A new Project FeederWatch study looked into the effects of two similar species of hawks that occasionally visit feeding stations, potentially preying on a bird. Periodically a Cooper’s Hawk or a Sharp-shinned Hawk might fly in and flush feeder birds into a panic. These raptors specialize in hunting smaller birds and while they are found throughout much of North America, they sometimes inhabit the same location, especially when winter food sources are concentrated in an area. Given these hawks’ similarities, the question emerges: How do they co-exist?

A central tenet in ecology suggests that when two ecologically similar species occupy the same area, competition should drive one or both to take advantage of different niches – by hunting different prey, for example. New research published in the Journal of Avian Biology reveals that a study of these similar raptor species focused on whether they evolved to select different prey, and to compare how the availability of prey might shape their choices.

With colleagues, Eliot Miller, collections manager with the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, took advantage of data collected for Project FeederWatch by citizen scientists – birders – to study these questions. “A few years ago, we created an option for FeederWatchers to tell us not only what birds were at their feeders,” Miller explained, “but how those birds were interacting with one another. That meant we could figure out the preferred prey of Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks, because we had data on who was eating who, and we had data on prey availability.”

From October 2015 to April 2022 (7 seasons), FeederWatcher participants observed 1,186 incidences of Cooper’s Hawks eating birds at their feeders and 677 incidences of Sharp-shinned Hawks eating birds. Prey available for these raptors consisted of greater numbers of small birds, such as Pine Siskins, with fewer medium-sized birds, such as jays, and still fewer larger birds like quail.

Miller and colleagues found that Sharp-shinned Hawks hunted small birds, such as juncos and siskins most often. Cooper’s Hawks also hunted small birds, but they mainly hunted medium- and larger-sized birds, such as starlings and pigeons. Miller explained that a focus on different sizes of prey may be one component that allows these closely related hawks to co-exist.

“Cooper’s Hawks are increasingly common in urban areas and they are bigger, so their focus on larger prey isn’t necessarily surprising. Still, no one has studied predator preferences at this spatial scale before, so to see such a strong result speaks to the power of citizen scientists to document these patterns,” said Miller.

It’s also interesting that Miller and colleagues found that the birds that each hawk preys on is reflected in their habitat preferences. “Although Sharp-shins certainly can be found in urban areas, particularly during winter, they are more often found in forests,” noted Miller. “And the cool thing is that we were able to see that in their preferences for prey, prey species also frequently occur in forests, such as Evening Grosbeaks and Purple Finches.”

Miller said this study brought even more questions to mind and he hopes other researchers might also want to take serious looks into Project FeederWatch data. For example, Miller said the team’s results suggest that ground-foraging species might be at greater predation risk, but noted, “we didn’t directly test that question, although it would be an interesting question to examine.” FeederWatch data are freely available and Miller hopes “other researchers will dig in and investigate this and other fascinating questions.”

To read the full research publication, you can refer to: Miller, E., O. Aodha, E. Greig, D. Bonter, and W. Hochachka (2022). Congeneric predators fill niches created by the relative abundance of their prey species. Journal of Avian Biology: e02934 doi/full/10.1111/jav.02934

This article was based on the Project FeederWatch article found at What’s For Dinner? Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks Pick Different Foods – FeederWatch

Share your backyard birding experiences and photos with The Birding Wire at editorstbw2@gmail.com

The NWTF Ohio State Chapter recently allocated $50,000 to support a new wild turkey research study that seeks to address population declines in the state.

With increasing concerns over population declines in Ohio, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Ohio State University are conducting the first broad-scale study of hen survival in the state in almost two decades. Findings will help researchers and wildlife managers understand how survival rates, harvest rates and reproduction have changed in the last 17 years and what factors may be causing those changes.

• In the early 2000s, researchers determined May 1 to be the median date for which hens begin incubating; however, it’s clear today that incubation start dates vary in different regions of the state.               Photo Credit: Tyler Lassiter

Changing weather and habitat conditions, too, may be impacting the initiation of nest incubation from the median date established in the early 2000s.

“There are growing concerns about the potential impacts regarding the timing of the removal of males during the hunting season, and therefore it is important to know as precisely as possible when hens begin incubating nests,” said Ryan Boyer, NWTF district biologist for Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. “In many cases, state agencies set their season open dates to coincide closely with the median date for nest incubation initiation, allowing time for hens to be bred and for nesting to begin. Ensuring that season start dates align with nesting chronology greatly reduces the chance of negatively impacting populations by removing males too early.

