With buds on the trees and bird song in the air, spring has arrived. In this issue of EarthCare Northwest, we’re diving into the fascinating role birds play in our local food chain. From the foods they consume to the predators they evade, birds offer us a wealth of information just by observing their dietary habits. Sink your beak into these articles that explore how different bird species contribute to the delicate balance of our ecosystem through their feeding behaviors.
Sink Your Beak Into This
Amazing Adaptations of Bird Beaks
Over millions of years, birds have adapted their anatomy to their unique ecological niche, in part due to the food sources available to them. In this article, we explore the specialized beaks of several local bird species and how that helps them snag their favorite snacks.
Barred Owl Diet
Insights from Pellet Analysis in Seattle
University of Washington student researcher, Olivia Cavalluzzi spent her summer analyzing nearly 600 Barred Owl pellets to uncover interesting insights into their diet, behavior, and role within the Seattle-area food chain.
Bird Feeding 101: Suet
Tips and Tricks for At-Home Suet Feeding
Feeding wild birds is one way to attract a variety of species to your balcony, yard, or window. If you are new to feeding birds, seed and nectar feeders are common choices, but suet feeders can be a wonderful alternative.
Plus: Member special on suet enclosed!
The Collision Buffet
How Bird-window Collisions Supplement the Diets of Urban Scavengers
Bird fatalities, while tragic, play an important and unnoticed role in our urban food chain, especially for scavengers like crows, gulls, and rats. Birds Connect Seattle is studying carcass persistence as part of the Seattle Bird Collision Monitoring Project.
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Image credits: Double-crested Cormorant by Sharon Wada | Horned Grebe by Christopher Ciccone, Audubon Photography Awards | Barred Owl pellet remains by Olivia Cavalluzzi | Downy Woodpecker on a suet feeder by Michael Tatman, Canva | Raccoon scavenging American Crow by Birds Connect Seattle camera trap | American Crow by Sharon Wada