>> EVER SEEN A FLOCK OF BIRDS FLY IN A V SHAPE?

BIRDS MIGRATE FOLLOWING THE SEASONS OF THE YEAR.

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY?

SCIENTISTS ARE HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

STAY TUNED.

"D4K" IS NEXT.

>> HI, I'M JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN.

WELCOME TO "D4K."

BIRDS LIKE GRIFFIN HERE ARE ABOUT TO START FRYING SOUTH.

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY?

BEFORE WE GO TO THE STUDIO TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, LET'S FIND OUT A LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHAT THE BIRDS ARE UP TO.

IT'S CALLED MIGRATION.

SCIENTISTS STUDY BIRDS-TO-DEFINE MIGRATION AS A REPETITIVE MOVEMENT FROM ONE POINT TO ANOTHER AND BACK.

ALL ALONG THE SAME PATH.

>> HUH?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> WELL, IT'S KIND OF LIKE KIDS CATCHING THE SCHOOL BUS.

EVERY MORNING YOU GO FROM YOUR HOUSE TO THE SAME SPOT TO MEET THE BUS.

AND EVERY AFTERNOON, THE BUS LETS YOU OFF AND YOU MIGRATE BACK TO YOUR HOUSE ALONG THE SAME SIDEWALK.

YOU DO IT TWICE A DAY.

BIRDS MIGRATE TWICE A YEAR.

>> OK.

BUT BIRDS DON'T HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL.

WHY DO THEY LEAVE HOME AND COME BACK?

>> THAT'S EASY.

FOOD.

AS WINTER APPROACHES, PLANTS BEGIN TO DRY UP.

BERRIES AND SEEDS THAT MANY SONG BIRDS FEED ON DISAPPEAR.

WORMS TUNNEL INTO THE SOIL BEFORE IT FREEZES OUT OF THE REACH OF ROBINS, AND MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS WILL HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING BUGS AFTER THE FIRST FROST.

WHAT DO THEY DO?

MIGRATE!

IT'S TIME TO HEAD SOUTH TO WARMER AREAS, WHERE THERE'S FOOD ALL YEAR-ROUND.

>> SO, IF THERE'S SO MUCH FOOD DOWN SOUTH, WHY DO THEY COME BACK HOME?

>> THE ANSWER IS THE SAME.

FOOD!

THE FOOD IS BACK.

BIRDS KNOW THEIR HOME TERRITORIES WILL BE GREEN AGAIN.

BERRIES, BUGS, SEEDS, AND WORMS, ALL THAT YUMMY FOOD THAT BIRDS LIKE TO EAT WILL BE FRESH AND PLENTIFUL IN THE SPRING.

WHEN THEY FLY BACK TO THEIR SUMMER HOMES, THEY CAN SPREAD OUT.

THEY WON'T HAVE TO SHARE WITH ALL THE OTHER BIRDS THAT SPENT THE WINTER IN THE SOUTH.

WHEN ANIMALS HAVE TO SHARE, SCIENTISTS CALL IT COMPETITION.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE A KID WITH A CANDY BAR.

YOU MIGHT BREAK IT IN HALF AND SHARE IT WITH YOUR BROTHER.

BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO SHARE IT WITH A WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THERE MIGHT BE NOTHING LEFT FOR YOU AND YOUR BROTHER.

THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WHEN BIRDS RETURN HOME, BECAUSE SPRING IS THE NESTING SEASON, AND THE PARENT BIRDS WANT TO BE SURE TO HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO FEED THEMSELVES AND THEIR YOUNG.

>> OK.

I UNDERSTAND WHY ALL THOSE BIRDS THAT EAT BUG AND BERRIES HAVE TO GO SOUTH, BUT WHAT ABOUT HAWKS AND FALCONS?

THEY DON'T EAT THOSE THINGS GLUR RIGHT.

BUT BIRDS OF PREY EAT SONG BIRDS THAT EAT THE BUGS AND BERRIES.

IT'S ALL PART OF THE WEB OF LIFE.

AND IF YOUR LUNCH IS GOING SOUTH AND YOU'RE A BIRD OF PREY, WELL, YOU BETTER FOLLOW IF YOU WANT TO EAT.

>> HOW DO YOU KNOW ALL THIS?

>> RESEARCH.

A TYPE OF SCIENTIST CALLED A BIOLOGIST CAPTURES SONG BIRD AND BIRDS OF PREY AND MARKS THEM WITH BANDS TO FIND OUT WHERE THE BIRDS COME FROM AND WHERE THEY GO.

AT THE IDAHO BIRD OBSERVATORY NEAR BOISE, SONG BIRDS ARE CAPTURED IN THESE NETS, THEN BANDED, MEASURED, WEIGHED, BEFORE REBEING RELEASED.

