WHITE ASTERS – STUNNING AND BENEFICIAL

Oct18

          If you ride down a country road in Middle Georgia right now the blossoms of two native plants grab your attention. These plants are goldenrod and white aster.

       Goldenrod is by far the showstopper.  In many locales yellow plumes of goldenrod blanket fields and roadsides.  In some areas, however, goldenrod is sharing Mother Nature’s late summer/early fall floral stage is white aster.  These plants can reach a height of 3 or more feet and during their blooming season this perennial is covered with untold an  untold number of snow-white daisy-like blooms.  A singe plant can literally display a hundred or more of these tiny floral jewels.  At least five species of these native asters grow in Georgia.  Needless to say, separating one species of aster from another can be perplexing, however, the two asters we are apt to see along roads and fields in this neck of the woods are named the smooth oldfield aster or small white aster.  The other plant is called the hairy oldfield white aster or frost aster.     The plants are deer resistant, and often grow in poor, dry soil.   In addition, they bloom up to six weeks.

       In addition to being attractive, they are valuable wildlife plants.  Those asters that bloom in late summer and beyond provide nectar well after many pollinator plants have ceased blooming.  While they are particularly popular with native bees and wasps, they also provided food for butterflies, and even beetles.

      These asters serve as caterpillar host plants for the silvery checkerspot and pearl crescent butterflies.  On top of that, their tiny seeds   are devoured by sparrows and other songbirds.

     The next time you spot mounds of tiny white blossoms festooned on plants growing  along the roadside, stop and admire these native beauties.  After you see them up-close, it is next to impossible not to take a bevy of photos that you will want to share with others.

 

         

DON’T TAKE DOWN ALL OF YOUR HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS

Oct14

        My wife and I saw a hummingbird October 9.  Since we have during the past five days later, we have probably seen our last ruby-throated hummingbird this year. In spite of this, we will continue the maintain a single feeder.  In fact, we take a feeder down.

       There are a couple of reasons for this.  One reason is, there is always the chance that a rubythroat heading toward its winter home.  If one does find our yard, it will benefit from being able to quickly refuel and continue on its migration.

      Another reason is a few rubythoats do spend the winter here.  If they do, our feeder will supplement the food it collects from feeding at yellow-bellied sapsucker holes, and other sources.

       If you do maintain a feeder, you have a chance of attracting a rufous hummingbird. Over the past several decades rufous hummingbirds have wintered here every year. In fact, the rufous hummingbird is the most common hummingbird seen in Georgia during the winter.

       A feeder will give you a chance of seeing another species of hummingbirds that visit the Peach State now and then. This includes such as the black-chinned, calliope, Allen’s and others.

       If you maintain at least one hummingbird feeder throughout the winter, chances are you will not see one of these birds.  If you are lucky, you will be in for a real treat. 

BACKYARD SECRET – WHERE GRAY SQUIRRELS LIVE CAN AFFECT THEIR COLOR

Oct11

       The results of a recently published study conducted in Montreal, Canada by researchers at McGill University suggest where gray squirrels live appears to have an impact on the color of their coats.

       According to the study’s senior author, Allison Roth, the amount of forest cover and other factors found in urban areas seem to affect the color of the animals’ hair.  The researchers learned that the squirrels inhabiting those neighborhoods in the city with colder winter temperatures and more trees are more likely to display black coats. In comparison, squirrels that live in the more urbanized and warmer areas of Montreal were more likely to have gray coats.

       According to the author, “People often think of cities as a single type of environment, but our findings show that conditions animals experience can vary dramatically from one neighborhood to another,” Roth went on to say, “These local differences, along with barriers such as rivers, can shape how wildlife populations evolve, which means we need to look beyond simple urban-rural comparisons to understand adaptation in cities.”

HELP NEEDED TO TRACK THE SPREAD OF THE JORO SPIDER

Oct8

         The University of Georgia’s Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health is tracking the spread of the invasive Joro spider across the State of Georgia.  With that in mind, the researchers are asking the public to document its march across the Peach State.

       “You can’t just have the experts looking for them,” says the center’s Rebecca Wallace.  She went on to say, “Photos from the public help researchers identify new habitats and collect specimens for further research.”

       Another goal of this study is determining if this large spider is having any impact on native wildlife.  Many Georgians are afraid the Joro spider’s webs are catching ruby-throated hummingbirds and butterflies such as the monarch. 

