This past week I led a private guided bird walk for the Natural History Institute. Our walk took in part of the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve, the Peavine Trail, and Watson Lake. We had a wonderful morning, observing forty-four species, and hearing many more that we didn’t see.
Some of the highlights for the day were seeing wood ducks, Lucy’s warblers, summer tanagers, western bluebirds, blue grosbeaks, and four species of swallows: barn, northern-rough winged, cliff and violet-green.
Bird watching in riparian corridors—such as areas bordering Granite Creek—reinforces how critical this habitat is for migratory songbirds. Riparian habitats are important, as the deciduous trees in these areas host a plethora of insects. Many of the migratory bird species that spend their spring and summer months in North America are insect-eaters.
This includes hummingbirds, swallows, swifts, flycatchers (including pewees, kingbirds and phoebes), warblers, vireos, tanagers, and orioles. In other words, there are scores of wild bird species in North America that are dependent on insects as their main source of food.
Backyards with water and both natural and human-provided food sources can also provide a benefit to migratory birds. I am rarely home during the day, which means I usually don’t get to see the birds in my yard. However, I am home every Sunday. This past Sunday, we had an amazing variety of colorful birds frequenting our feeders and taking advantage of a yard that is filled with insects because we don’t use any pesticides or herbicides.
In addition to all of the regular birds like spotted towhees, house finches, dove and quail, I saw a male Wilson’s warbler, male black-headed grosbeaks, male Cassin’s finches, a male cardinal, male and female lazuli buntings, and a female western tanager. It was definitely a good day for birds. Some of these species are seed-eaters, some are insect-eaters, and some just stopped in to take advantage of the water we provide in our yard.
When you think about what wild birds need to survive it is the same things we need: food, water, shelter, and a place to rear young. Homeowners can create a wildlife habitat that is bird-friendly.
While we may see insects as “pests,” insects are natural and a vital part of the food chain for amphibians, reptiles, and birds. I frequently speak on the topic “How to attract birds to your yard.” I make the comment that insects are your friends—and I mean that. If you eliminate insects from your yard, you are also eliminating insect-dependent bird species.
There are a lot of common birds in Prescott that are not seed-eaters, including bushtits, Bewick’s wrens, hummingbirds, bluebirds, robins, vireos, warblers, orioles and tanagers. These species are strictly dependent on a diet of insects in the spring and summer months. If you want to see these birds in your yard, you need an abundance of insects.
If you want to give our wild birds a helping hand, the best thing you can do is provide them with a yard filled with native trees, shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers. The more vegetation you have in your yard, the more birds you will have in your yard. Plants provide food, water, shelter, and a place to rear young.
Plants act as a host for insects, benefiting insect-eating varieties of birds. Wildflowers, and other flowering plants, can provide nectar for hummingbirds. Plants provide either seeds, fruit or nuts, which in turn can be a benefit to wild birds. I invite you to examine what you can do in your yard to help our feathered friends.
Until next week, Happy Birding!
Eric Moore is the owner of The Lookout, in Prescott, where you will find a Hallmark Gold Crown Store, wild bird products, and Vortex and Swarovski optics. Eric has been an avid birder for over 55 years. Eric can be contacted at eric@thelookoutaz.com.
