Just wondering what birds do all day.

bobcat

bobcat

Well-known Member
Location
Northern Calif
I see them forage for food for a few minutes during the day, and occasionally take a dip in the bird bath.
In the spring they build nests and sit on the eggs for a couple weeks, and mission accomplished.
I guess some go south for vacation during the winter, but others just can't be bothered.
They fly around from one place to another, but I have no idea why or what they do while perched in their favorite evergreen.
They don't have jobs, schedules, appointments, or go to concerts, so what's that rockin' robin doing the rest of the day?
 

I was walking about in my yard along the tree line on one side, when I came upon a small bird sitting on branch. It seemed to be unaware of my presence. I held out a finger as one would with a parakeet, and like a parakeet it stepped forward onto my finger. I slowly moved my finger to in front of my face. The bird looked into my eyes, and suddenly flew straight up into the air in a perfect vertical takeoff, and then he was gone.
 
Science cartoon about bird planning how they poop on humans | Science ...
 
Rae said:
The birds here have gone elsewhere as there are too many cats that will catch them. I used to feed them but do not know where they are except in some other neighborhood.
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I have often wondered why birds will land in places where cats can get them. I mean, they have wings and can fly anywhere. I know they have to land on the ground to eat, but why near homes where cats are. But then I have to remind myself that they don't think like humans do.
 
bobcat said:
. But then I have to remind myself that they don't think like humans do.
Click to expand...
Depending on how many a cat manages to kill we don't know that. Could be that people living in Chicago are at worse risk than birds from cats.

The 2024 homicide rate in Chicago was approximately 17 per 100,000 residents, according to FBI data. For the first half of 2025, the rate was lower than the previous year, and data from mid-2025 indicated a rate of around 28.7 per 100,000, based on a specific mid-year report.

  • 2024: Approximately 17 homicides per 100,000 people.

  • Mid-2025: Around 28.7 homicides per 100,000 residents, based on a mid-year report.

    • Comparison: The 2024 rate was lower than the previous year, and the rate from mid-2025 showed a significant drop compared to the same period in 2024
 
I don't have a clue what they do all day but I do know that if I were a bird, I'd be a tree owl. This guy has brains. Has a nest in a hollow of a tree out of the rain, snow and wind, Is deadly silent so has very little trouble getting food, and is solitary so doesn't fly around in groups constantly on the move. Have you ever seen a flock of owls?

This describes me, so maybe I was an owl long ago. Hmmm
 
Knight said:
Depending on how many a cat manages to kill we don't know that. Could be that people living in Chicago are at worse risk than birds from cats.

The 2024 homicide rate in Chicago was approximately 17 per 100,000 residents, according to FBI data. For the first half of 2025, the rate was lower than the previous year, and data from mid-2025 indicated a rate of around 28.7 per 100,000, based on a specific mid-year report.

  • 2024: Approximately 17 homicides per 100,000 people.

  • Mid-2025: Around 28.7 homicides per 100,000 residents, based on a mid-year report.

    • Comparison: The 2024 rate was lower than the previous year, and the rate from mid-2025 showed a significant drop compared to the same period in 2024
Click to expand...
You're probably right about the risk of living in Chicago. I imagine if people could fly, and didn't need employment, shopping, and healthcare, a lot more would prefer living in the country.
 
bobcat said:
I have often wondered why birds will land in places where cats can get them. I mean, they have wings and can fly anywhere. I know they have to land on the ground to eat, but why near homes where cats are. But then I have to remind myself that they don't think like humans do.
Click to expand...
Because it's some other poor SOB ( some other bird) that's going to be kitty's dinner, not me. So, you can infer, they do think like people.
 
bobcat said:
I see them forage for food for a few minutes during the day, and occasionally take a dip in the bird bath.
In the spring they build nests and sit on the eggs for a couple weeks, and mission accomplished.
I guess some go south for vacation during the winter, but others just can't be bothered.
They fly around from one place to another, but I have no idea why or what they do while perched in their favorite evergreen.
They don't have jobs, schedules, appointments, or go to concerts, so what's that rockin' robin doing the rest of the day?
Click to expand...
if you get bored...
 
Yes, birds are much smarter (and sometimes caring) than they arre credited for. One day, the dove I had for 10 years was on a perch in the kitchen I made for her. She would sit there and watch me go about my chores.

One day, I decided to see what she would do if I fell, so I pretended to fall (taking care not to hurt myself) and I called out, "Oh no, I've fallen, and I can't get up!" She immediately swooped down from her perch and lit on me, very distressed. I started laughing and she looked directly at me, then flew back to her perch.

I tried the same stunt the next day, and it didn't work - she didn't leave her perch, but she did look intently, as though trying to decide what to do, then she started cooing when I got up, indicating all was okay. They know more than we think!
 
We have had parakeets in the past and they were cute. One flew out of the cage and my husband caught it and put it on his finger and told me to come pet it. It bit me and I kept trying to pet it with it biting me again. I finally gave up and we put it back in the cage. Not sure what it was thinking.
 

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