June is a great time to feed the birds. It offers a chance to see newly fledged youngsters brought to the yard for a lesson in table manners. Often the young are kept safely tucked away on vegetation proximate to the feeders. Mom and Dad can be observed moving back and forth to the feeder, carrying seeds to their family. Young will use visual signals they have learned in the nest like bill-gaping and wing-flutter to indicate their eagerness for food. Typically, nestlings are fed high protein diets of insects. For the seed-eating species part of the survival training for their progeny is to learn to recognize and consume appropriate seeds. Backyard feeders make a great setting for this important life lesson. The training makes for appealing visuals for the bird enthusiast just inside the window.
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