BIRDS

To the casual walker, the thing most evident about birds is their song, mostly in spring and early summer when they are busy establishing and defending territories and attracting a mate. It requires a lot of patience and good binoculars to see the birds themselves amongst the foliage, flitting between the trees and in the reed beds, even more patience and a good camera to get a recognisable photo.

Woodpeckers are an exception to this as they are larger and can often be heard hammering at tree trunks in their search for insect food. Also birds of prey can sometimes be seen circling overhead as they search for small mammals on the ground.

Video ‘sound-bites’ are perhaps a best way of capturing these audio-visual impressions – work in progress!

Some basic biology – short and simple!

Birds are warm-blooded vertebrates, (with a skeleton similar to our own based on a vertebral column/spine, skull at one end, tail at the other, ribs and 4 limbs, the front pair modified for flight, the hind pair for walking, perching or paddling). Their skin is covered with feathers that have a function in regulating body temperature, reducing heat loss as well as aiding flight.

The formation of mating couples is often a complex process involving the establishment of a territory, selection of a mate and preparation of a nesting place.

After mating, fertilization of the eggs takes place inside the body of the female. Hard-shelled eggs are laid, usually within a nest where they are protected and kept warm (incubated) until hatching. The young hatchlings are fed and protected by the parent birds until mature enough to fly/swim and catch their own food.