Someone on Flickr I follow posted a photo of a Song Sparrow she had freed from some burrs. I did not realize that this was such a dangerous plant to birds. But, a recent study I found online stated that the burdock is an invasive species from Asia. And, a lot of birds, mostly small migrating songbirds, get caught in them and die. The document said that the researchers thought that the birds that got caught were foraging for arthropods to eat. But, they weren't 100% certain. The study also showed that Common Yellowthroats and Downy Woodpeckers forage successfully on these plants. So, if you are out birding in a field, look around in the plants. Maybe you can make a rescue, too.
Link to the photo:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sparrowbon/15594685542/
Link to the PDF file for the study done in Canada:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcanadianfieldnaturalist.ca%2Findex.php%2Fcfn%2Farticle%2Fdownload%2F1447%2F1469&ei=1q5HVMqbO6PlsASSxIE4&usg=AFQjCNGEKW8mppeITdqqQePjo-H2aERv9g&bvm=bv.77880786,d.cWc
I found the study just by doing a simple search with "birds get caught in burrs".
Hope you see some birds today!
Ken
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