The Zen Birdfeeder

Birds by the Numbers

WRENS

79        wren species worldwide

Carolina Wren

49     wren species found in South America

32     wren species found in Mexico and northern Central America 

 9     wren species found in North America

 1     wren species found in Europe, North Africa, and Asia

 0     wren species found in Australia, Antarctica, sub-Saharan Africa

House Wren

Source:  BirdWatchers Digest
Images from WBU Inc. image library

(Wild) Birds by the Numbers

6    years that WBU - Saratoga Springs has been in business
(tomorrow is our anniversary!)

3,200    hummingbird feeders sold

Tie for 148    The city of Saratoga Springs' rank in New York by number of checklists submitted
in 2003 Great Backyard Bird Count
(the year WBU opened)

7    The city of Saratoga Springs' rank in New York by number of checklists submitted
in 2009 Great Backyard Bird Count

1,754            area homes feeding birds with feeders
                        on a WBU Advanced Pole System

620            area homes feeding birds with feeders with
                    a WBU Eliminator Squirrel-Proof Birdfeeder

This all makes for lots of happy birds!

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We at Wild Birds Unlimited - Saratoga Springs NY thank you all and more importantly, the BIRDS thank you for 6 years of feeding the birds in the Saratoga Springs area and beyond!

Quiz Time: How Much Do Birds Weigh?

We all know that birds are amazingly light creatures. The next time you pick up a penny, stop to hold it in the palm of your hand and feel the weight of it.  A penny is often used as an example of how much (or how little!) a Ruby-throated Hummingbird weighs!

Ruby-throated Hummingbird at WBU Decorative Feeder

The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior states that "Flight requires a body light enough to be lifted without excessive expenditure of energy yet strong enough to withstand the many stresses of aerial life."

It is fairly well known that birds have hollow bones, but here are just a couple other adaptations that keep birds' weight low:

• No bird gives birth to fully developed young
• Highly efficent digestive system
• Lack of heavy toothed jaw

SOURCE: The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior

So now it's Quiz Time!   See if you can place these seven common backyard birds in order by weight from HEAVIEST to LIGHTEST.

White-breasted Nuthatch
Northern Cardinal
American Goldfinch
Downy Woodpecker
Mourning Dove
Black-capped Chickadee
Blue Jay

  

Use the Comment section to post your answers.  Have fun!  Answers will be posted in a couple days.

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ANSWERS

Mourning Dove    4.0 oz.
Blue Jay    4.0 oz.
Northern Cardinal    2.0 oz.
Downy Woodpecker    1.5 oz.
White-breasted Nuthatch    0.7 oz.
American Goldfinch    0.5 oz.
Black capped Chickadee    0.4 oz.

For comparison, check out this post to see how much squirrels weigh.

Birds by the Numbers

Actually, SQUIRRELS AND CHIPMUNKS by the Numbers

GRAY SQUIRRELS

16-20    inches in length

24    ounces in weight - that's 1 ½ pounds

2    litters each year (spring and late summer)

2-3    young in each litter

5    age to which a Gray Squirrel can live



RED SQUIRRELS

12    inches in length

5-1/2     ounces in weight

2    litters each year (spring and late summer)

3-7    young in each litter

10-12    age to which a Red Squirrel can live

EASTERN CHIPMUNKS

5-6    inches in length

3     ounces in weight

2    litters each year (spring and late summer)

2-5   young in each litter

3    age to which an Eastern Chipmunk can live

Do you love numbers as much as you do nature? 
Read all "Birds by the Numbers" posts!

Birds by the Numbers

50,000    estimated pairs of Bald Eagles in lower 48 before population decimated by
hunting, habitat loss and DDT use

417    pairs of Bald Eagles in the lower 48 in the year 1963

1967    year the Bald Eagle was listed on the federal Endangered Species List

1972    year DDT use was banned

10,000    pairs of Bald Eagles now nesting in lower 48

Source: US Fish & Wildlife Service
Bald Eagle photo from WBU Inc. Image Library

Birds by the Numbers

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are known to winter in
shade-grown coffee plantations (digiscoped image)

300    million cups of coffee consumed
by Americans every day

69    percent of coffee grown in Columbia is
now grown in full sun

94    percent FEWER bird species are supported in
sun-grown coffee farms vs. shade-grown farms

71    million Americans consider themselves birdwatchers

What an impact we could make
if all 71 million of us
chose or helped a friend choose
Bird-Friendly coffee every day!

Birds by the Numbers

18        hummingbird species in North America.

325     hummingbird species worldwide, making them the second largest bird family in the world (second only to flycatchers).

12       Age of the oldest known wild hummingbird, a Broad-tailed Hummingbird.

45     days from nest construction to fledging.

20    percent of Ruby-throated Hummingbird fledglings that survive their first year.

60     peak speed in miles per hour that hummingbirds can fly (they typically fly at 30-45 mph)

Birds by the Numbers

1000    Feathers a typical chickadee is covered with
during summer



2000    Feathers a typical chickadee is covered with
during winter

30%      Heat loss reduction when birds fluff up their feathers

Source:  Stan Tekiela, "Surviving the Cold",
Birding Business, December 2008