BACKYARD SECRET – CHIPMUNKS CAN RUN FASTER THAN GRAY SQUIRRELS AND HUMANS

May21

       I guess it is just human nature to wonder what is the largest, smallest, oldest, or most beautiful. With that in mind, when you see an eastern chipmunk scurry across you yard, have you ever wondered if you could out run it?  I know that I have.

       Remarkably, the eastern chipmunk can run at speeds of up to 21 miles per hour.  This might not seem like a lot until it can you realize that they can out pace most of us. 

       The average running speed for humans it 15-20 miles per hour.  In my case, it would be difficult for me to run 15 miles per hour, however, the best sprinters can race down a track at 23-25 miles per hour. 

       In comparison, the gray squirrel can keep pace with the tiny eastern chipmunk running at upwards of 20 miles per hour.

 

BACKYARD SECRET – GRAY SQUIRRELS EAT BONES

May17

       One the wonderful things about wildlife watching is every day when you walk outside you have a chance of spotting an animal you have never seen before, or observing wildlife engaged in a behavior you have never witnessed.  A few days ago, my daughter, Angela, saw a gray squirrel do something that she had never seen.

       As far was my daughter is concerned, she sees squirrels in her backyard far too often.  While she doesn’t have anything against the agile tree inhabitants, her major complaint is they eat more than their share of the seeds and suet she offers her bird neighbors. Then on top of that, they destroy her feeders.  That being said, they engage in some fascinating behaviors.  A few days ago, she witnessed a gray squirrel do something she had never seen before.

       As she idly watched a squirrel scampering down the top of the 6-foot wood fence that stands along the backside of her yard, she noticed it was carrying a bone about four inches long and about the width of a nickel.  It looked to be one of the bones left by her dog.

       When she told me about the experience, I told her that she was probably correct since gray squirrels do eat bones. While gray squirrels devour a variety bones, they are particularly fond of those that are sun-bleached.

       Gray squirrels dine bones for a couple of reasons.  First of all, the bones help wear down their front teeth. This is necessary because these teeth continually grow throughout their lives.  If the squirrels do not gnaw on hard bones the teeth will continue to grow and eventually curl and prevent the animals from eating.

The second reason is bones are an excellent source of much-needed calcium and phosphorus.

       If you happen to see gray squirrels carrying or eating bones in your yard, you will know why they are engaged in this bizarre behavior. 

Isn’t it amazing what you can see taking place just outside your backdoor?

WILDLIFE LOVE BLACKBERRIES

May13

      I have a seemingly endless fight with blackberries. Our wildlife neighbors spread blackberry seeds throughout our yard. Consequently, I have to pull up new plants that pop up in our lawn, gardens, and shrubs.  That being said I do not try to eradicate them when those plants that grow in the edge of property. I do this because blackberries rank near the top of the list of foods favored by both mammals and birds. More than 100 species of wildlife consume blackberries.  Juicy blackberries are just beginning to ripen in my neck of the woods, and birds are already feasting on them.

       The list of critters that eat wild blackberries includes the raccoon, chipmunk, and gray squirrel. Some of the numerous birds that dine on blackberries includes the northern bobwhite, wild turkey, great crested flycatcher, American and fish crows, Baltimore and orchard orioles, indigo bunting, cardinal, gray catbird, Eastern bluebird, yellow-breasted chat, eastern towhee, cedar waxing, and woodpeckers such as the red-bellied and red-headed, brown thrasher, and white-throated sparrow. 

       If we are lucky, my wife and I try to grab few blackberries before the birds gobble them up.

       I should also mention that rabbits and deer eat the plants’ tender stems and leaves.

       In addition to being a great source of food, many birds and other animals use blackberry patches as nesting and escape cover.

       Wild blackberries are indeed an important part of the diverse wildlife habitat that exists just outside our backdoor.

      

 

WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN PHOTOGRAPHING BIRD NESTS AND YOUNG IN YOUR BACKYARD

May10

       Many of us are fortunate that birds nest in our yards.  Some of the birds that commonly nest in our trees, shrubs, and nesting boxes are cardinals, brown thrashers, and mockingbirds.  If we just happen across a nest while walking about our yards or notice adults regularly bringing food to their young, it is not hard to find a nest. When you locate one, often the first thing that often comes to mind is the desire to take pictures of the nest, eggs and young. There is nothing wrong with this however, if you are not careful your attempts to take great pictures can result in the birds abandoning it or the eggs and/or young found in the nest falling prey to predators. Here are a few tips that will help ensure that this does not happen.

       Keep your visits to a minimum. If you visit nests where the adults are incubating their eggs, the nesting birds will often abandon their nests.  This is especially tree early in incubation.  In addition, frequent visits can alert predators that a nest is near.

       When photographing nests and their contents, you should never cut leaves and branches that prevent you from taking clear photos.  When you cut down the vegetation, you are making it easier for predators to find it.

       Resist the urge to take pictures from as close as possible. Take your photographs as far away as possible. Then regardless of whether you are taking photos with a camera equipped with a telephoto lens, or a smart phone, you can later easily edit the photographs digitally.

