CELEBRATING BIRD MOMS AND DADS
world. Let’s have a little fun learning about the typical parenting duties of male and female birds and some outstanding bird Moms and Dads. Before the nest building begins, mating behaviors take place. Males indicate their ability to provide food and defend a nesting territory with a dance of some sort and their ability to sing. Some males, such as Northern Cardinals are often seen offering seeds to the female at bird feeders, which is believed to be an attempt to let her know that he will be a good provider and remain a dutiful dad. Other males are considered dead beat dads, such as the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, whose only duty is to fertilize the eggs and then keep that female out of his feeding territory! In most bird species, the female selects the nest site and builds the nest with a little help from the male. He may only bring a little nesting material to the site, but he will keep a sharp eye out for predators while the female is busy building the nest. American Robin males, however; deliver most of the nesting material after having coated it with mud, and the female con-
W
e are in the midst of the season to celebrate Mothers and Fathers for all they do for their children. It is also the season for birds to bring more young into the
structs the nest. Once the nest is complete, egg laying starts. Most birds can form eggs very quickly, and the female typi- cally produces one egg per day. Once it is fertilized, she is anxious to deposit the egg in the nest in order to reduce her flight weight. The average number of eggs, called a clutch, is between 3 and 10. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds usually lay only two eggs, which are about the size of a frozen pea. Once the final egg is laid, incubation begins, primarily by the female in most species. That is because the female is the only one with a brood patch, which is a warm area on her breast that allows the eggs to develop. There are some exceptions, such as Downy Woodpeckers dads, who not only help carve out their nest in a tree, but typically have night duty alone. And Northern Flicker dads do the majority of the incubating. While the female incubates the eggs for two weeks or more,
the male watches from a nearby perch and sounds an alarm if predators come near. He will likely bring food to her while she sits in the nest. In some species, such as Eastern Bluebirds, the male will sit on the eggs to maintain the heat that the female has generated, allowing her to leave the nest for water. Once the eggs hatch, the nestlings are in the nest for two
Need a results-oriented nutritional health coach?
We provide strategies & counseling for healthier living and customize plans to your specific health needs.
Appointments: 336-508-8628
16
We help you feel better and stay better for longer. Website:
http://leahedavis09.wixsite.com/website-1
NaturalTriad.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