“Just like the world around us, wild turkey ecology is dynamic. We are proud to partner with the ODNR and Ohio State University to provide support for this research project and continue to ensure the best-available science is being used in informing management and regulatory decisions.”

Mark Wiley, ODNR game bird biologist, notes that it is not just timing that can have an effect nesting success, but also changes in habitat.

“Afforestation (establishment of a forest or stand of trees in an area where there was no previous tree cover) and forest maturation affect habitat quality, which in turn can affect nesting productivity and hen survival,” he said. “A more thorough understanding of hen demographics in relation to changing habitat conditions will improve our ability to successfully manage a dynamic wild turkey population.”

Beginning in early January and through March, ODNR staff will capture birds using rocket nets. Once captured, researchers and ODNR staff will quickly work to attach leg bands as well as GPS transmitters. The information from the transmitters will be invaluable to researchers.

“Researchers from OSU will download and monitor turkey location and activity data two to three times per week,” Wiley said. “They will use turkey location and activity data to detect nesting activity, movements and mortality events.”

The researchers will confirm nesting activity by locating the birds on the ground, and after the incubation period, the team will be able to determine nest fate, hatching rates and causes of nest failure, if it fails.

Three weeks after a successful hatch, the research team will locate and count the number of poults with each hen. They will also establish an annual survival rate of hens from transmitter data. That data will allow researchers to determine the sources of mortality and investigate the seasonal movements of hens.

Results of the study will be shared with nearby states that are conducting similar wild turkey research projects, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland, and data will be aggregated to provide a larger representation of how climate and habitat changes impact nesting on a landscape scale.

“The research project is important to all hunters, experienced or new,” said Bill Sulicks, NWTF Ohio State Chapter president. “We are all eager to see the turkey population begin to thrive again as in earlier years. We believe this study can guide us, in a way, to approach the recent decline, and so in saying this: ‘Once you are aware of a problem, you need to understand how it works, before you can fix it.’”

Field work, including turkey trapping and telemetry monitoring, will occur throughout this year and 2024 and may continue into 2025. The final project report, thesis and scientific manuscript will be available at the end of the project in 2025.

National Wild Turkey Federation
PO Box 530
Edgefield South Carolina 29824
United States

Virtual class
9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 21

Birds can bring color to a wintry backyard and a smile to your face. The best part? Feeding birds is easy to do with a little knowledge, and we can help!

In this virtual DNR Outdoor Skills Academy class, learn which birds are likely to visit your backyard and which foods and feeders they prefer. We’ll also cover free birding resources and apps, how to clean your feeder and ways you can get involved in community science projects like the Great Backyard Bird Count.

Cost is $25. Each participant will receive a Peterson Field Guide to Feeder Birds and will be entered into a drawing for prizes inluding books and a bird feeder. The registration deadline is Jan. 19. Read more

White Bear Lake, MN – Wildlife Forever is excited to announce a new partnership with Rapala, the premier manufacturer of fishing lures and products. Supporting youth angling and conservation education, the Fish Art Contest is a free art and creative writing program open internationally for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Youth learn about fishing, water quality, and critical conservation issues.

“We are proud to support the Fish Art Contest, which connects students to the outdoors and promotes conservation minded behaviors. Protection of the environment is top of mind for the angling community, and it is of the utmost importance to instill these values in the next generation of stewards,” said Matt Jensen, Vice President of Marketing and Ecommerce at Rapala.

“We are grateful to Rapala for their support and the opportunity to work together on engaging students in conservation. No matter where students are coming from, art is an universal way to connect with the natural world,” said Addison Motta, Education and Communications Manager at Wildlife Forever.

To learn more about The Art of Conservation® programs, visit www.ArtofConservation.org Read more

Managing the state’s parks and recreation system is a big job. As the Michigan Department of Natural Resources works to finalize the draft Parks and Recreation Division Strategic Plan for 2023-2027, we’re turning to the visitors and residents who know and love these destinations for feedback – but don’t wait too long; the draft plan review and comment opportunity closes Jan. 20.

