely for two to three
minutes.. Allow to air dry. Once or twice a month should do, but
weekly cleaning is best especially if you notice sick birds at your feeders.
5.
Use Good Food: Discard
food that smells musty, is wet, looks moldy or has fungus growing on it.
Disinfect any storage container that holds spoiled food and the scoop used to
fill feeders.
6.
Prevent Contamination: Keep rodents out of stored food. Mice can carry and spread some bird
diseases without being affected themselves.
7.
Act Early: Don't wait to
act until you see sick or dead birds. With good prevention you'll seldom
find sick or dead birds at your feeders.
8.
Spread the Word: Encourage your neighbors who feed birds to follow the same precautions.
Birds normally move among feeders and can spread diseases as they go.
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Four parts water to one part sugar (a
4:1 ratio) has been shown to be the closest to the sucrose content of natural
flower nectar. Concentrations stronger than this (3:1 ratio, and stronger) are
readily consumed by "hummers", but no scientific evidence exists
regarding the potential helpful or harmful effects on them. Do not use
molasses or honey as they are harmful to the birds. There is no need to
add red dye to the solution because the birds are attracted to the color on the
feeder such as bright red feeder parts or a red ribbon. During the hotter
months of summer, be sure to clean your feeders frequently to kill harmful
fungus. A cleaning solution of 1 part bleach and 9 parts of water works
best.
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Awnings, eave extensions, and window
screens will eliminate all reflection and stop the collision problem.
Silhouettes of flying hawks or falcons do work, but they perform best when
applied outside the glass. Hanging ornaments such as wind chimes, wind socks,
and potted plants also help. Misting the outside of the window with a very weak
detergent or soda solution will eliminate the reflection but will also impair
visibility for you.
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