OFTEN WITH THE HELP OF SCHOOL KIDS.

OVER THE YEARS, BIOLOGISTS CAN TRACK THE DIFFERENT SPECIES OF BIRDS THAT PASS THROUGH.

IN ADDITION, RESEARCHERS CAN DISCOVER WHERE EACH SPECIES SPENDS THE WINTER.

>> MAKE SURE IT'S NOT GOING TO SQUISH HIM, AND CLAMP IT SHUT.

WHENEVER YOU WANT HER TO GO, GIVE HER A BOUNCE AND BLOW ON HER LITTLE BUTT.

THERE YOU GO.

COOL.

>> OF COURSE THE BIRDS OF PREY ARE NEARBY BECAUSE THEIR FOOD IS HERE.

THE SONG BIRDS.

RED TAIL HAWKS, COOPER HAWKS AND OTHERS ARE CAPTURED JUST BELOW THE RIDGETOP AS THEY SEARCH FOR PREY.

>> SHARP SHIN HAWK.

>> JUST LIKE A SONG BIRD, THIS SHARP SHIN HAWK IS WEIGHED, MEASURED, AND BANDED BEFORE IT'S RELEASED.

>> GO TO MEXICO!

ONE, TWO, THREE.

>> FLY!

>> JOINING ME NOW TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT BIRD MIGRATION ARE JAY CARLISLE, RESEARCH DIRECTOR AT THE IDAHO BIRD OBSERVATORY, AND VICKY RUNNOE, CONSERVATION EDUCATION SUPERVISOR FROM THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME.

AND WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

GIVE US A CALL AT 1-800-973-9800 1-800-973-9800.

OR YOU CAN EMAIL US AT D4K@IDAHOPTV.ORG.

REMEMBER, WHEN YOU SEND IN A QUESTION YOU AND YOUR CLASS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN A DVD PLAYER AND OTHER PRIZES.

WE'VE GOT SOME CALLERS ON THE PHONE.

WHO DO WE HAVE ON LINE TWO?

HELLO?

PARKER?

>> Caller: YES.

>> WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?

>> Caller: WHAT IS THE PACE OF SPEED BIRDS FLY WHEN THEY FLY SOUTH.

>> I THINK THAT VARIES BY SPECIES.

THERE ARE SOME BIRDS LIKE THE PEREGRINE FALCONS THAT CAN FLY RIDICULOUSLY FAST, SOMETIMES 20 MILES PER HOUR, AND OVER THAT WHEN THEY'RE HUNTING.

OTHER SMALLER BIRDS MIGHT FLY MORE LIKE 10 TO 30 MILES AN HOUR AS THEY'RE MAKING THEIR MIGRATION.

THAT'S JUST A GENERALIZATION.

>> LET'S GO TO GRACE IN MERIDIAN.

ARE YOU THERE?

>> Caller: YEAH.

>> GO AHEAD, GRACE.

>> Caller: ABOUT HOW MANY BIRDS MIGRATE A YEAR?

>> HOW MANY BIRDS MIGRATE EACH YEAR?

>> OH, WOW.

HOW HIGH CAN YOU COUNT, GRACE?

MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF BIRDS MIGRATE EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

TO TRY TO PUT A NUMBER ON IT -- ANY IDEA?

CAN YOU COUNT THAT HIGH?

>> I CANNOT COUNT THAT HIGH, AND I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

ON EACH CONTINENT THERE'S MILLIONS MIGRATING, BETWEEN THE TEMPERATE ZONE, THE TROPICAL ZONE EVERY YEAR.

>> AND GRACE IN MERIDIAN, GO AHEAD.

ARE YOU THERE?

GRACE?

LET'S TRY BEN.

I'M SORRY, GRACE, GIVE US A CALL BACK.

BEN, CAN YOU HEAR US?

GO AHEAD, BEN.

GENTLEMAN HOW COME SOME BIRDS DON'T MIGRATE?

>> OK.

>> WELL, A LOT OF IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THEY EAT.

IF THEY'RE AN INSECT EATER AND ALL THE BUGS DIE OFF IN THE WINTER, THEY'RE GOING TO BE REALLY HUNGRY IF THEY DON'T MIGRATE.

IF THEY'RE A BIRD LIKE, SAY, MY FAVORITE BIRD, A CHICKADEE, AND THEIR FOOD IS HERE AND THEY EAT SEEDS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE US, IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO DO SOMETHING, ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT?

SO IF YOUR FOOD IS HERE, YOU'LL PRETTY MUCH STAY, LIKE YOU'RE A RESIDENT HERE IN BOISE OR WHIR EVER YOU'RE CALLING FROM, AND THESE BIRDS ARE A RESIDENT HERE IN IDAHO.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF EMAIL QUESTIONS.

ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR WAS, WHY DO BIRDS TRAVEL IN THAT V FORMATION?