       In addition, when photographing adults bringing food to their young, you should always stand as far away as you possibly can.  When you are too close, the parents will sometimes not visit or reduce the number of times they bring food to their hatchlings.

       If you are careful, you will be able to take some memorable photos of the nest and while you witness a new generation of birds fledge—it does not get any better than that.

      

        

DO BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS LAY THEIR EGGS IN MOURNING DOVE NESTS?

May7

       Brown-headed cowbirds never build a nest, however, they lay their eggs in the nests of more than 220 species of birds. One of these species is the mourning dove.

       It seems cowbirds rarely lay their eggs in dove nests. When a female cowbird lays her eggs in a dove nest it proves to be a poor decision.  The doves typically damage or refuse to accept the cowbird eggs. If an egg is happens to be incubated, a cowbird hatchling cannot survive on the diet of crop milk mourning doves feed their young.

KEEPING CATS INDOORS HELPS SAVE BIRDS

May3

         It is estimated that 100 million free-ranging and feral cats patrol backyards and wildlands across the county. These feline predators are responsible for the deaths of 1.3 to 4 billion birds annually.  A single cat is capable of catching 48 birds per year.

       The problem of free-ranging cats capturing wild birds is just acute in all states.  In Georgia, more than 24 percent of our households share their homes with at least one of these furry friends. By keeping our cats indoors, we will literally save the lives of millions of birds. Meanwhile we will extend the length of our cats will be beloved members of our households. One study found that free-ranging cats typically live only two to five years.  In comparison, those felines that live indoors live 17 years or more.

       With that in mind, if you share your life with a cat and love birds too, consider not letting your cat(s) roam free.

BACKYARD SECRET – IT IS TIME TO PREPARE FOR ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS

Apr29

        Now is a great time to be on the lookout for rose-breasted grosbeaks migrating home for the nesting season.  During the past several days, I have received reports of rose-breasted grosbeaks visiting backyards scattered across the state.  If you want to stand the best chance of seeing the handsome birds in your backyard, here are a few suggestions.

       To begin with, fill your feeders with their favorite seeds.  I have always provided the migrants with black oil sunflower seeds. They are also fond of safflower seeds and raw peanuts.  While I have never served up either seed to northbound migrants, my daughter fills her feeders with both sunflower and safflower seeds.  This year, the birds visiting her yard have shown a preference for safflower seeds. On the other hand, I have not seen a grosbeak in my yards this spring.

       You can also enhance your chances of attracting the birds by offering seeds on platform and tray feeders; they will also use large hopper feeders.

       The location of your feeders can also affect whether or not the birds dine at your backyard diner.  While they will visit feeders in any number of locations, they seem to prefer feeders placed near large deciduous trees and thick shrubs.

       Finally, offer the migrants plenty of clean water.

       I hope you will hosting rose-breasted grosbeaks in your yard very soon.

THE EYE-CATCHING LARGUS BUG

Apr26

 

      Many of the insects found in Georgia are very difficult to identify because they look so similar to their close relatives.  In fact, some must be dissected to them apart; such is not the case with the largus bug (Largus succinctus).  It is roughly ½-inch long, and has a flattened oval, blackish-colored body that is outlined with an orange to red border.  As such, it is easy to understand why some call it the bordered plant bug.

       Largus bugs are often seen feeding on a wide variety of plants including, shrubs, trees, forbs, as well as ornamental and garden plants.  It often inhabits oaks,  pines, and wax myrtles. (This insect rarely causes significant damage to these sources of food.)

       In case you are wondering, the largus bug does not bite humans.

      

      

BACKYARD SECRET-WEBSITE THAT PROVIDES INFORMATION ON NATIVE PLANTS IN YOUR AREA

Apr23

       The number and variety of native plants that grow in your yard plays a key role on determining what species of wildlife will inhabit your yard. The problem is trying to determine which plants will grow in your neck of the woods.

       The National Audubon Society has simplified the task of trying to identify which native wildlife-friendly plants grow in the county where you live.

       If you want to access this information, go to the National Audubon Society’s website.  Once there scroll to the window labeled Plants that Grow in your Area.  You will see a place where you enter your zip code.  Type in your zip code; press the Enter button and the plant list for your area will appear.

AN EASY WAY TO PROVIDE BIRDS WITH NESTING MATERIAL

Apr20

 

       Some backyard birds incorporate hair in their nests.  In fact, my wife and daughter watched a tufted titmouse pluck hair from one of our sleeping bird dogs.   This is a form of kleptotrichy.

       If you want to do something to help your feathered neighbors other than provide them with food, water and cover, try offering them nesting material.  

       Recently my wife and I packed hair my wife trimmed from out little housedog into a wire suet feeder.  They next day after we hung the wire feeder up in your backyard, the hair began disappearing.  Since we have not caught any bird in the act of plucking hair from the feeder, we have are not sure what birds are using it.  Perhaps it is a tufted titmouse, who knows?

       If you do try offering your backyard birds hair trimmed from your family dog, make sure that it is free of flea and tick control chemicals and shampoos.