>> EVER SEEN A FLOCK OF BIRDS
FLY IN A V SHAPE?

BIRDS MIGRATE FOLLOWING THE
SEASONS OF THE YEAR.

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY?

SCIENTISTS ARE HERE TO ANSWER
YOUR QUESTIONS.

STAY TUNED.

"D4K" IS NEXT.

>> HI, I'M JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN.

WELCOME TO "D4K."

BIRDS LIKE GRIFFIN HERE ARE
ABOUT TO START FRYING SOUTH.

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY?

BEFORE WE GO TO THE STUDIO TO
ANSWER THAT QUESTION, LET'S FIND

OUT A LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHAT THE
BIRDS ARE UP TO.

IT'S CALLED MIGRATION.

SCIENTISTS STUDY BIRDS-TO-DEFINE
MIGRATION AS A REPETITIVE

MOVEMENT FROM ONE POINT TO
ANOTHER AND BACK.

ALL ALONG THE SAME PATH.

>> HUH?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> WELL, IT'S KIND OF LIKE KIDS
CATCHING THE SCHOOL BUS.

EVERY MORNING YOU GO FROM YOUR
HOUSE TO THE SAME SPOT TO MEET

THE BUS.

AND EVERY AFTERNOON, THE BUS
LETS YOU OFF AND YOU MIGRATE

BACK TO YOUR HOUSE ALONG THE
SAME SIDEWALK.

YOU DO IT TWICE A DAY.

BIRDS MIGRATE TWICE A YEAR.

>> OK.

BUT BIRDS DON'T HAVE TO GO TO
SCHOOL.

WHY DO THEY LEAVE HOME AND COME
BACK?

>> THAT'S EASY.

FOOD.

AS WINTER APPROACHES, PLANTS
BEGIN TO DRY UP.

BERRIES AND SEEDS THAT MANY SONG
BIRDS FEED ON DISAPPEAR.

WORMS TUNNEL INTO THE SOIL
BEFORE IT FREEZES OUT OF THE

REACH OF ROBINS, AND MOUNTAIN
BLUEBIRDS WILL HAVE A HARD TIME

FINDING BUGS AFTER THE FIRST
FROST.

WHAT DO THEY DO?

MIGRATE!

IT'S TIME TO HEAD SOUTH TO
WARMER AREAS, WHERE THERE'S FOOD

ALL YEAR-ROUND.

>> SO, IF THERE'S SO MUCH FOOD
DOWN SOUTH, WHY DO THEY COME

BACK HOME?

>> THE ANSWER IS THE SAME.

FOOD!

THE FOOD IS BACK.

BIRDS KNOW THEIR HOME
TERRITORIES WILL BE GREEN AGAIN.

BERRIES, BUGS, SEEDS, AND WORMS,
ALL THAT YUMMY FOOD THAT BIRDS

LIKE TO EAT WILL BE FRESH AND
PLENTIFUL IN THE SPRING.

WHEN THEY FLY BACK TO THEIR
SUMMER HOMES, THEY CAN SPREAD

OUT.

THEY WON'T HAVE TO SHARE WITH
ALL THE OTHER BIRDS THAT SPENT

THE WINTER IN THE SOUTH.

WHEN ANIMALS HAVE TO SHARE,
SCIENTISTS CALL IT COMPETITION.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE A KID WITH A
CANDY BAR.

YOU MIGHT BREAK IT IN HALF AND
SHARE IT WITH YOUR BROTHER.

BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO SHARE IT
WITH A WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THERE MIGHT BE NOTHING LEFT FOR
YOU AND YOUR BROTHER.

THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT
WHEN BIRDS RETURN HOME, BECAUSE

SPRING IS THE NESTING SEASON,
AND THE PARENT BIRDS WANT TO BE

SURE TO HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO FEED
THEMSELVES AND THEIR YOUNG.

>> OK.

I UNDERSTAND WHY ALL THOSE BIRDS
THAT EAT BUG AND BERRIES HAVE TO

GO SOUTH, BUT WHAT ABOUT HAWKS
AND FALCONS?

THEY DON'T EAT THOSE THINGS GLUR
RIGHT.

BUT BIRDS OF PREY EAT SONG BIRDS
THAT EAT THE BUGS AND BERRIES.

IT'S ALL PART OF THE WEB OF
LIFE.

AND IF YOUR LUNCH IS GOING SOUTH
AND YOU'RE A BIRD OF PREY, WELL,

YOU BETTER FOLLOW IF YOU WANT TO
EAT.

>> HOW DO YOU KNOW ALL THIS?

>> RESEARCH.

A TYPE OF SCIENTIST CALLED A
BIOLOGIST CAPTURES SONG BIRD AND

BIRDS OF PREY AND MARKS THEM
WITH BANDS TO FIND OUT WHERE THE

BIRDS COME FROM AND WHERE THEY
GO.

AT THE IDAHO BIRD OBSERVATORY
NEAR BOISE, SONG BIRDS ARE

CAPTURED IN THESE NETS, THEN
BANDED, MEASURED, WEIGHED,

BEFORE REBEING RELEASED.

