Are missing birds a sign that ‘Silent Spring’ is here?
DEAR JOAN » When we moved into our home 25 years ago, I remember being awakened at dawn by a symphony of bird calls. We’re in an old neighborhood, and fortunate to be surrounded by mature trees, established landscaping, and plenty of nesting opportunities.
We usually saw and heard mourning doves, mockingbirds, woodpeckers, jays, and robins, among many others.
Adding bird feeders seems like the obvious solution, but it’s not just our yard. The entire neighborhood is eerily quiet.
What happened to the songbirds? Could this be the dreaded “Silent Spring” that Rachel Carson predicted so long ago? We’re baffled. — Joan and Alan, Los Gatos DEAR JOAN AND ALAN » Thankfully, we are not yet at the Silent Spring stage, but there likely are environmental factors at work to silence your neighborhood.
Most bird populations are fairly stable. There are some that are facing life changing issues and threats, but nothing so severe that it would suddenly leave neighborhoods completely silent.
It’s safe to say there have been a lot of changes in your neighborhood over the past 25 years. People have moved in and out; young trees have gotten older; older trees have died; landscapes have changed; traffic has increased; food sources might have grown thin; and the presence of roaming cats and other predators might have increased.
The use of pesticides also can have a domino effect. Without an abundance of insects, the birds that feed on bugs go elsewhere. With- out pollinators, flowering plants and the nectar they produce might not be as abundant.
The loss of lawns and plants in the drought also might have sent birds looking elsewhere for food and water, and in contrast, this year’s winter rains brought an abundance of food and water to open spaces, and the birds have thrived in those areas.
In most cases when people notice a lack of birds in their yard, it’s not just one factor but several in combination. The important thing is to realize that there is no normal in nature. Every year, every season, ev- ery situation is different from the other.
I have lots of finches, mourning doves, mocking birds and scrub-jays at my feeders, but when I run out of food and haven’t had a chance to visit the wild birds store, the birds pretty much disappear.
When the feeders are refilled, within a couple of days, the birds are back.
Take a look at your yard and see what might be missing that could encourage the birds to return — food, water, hiding and nesting places, and a healthy population of insects. Hopefully, the music will play again.
Beaver celebration
A decade ago, a family of beavers in Martinez were about to be evicted from their home on Alhambra Creek because their dam had caused flooding in the downtown area. Then a group of people stood up for the beavers and found a solution that prevented the flooding and allowed the beavers to live in peace.
Although the beavers eventually died or left the area, their presence encouraged other aquatic creatures to return the creek. The Martinez beavers will be celebrated 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Marina Vista and Alhambra Avenue in Martinez.