Many birds migrate to warmer climates in winter, but some species are able to stay in Massachusetts and survive the cold! Small birds that overwinter in Amherst have physiological adaptations to promote heat production and maintain body temperature, as well as behavioral adaptations, such as feeding in flocks. These physiological and behavioral adaptations are linked: social foraging allows birds to collect enough food to fuel heat production, and energy expended for heat creates demand for more food, which affects social foraging dynamics. Our project explores connections between the physiology of an individual and the social relationships that arise between group members when they flock together in search of scarce resources.
Video by Wentao Yang
To understand how physiology influences the social dynamics of wintering songbirds, we are using specialized bird feeders. These feeders are made out of white PVC pipe and they are suspended in the air -- away from bears! Keep an eye out for our feeders in Wildwood Cemetery and on UMass Amherst's campus.
The feeders are equipped with electronics that allow us to automatically record visits that birds make to the feeders. To do this, we catch birds and give them small bracelets, which act as barcodes. When they come to the feeder, their barcode is scanned and recorded, allowing us to later reconstruct their feeding activity and social relationships. We are additionally taking physiological measurements when we capture them. The stars of the show are four winter bird species that are likely common visitors to your home feeder: Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Downy Woodpeckers, and White-breasted Nuthatches.
The feeders are equipped with electronics that allow us to automatically record visits that birds make to the feeders. To do this, we catch birds and give them small bracelets, which act as barcodes. When they come to the feeder, their barcode is scanned and recorded, allowing us to later reconstruct their feeding activity and social relationships. We are additionally taking physiological measurements when we capture them. The stars of the show are four winter bird species that are likely common visitors to your home feeder: Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Downy Woodpeckers, and White-breasted Nuthatches.
Animation of a chickadee moving among our 10 feeders at Wildwood Cemetery, provided by Wentao Yang.
This work is being conducted in collaboration with Dr. Dai Shizuka and his students at the University of Nebraska Lincoln and is supported by funding from the National Science Foundation. Special thanks to Wildwood Cemetery for their generosity in allowing us to do this work on their property.