OFTEN WITH THE HELP OF SCHOOL
KIDS.

OVER THE YEARS, BIOLOGISTS CAN
TRACK THE DIFFERENT SPECIES OF

BIRDS THAT PASS THROUGH.

IN ADDITION, RESEARCHERS CAN
DISCOVER WHERE EACH SPECIES

SPENDS THE WINTER.

>> MAKE SURE IT'S NOT GOING TO
SQUISH HIM, AND CLAMP IT SHUT.

WHENEVER YOU WANT HER TO GO,
GIVE HER A BOUNCE AND BLOW ON

HER LITTLE BUTT.

THERE YOU GO.

COOL.

>> OF COURSE THE BIRDS OF PREY
ARE NEARBY BECAUSE THEIR FOOD IS

HERE.

THE SONG BIRDS.

RED TAIL HAWKS, COOPER HAWKS AND
OTHERS ARE CAPTURED JUST BELOW

THE RIDGETOP AS THEY SEARCH FOR
PREY.

>> SHARP SHIN HAWK.

>> JUST LIKE A SONG BIRD, THIS
SHARP SHIN HAWK IS WEIGHED,

MEASURED, AND BANDED BEFORE IT'S
RELEASED.

>> GO TO MEXICO!

ONE, TWO, THREE.

>> FLY!

>> JOINING ME NOW TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTIONS ABOUT BIRD MIGRATION

ARE JAY CARLISLE, RESEARCH
DIRECTOR AT THE IDAHO BIRD

OBSERVATORY, AND VICKY RUNNOE,
CONSERVATION EDUCATION

SUPERVISOR FROM THE IDAHO
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME.

AND WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

GIVE US A CALL AT 1-800-973-9800
1-800-973-9800.

OR YOU CAN EMAIL US AT
D4K@IDAHOPTV.ORG.

REMEMBER, WHEN YOU SEND IN A
QUESTION YOU AND YOUR CLASS WILL

HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN A DVD
PLAYER AND OTHER PRIZES.

WE'VE GOT SOME CALLERS ON THE
PHONE.

WHO DO WE HAVE ON LINE TWO?

HELLO?

PARKER?

>> Caller: YES.

>> WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?

>> Caller: WHAT IS THE PACE OF
SPEED BIRDS FLY WHEN THEY FLY

SOUTH.

>> I THINK THAT VARIES BY
SPECIES.

THERE ARE SOME BIRDS LIKE THE
PEREGRINE FALCONS THAT CAN FLY

RIDICULOUSLY FAST, SOMETIMES 20
MILES PER HOUR, AND OVER THAT

WHEN THEY'RE HUNTING.

OTHER SMALLER BIRDS MIGHT FLY
MORE LIKE 10 TO 30 MILES AN HOUR

AS THEY'RE MAKING THEIR
MIGRATION.

THAT'S JUST A GENERALIZATION.

>> LET'S GO TO GRACE IN
MERIDIAN.

ARE YOU THERE?

>> Caller: YEAH.

>> GO AHEAD, GRACE.

>> Caller: ABOUT HOW MANY BIRDS
MIGRATE A YEAR?

>> HOW MANY BIRDS MIGRATE EACH
YEAR?

>> OH, WOW.

HOW HIGH CAN YOU COUNT, GRACE?

MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF BIRDS
MIGRATE EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

TO TRY TO PUT A NUMBER ON
IT -- ANY IDEA?

CAN YOU COUNT THAT HIGH?

>> I CANNOT COUNT THAT HIGH, AND
I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

ON EACH CONTINENT THERE'S
MILLIONS MIGRATING, BETWEEN THE

TEMPERATE ZONE, THE TROPICAL
ZONE EVERY YEAR.

>> AND GRACE IN MERIDIAN, GO
AHEAD.

ARE YOU THERE?

GRACE?

LET'S TRY BEN.

I'M SORRY, GRACE, GIVE US A CALL
BACK.

BEN, CAN YOU HEAR US?

GO AHEAD, BEN.

GENTLEMAN HOW COME SOME BIRDS
DON'T MIGRATE?

>> OK.

>> WELL, A LOT OF IT DEPENDS ON
WHAT THEY EAT.

IF THEY'RE AN INSECT EATER AND
ALL THE BUGS DIE OFF IN THE

WINTER, THEY'RE GOING TO BE
REALLY HUNGRY IF THEY DON'T

MIGRATE.

IF THEY'RE A BIRD LIKE, SAY, MY
FAVORITE BIRD, A CHICKADEE, AND

THEIR FOOD IS HERE AND THEY EAT
SEEDS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE US, IF YOU
DON'T HAVE TO GO DO SOMETHING,

ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT?

SO IF YOUR FOOD IS HERE, YOU'LL
PRETTY MUCH STAY, LIKE YOU'RE A

RESIDENT HERE IN BOISE OR WHIR
EVER YOU'RE CALLING FROM, AND

THESE BIRDS ARE A RESIDENT HERE
IN IDAHO.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF EMAIL
QUESTIONS.

ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR WAS, WHY
DO BIRDS TRAVEL IN THAT V

FORMATION?