KATY AND ADAM ASKED THAT QUESTION, SAM, JACE, CLARK, ABBY, AND CONNER, MORGAN, DILLON, CAESAR, THEY ALL ASKED, WHY DO THEY GET THAT V FORMATION GOING?

>> REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

IT HAS TO DO WITH VING ENERGY.

IF BIRDS CAN TRAVEL IN A GROUP LIKE THAT AND SAVE ENERGY WHILE FLYING, THEY CAN TRAVEL FARTHER AND MORE EFFICIENTLY DURING THEIR MIGRATION.

SO THE LEAD BIRD TAKES SOME OF THE BRUNT OF THE WIND IN THE FRONT AND THEN THEY TRADE OUT OVER TIME.

SO A BIRD THAT WAS MIGRATING IN THE BACK OF THE VFT, MIGHT GRADUALLY BE UP IN THE FRONT, BUT WHILE THEY'RE IN THE BACK THEY CAN SAVE ENERGY BECAUSE THEY'RE DRAFTING OFF THE LEAD BIRDS.

>> DO WE KNOW HOW THEY -- THE BIRDS DECIDE WHO GETS TO GO FIRST?

IS THERE ANY RHYME OR REASON TO THE PATTERN?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I'M NOT SURE.

>> I DON'T THINK WE KNOW THAT EITHER.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY DRAW STRAWS OR WHAT.

THEY DO SWITCH BACK AND FORTH.

>> ABBY AND COURTNEY AND GAVIN, AT HORIZON ELEMENTARY, THEY WANT TO KNOW, DO ALL BIRDS FLY SOUTH?

>> WELL, THEY FLY SOUTH FOR THE WINTER TIME, AND THEN THEY TURN AROUND AND FLY BACK NORTH FOR THE SUMMER.

FOR EXAMPLE, HERE IN NORTH AMERICA, IDAHO'S SUMMER BIRDS ARE HUMMINGBIRDS, EVEN OUR BLUEBIRD DO MOVE SOUTH BECAUSE IT'S WARMER, MORE FOOD, AND THEY TURN AROUND AND THEY HEAD BACK NORTH IN THE SUMMERTIME BECAUSE THEN THEY HAVE FOOD AND THIS IS THEIR BREEDING TERRITORY WHERE THEY RAISE THEIR BABIES AND LIVE.

SO THEY DO GO BOTH DIRECTIONS.

>> AND I MIGHT ADD IT'S NOT ALWAYS EXACTLY SOUTH.

IT MIGHT BE TO THE SOUTHWEST, IT MIGHT BE TO THE SOUTHEAST IN THE FALL MIGRATION AND SOME BIRDS MIGHT EVEN GO MORE WEST THAN SOUTH OR EAST THAN SOUTH, DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY'RE HEADING FOR THE WINTER.

SOME BIRDS MIGHT JUST BE MOVING TO A LOWER ELEVATION AREA.

IF THEY'RE MOVING FROM A MOUNTAIN TO A VALLEY, IT MIGHT BE EASIER TO GO WEST AND DOWN SLOPE THAN FLYING EXACTLY DUE SOUTH.

GENERALLY SOUTH, GENERALLY NORTH, DEPENDING ON THE SEASON, BUT THERE'S VARIATION.

>> JAKE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, HOW DO BIRDS FLAP THEIR WINGS SO THEY DON'T GET TIRED?

>> I THINK YOU CAN FIND AN AWFUL LOT OF EVIDENCE FROM SCIENTISTS THAT BIRDS ARE REALLY TIRED WHEN THEY MAKE WHAT WE CALL LANDFALL.

IF THEY'RE COMING ACROSS WATER, WHERE THE FIRST LAND THEY SEE, THEY DROP DOWN AND LOOK FOR FOOD.

YOU CAN WALK UP TO THESE BIRDS, THEY'RE JUST EXHAUSTED.

THEY'RE SO TIRED.

TO I THINK FLAPPING A LOT AND BEING TIRED GO HAND IN HAND.

>> BUT ALSO I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT BIRDS HAVE HIGHER EFFICIENCY AND TAKING OXYGEN OUT OF THEIR BLOOD AND THEREFORE OUT OF THE AIR MAKES THEM ABLE TO DO EXERCISE, WHICH IS WHAT THEY'RE DOING AS THEY'RE FLAPPING THEIR WINGS MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO.

AND THEN BECAUSE THEY STORE A LOT OF FAT, WHICH IS THEIR MIGRATORY FUEL, THAT ALLOWS THEM TO KEEP GOING AND GOING LIKE A BATTERY, BECAUSE IT PROVIDES FUEL, SOMETIMES FOR 24, 48, EVEN 72 HOURS FOR SOME SPECIES OF CONTINUOUS FLYING.

