Introduction to the birds
Colourful leaves and rustling branches have their own songs in nature and change with the variations of the seasons and the strength of the wind. So, one tree can have many different songs and they all touch us in strange ways as they have an almost magical appeal. These songs are natural and a welcomed break from the daily noises we hear in the environment created by humans. Noises from cars, machines, airplanes, and all other man-made mechanical equipment, which can be both troublesome and painful to take in for the ears and senses.
The songs of the trees though, are a wake-up call to make us remember that we humans are after all a part of the natural world, just as the birds. And all the countless variations of melodic songs from the birds is also a reminder that we are an equal part of nature.
The trees and the birds are living in a symbiosis, and if we observe and listen, they can teach us a lot. But this writing is not about trees, this is about birds. Our intention, as said in the previous article Flying acrobats is to give you a short presentation of all the species we have observed here at Valabærjet.
So let’s fly away and start with one of the most common and smallest:
Coal tit (eng.) - Svartmeis (nor.) - Periparus ater (lat.)
The Coal tit, this tiny bird, is so connected to humans. Without any scientific evidence to prove it, this must be one of the small birds that befriend humans most easily and trust them. Also being one of those most eager to visit one of the many “restaurants” providing food throughout the winter. Restaurants being birdfeeders of any kind provided by humans, in cities as in the countryside.
Their range includes most of Europe, north-west Africa, Asia Minor, southern Siberia east to Kamchatka, Japan and Taiwan.
Since we wrote about songs in the introduction, here you can listen to the Coal tit:
These birds are not amongst the ones that build up a layer of fat to survive winter. Being the smallest of all tits, the Coal tits have a hard time during winter, almost living from day to day. They weigh about 9,5 grams and need 1,3 kcal. per gram each day to keep the heat and energy. At the same time, the Coal tit, as several other tits, make themselves a self-made packed lunch, by storing seeds and insects from summer/autumn. They do not kill the insects or larvae but wrap them in a kind of glue from salvia and keep them as fresh food when winter comes. It may sound brutal, but this is how they survive. So, then they have “fresh food” in late autumn and perfect “frozen food” during winter.
As mentioned earlier, the coal tit connects easily with humans, and in wintertime, you don’t have to stand long with sunflower seeds or similar treats in your hand before they come and pick. They often jump from one branch to another to get closer and feel safe before they land in your hand, head or shoulder.
When it comes to storing food, it is kind of fantastic how different kind of tits may share the same branch in a tree for storage, the Coal tit uses the outermost part of the branch, the Crested tit on the middle part and finally the Willow tit uses that part of the branch closest to the trunk. Almost alphabetically arranged from outer to inner part of the branch, just like in a library or a storage house.
So until next time and next bird, keep your eyes and ears open to our flying friends.
Morten
Finally, thanks to Pål Hermansen for inspiration and his permission to use text from his fantastic book: