In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the basic migratory and nesting habits of birds during the winter. While most are aware some birds don’t appear as often during the winter in cold places like Utah, this is actually due to a mixture of effects – some birds are flying south, while others are simply nesting or wintering in less-seen areas.
At A-1 Exterminators, we’re here to help for home or property owners worried about bird pest control issues on their property, including serving clients with Bird Barrier products – some of the very best in the bird control world. On top of providing you with ideal bird control products and services, we also offer general expertise on bird behavior and the times of year when bird concerns are often high, including spring. Today’s part two of our series will dig into the reasons why birds return to the climate when it gets warmer, plus how this return impacts you and what you can do to prevent any property bird pest issues.
What Birds Return For
As we noted in part one, many birds disappear during the winter. Most are flying south for warmer climates, while others have nesting or wintering formats that allow them to remain in this climate, but stay warm and protected despite the cold weather.
So when birds eventually return and are more visible, why is this the case? There are actually a couple potential reasons, often at play simultaneously. They include:
- Mating: For many birds, spring is high mating season. Many begin looking for mates immediately after returning from migration or leaving their overwintering sites. This means that during this part of the year, birds will be out for longer and will venture further away from their traditional nesting sites to try and find a mate, and you may see larger flocks of birds congregating together.
- Feeding: Various migration and overwintering habits cause birds to work hard, and they’re typically very hungry when they return. Spring is also a top feeding time, where birds will begin finding food sources ranging from leaves and plant bulbs to berries, nuts, insects and worms. This also means that some birds will be more territorial during spring and may fight around feeders or bushes.
How Bird Migration Impacts You
Due to the above, spring is an important period of time for property owners who have had bird pest issues in the past. Birds will begin mating and building nests soon. In addition to our bird control services, we strongly recommend checking various nooks and crannies of your property regularly, such as tree hollows or vent systems – birds love to nest in hidden locations like these where they will be protected, but if such conditions aren’t present, you’ve taken one step toward preventing bird nesting.
For more on bird migration habits in spring, or to learn about any of our bird control or other pest control services, speak to the staff at A-1 Exterminators today.