AND I THINK IT'S THAT COMBINATION OF USING FAT AS FUEL AS WELL AS THE OXYGEN EXTRACTION EFFICIENCY, THAT ALLOWS THEM TO DO THAT BEFORE THEY GET TO THAT TIREDNESS POINT.

>> EXACTLY.

THERE'S SOME AMAZING -- THERE'S A LITTLE WARBLER, THESE LITTLE DUDES WILL DO WHAT JAY WAS JUST TALKING B. THEY FLY, THEY MEET UP AT A STAGING AREA BEFORE THEY MIGRATE ON THE EAST COAST AND THEY FLY OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN TO SOUTH AMERICA.

THAT'S ALMOST 2,500 MILES.

AND THEY DO IT WITHOUT STOPPING.

BECAUSE AS JAY MENTIONED, THEY'RE SO EFFICIENT.

BUT THAT'S AMAZING.

I COULDN'T IMAGINE ANY OF US TRYING TO DO THAT.

WE JUST COULDN'T.

IT'S PRETTY REMARKABLE WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO.

>> FROM RIVERSIDE SCHOOL IN BOISE, CAMERON WANTS TO KNOW, WHERE DO FLAMINGOS MIGRATE TO?

ARE THEY RESIDENT BIRDS?

>> THERE ARE FLAMINGOS WITHIN NORTH AMERICA.

WE HAVE SOME THAT LIVE IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA, AND THERE'S A POPULATION THAT LIVES THROUGHOUT THE CARIBBEAN ON EASTERN MEXICO, AS WELL AS DOWN TO THE NORTH SLOPE OF SOUTH AMERICA, AND I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME MIGRATION BETWEEN THOSE AREAS.

BUT I THINK SOME ARE ALSO RESIDENTS WITHIN THAT AREA AS WELL.

IT PROBABLY DEPENDS ON FOOD SOURCES AND CERTAIN TIMES OF YEAR THAT CERTAIN AREAS ARE MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN OTHERS.

>> AND JENNA FROM THE SAME QLOOS LIKE TO KNOW, WHERE DO THE BIRDS FROM IDAHO MOSTLY GO?

>> I GUESS THAT DEPENDS ON THE KIND OF BIRD.

OUR MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD MIGRATES TO THE SOUTHERN U.S., PRETTY MUCH.

BUT A RUFUS HUMMINGBIRD MAY MIGRATE TO CENTRAL AMERICA, OSPREYS GO TO SOUTH AMERICA, SO IT DEPENDS UPON THE KIND OF BIRD AS TO HOW FAR THEY WILL GO.

>> I THINK THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF SPECIES PROBABLY DO END UP IN CENTRAL MEXICO, THAT SEEMS TO BE A CORE FOR -- A CORE AREA FOR THE WINTERING RANGE THAT HOSTS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF IDAHO SPECIES DURING THE WINTER.

LIKE SHE SAID, ANYWHERE FROM NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA TO SOUTHERN UNITED STATES, BUT WITH A CORE AREA IN WESTERN MEXICO.

>> OK.

LET'S GO TO ELISE IN BOISE.

GO AHEAD.

>> Caller: WHAT KIND OF BIRDS ARE ADAPTED TO LIVING IN WINTER INSTEAD OF GOING SOUTH?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

THERE ARE SEVERAL.

SOME, INCLUDING RAPTORS LIKE A RED TAILED HAWK THAT MIGHT FEED ESPECIALLY ON SMALL MAMMALS OR A BALD EAGLE THAT FEEDS ON FISH, DOESN'T NEED TO MIGRATE AS FAR.

OTHER BIRDS LIKE A BLACK CAPPED CHICKADEE THAT CAN SWITCH THEIR DIET FOR MORE INSECTS TO MORE SEEDS AND FRUIT CAN STAY HERE.

OTHER BIRDS LIKE SPARROWS, THAT ARE THE MORE COMMON WINTERING BIRDS IN THE TREASURE VALLEY, FEED ON SEEDS THROUGH THE WINTER.

SO THEY'RE ABLE TO STAY HERE THROUGH THE WINTER.

>> AN EMAIL FROM MRS.

McCOY'S CLASS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, DO OWLS MIGRATE?

>> THEY DO.

JAY IS AN EXPERT ON THAT, SO I'LL LET YOU TAKE THAT QUESTION.

>> THERE ARE SOME OWL SPECIES THAT DO MIGRATE AND SOME THAT DON'T.

UP IN THE BOISE FOOTHILLS WE STUDY NORTHERN OWLS AND FLAPULATED OWLS, WHICH EAT INSECTS, BUT SOME OTHERS, AND SO THEY NEED TO MIGRATE TO AT LEAST THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES, MOSTLY TO WEST CENTRAL MEXICO AND FARTHER SOUTH TO PINE FORESTS DOWN THERE TO SURVIVE THE WINTER.

