February: Stirrings in the Flock
While the Black-throated and other warblers are preparing for their spring migration, resident Pacific Northwest birds are often foraging in mixed flocks in a pattern of cooperative feeding. This behavior helps all the birds in the flock locate suitable prey and provides protection from predators. Larger birds and especially birds of prey will be nesting while tropical birds are preparing for migration.
January: Surviving Winter
December: Common Birds
November: Consolidation and Nomadism
October: Seabirds and Rare Birds
A stiff breeze was blowing the already high sea water up onto the boardwalk at Redondo Beach when we arrived. My colleagues and I are a survey team for the monthly Puget Sound Seabird Survey. With the wind blowing we wasted no time setting up our spotting scope for the 30-minute survey period. We were there to count wintering seabirds.
September: Flocks of Birds Moving
August: Post-breeding Dispersal
By August, most young birds are living on their own. Adult birds have completed their job of raising young as best they could and are now released from parenting obligations. It is time for migrating birds, both young and old, to focus their energy on completing their annual cycle of life and set out on their return migration to the south.