ARE SQUIRRELS DETERRED BY COFFEE GROUNDS?

Jul2

        Recently it has been reported that coffee grounds spread below bird feeders deter squirrels from visiting bird feeding stations.

        Before I recommend this practice, I want to know if you have tried this technique. If you have experimented   with it, please let me know his bizarre practice actually works.

 

BACKYARD SECRET – FOWLER’S TOAD OFTEN TRAVEL SOME DISTANCE TO REACH YOUR YARD

Jun29

       Fowler’s toads (Bufo fowleri) commonly inhabit backyards throughout much of the state. They are, however, rather scarce below the Fall Line. 

       In order to reach our yards, Fowler’s toads often have to travel great distances reach water to reproduce. Consequently, often Fowler’s toads make a hazardous journey to reach our yards.  Researchers have found some of these toads make a perilous trek from 1,000 feet to upwards of 6 miles across fields, forests and highways to reach the place where they set up their home range. If Fowler’s toads are not among your backyard neighbors, it could be because you live too far away from a suitable breeding site. 

       They breed in a variety of places such as farm ponds, along the edges of lakes, temporary pools, and roadside ditches.  The do best, however, in waters that are not inhabited by fish.

BACKYARD SECRET – WHAT ARE THE TOP POLLINATORS OF BACKYARD FLOWERS IN GEORGIA?

Jun24

       There are many animals that pollinate flowers in our backyards. The list of the most important critters that perform this critical task, includes European honeybees, native solitary bees,  ruby-throated hummingbirds, bumblebees, butterflies and moths.

       You might be surprised to learn the most important pollinators are our native bees.  It seems there are 500+ species of these valuable insects in Georgia.  Some 90% are solitary bees.

      

CONFLOWERS – A GREAT ADDITION TO YOUR GARDEN

Jun21

       One of our favorite garden plants is a native called purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). 

       This native perennial is a magnet for butterflies, bumblebees and other pollinators. In addition, its seeds devoured by a number of birds such as sparrows, eastern towhees, nuthatches, Carolina chickadees, tufted titmice, and northern cardinals.

       One of things I like best about the plant is that it blooms from May until September.

       While it will make a great addition to most Georgia flower gardens, when you purchase purple coneflower plants you need to know if you are buying true native coneflowers or one the many cultivars on the market.  These plants bear fanciful names such as Secret Affair, Avalanche, Coconut Lime, cotton candy, Fatal Attraction, Lilliput, Meringue, and milkshake.

       While these variety might be of value to wildlife, far too often cultivars are showy but lack the ability to produce nectar, pollen and seeds.  I can attest to the value of native purple coneflower, however, I know nothing about any of the cultivars sold in nurseries across the state.

       If you have found any of the cultivars of value to wildlife, please let me know.

 

 

HOW MANY NATIVE PLANTS DO I NEED IN MY YARD?

Jun17

     Since urban/suburban areas are the fastest growing habitat in Georgia many homeowners are adding native plants to their yards in hopes that local food webs will be reestablished. While some people have replaced all of their introduced ornamentals with native plants, most folks choose to slowly replace their noninvasive introduced ornamentals with native plants.  While most gardeners realize that adding a smattering of native plants will not recreate a self-supporting natural habitat, they want to know how many natives they need to incorporate in their landscape to begin making a difference.

     According to noted ecologist Doug Tallamy, our gardens need to be composed of a minimum of 70% native, noninvasive plants.  This threshold is needed to support native insect populations. One of the reasons this is important is these small critters are eaten by 96% of the nation’s terrestrial birds.

     It is often best to have a goal in mind when you embark on such a project. Since most of us will not try to accomplish this goal in a single season. Each time you replace ornamentals replace them with an equal or greater number of natives. Over time, you will eventually reach the 70% goal.

GEORGIA’S LARGEST GRASSHOPPER MAY BE IN YOUR BACKYARD

Jun14

         Recently while walking across the Augusta University Campus my granddaughter spotted the largest grasshopper, she had ever seen.

        Since she knows her grandmother and grandfather are interested in wildlife sightings, she took several pictures of the huge insect using her smart phone and later shared them with us.  

         It turned out that she had photographed the largest grasshopper found in Georgia.  This gigantic grasshopper is the eastern lubber (Romalea microptera).  The critter is sometimes called “The Georgia Thumper.”  

         This grasshopper measures 2½ to 3½ inches long.

         Fortunately, my granddaughter did not try to handle the insect.  The reason for this is, if the grasshopper feels threatens, it defends itself by launching a horrible-smelling toxic spray.

          If you find a lubber grasshopper, you will notice it is equipped with extremely small wings.  In fact, they are so tiny, it cannot fly. As such, it moves from place by walking or crawling.

          Since this native grasshopper ranges throughout the Southeast, there is a chance you might see one in your yard.  If you do find one, please let me know the city and county where it was seen.

        

BACKYARD SECRET – MOCKINGBIRDS NEST MORE THAN ONCE PER YEAR

Jun11

       It is commonly believed that northern mockingbirds nest once a year in the Peach State. Actually they nest 2-3 times of year during a breeding season that extends from February through August.

       Interestingly, it has been reported that mockers have been known to nest up to 7 times in a single year.

BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU PLANT TRUMPET CREEPER

Jun7

       One of my favorite native vines is the trumpet creeper. The problem is experience has taught me you have got to be careful where you plant it.

       Trumpet creeper is a great wildlife plant.  Its thick foliage provides nesting and escape cover for birds and other wildlife. In addition, the vine’s large showy blossoms are a great source of food for a variety of pollinators ranging from bumble bees, moths, and butterflies to orchard orioles and ruby-throated hummingbirds.  It sounds like this is a plant that all wildlife gardeners would like to see growing in their yards; unfortunately, this is not the case.

       The problem is that the trumpet creeper aggressively spreads for the spot where it is planted.  In fact, it is not uncommon for trumpet creeper to spread 35 feet or more.  Consequently, I would recommend that you never plant trumpet creeper close to your home, barn or other structures.  If trumpet creeper reaches a building, it will quickly attach itself and potentially cause damage to the structure.  It matters not whether the exterior is covered with brick, wood or siding, trumpet creeper will attach itself to the material.

       That being said, it does well growing along fences, arbors, and the like.  I have even seen it grown beside poles to create a trumpet creeper tree.

      

BACKYARD SECRET – LEAVING HUMAN SCENT ON A BIRD NEST WILL NOT CAUSE BIRDS TO ABANDON IT

Jun3

         Most of us have heard that, if we touch an active bird nest or young birds, the scent we leave behind will cause the nesting birds to abandon it.

This advice is false.  The reason why this is the case is most birds have a poor sense of smell. 

While we will never know where or why this myth originated, some feel it was perpetrated by adults to discourage youngsters from disturbing bird nests.

      

HELPING CHIMNEY SWIFT NESTING SUCCESS

May31

       The vast majority of the chimney swifts that nest in Georgia build their nests in masonry chimneys. If chimney swifts nest in your chimney, you can enhance their nesting success by simply having your chimney cleaned annually.  This should be done before the birds return to the Peach State in March.

       The reason for this, if creosote builds up on the interior of your chimney, the buildup creates a fire hazard. It also reduces the odds that a tiny chimney swift nest, attached to a chimney’s creosote-laden wall, will break loose before nesting is completed. When this happens, the nest containing eggs or flightless young tumble down.