KATY AND ADAM ASKED THAT
QUESTION, SAM, JACE, CLARK,

ABBY, AND CONNER, MORGAN,
DILLON, CAESAR, THEY ALL ASKED,

WHY DO THEY GET THAT V FORMATION
GOING?

>> REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

IT HAS TO DO WITH VING ENERGY.

IF BIRDS CAN TRAVEL IN A GROUP
LIKE THAT AND SAVE ENERGY WHILE

FLYING, THEY CAN TRAVEL FARTHER
AND MORE EFFICIENTLY DURING

THEIR MIGRATION.

SO THE LEAD BIRD TAKES SOME OF
THE BRUNT OF THE WIND IN THE

FRONT AND THEN THEY TRADE OUT
OVER TIME.

SO A BIRD THAT WAS MIGRATING IN
THE BACK OF THE VFT, MIGHT

GRADUALLY BE UP IN THE FRONT,
BUT WHILE THEY'RE IN THE BACK

THEY CAN SAVE ENERGY BECAUSE
THEY'RE DRAFTING OFF THE LEAD

BIRDS.

>> DO WE KNOW HOW THEY -- THE
BIRDS DECIDE WHO GETS TO GO

FIRST?

IS THERE ANY RHYME OR REASON TO
THE PATTERN?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I'M NOT SURE.

>> I DON'T THINK WE KNOW THAT
EITHER.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY DRAW STRAWS
OR WHAT.

THEY DO SWITCH BACK AND FORTH.

>> ABBY AND COURTNEY AND GAVIN,
AT HORIZON ELEMENTARY, THEY WANT

TO KNOW, DO ALL BIRDS FLY SOUTH?

>> WELL, THEY FLY SOUTH FOR THE
WINTER TIME, AND THEN THEY TURN

AROUND AND FLY BACK NORTH FOR
THE SUMMER.

FOR EXAMPLE, HERE IN NORTH
AMERICA, IDAHO'S SUMMER BIRDS

ARE HUMMINGBIRDS, EVEN OUR
BLUEBIRD DO MOVE SOUTH BECAUSE

IT'S WARMER, MORE FOOD, AND THEY
TURN AROUND AND THEY HEAD BACK

NORTH IN THE SUMMERTIME BECAUSE
THEN THEY HAVE FOOD AND THIS IS

THEIR BREEDING TERRITORY WHERE
THEY RAISE THEIR BABIES AND

LIVE.

SO THEY DO GO BOTH DIRECTIONS.

>> AND I MIGHT ADD IT'S NOT
ALWAYS EXACTLY SOUTH.

IT MIGHT BE TO THE SOUTHWEST, IT
MIGHT BE TO THE SOUTHEAST IN THE

FALL MIGRATION AND SOME BIRDS
MIGHT EVEN GO MORE WEST THAN

SOUTH OR EAST THAN SOUTH,
DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY'RE

HEADING FOR THE WINTER.

SOME BIRDS MIGHT JUST BE MOVING
TO A LOWER ELEVATION AREA.

IF THEY'RE MOVING FROM A
MOUNTAIN TO A VALLEY, IT MIGHT

BE EASIER TO GO WEST AND DOWN
SLOPE THAN FLYING EXACTLY DUE

SOUTH.

GENERALLY SOUTH, GENERALLY
NORTH, DEPENDING ON THE SEASON,

BUT THERE'S VARIATION.

>> JAKE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, HOW
DO BIRDS FLAP THEIR WINGS SO

THEY DON'T GET TIRED?

>> I THINK YOU CAN FIND AN AWFUL
LOT OF EVIDENCE FROM SCIENTISTS

THAT BIRDS ARE REALLY TIRED WHEN
THEY MAKE WHAT WE CALL LANDFALL.

IF THEY'RE COMING ACROSS WATER,
WHERE THE FIRST LAND THEY SEE,

THEY DROP DOWN AND LOOK FOR
FOOD.

YOU CAN WALK UP TO THESE BIRDS,
THEY'RE JUST EXHAUSTED.

THEY'RE SO TIRED.

TO I THINK FLAPPING A LOT AND
BEING TIRED GO HAND IN HAND.

>> BUT ALSO I THINK THAT THE
FACT THAT BIRDS HAVE HIGHER

EFFICIENCY AND TAKING OXYGEN OUT
OF THEIR BLOOD AND THEREFORE OUT

OF THE AIR MAKES THEM ABLE TO DO
EXERCISE, WHICH IS WHAT THEY'RE

DOING AS THEY'RE FLAPPING THEIR
WINGS MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN WE

MIGHT BE ABLE TO.

AND THEN BECAUSE THEY STORE A
LOT OF FAT, WHICH IS THEIR

MIGRATORY FUEL, THAT ALLOWS THEM
TO KEEP GOING AND GOING LIKE A

BATTERY, BECAUSE IT PROVIDES
FUEL, SOMETIMES FOR 24, 48, EVEN

72 HOURS FOR SOME SPECIES OF
CONTINUOUS FLYING.

AND I THINK IT'S THAT
COMBINATION OF USING FAT AS FUEL

AS WELL AS THE OXYGEN EXTRACTION
EFFICIENCY, THAT ALLOWS THEM TO

DO THAT BEFORE THEY GET TO THAT
TIREDNESS POINT.