WHEREAS SAW WOOD OWLS, ALSO A SMALL OWL, BUT THEY RELY ON SMALL MAMMALS, SO THEIR MIGRATION IS A SHORTER DISTANCE, SO THEIR MOVEMENT MIGHT BE JUST TWO OR 300 MILES IN ORDER TO REACH AN AREA THAT HAS HIGHER FOOD SUPPLIES.

BUT GREAT HORNED OWLS, ANOTHER COMMON RESIDENT BIRD HERE, THEY DON'T MIGRATE BECAUSE THEY HAVE FOOD SOURCES ANYWHERE FROM SMALL MA'AM WRAPS OR BIRDS TO RACOONS AND SKUNKS THAT THEY CAN EAT ALL YEAR-ROUND.

AND THEY DON'T SMEL THE SKUNK, SO IT DOESN'T BOTHER THEM TO HAVE THE SKUNK SMELL ON THEM.

>> LEAH AT CYNTHIA MANN ELEMENTARY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY CAN'T BIRDS JUST HIBERNATE?

DO THEY ANYTHING LIKE BEARS DO?

>> THEY DON'T HIBERNATE, BUT THERE ARE SOME BIRDS THAT WILL VOLUNTARILY LOWER THEIR BODY TEMPERATURE, SO, FOR INSTANCE, CHICKADEES CAN DO THIS AT NIGHT WHERE THEY CAN STORE UP FAT FROM THE FOOD THEY EAT DURING THE DAY, AND THEN THEY LOWER THEIR BODY TEMPERATURE AT NIGHT SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO KEEP THEIR BODY AS WARM AND USE AS MUCH ENERGY TO DO THAT, BUT THEY STILL HAVE TO SHIVER TO KEEP IT TO SOME BASELINE LEVEL OF WARMTH SO THEIR BODY ORGANS DON'T FAIL.

BUT IF YOU WERE TO FIND A BIRD LIKE THAT AT 3:00 IN THE MOING HIDING IN A BUSH, IT MIGHT NOT BE VERY RESPONSIVE BECAUSE IT WOULD JUST BE IN A SHIVERING STATE AND NOT AWARE YET.

IN THE MORNING THEY'LL TURN IT BACK ON, AND OVER THE COURSE OF A HALF HOUR OR SO THEIR BODY WARMS UP AGAIN AND THEY'RE READY TO START FLYING AROUND.

AND THERE'S ACTUALLY A BIRD RELATED TO THE NIGHT HAWK WHICH WILL GO INTO TORPOR FOR LONGER PERIODS, BUT NOT IN IDAHO.

THEY'LL DO IT IN THE WINTER IN THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES, LIKE ARIZONA OR NEW MEXICO, OR EVEN INTO NORTHERN MEXICO.

>> I DON'T THINK OF THAT AS VERY COLD.

>> BUT THERE ARE COLDER NIGHTS ON THE DESERT, BECAUSE THERE CAN BE SUCH DRAMATIC SHIFTS FROM A DAYTIME HIGH OF 80 OR 85 TO FREEZING.

THEY'LL GO INTO TORPOR FOR A COUPLE WEEKS AT A TIME AND HIDING UNDER A BUNCH GRASS, OR A SHRUB, AND THEN THEY'LL COME OUT, MAYBE DEFECATE, POOP, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND BE ACTIVE FOR A DAY OR TWO, AND BE BACK INTO TORPOR AND THAT'S A WAY OF GETTING THROUGH THE WINTER.

>> IS IT IMPORTANT TO PUT BIRD FEEDERS OUT HERE IN THE WINTER?

>> IT'S BEEN INTERESTING, PEOPLE HAVE WONDERED, IF I PUT FEEDERS OUT WILL BIRDS BECOME DEPENDENT ON THE FEETERS?

SOME RESEARCH INDICATES IF YOU PUT A BIRD FEEDER OUT, THE RESIDENT GROUP OF BIRDS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WILL START USING THAT FEEDER AS AN EXTRA FOOD SOURCE.

IF THE FOOD GOES AWAY, THEY'RE STILL GOING TO LOOK FOR FOOD ELSEWHERE.

WHAT FEEDERS HAVE ACTUALLY DONE IN PARTS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES IS THEY'VE ALLOWED SOME MORE SOUTHERN BIRDS TO KIND OF MOVE THEIR REGULAR RANGE, THE PLACE THEY LIVE, FARTHER NORTH.

CARDINALS IN THE NORTHERN MIDWEST IS ONE EXAMPLE OF A BIRD THAT HAS KIND OF BENEFITED FROM FEEDERS.

I LIKE HAVING FEEDERS IN MY YARD BECAUSE I LOVE TO WATCH THE BIRDS IN THE BACK YARD.

