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Escarpment Magaz ine
fal l
2011
Flocks of birds
have formed up and are fattening up and looking
south and have that urge to move on. Most of the big flocks of things we
get are a mix of Blackbirds and Starlings. They gather in huge groups
of hundreds and find places to feed and roost. They find safety in num-
bers and stick together to avoid predators. Watching them is a study in
gang mentality. There are prime places to be – like the centre of the flock
– and dangerous places on the fringe of the flock. Getting left behind
can mean life or death. They are noisy places to be too. All that calling
back and forth seems frenetic but it has some important roles to play in
the whole flock behaviour and co-operative mixing together that they
are doing. It potentially confuses predators and gives them a chance to
get away if something swoops in on them. I know there are a number of
you out there that won’t miss them when they leave town – but I will – I
think of them as a cool phenomenon that is full of energy and complex-
ity. Just imagine being in the centre of one of those flocks while they are
flying around mixing it up and trying hard not to whack into each other!
Keeping all that on the go is cool on a normal basis – watch what hap-
pens if a hawk takes a run at them! Phew – talk about stunt flying!
Okay speaking of hawks – let’s move on to the coolest of birds. Hawks
and falcons are by far some of the most impressive fliers out there. In the
fall migration these normally loner birds will form into flocks and travel
together on epic adventures. If conditions are right and the winds are
blowing in the proper direction – then we can get a wicked display of
migration that includes hundreds of birds and several species mixed in
what are known as “kettles” of hawks. They all need the air currents and
winds to keep them moving efficiently and so they seem to be able to
tolerate company and they congregate together for these journeys
south. The Niagara Escarpment is the dominant land feature here and
it creates a natural corridor for these birds to follow. The open farm lands
contribute to the mix by creating air current upwards known as thermals.
Ask any pilot you know and they will tell you lots about them – it is what
keeps gliders aloft and helps save energy for the birds that know how
to harness them.
Weather plays a lot into the migration patterns we get and can mean
the difference in many ways for the birds travelling south – some years
it is clear and fair and the migration goes smoothly – other years – not
so much. Our prevailing winds help for the most part but if a storm passes
through and hits our area – it can throw off all kinds of things. Rain and
big wind affect the birds the most. Have a look around on your next walk
down the trail right after a series of rain storms and see the birds moving
in the trees and shrubs. Migration can occur any time of day or night.
If we get one of those clear calm night where the stars are out full and
the air is still – go outside and listen for the chirps and twitters of birds
flying overhead at night. Some of the biggest movements of songbirds
have been recorded this way using radar imaging. The flocks of mi-
grating birds can be big enough to show up on the radar screen!
Okay I am getting technical again – sorry. Let’s get back to the simple
pleasures.
The wind up of migration takes place late in the fall when the leaves
are but a memory and the air has chilled. The last big wave of birds
through here is the finches and the sparrows. They come through like
a flood of wild energy. They invade our yards and look desperately
for whatever food is left. These are the seed eaters. They will load up
on the seeds and cones and fruit of almost anything. They will even
get a little carried away once in a while. If you have fruit trees or grape
vines with lots of fruit and it has gone through a frost or two and maybe
a warming up once in a while – well that can become an instant hit
with birds. The liquid inside those fruits will ferment and they put out a
little blast of alcohol. So if you come across a flock of birds whooping
it up so to speak and acting a little crazy around a mountain ash tree
or a vine full of grapes, stop and enjoy the show – those birds will be
getting a touch tanked! I suggest joining in and lifting a glass of your
favourite spirit and sharing a toast to the season!
FEATURE
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gang mental i ty