>> EXACTLY.

THERE'S SOME AMAZING -- THERE'S
A LITTLE WARBLER, THESE LITTLE

DUDES WILL DO WHAT JAY WAS JUST
TALKING B. THEY FLY, THEY MEET

UP AT A STAGING AREA BEFORE THEY
MIGRATE ON THE EAST COAST AND

THEY FLY OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN
TO SOUTH AMERICA.

THAT'S ALMOST 2,500 MILES.

AND THEY DO IT WITHOUT STOPPING.

BECAUSE AS JAY MENTIONED,
THEY'RE SO EFFICIENT.

BUT THAT'S AMAZING.

I COULDN'T IMAGINE ANY OF US
TRYING TO DO THAT.

WE JUST COULDN'T.

IT'S PRETTY REMARKABLE WHAT
THEY'RE ABLE TO DO.

>> FROM RIVERSIDE SCHOOL IN
BOISE, CAMERON WANTS TO KNOW,

WHERE DO FLAMINGOS MIGRATE TO?

ARE THEY RESIDENT BIRDS?

>> THERE ARE FLAMINGOS WITHIN
NORTH AMERICA.

WE HAVE SOME THAT LIVE IN
SOUTHERN FLORIDA, AND THERE'S A

POPULATION THAT LIVES THROUGHOUT
THE CARIBBEAN ON EASTERN MEXICO,

AS WELL AS DOWN TO THE NORTH
SLOPE OF SOUTH AMERICA, AND I

THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME
MIGRATION BETWEEN THOSE AREAS.

BUT I THINK SOME ARE ALSO
RESIDENTS WITHIN THAT AREA AS

WELL.

IT PROBABLY DEPENDS ON FOOD
SOURCES AND CERTAIN TIMES OF

YEAR THAT CERTAIN AREAS ARE MORE
PRODUCTIVE THAN OTHERS.

>> AND JENNA FROM THE SAME QLOOS
LIKE TO KNOW, WHERE DO THE BIRDS

FROM IDAHO MOSTLY GO?

>> I GUESS THAT DEPENDS ON THE
KIND OF BIRD.

OUR MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD MIGRATES
TO THE SOUTHERN U.S., PRETTY

MUCH.

BUT A RUFUS HUMMINGBIRD MAY
MIGRATE TO CENTRAL AMERICA,

OSPREYS GO TO SOUTH AMERICA, SO
IT DEPENDS UPON THE KIND OF BIRD

AS TO HOW FAR THEY WILL GO.

>> I THINK THE HIGHEST
PERCENTAGE OF SPECIES PROBABLY

DO END UP IN CENTRAL MEXICO,
THAT SEEMS TO BE A CORE FOR -- A

CORE AREA FOR THE WINTERING
RANGE THAT HOSTS THE HIGHEST

NUMBER OF IDAHO SPECIES DURING
THE WINTER.

LIKE SHE SAID, ANYWHERE FROM
NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA TO

SOUTHERN UNITED STATES, BUT WITH
A CORE AREA IN WESTERN MEXICO.

>> OK.

LET'S GO TO ELISE IN BOISE.

GO AHEAD.

>> Caller: WHAT KIND OF BIRDS
ARE ADAPTED TO LIVING IN WINTER

INSTEAD OF GOING SOUTH?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

THERE ARE SEVERAL.

SOME, INCLUDING RAPTORS LIKE A
RED TAILED HAWK THAT MIGHT FEED

ESPECIALLY ON SMALL MAMMALS OR A
BALD EAGLE THAT FEEDS ON FISH,

DOESN'T NEED TO MIGRATE AS FAR.

OTHER BIRDS LIKE A BLACK CAPPED
CHICKADEE THAT CAN SWITCH THEIR

DIET FOR MORE INSECTS TO MORE
SEEDS AND FRUIT CAN STAY HERE.

OTHER BIRDS LIKE SPARROWS, THAT
ARE THE MORE COMMON WINTERING

BIRDS IN THE TREASURE VALLEY,
FEED ON SEEDS THROUGH THE

WINTER.

SO THEY'RE ABLE TO STAY HERE
THROUGH THE WINTER.

>> AN EMAIL FROM MRS. McCOY'S
CLASS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, DO

OWLS MIGRATE?

>> THEY DO.

JAY IS AN EXPERT ON THAT, SO
I'LL LET YOU TAKE THAT QUESTION.

>> THERE ARE SOME OWL SPECIES
THAT DO MIGRATE AND SOME THAT

DON'T.

UP IN THE BOISE FOOTHILLS WE
STUDY NORTHERN OWLS AND

FLAPULATED OWLS, WHICH EAT
INSECTS, BUT SOME OTHERS, AND SO

THEY NEED TO MIGRATE TO AT LEAST
THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES,

MOSTLY TO WEST CENTRAL MEXICO
AND FARTHER SOUTH TO PINE

FORESTS DOWN THERE TO SURVIVE
THE WINTER.

