Baby birds require from their parents near-constant feeding. But cleaning up after them isn't so hard. Most land birds have developed a technique for ridding waste that make diapers look antiquated. Bird nestlings magically dispose of their excrement in little fecal sacks. The waste is packaged in a little white balloon for disposal, which the adults efficiently remove.
Larger birds like red-tailed hawks and ospreys have evolved a different but equally satisfactory solution to this problem. The young back up to the edge of the nest and fire away, out and over. This instinctive behavior, genetically passed on, is important. Keeping feathers clean is critically important for birds that are dependent on feathers for flight, protection from the elements and insulation.
More about the behavior and habits of nesting bird on the audio Weekly Bird Report, posted above.
Today's bird report is a rebroadcast. It aired originally in June 2013.
