Bird Irruptions

Summary: Have you ever thought where did that bird come from? Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they talk about irruptions in birds which could explain why you are seeing an unfamiliar bird in your yard.

 

For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.

 

Show Notes:

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-crowned-kinglet/overview

www.birdsandbloom.com/birding/birding-basics/irrutions-forecast

www.donnallog.com/winter-bird-migration-and-irruptions

Background bird song:  Naturescapes Backyard Birds www.naturescapes.com

 

Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com

 

Transcript

 

Host Voice: Welcome to The Feathered Desert a podcast all about desert bird feeding in the Southwest region of the United States. (Various bird calls play)

 

Cheryl: Welcome to the Feathered Desert. Today we’re are taking about irruptions in birds.

Perhaps, you wake up one morning and there is a flock of unexpected birds gathered at your

backyard feeder, what?!  This is exactly what happen to me last week, I looked out my window in the morning and I saw 3 Ruby-Crowned Kinglets eating seeds from my feeder.  This is not one of our typical winter visitors, so I asked the question why?  Kiersten is my go-to for that and she has the answer!

 

Kiersten:

I do! But first I want to be clear we are talking about irruptions with an I not eruptions! We have no exploding birds here! (laughs)

Well, occasionally a sudden surge of unexpected birds can wander outside their typical winter range.  This is called an irruption, I-R-R-U-P-T-I-O-N.  An irruption is unpredictable mass migration of birds.  An irruptive event is called a flight year.

 

Cheryl:

Usually, this type of event happens in the winter with generally non-migrating birds.  See when food is plentiful populations increase and birds remain in their normal winter ranges.  Birds can tell in late summer or early autumn that food production is not what they need to survive the winter.  So, they evacuate when they decide the time is right.  These birds move to areas where food is still available.

 

Kiersten: I think that’s a solid plan!

 

Cheryl: Yes!

 

Kiersten: It’s not just food supplies that can cause a bird species to leave its winter home, unpredictable weather

Can play apart in the decision to relocate.  A sudden cold spell or unseasonably cold weather in area that is generally has mild winters can push a bird species to move further south from their northern homes. I think this is what’s happening now, right? In our 2022 December?

 

Cheryl: Right.

 

Kiersten: Okay! Sometimes migrating birds are pushed off course by unexpected bad weather putting these migrants in areas that they normally don’t visit.

         This happens all the time off the coast of Texas. There is a small island off the coast that birds love during hurricane season. It’s a great site for seeing birds thrown off by bad weather. It’s a birders paradise!

 

Cheryl: Isn’t that how we got the Rosette Spoonbill at the Gilbert Riparian area?

 

Kiersten: Yes, I think so. He got thrown off a few years ago and now he comes back ever year because it’s so nice here!

 

Cheryl: These irruptive events don’t happen every year but on average every two to three years.   It is not always the same birds that have these events.  The most common are seed eaters such as Pine Siskins, Red Polls, and Red-breasted Nuthatches.  These irruptions can be difficult to predict ahead of time.  The reasons behind these surprising sporadic migrations aren’t straight forward it varies from species to species.

 

Kiersten: I think it happens a lot more with the seed eaters because they lay more eggs per clutch and when every chick survives the population skyrockets. Many of the individuals will leave the area.

 

Cheryl: Yes. I think so. Last year we had an irruption of Pine Siskins.

 

Kiersten: Raptor (birds of prey) which feed on small mammals and small birds may also have to leave their winter ranges to find food.    Those raptors that eat small birds may follow their food source to a more southern location.  Some raptors are known for their own irruptions like the Snowy Owl. 

This one is so weird. One day you’re in Maryland and there’s a Snowy Owl! It’s crazy seeing this bird where it’s usually not found!

Then there’s the Short-eared Owl which has been known to show up just before there a over abundance of mice in a field.  It kinda makes them seem omniscient, but they’re not it just goes with the season.

Northern Goshawks and Great -Horned Owls don’t usually leave their territories but on occasion these birds have given up their territories in the northern forests when the snowshoe hares are few and far between. That makes a lot of sense. These hares are big lagomorphs, so if you can catch a few you’re good to go but if not, you won’t survive the winter.

 

Cheryl: Yes. And they can’t compete with the lynxes that also hunt the hares.

Food was scarce for the Northern birds of the mountains across the west and some of them are wintering with us like the American Robin, Juniper Titmouse, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Cedar Waxwings and Western birds, plus the Ruby-crowned Kinglet.  All these northern forest dwellers had to move south this year in a multiple bird species irruptions.

Now, Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a tiny songbird with an equally tiny tail and bill.  Its olive green overall with a prominent white eyeing and white wing bar.  The adult male when excited displays a flash of brilliant red of feathers on the top of his head.  It’s a treat to see this bird and others unexpectedly this winter in our backyards.

 

Kiersten: We will be posting the All About Birds link for the Ruby-crowned Kinglet in our Show Notes so you can check out what they look like!