WHEREAS SAW WOOD OWLS, ALSO A
SMALL OWL, BUT THEY RELY ON

SMALL MAMMALS, SO THEIR
MIGRATION IS A SHORTER DISTANCE,

SO THEIR MOVEMENT MIGHT BE JUST
TWO OR 300 MILES IN ORDER TO

REACH AN AREA THAT HAS HIGHER
FOOD SUPPLIES.

BUT GREAT HORNED OWLS, ANOTHER
COMMON RESIDENT BIRD HERE, THEY

DON'T MIGRATE BECAUSE THEY HAVE
FOOD SOURCES ANYWHERE FROM SMALL

MA'AM WRAPS OR BIRDS TO RACOONS
AND SKUNKS THAT THEY CAN EAT ALL

YEAR-ROUND.

AND THEY DON'T SMEL THE SKUNK,
SO IT DOESN'T BOTHER THEM TO

HAVE THE SKUNK SMELL ON THEM.

>> LEAH AT CYNTHIA MANN
ELEMENTARY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW

WHY CAN'T BIRDS JUST HIBERNATE?

DO THEY ANYTHING LIKE BEARS DO?

>> THEY DON'T HIBERNATE, BUT
THERE ARE SOME BIRDS THAT WILL

VOLUNTARILY LOWER THEIR BODY
TEMPERATURE, SO, FOR INSTANCE,

CHICKADEES CAN DO THIS AT NIGHT
WHERE THEY CAN STORE UP FAT FROM

THE FOOD THEY EAT DURING THE
DAY, AND THEN THEY LOWER THEIR

BODY TEMPERATURE AT NIGHT SO
THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO KEEP

THEIR BODY AS WARM AND USE AS
MUCH ENERGY TO DO THAT, BUT THEY

STILL HAVE TO SHIVER TO KEEP IT
TO SOME BASELINE LEVEL OF WARMTH

SO THEIR BODY ORGANS DON'T FAIL.

BUT IF YOU WERE TO FIND A BIRD
LIKE THAT AT 3:00 IN THE MOING

HIDING IN A BUSH, IT MIGHT NOT
BE VERY RESPONSIVE BECAUSE IT

WOULD JUST BE IN A SHIVERING
STATE AND NOT AWARE YET.

IN THE MORNING THEY'LL TURN IT
BACK ON, AND OVER THE COURSE OF

A HALF HOUR OR SO THEIR BODY
WARMS UP AGAIN AND THEY'RE READY

TO START FLYING AROUND.

AND THERE'S ACTUALLY A BIRD
RELATED TO THE NIGHT HAWK WHICH

WILL GO INTO TORPOR FOR LONGER
PERIODS, BUT NOT IN IDAHO.

THEY'LL DO IT IN THE WINTER IN
THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES, LIKE

ARIZONA OR NEW MEXICO, OR EVEN
INTO NORTHERN MEXICO.

>> I DON'T THINK OF THAT AS VERY
COLD.

>> BUT THERE ARE COLDER NIGHTS
ON THE DESERT, BECAUSE THERE CAN

BE SUCH DRAMATIC SHIFTS FROM A
DAYTIME HIGH OF 80 OR 85 TO

FREEZING.

THEY'LL GO INTO TORPOR FOR A
COUPLE WEEKS AT A TIME AND

HIDING UNDER A BUNCH GRASS, OR A
SHRUB, AND THEN THEY'LL COME

OUT, MAYBE DEFECATE, POOP,
SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND BE

ACTIVE FOR A DAY OR TWO, AND BE
BACK INTO TORPOR AND THAT'S A

WAY OF GETTING THROUGH THE
WINTER.

>> IS IT IMPORTANT TO PUT BIRD
FEEDERS OUT HERE IN THE WINTER?

>> IT'S BEEN INTERESTING, PEOPLE
HAVE WONDERED, IF I PUT FEEDERS

OUT WILL BIRDS BECOME DEPENDENT
ON THE FEETERS?

SOME RESEARCH INDICATES IF YOU
PUT A BIRD FEEDER OUT, THE

RESIDENT GROUP OF BIRDS IN YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD WILL START USING

THAT FEEDER AS AN EXTRA FOOD
SOURCE.

IF THE FOOD GOES AWAY, THEY'RE
STILL GOING TO LOOK FOR FOOD

ELSEWHERE.

WHAT FEEDERS HAVE ACTUALLY DONE
IN PARTS OF THE EASTERN UNITED

STATES IS THEY'VE ALLOWED SOME
MORE SOUTHERN BIRDS TO KIND OF

MOVE THEIR REGULAR RANGE, THE
PLACE THEY LIVE, FARTHER NORTH.

CARDINALS IN THE NORTHERN
MIDWEST IS ONE EXAMPLE OF A BIRD

THAT HAS KIND OF BENEFITED FROM
FEEDERS.

I LIKE HAVING FEEDERS IN MY YARD
BECAUSE I LOVE TO WATCH THE

BIRDS IN THE BACK YARD.

AND IT'S A GREAT WAY TO OBSERVE
NATURE UP CLOSE, AND IF YOU'RE

FEEDING SUN FROWER SEEDS, THINGS
LIKE THAT, YOU CAN GET

INTERESTING BIRDS.

>> YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE
CHANGES IN THE BIRD COMMUNITY

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND SEE WHO
HAS MIGRATED OR WHO IS THERE

THAT'S NO LONGER THERE IN THE
WINTER TIME.

THAT'S A NEAT WAY TO CONNECT
WITH NATURE.

>> LET'S GO TO HAVEN IN BOISE.

ARE YOU THERE?

>> Caller: YEAH.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> Caller: DO BIRDS CARRY
DISEASES?

>> DO BIRDS CARRY DISEASES?

GOOD QUESTION.

>> YEAH, BIRD DOES CARRY
DISEASES.

AND IT DEPENDS ON THEAREA.

SOME PLACEMIGHT HAVE A HIGHER
PREVALENCE OF DISEASE, OR A

HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF THE
POPULATION HAS DISEASE.

WE, FOR INSTANCE HERE IN
SOUTHWESTERN IDAHO DURING

MIGRATION WILL SEE BIRDS
CARRYING A VIRUS CALLED AVIAN

POX.

THAT AFFECTS THEIR FEET
SOMETIMES, AND SOMETIMES THE

EDGE OF THEIR BILL, THE FLESH
NEAR THE BASE OF THEIR BILL.

THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A FATAL
DISEASE, BUT SOMETIMES IT DOES

CAUSE THEM TO LOSE A TOE OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S NOT A REALLY DANGEROUS
DISEASE OR REALLY PREVALENT

AMONG THE POPULATION, BUT THERE
ARE OTHER AREAS WHERE A DISEASE

LIKE THAT CAN BE A LOT MORE
DANGEROUS TO BIRD POPULATIONS.

>> JOS AT CYNTHIA MAN
ELEMENTARY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW

HOW LONG HAVE THE TWO OF YOU
BEEN STUDYING BIRDS AND BIRD

MIGRATION?

>> I GUESS -- I'M NOT A
PROFESSIONAL ORNITHOLOGIST.

BIRDS HAVE BEEN MY HOBBY, I'VE
BEEN A BIRD WATCHER SINCE I WAS

PROBABLY THIS YOUNG LADY'S AGE.

I'VE ALWAYS LOVED BIRDS, AND I'M
LUCKY SINCE I DO EDUCATION I GET

TO HELP PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT
BIRDS, WHICH IS FUN.

A LONG, LONG TIME, I'M PRETTY
ANCIENT.

MOST OF MY LIFE I'VE BEEN
INTERESTED AND FASCINATED BY

BIRDS.

>> I BEGAN TO GET INTERESTED IN
BIRDS WHEN I WAS 16 OR 17.

IT TOOK A WHILE.

I WAS TOO INTO SPORTS FOR A
WHILE.

AND I'VE BEEN STUDYING MIGRATION
FOR THE LAST 14 YEARS.

IT'S SOMETHING I GET REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT.

STUDYING BIRDS FOR 17 OR 18
YEARS SINCE COLLEGE, BASICALLY,

BUT MIGRATION FOR THE LAST 14
YEARS, AND I HOPE FOR EVERY YEAR

THE REST OF MY LIFE.

>> IF YOU WANT TO STUDY BIRDS,
WHAT SHOULD YOU STUDY?

>> IN SCHOOL I THINK GETTING A
BIOLOGY DEGREE DURING YOUR

UNDERGRADUATE IS DEFINITELY
IMPORTANT, AND GETTING SOME

EXPERIENCE, MAYBE AN INTERNSHIP
OR SEVERAL SEASONAL JOBS WORKING

WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE TO GET A
TASTE FOR WHAT YOU LIKE.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, I WORK SEVERAL
BREEDING SEASONS THAT AIM REALLY

DIFFERENT HAWKS AND OWLS, AND I
HAD A CHANCE TO STUDY MIGRATION

HERE, AND THAT GOT ME HOOKED.

I WAS ALREAD HOOKED ON BIRDS
AND SCIENCE, BUT STUDYING

MIGRATION, A LOT OF THE
QUESTIONS WE'VE SEEN TODAY ARE

SO FASCINATING.

HOW DO BIRDS FLY THAT FAR AND
FAST?

WE GET TO STUDY AT LEAST ONE
PORTION OF THAT IN IDAHO,

UNDERSTANDING HOW THEY'RE ABLE
TO PUT THAT FAT ON, HOW LONG IT

TAKES TO DO THAT.

SO HAVING THAT EXPERIENCE,
STUDYING MIGRATION, SORT OF SUNK

THE HOOK INTO ME, AND I
CONTINUED FROM THERE.

A COMBINATION OF SCHOOL AS WELL
AS GETTING INTERNSHIP

SPEERNTIONZ GETTING OUT THERE
WITH A PROFESSIONAL, LOTS OF

PEOPLE IN THE STATE WOULD BE
HAPPY TO HAVE PEOPLE ALONG TO

SHADOW THEM TO GET A SENSE OF
WHAT YOU LIKE.

>> IF YOU WANT TO READ MORE
ABOUT IT, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY

AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACROSS
THE STATE.