The DNR Parks and Recreation Division currently manages 103 state parks and recreation areas, totaling more than 300,000 acres across Michigan’s Upper and Lower peninsulas. It also oversees the state’s boating program, the state motorized and nonmotorized trails system and 140 state forest campgrounds.

“In Michigan, our diverse natural, cultural and recreation resources have always played a defining role in residents’ quality of life and, in a sense, our very identity as Michiganders,” said Ron Olson, DNR Parks and Recreation Division chief. “People come back year after year, making memories at state parks, trails, campgrounds and harbors, and it’s vital that we have a clear plan to protect these unique resources while anticipating and meeting customers’ expectations.” Read more

High winds and heavy snowfall from winter storms over the last week have left some Michigan homeowners with injured trees or broken branches. Safety is a big concern when dealing with storm cleanup, especially in freezing cold temperatures.

After a storm, first assess whether there are broken tree limbs located near power lines or lying on your home. These should be dealt with by professionals. Experts should also handle any hanging branches and split limbs you can’t reach from the ground. Stay away from debris tangled in power lines and immediately notify your utility company.

After hazardous limbs are addressed, proper pruning and care of your injured trees are important for safety and for the long-term health of the trees. This can be accomplished when work conditions are safer in spring.

If your trees have only weathered minor damage, the winter pruning tips offered in this “Showcasing the DNR” story can help ensure the health of your trees. For other common situations, see the following tips:

• Get expert help for climbing or chainsaw work. Licensed arborists are tree care professionals trained to assess storm-damaged trees; they have the experience needed to determine how much of a tree can or should be saved. Always ask for proof of licensing, insurance and work references. Find more information about hiring an arborist from ISA-Michigan, Michigan’s chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture.
• Keep pests in mind when disposing of wood. Wood left behind after trees are damaged by storms may harbor insects or diseases harmful to forests. Moving debris out of the local area can spread pests.
• Recycle or re-use woody storm debris. Check the national Don’t Move Firewood campaign for recommendations on seasoning and using local firewood.

Helpful resources

• Check the DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry webpage for guidance on tree care and maintenance.
• Michigan State University Extension offers ice damage tips.
• Illustrations from the Arbor Day Foundation can help homeowners assess levels of damage to their trees.

Questions? Email

.

A new Winter Finch Feeder Camera is now streaming live from an impressive feeding station in far northern Maine, in the town of Woodland to be more exact. Sponsored by the Finch Research Network and Aspen Song Bird Food the action takes place in the backyard of Bill Sheehan where you can see Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Grosbeaks, Black-capped Chickadees, and other birds frequenting a variety of feeder styles. Aspen Song Bird Food generously provided the camera and sent 1½ tons of sunflower seeds, which should keep the winter finches and other birds coming into view.

To see a live view of the feeders and the birds that visit, check in to Northern Maine Birds – YouTube periodically to see what birds are active.

At the same time, you can see similar birds and others at the Ontario FeederWatch Cam at feeders in the yard of Tammie and Ben Hache in Manitouwage, Ontario at Ontario FeederWatch Cam | Cornell Lab Bird Cams Cornell Lab Bird Cams (allaboutbirds.org)

There are also a number of interesting videos you can view of winter finches and other birds visiting feeders, including a great one from the Ontario FeederWatch Cam at Colorful Finches of Canada’s Boreal Forest Share The Bounty Of The Ontario FeederWatch Cam – YouTube

Every birder is invited to submit their best bird photo to compete for prizes worth hundreds of dollars in the new BirdSpotter Photo Contest, now through February 5th. Sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, members of their staff will select 10 finalist bird photographs, which will be posted on the BirdSpotter Voting webpage for birders to vote for their favorite finalists. Online voting will continue from February 13 to March 12, and winners will be announced shortly thereafter. Each birder is invited to enter a single photo, so pick your best.

Wild Birds Unlimited (WBU) and The Cornell Lab will award the following prizes, based on the voting results: First Place, a $300 WBU gift certificate, Second Place, a $200 WBU gift certificate, Third Place, a $100 Wild Birds Unlimited gift certificate; plus each of the photographers who took the 10 finalist bird photos will be invited to choose one Bird Academy online course Free of charge. For more information about the new BirdSpotter Photo Contest, see WBU Birdspotter entries (allaboutbirds.org) – and Good Luck!