Birds of a Feather on Monday, November 01, 2010

They sit together on tree limbs, they arrive at our feeders in a giant whirlwind. Have you ever wondered why birds flock together?

Band-tailed Pigeons at Feeder by Wood Village Customer
Article by Jennifer Seavey

Safety in Numbers.  A flock is like a huge bird with many eyes.  A lone bird must constantly keep a watchful eye against enemies, but a group of birds can share patrol.  Birds in flocks have more time for eating and grooming.
Napping Together.  Where do flocks go at night?  Together they find a tree or bush and settle down.  The flock falls asleep, leaving a few members awake to watch for danger.  On cold nights the birds snuggle together for warmth.

Fishing Parties.  When food is abundant, birds sometimes eat in flocks.  Brown Pelicans can be seen along the Oregon coast, fishing together in the surf.

Molting Groups.  Most birds lose feathers a few at a time, yet some birds lose all their feathers over a short period of time, leaving them susceptible to attack by predators.  The molting birds protect themselves by flocking together with other birds who are going through the same changes.  They retreat to lakes or other secluded spots where fewer predators exist.

Family Flocks.  Though many birds leave their parents after they are taught the necessities for bird life, some do not.  These birds form extended family flocks.
The youngsters stay and help the family unit find food and protect each other.  Sometimes the young actually stay to help their parents have another successful nesting season.  This is a peak area of study among ornithologists.

Summer Fun.  When the ordeal of nesting is over, many birds will form summer flocks.  Blackbirds are known for this behavior.  They help each other enjoy the abundance of summer food.
Migrating Buddies.  This is the big one!  Migrating is safer in flocks.  The younger birds have never been south before, so they benefit from the older birds’ experience.  Flocks also offer protection:  hawks and other flying predators have a harder time picking out an individual to attack from among the group.