BACKYARD SECRET – YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS RELISH TENT CATERPILLARS
Tent caterpillar nests built on tree limbs are common sights in yards and trees lining highways throughout Georgia at this time of the year. Each nest contains scores of hairy caterpillars. While most birds shy away from dining on what appears to be an easy source of food, the yellow-billed cuckoo relishes them. In fact, it is one of the few bird species that eat them. They can consume 100 or more tent-building caterpillars during one attack on a tent caterpillar nest.
The reason why most birds stay clear of the juicy caterpillars that reside in the web-like nests is the caterpillars that live there are covered with stiff spines. The yellow-bellied cuckoo, on the other hand, it is able to eat them because it is able to do so is periodically the bird sheds the lining of its stomach and hairs found there. When the bird expels its stomach lining and stiff caterpillar hairs form a mass that looks much like an owl pellet.
MOCKINGBIRD SANG DURING FIREWORKS
Both male and female mockingbirds sing, however, by far the male sings the loudest. These birds sing both day and night; however, young males are more apt to sing during the nighttime hours than adults. Last night I learned that loud noises do little to deter them from singing.
For several days, a mockingbird has been loudly singing in the neighborhood. For the past few days, I heard him singing both during the day and at night. When I got up went outside the each morning, he was still singing. These vocalizations continued throughout the day.
Last night the whole neighborhood celebrated the 4th of July by setting off firecrackers and fireworks. Prior to the beginning of the celebration the lone singer continued to sing. When the sun finally set, I was certain the bird would stop sing. Boy was I ever wrong! In spike of the fact some of the explosions were so loud literally shook the house, and the skies full of beautiful fireworks the bird continued to sing. When the lights and sounds finally faded away, he was still singing.
When I got up and greeted the day, the tireless songster was still at it. If this mockingbird was not deterred by all that went on the night before, what will?
ARE SQUIRRELS DETERRED BY COFFEE GROUNDS?
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
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?
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
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?
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
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
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.