AND IT'S A GREAT WAY TO OBSERVE NATURE UP CLOSE, AND IF YOU'RE FEEDING SUN FROWER SEEDS, THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU CAN GET INTERESTING BIRDS.

>> YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE CHANGES IN THE BIRD COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND SEE WHO HAS MIGRATED OR WHO IS THERE THAT'S NO LONGER THERE IN THE WINTER TIME.

THAT'S A NEAT WAY TO CONNECT WITH NATURE.

>> LET'S GO TO HAVEN IN BOISE.

ARE YOU THERE?

>> Caller: YEAH.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> Caller: DO BIRDS CARRY DISEASES?

>> DO BIRDS CARRY DISEASES?

GOOD QUESTION.

>> YEAH, BIRD DOES CARRY DISEASES.

AND IT DEPENDS ON THEAREA.

SOME PLACEMIGHT HAVE A HIGHER PREVALENCE OF DISEASE, OR A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION HAS DISEASE.

WE, FOR INSTANCE HERE IN SOUTHWESTERN IDAHO DURING MIGRATION WILL SEE BIRDS CARRYING A VIRUS CALLED AVIAN POX.

THAT AFFECTS THEIR FEET SOMETIMES, AND SOMETIMES THE EDGE OF THEIR BILL, THE FLESH NEAR THE BASE OF THEIR BILL.

THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A FATAL DISEASE, BUT SOMETIMES IT DOES CAUSE THEM TO LOSE A TOE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S NOT A REALLY DANGEROUS DISEASE OR REALLY PREVALENT AMONG THE POPULATION, BUT THERE ARE OTHER AREAS WHERE A DISEASE LIKE THAT CAN BE A LOT MORE DANGEROUS TO BIRD POPULATIONS.

>> JOS AT CYNTHIA MAN ELEMENTARY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW LONG HAVE THE TWO OF YOU BEEN STUDYING BIRDS AND BIRD MIGRATION?

>> I GUESS -- I'M NOT A PROFESSIONAL ORNITHOLOGIST.

BIRDS HAVE BEEN MY HOBBY, I'VE BEEN A BIRD WATCHER SINCE I WAS PROBABLY THIS YOUNG LADY'S AGE.

I'VE ALWAYS LOVED BIRDS, AND I'M LUCKY SINCE I DO EDUCATION I GET TO HELP PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT BIRDS, WHICH IS FUN.

A LONG, LONG TIME, I'M PRETTY ANCIENT.

MOST OF MY LIFE I'VE BEEN INTERESTED AND FASCINATED BY BIRDS.

>> I BEGAN TO GET INTERESTED IN BIRDS WHEN I WAS 16 OR 17.

IT TOOK A WHILE.

I WAS TOO INTO SPORTS FOR A WHILE.

AND I'VE BEEN STUDYING MIGRATION FOR THE LAST 14 YEARS.

IT'S SOMETHING I GET REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.

STUDYING BIRDS FOR 17 OR 18 YEARS SINCE COLLEGE, BASICALLY, BUT MIGRATION FOR THE LAST 14 YEARS, AND I HOPE FOR EVERY YEAR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

>> IF YOU WANT TO STUDY BIRDS, WHAT SHOULD YOU STUDY?

>> IN SCHOOL I THINK GETTING A BIOLOGY DEGREE DURING YOUR UNDERGRADUATE IS DEFINITELY IMPORTANT, AND GETTING SOME EXPERIENCE, MAYBE AN INTERNSHIP OR SEVERAL SEASONAL JOBS WORKING WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE TO GET A TASTE FOR WHAT YOU LIKE.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, I WORK SEVERAL BREEDING SEASONS THAT AIM REALLY DIFFERENT HAWKS AND OWLS, AND I HAD A CHANCE TO STUDY MIGRATION HERE, AND THAT GOT ME HOOKED.

I WAS ALREAD HOOKED ON BIRDS AND SCIENCE, BUT STUDYING MIGRATION, A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS WE'VE SEEN TODAY ARE SO FASCINATING.

HOW DO BIRDS FLY THAT FAR AND FAST?

WE GET TO STUDY AT LEAST ONE PORTION OF THAT IN IDAHO, UNDERSTANDING HOW THEY'RE ABLE TO PUT THAT FAT ON, HOW LONG IT TAKES TO DO THAT.

SO HAVING THAT EXPERIENCE, STUDYING MIGRATION, SORT OF SUNK THE HOOK INTO ME, AND I CONTINUED FROM THERE.

A COMBINATION OF SCHOOL AS WELL AS GETTING INTERNSHIP SPEERNTIONZ GETTING OUT THERE WITH A PROFESSIONAL, LOTS OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE PEOPLE ALONG TO SHADOW THEM TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT YOU LIKE.

