If you’re getting to know the birds in your neighborhood, spring is an excellent time to learn all about them and watch how they behave. This is the time of year when they're busy choosing mates, building nests and incubating eggs, which means many of their territorial tendencies will be coming out. Here are a few to watch and listen for.

Mirror attack

In the spring, birds may fixate on a shiny object, like a car mirror or window and then repeatedly charge at it. That’s because when birds catch their reflection, they think another bird is moving in on their turf. So they’ll do what birds do: Try and chase it away. To give the bird (and your ears) a break, you can cover up the reflective surface with a cloth or a tarp.

Dawn chorus

There’s one thing you can count on in the spring — a lack of silence at sunrise. It’s the time of year when birds sing for hours early in the morning, with some getting started when it's still dark. Scientists think birds do this to give all the birds within calling distance an important status update, letting the others know they’re still around and the territories of yesterday are still in force today.

Scolding

You’re just doing some yardwork or relaxing on the deck. Except, this bird is making a lot of racket, almost like it’s screaming, and it won’t stop. That probably means someone or something is too close to the nesting site for comfort and the bird is trying to get the invader to move on. If you can, give your feathered friends some peace of mind by taking your yard activity elsewhere.

Swooping

You’re heading out for your morning run in the park when … these black birds may come swooping at your head! Red-winged Blackbirds are infamous for swooping down on park goers while their mates are on the nest, and they may even peck you during the flyby. In the meantime, wear a cap or try a new route.

During the active nesting season, songbirds will definitely be looking for a bite to eat. Filling your feeders with Lyric Fine Tunes No Waste Mix is one way to keep their energy stores high, but because we've removed all the shells, it leaves no mess on your deck or your yard.