Recording Breeding Status: Tips

Following birds to observe their behaviors requires patience and perseverance. Working in teams can improve your ability to observe and record many breeding related behaviors.

   The following suggestions may help you determine the breeding status of your study species:

   • Familiarize yourself with the breeding terms in this section and descriptions of behaviors in the Reference section before you go into the field.

   • Work in small groups to improve your ability to observe and record behaviors.

   • If a bird is attracted by your playback, continue to focus in the direction from which the bird came, as a mate or fledglings might be nearby.

   • Pay special attention to non-singing birds, which are more likely to be females engaged in nesting activities.

   • Watch birds that are carrying food, they may fly toward the nest to feed young.

   • Birds may not be responsive to playbacks during all stages of the breeding cycle. Parents busy feeding nestlings and fledglings may not be concerned by your activities. Listening for high-pitched begging calls of fledglings is an effective strategy for locating breeding birds.

   • To detect cowbird parasitism, be alert for sneaky female cowbirds in the underbrush, spotted white eggs in the nest, and/or loud, begging cowbird fledglings (buzzing calls).