[Tweeters] Fireworks, Motion - and birds ... ?

[Dennis Paulson via Tweeters]

That’s clothing you wear, of course.
--------------------------
Jim, I agree with everything you said. I have found that motion is much more important in disturbing birds than what color clothing you where when out in the field. Our feeder birds also vary greatly by species in how easily disturbed they are. For example, flickers are much more nervous than Downy, Hairy or Pileated Woodpeckers when in our yard. I think it’s because they are ground feeders, programmed to be much more cautious about predators.

Dennis Paulson
Seattle


> On Jul 6, 2024, at 9:55 AM, Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:

> 

> Hi all,

> 

> 

>  I did not see much change, if any at all, in the presence of birds at our feeders

> 

> (seed and hummer) on the morning after the 4th (the 5th).  And the same is

> 

> true today.

> 

>  I'm guessing - and would like confirmation - that unless the fireworks are very

> 

> close to the bird (roosting/other) that they pretty much don't notice.

> 

> 

>  As an overall observation - in terms of birds flushing what I've noticed is that

> 

> sound and color of clothing make very little difference - and it is motion that is

> 

> the most important.  With motion that is either fast-and-big (waving your arms) or

> 

> in the direction of the birds (getting closer) ... that matters the most.  If I move

> 

> slowly or away from the birds at my feeder/in the field - they seem to not flush.

> 

> Additionally, each species seems to have its own comfort zone - in fact what I've

> 

> noticed is that if I have a particular lens on my camera, most of the time, the

> 

> size of the image of the bird on the camera is pretty much the same ... no

> 

> matter which species it is.

> 

>  Individual birds within a species can vary a LOT - the above are "rules of

> 

> thumb".

> 

>                                                           - Jim

> 

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