How many bird species are there in South Africa?

How many birds die from bird flu?

It was updated on April 24 to make clear that bird flu has led to the deaths of about 28 million poultry birds in the U.S., but that most of those were killed to prevent the disease from spreading and didn’t die of the disease.

Where can you find birds?

No matter where you go in the world, you’ll find birds living there. If you travel to the remote areas of Antarctica, you’ll find the emperor penguin. On the remote ocean cliffs in northern Canada, you’ll find gannets, terns, and puffins. Even if you washed ashore in Papua New Guinea, you would be met with birds of paradise and cassowary.

How many species of Birds do you know?

Scientists believe there are more than 10,000 different species. We’re not going to quiz you on all of them, but do you think you can at least name the 40 we compiled for this quiz? There’s so much variation between birds, that it’s interesting to think they all share a common ancestor.

Where do birds go to nest?

For many species of birds, there is a shortage of great places to nest. There may be birds that would love to call your habitat home, but they have a specific nesting requirement which needs to be met. Birdhouses can be placed in backyards, schoolyards, parks, orchards, farms, pastures, cemeteries, woodlots, deserts, cities…you name it.

Why should I join NestWatch?

If you are enjoying observing a nearby nest, and would like to go a step further and collect data for science about the nesting behavior, please consider joining NestWatch. All About Birds is an excellent resource for finding out information about birds in general and about incubation and fledging times for individual species.

Why should I join nestwatchers?

Your observations will be added to those of thousands of other NestWatchers in a continually growing database used by researchers to understand and study birds. Simply put, without your help it would be impossible to gather enough information to accurately monitor nesting birds across the country.

What is NestWatch?

NestWatch is a nationwide monitoring program designed to track status and trends in the reproductive biology of birds, including when nesting occurs, number of eggs laid, how many eggs hatch, and how many hatchlings survive.

Is it safe to use paint or stain to preserve a nest box?

NestWatchers often ask if it is safe to use paint or stain to preserve a nest box, so we recently published a new FAQ article about this at NestWatch.org. The controversy lies in the fact that there are no conclusive studies that determine whether residual fumes from paint, stains, or pressure treatment can harm the birds.

What should I do with the eggs and other nest materials?

We recommend disposing of those eggs, deceased young, and/or nest materials (e.g., if you’re cleaning out a nest box) in a place where they won’t attract insects to the nest area.

Why do young birds die in the nest?

There is also an increase in the chance of infertile eggs as the breeding season progresses—it takes a lot of energy to create and lay the eggs, and sometimes this can mean smaller clutch sizes and decreased chances of hatching in later nests. Likewise, young can die in the nest for several reasons.

Is it safe to clean out a bird nest?

Once the nest is “inactive”—that is, there are no viable eggs or live young—it is safe, and legal, to clean out a nest. We recommend disposing of those eggs, deceased young, and/or nest materials (e.g., if you’re cleaning out a nest box) in a place where they won’t attract insects to the nest area.

Is it better to paint a nest box or build a new one?

Some builders argue that it takes longer to paint a box than it does to build a new one, and that paint must be reapplied every few years to be effective. Others point out that trees can be spared if nest boxes are made to last longer.

Why do birds stop returning to the nest?

Most birds only use the nest for rearing chicks, so a bird who doesn’t want to care for the chicks anymore just stops returning to the nest. There are several reasons abandonment might occur. Eggs especially might be abandoned if the incubation instinct is weak or absent. That could be a genetic quirk.

Are pressure-treated wood nest boxes safe for birds?

Pressure-treated wood can also be treated with fungicides and pesticides and although there is no conclusive evidence that the residual fumes from the treatment can harm wild birds it is recommended that nest boxes are constructed from untreated wood.

When should you paint a bird nest box?

You should ideally paint a bird box at the end of the summer which will allow enough time for the paint to fully cure before the next spring. When cleaning your nest box at the end of each breeding season check the paint and if it is peeling or has chipped sand it down and repaint it if necessary.

Should I use treated wood or paint on a nest box?

Should I use treated wood or paint on a nest box? There are no conclusive studies that determine whether residual fumes from paint or pressure treatment can harm the birds. In the absence of evidence however, we recommend using untreated, unpainted wood to construct boxes (cedar, white pine, and yellow pine are good rot-resistant choices).

How do I stop birds from pecking at my nesting box?

Try using eco-friendly, organic paints and stains that are kind to the environment and kind to birds. Don’t paint inside the box or around the entrance hole as birds may peck at it and ingest chips of paint.

Is it safe to use unpainted wood for nesting boxes?

And there are many who claim that the risk from birds overheating in an unpainted box is greater than the risk of toxic fumes. Without peer-reviewed studies on this topic to guide us, we recommend using untreated, unpainted wood to construct boxes because it most closely resembles what the birds would have used before the advent of nest boxes.

Should you paint the exterior of a nest box?

In hot climates, where daytime temperatures regularly exceed 95°F, some nest box monitors choose to paint the exterior of boxes so that they stay cooler. If your box has proper ventilation and a roof that extends two inches over the sides, this will help shade the box and protect it from the elements, reducing the need for paint.

What kind of wood should I use to build a nest box?

Without peer-reviewed studies on this topic to guide us, we recommend using untreated, unpainted wood to construct boxes because it most closely resembles what the birds would have used before the advent of nest boxes.

How often should you check your bird nest boxes?

This means that boxes should be checked at least once a year to make sure that they are still secure. A box which has fallen to the ground is of little use to birds, and one which falls down with a nest and eggs inside is disastrous. The most common way to put up a nest box is using a strong nail which is at least 85mm in length.

Do you need to treat Birdhouse wood?

There is no requirement to treat the wood. In fact, some treatments may even be harmful to birds nesting in houses built using that material. Leakage is not serious even in houses built of raw wood. The main benefit of treating wood is that it does not decay as rapidly. However, few birdhouses are expected to last more than a few years.