IV. Tracking Birds

A. Bird Watching

1. Most common way of identifying birds in an area

a. Can be successful with minimal gear and training2. Birds are skittish so usually involves stationary observation from a distance

a. Can be done with natural or man-made blinds

b. Also can set up baited feeders to attract.

B. Tracking

1. Requires much more knowledge but less patience2. Several categories that can be looked at:

a. Calls- sounds birds make1. Difficult because it is a guessing game if the only info2. Usually gained through experience

b. Tracks- several different foot types

1. Classic- 4 toes with toe 1 pointed toward rear and 2-

4 to the front

a. Most birds show this so size is a big indicator

2. Game birds- like classic but toe 1 is reduced or absent

a. Pheasants and turkeys

3. Webbed- toe 1 absent or reduced webbing between

2/3 and 3/4

a. Ducks and geese

4. Totipalmate- all toes present with webbing between 1/2,

2/3, and 3/4

a. Pelicans and cormorants

5. Zygodactyls- toes 1&4 point toward rear, 2&3 toward

front

a. Owls and woodpeckers

6. Baited feeders can be placed near mud or have sand

placed to help with tracks

c. Gaits- way birds move is clue to species

1. Walking- one foot placed in front of other

2. Running- same as walk with stride 3-5X’s longer

3. Hopping- tracks paired and parallel

4. Skipping- tracks are paired but not parallel

d. Pellets- indigestible material regurgitated

1. Size shape, contents all can distinguish species

2. Look under roosts, near trees, etc.

3. Not just owls

e. Droppings- feces/urine mix of birds

1. Usually must be paired with other evidence

f. Feeding signs

1. Many same as mammals but not as clean

2. Larders are great signs of woodpeckers

3. Crossbills leave opened cones

4. Kill sites for birds of prey

g. Nests come in several types

1. Scrapes- dug out spots in open ground

2. Platforms- raised areas of mud or vegetation

3. Crevices- materials wedged between rocks or eaves

4. Cup- traditional bird nest

5. Saucer- flatter version of cup

a. Edge less than 2X egg height

6. Spherical- round with a well defined opening

7. Pendent- rounded but hang down between branches

8. Cavity- hollowed out portion of tree/cliff/mudbank

h. Feathers- if proper materials are available, feathers are a good indicator

1. Use shape, size, color, pattern, and feather type to id.

i. Skulls- use beaks and skull size to id

1. Difficult to find because of delicate nature.