>> IF YOU WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT IT, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACROSS THE STATE.

>> IDAHO FAMILY READING WEEK IS NOVEMBER 15th THROUGH THE 21st THIS YEAR, AND THEIR THEME IS IDAHO IS WILD ABOUT READING.

AND OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES ALL OVER THE STATE AND I THINK SOME OF THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES, TALK TO YOUR LIBRARIAN, WILL BE HAVING DIFFERENT PROGRAMS ABOUT WILDLIFE AND NATURE, AND THEY'LL HAVE BOOKS THAT YOU CAN CHECK OUT TO READ ABOUT THESE.

SO CHECK THOSE THINGS OUT.

YOU MAY FIND SOME COOL WILD STUFF THAT YOU WANT TO READ ABOUT.

WINTER IS COMING, GREAT TIME TO CURL UP WITH GOOD BOOKS AND LEARN ABOUT WHAT'S WILD OUTSIDE IN IDAHO.

ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO DO THAT.

>> YOU CAN GO TO THE "D4K" WEBSITE.

MOST OF THE SUBJECTS HAVE A READING LIST OF BOOKS APPROPRIATE.

TAKE A LOOK ON THE "D4K" WEBSITE AT IDAHOPTV.ORG.

CLICK ON "D4K" AND LOOK FOR YOUR SPECIFIC TOPIC.

OUR NEXT ONE, KILE UNTIL BOISE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHY DO SOME BIRDS MAKE REALLY DEEP NESTS AND OTHERS DON'T?

>> I GUESS PART OF THAT WOULD DEPEND UPON THE KIND OF BIRDS.

ALSO SOMESOMETIMES THEIR BODY SHAPE THAT THEY USE -- WHEN I THINK OF DEEPER NESTS, HUMMINGBIRDS HAVE DEEP NESTS, SOME OF THE SONG BIRDS HAVE CUP NESTS.

BUT THEN YOU CAN HAVE SOME RAPTOR NESTS THAT ARE FLATTENED.

PARTLY I THINK MAYBE WHAT THEY MAKE THE NEST OUT OF IS PART OF THAT.

STICKS ARE HARDER TO MUSH AROUND TO YOUR BODY SHAPE THAN MUD WOULD BE.

>> ONE SPECIES BUILDS VERY DEEP NESTS, THEY CRAWL INTO IT, THERE'S LIKE THIS HANGING SACK THE I DON'T RECALL SITS IN.

T MIGHT PROVIDE TEMPERATURE REGULATION TO KEEP A NEST FROM GETTING TOO HOT OR TOO COLD.

THEN I THINK OF A MORNING DOVE THAT BUILDS A FLAT NEST AND MAYBE FOR THEM IT'S BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY BUILD NESTS ON THE GROUND, OTHER TIMES THEY BUILD NESTS ON TREE BRANCHES.

MAYBE THEY HAVE A NEST TYPE THAT'S ADAPTABLE AND CAN CHANGE DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY ARE.

>> ON THE PHONE I'M GOING TO GET TO YOU IN A MOMENT, STAY TUNED, I'LL GET ON YOU THE WEB EXTRA.

KENTON FROM HAYDEN MEADOWS IN COEUR D'ALENE, WHAT'S THE BIGGEST BIRD?

>> PROBABLY OSTRICH.

>> OR EMU ARE PROBABLY THE LARGEST LIVING BIRDS.

>> AND KELLEN WOULD LIKE TO KNOW -- >> BACK TO THE BIGGEST BIRD, PART OF THE REASON THOSE BIRDS ARE SO BIG IS THEY DON'T FLY.

AND THEREFORE WITHOUT HAVING THE WINGS, THEY CAN PUT ON EXTRA BODY WEIGHT BECAUSE IF THEY HAD TO FLY THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO CARRY THAT WEIGHT.

>> AND MICHAEL FROM THAT SAME CLASS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHY CAN'T PENGUINS FLY?

>> THEIR WHOLE BODY SHAPE AND THEIR WINGS ARE NOW FLIPPERS.

SO THEIR ENTIRE LIFE HAS EVOLVED SO THEY'VE ADAPTED TO WATER.

AND THEIR WHOLE BODIES -- THEY WEIGH MORE NOW, AND THOSE LITTLE FLIPPERS, WHILE THEY'RE FABULOUS FOR GETTING THROUGH THE WATER, COULDN'T LIFT THEM ON THE GROUND.

THEIR A FEATHERS -- FEATHERS ARE DIFFERENT TOO.

THEIR FEATHERS ARE MORE FOR HOLDING IN HEAT FOR INSULATION, AND FOR THESE -- USING THEM FOR BUOYANCY FOR DIVING AS WELL.

>> THEY'RE MORE LIKE A DOLPHIN.

