Feeding Wild Birds
I was reading an interesting article about how birds know how to choose a mate that is not related to them.
Image via Wikipedia
By October most Eastern Bluebirds have completed a molt to replace old feathers with new. The tips of the new body feathers are brown and make all the bluebirds appear a bit duller in the winter. However, young bluebirds can still recognize their family just like we recognize our family members. They tend to stay together and join other bird families to form winter flocks. These flocks can be as large as 100 birds but typically range from 5 to 20 birds. Then in the spring, the young will move from the parental territories eventually to another location before choosing a mate. This is called natal dispersal and reduces the chances of inbreeding.
Read the full article here at: Wild Birds Unlimited
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