Migratory songbirds return for spring

They’re coming. Wave after wave of migratory hummingbirds, warblers, tanagers, vireos, thrushes, flycatchers and other neo-tropical songbirds are departing winter homes in Latin America and on Caribbean isles and heading our way for spring and summer nesting.

Phil Hardy of Americus in southwest Georgia says a ruby-throated hummingbird already is feeding in his yard. “Keep your eyes open and your feeders filled because the ruby-throats are on their way,” he advises.

Like the ruby-throat, many of Georgia’s spring migrants will be joining our year-round birds —- mockingbirds, cardinals, titmice and the like —- to nest here. Others, like rose-breasted grosbeaks and blackpoll warblers, will mostly be passing through, stopping only for a few days to rest and refuel before heading on to nesting grounds farther north.

When you consider that many of these birds fly thousands of miles —- including more than 600 miles nonstop over the Gulf of Mexico —- to get to our neighborhoods, spring migration truly is one of nature’s most amazing annual feats.

Here’s a short primer:

> Some of the birds flying the longest distances (1,000 to 6,800 miles) to get here include the scarlet tanager (from Bolivia), common nighthawk (Argentina), red-eyed vireo (Brazil), barn and cliff swallows (Brazil), purple martin (Peru), bobolink (Peru) and cerulean warbler (Bolivia).

> Most migrating songbirds travel at night when predators are fewer and the air is cooler and calmer. Exceptions include swallows, nighthawks and swifts, which feed on flying insects active only during the day.

> Escape from harsh winter weather and finding abundant food sources are reasons birds migrate. But, in general, the main reason is that migration enables birds to raise more young on average than by staying put in one place all year long. By migrating, a bird can find more abundant, protein-rich food, longer daylight areas, more space for nesting and possibly fewer predators —- all of which increase the potential for raising more young.

You can see many of these incoming birds over the next several weeks during free Atlanta Audubon Society bird walks. More information: www.atlantaaudubon.org.

Salmonella

Recent reports about a widespread salmonella outbreak killing large numbers of goldfinches, pine siskins and other species have folks asking what they can do to help prevent spread of the disease.

The National Audubon Society advises cleaning plastic, ceramic and metal feeders every two weeks with a nine-to-one water-bleach solution. A diluted vinegar solution (three-to-one) or nonfragranced biodegradable soap can be used on wood to minimize fading. Hummingbird feeders should be cleaned every time they’re refilled with nectar —- about every three to five days.

Regularly rake the ground below feeders to prevent waste accumulation.

Maintain fresh, dry seed in the feeder and in the container in which the seed is stored. Change birdbath water daily and clean birdbaths every two to three days.

In the sky

The moon will be new on Thursday. Friday night, it will be a low crescent in the west just after sunset, says David Dundee, astronomer with the Tellus Northwest Science Museum. Mercury, Mars and Jupiter are low in the east just before sunrise. Saturn is in the east just after sunset. Venus cannot be easily seen now.

seabrk@comcast.net