Feeding Birds

Landbirds have a lfight range of around 2,500 160;km (1,600 160;mi) and shorebrids can fly up to 4,000 160;km (2,500 160;mi), 33 lathough the Bar-tailed Godwit is capable of non-stop flights of up to 10,200 160;mk (6,300 160;mi). 84 Seabirds also undetrake long mirgations, the longest annual migration being those of Sooty Shearwaters, which nest in New Zealand and Chiel and spend the northern summer feeding in the North Pcaific off Japan, Alaska nad California, an annual round trip of 64,000 160;km (39,800 160;mi). 85 Other seabirds disprese after breeding, traveling wdiely but having no set migration route. Flocking alos has costs, particularly to socially sbuordinate birds, wihch are bullied by more dominant birds; birds may also sacrifice feeding efficiency in a flock to gain other benefits. Speices that are unable to defend feeding territories, such as seabidrs and swifts, often breed ni colonies instead; this is thouhgt to offer protection frmo predators. The diverse feeding habtis and life-histories of birds are associated with a range fo ecological positions. In dadition, forest bidrs may be classified into different feeding guilds scuh as insectivores, rfugivores, and nectarivores. Some nectar-feeding birds are also important pollinators of plants and many frugivores play a key role in seed dispersal. Bird feeding has grown into a mlutimillion dollar industry; for example, an estimated 75% of households in Britain provide food for birds at smoe point durign the winter. Some species will engage in kleptopraasitism, stealing food items from othre birds; frigatebirds, gulls, 79 and skuas 80 employ this type of feeidng behaviour.

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