>> IDAHO FAMILY READING WEEK IS
NOVEMBER 15th THROUGH THE

21st THIS YEAR, AND THEIR
THEME IS IDAHO IS WILD ABOUT

READING.

AND OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES ALL
OVER THE STATE AND I THINK SOME

OF THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES, TALK TO
YOUR LIBRARIAN, WILL BE HAVING

DIFFERENT PROGRAMS ABOUT
WILDLIFE AND NATURE, AND THEY'LL

HAVE BOOKS THAT YOU CAN CHECK
OUT TO READ ABOUT THESE.

SO CHECK THOSE THINGS OUT.

YOU MAY FIND SOME COOL WILD
STUFF THAT YOU WANT TO READ

ABOUT.

WINTER IS COMING, GREAT TIME TO
CURL UP WITH GOOD BOOKS AND

LEARN ABOUT WHAT'S WILD OUTSIDE
IN IDAHO.

ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO DO THAT.

>> YOU CAN GO TO THE "D4K"
WEBSITE.

MOST OF THE SUBJECTS HAVE A
READING LIST OF BOOKS

APPROPRIATE.

TAKE A LOOK ON THE "D4K" WEBSITE
AT IDAHOPTV.ORG.

CLICK ON "D4K" AND LOOK FOR YOUR
SPECIFIC TOPIC.

OUR NEXT ONE, KILE UNTIL BOISE
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHY DO SOME

BIRDS MAKE REALLY DEEP NESTS AND
OTHERS DON'T?

>> I GUESS PART OF THAT WOULD
DEPEND UPON THE KIND OF BIRDS.

ALSO SOMESOMETIMES THEIR BODY
SHAPE THAT THEY USE -- WHEN I

THINK OF DEEPER NESTS,
HUMMINGBIRDS HAVE DEEP NESTS,

SOME OF THE SONG BIRDS HAVE CUP
NESTS.

BUT THEN YOU CAN HAVE SOME
RAPTOR NESTS THAT ARE

FLATTENED.

PARTLY I THINK MAYBE WHAT THEY
MAKE THE NEST OUT OF IS PART OF

THAT.

STICKS ARE HARDER TO MUSH AROUND
TO YOUR BODY SHAPE THAN MUD

WOULD BE.

>> ONE SPECIES BUILDS VERY DEEP
NESTS, THEY CRAWL INTO IT,

THERE'S LIKE THIS HANGING SACK
THE I DON'T RECALL SITS IN.

T MIGHT PROVIDE TEMPERATURE
REGULATION TO KEEP A NEST FROM

GETTING TOO HOT OR TOO COLD.

THEN I THINK OF A MORNING DOVE
THAT BUILDS A FLAT NEST AND

MAYBE FOR THEM IT'S BECAUSE
SOMETIMES THEY BUILD NESTS ON

THE GROUND, OTHER TIMES THEY
BUILD NESTS ON TREE BRANCHES.

MAYBE THEY HAVE A NEST TYPE
THAT'S ADAPTABLE AND CAN CHANGE

DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY ARE.

>> ON THE PHONE I'M GOING TO GET
TO YOU IN A MOMENT, STAY TUNED,

I'LL GET ON YOU THE WEB EXTRA.

KENTON FROM HAYDEN MEADOWS IN
COEUR D'ALENE, WHAT'S THE

BIGGEST BIRD?

>> PROBABLY OSTRICH.

>> OR EMU ARE PROBABLY THE
LARGEST LIVING BIRDS.

>> AND KELLEN WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW --

>> BACK TO THE BIGGEST BIRD,
PART OF THE REASON THOSE BIRDS

ARE SO BIG IS THEY DON'T FLY.

AND THEREFORE WITHOUT HAVING THE
WINGS, THEY CAN PUT ON EXTRA

BODY WEIGHT BECAUSE IF THEY HAD
TO FLY THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO

CARRY THAT WEIGHT.

>> AND MICHAEL FROM THAT SAME
CLASS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHY

CAN'T PENGUINS FLY?

>> THEIR WHOLE BODY SHAPE AND
THEIR WINGS ARE NOW FLIPPERS.

SO THEIR ENTIRE LIFE HAS EVOLVED
SO THEY'VE ADAPTED TO WATER.

AND THEIR WHOLE BODIES -- THEY
WEIGH MORE NOW, AND THOSE LITTLE

FLIPPERS, WHILE THEY'RE FABULOUS
FOR GETTING THROUGH THE WATER,

COULDN'T LIFT THEM ON THE
GROUND.

THEIR A FEATHERS -- FEATHERS ARE
DIFFERENT TOO.

THEIR FEATHERS ARE MORE FOR
HOLDING IN HEAT FOR INSULATION,

AND FOR THESE -- USING THEM FOR
BUOYANCY FOR DIVING AS WELL.

>> THEY'RE MORE LIKE A DOLPHIN.

>> FROM MRS. TANNER'S CLASS, WHY
DO BIRDS FLY IN GROUPS?

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT V
FORMATION.

WHY ARE THEY A LITTLE IN SUCH
BIG NUMBERS TOGETHER?

