I get many great bird questions via email–whether it’s a bird ID or a question concerning bird behaviors. From now on, I’ll be posting them here, so everyone can benefit. A few days ago a woman named Karen Edwards emailed me a couple good questions. Here are Karen’s questions, and my attempt at answers:
1) Why do those swarming birds (starlings?) huddle so closely together on power lines even when it’s warm?
What you’re seeing is a flocking behavior called “staging,” which happens in bird migration. Flocking offers birds protection from predators, and sitting close together, or staging, does, too. While they might not be actively migrating at the time you see them, their instinctually exhibit migratory behaviors.
It is quite likely the swarming birds you’re seeing are European Starlings at this time of year. Or, they could be grackles or a mix of species, such as European Starlings, grackles, and Brown-headed Cowbirds. We have around twice as many starlings in Houston in winter as we have here in summer, as some of them fly north during breeding season. A few grackle head north, too, but not many. A small number of Brown-headed Cowbirds leave, too.
2) Do birds fly all the time because they are constantly feeding or is it sometimes just for fun?
Birds fly to migrate, to look for food, to find mates, to get away from predators, and . . . I tend to think they fly for fun, too. No scientist would agree to the scientific validity of my assessment, but maybe it’s because scientists haven’t found a way to measure fun yet.
I am so glad you are answering birding questions on your blog. I hope you continue to enter all that great information you carry around in your head. Can’t wait for the next entry. BTW the “staging” at Westheimer & Kirkwood is absolutely amazing!