>> FROM MRS.

TANNER'S CLASS, WHY DO BIRDS FLY IN GROUPS?

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT V FORMATION.

WHY ARE THEY A LITTLE IN SUCH BIG NUMBERS TOGETHER?

>> I WOULD SAY MAYBE THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS IN SUCH BIG NUMBERS TOGETHER, BUT THEY OFTEN ARE DURING MIGRATION IN WINTER, AND SOME OF THAT COULD BE SAFETY IN NUMBERS.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, IF Y HAVE A PREY SPECIES, WHETHER IT'S A SONG BIRD OR A GOOSE, AND YOU'RE HANGING OUT WITH 99 OTHER FRIENDS AND RELATIVES, MAYBE YOU HAVE A MUCH SMALLER CHANCE OF BEING NOTICED OR ACTUALLY TAKEN BY A PREDATOR, WHEREAS IF YOU WERE ON YOUR OWN FLYING OVER SOME GRASSY MEADOW REALLY OBVIOUS, THAT MIGHT MAKE YOU MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TOLL PREDATION.

>> JACOB FROM MRS.

WHITTLE'S CLASS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHEN DO BIRDS KNOW WHO MIGRATE?

HOW DO THEY FIGURE OUT IT'S TIME TO GO?

>> THAT'S BEEN PONDERED FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS.

WE ALL HAVE THESE INTERNAL CLOCKS THAT TELL US WHEN THE DAYLIGHT SHIFTS, AND BIRDS CAN DETERMINE THAT.

WE EVEN NOTICE IT I THINK TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, HUMANE SOCIETY DO.

AS THIS -- THEY TELL THIS -- THEY HAVE A GLAND IN THEIR BRAIN, AND IT TELLS THEM IT'S TIME TO LEAVE, IT'S TIME TO MOVE.

AND THEY GO THROUGH ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS, THEY BECOME RESTLESS, THEY START EATING A LOT.

THEY'RE LIKE YOUR TEENAGE BROTHER, SITTING AT HOME AND EATING EVERYTHING.

AND WHEN THEIR BODY IS READY, THEY JUST GO.

BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT EXACTLY HOW THAT HAPPENS, EXACTLY WHEN IT IS TRIGGERED.

>> I THINK THE -- FOR THE SPECIES THAT AREN'T TIED INTO THE DAYLIGHT, THERE MIGHT BE SOME SPECIES WHO ONLY MOVE WHEN CONDITIONS CHANGE.

SO SEED EATERS AND PREDATORS MIGHT BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO A SHORTAGE OF FOOD AND THAT'S WHEN THEY KNOW TO MIGRATE.

OTHER BIRDS, LIKE A WARBLER, IT'S ALL ABOUT DAYLIGHT.

WHEN IT NIGHT IS LONG ENOUGH, AND THEY'RE LIKE, OK, IT'S TIME TO GO.

AN OWL MIGHT MIGRATE WHEN THERE AREN'T ENOUGH MICE TO EAT AND THEY CAN SENSE THAT INTERNALLY.

>> SARAH AND ANDREW AND JACOB ARE ON THE PHONE.

STAY WITH US.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PICK YOU UP ON THE OTHER SIDE ON OUR WEB EXTRA.

STAY WITH US, AND I'VE GOT ONE REALLY QUICK QUESTION -- WHY DO BIRDS SING?

>> MOSTLY IT'S THE MALES THAT SING, AND IF YOU WANT TO ATTRACT A GIRL, YOU WANT TO LOOK GOOD, SOUND GOOD, AND IT'S TO ATTRACT A FEMALE AND TO ESTABLISH A TERRITORY, SO THEY'RE SAYING, HEY, YOU, STAY AWAY FROM MY TERRITORY, THIS IS MY SPOT!

AND THEY'RE SAYING, HEY, BABY, WANT TO COME NEST WITH ME?

WE GET THE BENEFIT BECAUSE IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.

>> OK.

WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU TO JAY AND VICKY.

APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US HERE.

IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BIRD MIGRATION, GO TO THE "D4K" WEBSITE, WATCH THE VIDEO SHORTS AND OUR SPECIAL WEB-ONLY PROGRAM THAT WE'LL BE TAPING RIGHT AFTER THIS.

THERE'S ALSO LOTS OF FANGTSES AND LINKS AND OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT BIRD MIGRATION AND OTHER TOPICS.

CHECK IT OUT AT IDAHOPTV.ORG.

CLICK ON "D4K."

OUR NEXT "D4K" BROADCAST PROGRAM WILL BE TAKING YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT CHEMISTRY.

SO TUNE IN NOVEMBER 17th AT 2:00 P.M.

MOUNTAIN, 1:00 P.M.

PACIFIC AND SEND IN YOUR QUESTIONS.

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THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON "D4K."

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