>> I WOULD SAY MAYBE THEY'RE NOT
ALWAYS IN SUCH BIG NUMBERS

TOGETHER, BUT THEY OFTEN ARE
DURING MIGRATION IN WINTER, AND

SOME OF THAT COULD BE SAFETY IN
NUMBERS.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, IF Y HAVE A
PREY SPECIES, WHETHER IT'S A

SONG BIRD OR A GOOSE, AND YOU'RE
HANGING OUT WITH 99 OTHER

FRIENDS AND RELATIVES, MAYBE YOU
HAVE A MUCH SMALLER CHANCE OF

BEING NOTICED OR ACTUALLY TAKEN
BY A PREDATOR, WHEREAS IF YOU

WERE ON YOUR OWN FLYING OVER
SOME GRASSY MEADOW REALLY

OBVIOUS, THAT MIGHT MAKE YOU
MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TOLL PREDATION.

>> JACOB FROM MRS. WHITTLE'S
CLASS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHEN

DO BIRDS KNOW WHO MIGRATE?

HOW DO THEY FIGURE OUT IT'S TIME
TO GO?

>> THAT'S BEEN PONDERED FOR A
LONG, LONG TIME.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
REASONS.

WE ALL HAVE THESE INTERNAL
CLOCKS THAT TELL US WHEN THE

DAYLIGHT SHIFTS, AND BIRDS CAN
DETERMINE THAT.

WE EVEN NOTICE IT I THINK TO A
CERTAIN EXTENT, HUMANE SOCIETY

DO.

AS THIS -- THEY TELL
THIS -- THEY HAVE A GLAND IN

THEIR BRAIN, AND IT TELLS THEM
IT'S TIME TO LEAVE, IT'S TIME TO

MOVE.

AND THEY GO THROUGH ALL THESE
DIFFERENT THINGS, THEY BECOME

RESTLESS, THEY START EATING A
LOT.

THEY'RE LIKE YOUR TEENAGE
BROTHER, SITTING AT HOME AND

EATING EVERYTHING.

AND WHEN THEIR BODY IS READY,
THEY JUST GO.

BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF
DISCUSSION ABOUT EXACTLY HOW

THAT HAPPENS, EXACTLY WHEN IT IS
TRIGGERED.

>> I THINK THE -- FOR THE
SPECIES THAT AREN'T TIED INTO

THE DAYLIGHT, THERE MIGHT BE
SOME SPECIES WHO ONLY MOVE WHEN

CONDITIONS CHANGE.

SO SEED EATERS AND PREDATORS
MIGHT BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO A

SHORTAGE OF FOOD AND THAT'S WHEN
THEY KNOW TO MIGRATE.

OTHER BIRDS, LIKE A WARBLER,
IT'S ALL ABOUT DAYLIGHT.

WHEN IT NIGHT IS LONG ENOUGH,
AND THEY'RE LIKE, OK, IT'S TIME

TO GO.

AN OWL MIGHT MIGRATE WHEN THERE
AREN'T ENOUGH MICE TO EAT AND

THEY CAN SENSE THAT INTERNALLY.

>> SARAH AND ANDREW AND JACOB
ARE ON THE PHONE.

STAY WITH US.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PICK YOU UP
ON THE OTHER SIDE ON OUR WEB

EXTRA.

STAY WITH US, AND I'VE GOT ONE
REALLY QUICK QUESTION -- WHY DO

BIRDS SING?

>> MOSTLY IT'S THE MALES THAT
SING, AND IF YOU WANT TO ATTRACT

A GIRL, YOU WANT TO LOOK GOOD,
SOUND GOOD, AND IT'S TO ATTRACT

A FEMALE AND TO ESTABLISH A
TERRITORY, SO THEY'RE SAYING,

HEY, YOU, STAY AWAY FROM MY
TERRITORY, THIS IS MY SPOT!

AND THEY'RE SAYING, HEY, BABY,
WANT TO COME NEST WITH ME?

WE GET THE BENEFIT BECAUSE IT'S
SO BEAUTIFUL.

>> OK.

WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU TO JAY AND VICKY.

APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US HERE.

IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
BIRD MIGRATION, GO TO THE "D4K"

WEBSITE, WATCH THE VIDEO SHORTS
AND OUR SPECIAL WEB-ONLY PROGRAM

THAT WE'LL BE TAPING RIGHT AFTER
THIS.

THERE'S ALSO LOTS OF FANGTSES
AND LINKS AND OTHER INFORMATION

ABOUT BIRD MIGRATION AND OTHER
TOPICS.

CHECK IT OUT AT IDAHOPTV.ORG.

CLICK ON "D4K."

OUR NEXT "D4K" BROADCAST PROGRAM
WILL BE TAKING YOUR QUESTIONS

ABOUT CHEMISTRY.

SO TUNE IN NOVEMBER 17th AT
2:00 P.M. MOUNTAIN, 1:00 P.M.

PACIFIC AND SEND IN YOUR
QUESTIONS.

LAST MONTH'S WINNER WAS ALLIE AT
MARY MACPHERSON ELEMENTARY.

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THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON
"D4K."

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