Birds

Chuck Lura explores the species of woodpeckers found in North Dakota and the vital role they play as keystone species in maintaining healthy forest ecosystems.

Have you noticed geese flying overhead recently? If you haven’t, you will soon. That is because the spring migration is on. Although some have the impression that birds fly non-stop to their winter or summer destination, there is considerable variation in the migration patterns of our feathered friends such as migration distance, time of arrival, or flight time.

A friend of mine recently mentioned that a flock of crows were raising a ruckus outside his home in north Fargo. When the crows are in a tizzy, it often means they have found an owl to harass. Sure enough, when he went to check it out, the object of the mobbing was a barred owl.

While driving down the country roads during winter, you may see a flock of sparrow-sized birds get up and fly away. Most people probably dismiss them as sparrows, but the next time you see the birds, look for flashes of white in the wings — they may be snow buntings.

Arthur Cleveland Bent describes the white-breasted nuthatch as a "droll, earnest little bird, rather sedate and unemotional. He is no great musician and seems to lack a sense of humor."

Snowy owls, of course, are species of the tundra. So are lemmings, which are mouse-like mammals that are the main food source for snowy owls. For decades this predator/prey relationship has been known to be closely linked, and a four-year population cycle been well documented.

Several owl species nest in North Dakota, but their eerie calls and nighttime habits have inspired centuries of myths and legends — from wise protectors to harbingers of doom.

The autumnal equinox is on September 21 this year. Of course, when fall rolls around in North Dakota, the thoughts of birds migrating — particularly waterfowl — often come to mind.

One of the more conspicuous signs of late summer into fall are the large flocks of red-winged blackbirds wheeling around area marshes and croplands. If you haven’t noticed them yet, you should soon.

No doubt there are many North Dakotans that have been feeding the hummingbirds this summer. Hummingbird feeders seem to be a common item in backyards across the country. I suspect that most people give it little if any consideration, but hummingbirds need to eat something other than sugar water!