It’s springtime. The weather is getting warmer, trees are blooming, and many birds are migrating across the country. But while many people have been keeping an eye on all the migratory birds as of late, everyone is also waiting with bated breath for the rise of the cicadas this spring. Two broods of periodical cicadas, Brood XIII and Brood XIX, will be emerging across Illinois at the same time. Brood XIII, which comes out every 17 years and is the largest known brood, will emerge in northern Illinois, including Chicago. Brood XIX, conversely, comes out every 13 years and will emerge in southern Illinois. Both broods will also overlap in one section.
Just one example of how many homeowners are protecting their young trees from cicadas.
There’s been a lot of buzz (pun intended) about the ‘Cicadapocalypse’ that’ll befall us, but what does this have to do with birds? As it turns out, many species of birds, even those that don’t usually eat insects, feed on cicadas because they provide protein. Some birds that’ll eat cicadas include songbirds like Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, Sparrows, and Cuckoos, and potentially even raptors like Kestrels and Hawks.
Interestingly, with all the cicadas around to eat, more birds will have more chicks due to most predators going after the cicadas instead of eggs. While it might sound like the cicada population may be kept in check by birds and even benefit the growth of some species, so many cicadas will be coming out that birds won’t be able to eat them all. Regardless of the insects’ overabundant population, many birds are expected to participate in this ‘All-You-Can-Eat CicadaFest.’
A female Northern Cardinal with not one, but two cicadas in her beak!
However, some people may be grossed out by the sight – and sound – of so many cicadas that they’ll try to use pesticides to kill them. Unsurprisingly, that’s a bad idea. Spraying pesticides wouldn’t work on cicadas. Instead, pesticides would harm the environment, especially the birds that consume sprayed cicadas as they would end up being poisoned.
The best thing to do with cicadas is to leave them alone. Cicadas are NOT harmful to humans. They come out in the first place because it’s their mating season. Once their mating season ends and they’ve laid their eggs in young trees, the adults will die out soon after. Spraying pesticides would be pointless.
They may be big and nosy, but it’s best to leave cicadas alone and let the birds have a buffet.
While there will still be plenty of cicadas crawling around by the time the mating season ends, in addition to the annual cicadas, many will most likely become prey to birds and other animals (yes, even some people). Just put the pesticides away and trust in nature. When birding during this coming rise of the cicadas, try to look and see which species of birds will go after cicadas more. Whether you like them or not, the cicadas are bound to make this year a very active one for birds.