       If you like to participate in this research, visit the website named Joro Watch.  Once there, fill out the submission form and submit it with a photo of the spider that you believe is a Joro. https://jorowatch.org/

BACKYARD SECRET: ONE-WAY CHIPMUNKS WARN OTHERS WHEN A PREDATOR IS NEAR

Oct4

           Chipmunks are common residents in Georgia yards.  While they can be regularly seen during the warmer months of the year, at no time are they more often seen than from late summer throughout autumn.  This is the time when chipmunks are busy gathering and storing food for winter. 

          As you might expect, this is a time when they are more likely to cross paths with predators. When one chipmunk sees a hawk, fox or other predator they warn the other chipmunks in the area that danger is close by. Remarkably, they warn their cohorts when a predator is near using two distinct calls.  One is uttered when an aerial predator is close by.  A totally different call is vocalized when the threat comes from a ground predator.

          Now that is pretty neat!

BACKYARD SECRET – DO KATYDIDS HAVE THEIR EARS ON THEIR KNEES?

Sep30

 

            Although katydids do not have external ears like humans, they do they do have tympanal organs located just below the “knee” on the insects’ front legs.  If you look closely at a katydid, you will notice there is a tiny oval hole on the upper part of each front leg.   These tympanum organs allow the insect to detect sounds.  I guess you can say the katydid does indeed have its ears on its knees.

BACKYARD SECRET – GOLDENROD IS VALUABLE TO POLLINATORS

Sep27

     

       In my yard and through much of Georgia, goldenrod is just beginning to bloom.  Unfortunately, most Georgians consider goldenrod a weed.  The truth of the matter is goldenrod is a host plant for than 100 species of moths and butterflies. In addition, hundreds of species of insects dine on goldenrod nectar and pollen. 

       Indeed, this secret needs to be told and we need to the share this secret with everyone who shares a love for the natural world.

MIGRANTS PASSING IN THE NIGHT

Sep23

       Now that we are in the first week of fall, here is something you might want to order before you drop off to sleep tonight.

       While you are asleep, thousands of migratory songbirds are passing over Georgia.  These long-distant migrants are flying toward their winter homes far to the south of the Peach State.

Many of them will fly 165 miles or more before dropping from the skies tomorrow morning at a stopover area. These are special places where they can rest, drink and refuel.

The birds fly under the cover of darkness because the air is cool and they can avoid predators.  One of the reasons they are able to fly across night skies is because they can navigate using star patterns. In addition, special proteins located in their bills and eyes allow them to sense the Earth’s magnetic fields.

For more information regarding how you can assist these migrants, read: Out My Backdoor: Make Your Yard a Pit Stop for Southbound Migrants | Department Of Natural Resources Division

A CROW, A WREN, AND A SQUIRREL – WILD DRAMA

Sep20

       Most of the most memorable wildlife sightings seem to take place when and where we least expect it.  Such was the case this morning.

       After eating breakfast, my daughter placed some leftover scrambled eggs in a dog bowl sitting on her back porch.  In a few minutes, an American crow flew in and walked over to the dog bowl.  It then proceeded to pick out all of the scrambled eggs and drop them on the floor beside the bowl. After eating a bit of the eggs, it slowly sundered out into the yard and began eating dog food scattered on the ground.  While the crow was eating the dogfood, a gray squirrel showed up and ate a sliver of the eggs. My daughter said that while dining, the gray squirrel held the food like it was eating a potato chip.

     All the while the squirrel was dining, a Carolina wren was loudly fussing as it flew between the house and a nearby planter.  The squirrel did not seem upset with the wren’s behavior.  My daughter said that while eating, the squirrel sat on its haunches and held the food in its front feet like it would a potato chip.     

     When the squirrel departed, the wren dropped down and picked up the largest piece of the scrambled eggs and flew off.

       This drama lasted only five minutes as my daughter and granddaughter watched drama less than 10 feet away through a glass door.

       Now that is the way to start the day!

THE VALUE OF LEAVING DRY CONEFLOWER SEED HEADS

Sep16

        With each passing day, the beautiful coneflower blossoms that adorned our gardens throughout the summer wither and die. When this occurs all that remains are prickly brown seed heads.  When this happens often your first impulse is to prune cut them off.  If you want to help many of the seed-eating birds that have called your yard home throughout the spring and summer, resist the urge to snip them off.

        The reason for this is each seed head contains 200-300 nutritious seeds.  Since the seed heads persist into winter, they provide seeding-eating birds with a source of food when food is scarce.  Indeed these natural seed feeders are an asset to any backyard.

        American goldfinches are particularly fond of the seeds; however, other birds dine on the nutritious seeds too.  The list of the birds that compete with goldfinches for this bounty include blue jays, mockingbirds, Carolina chickadees brown-headed nuthatches and cardinals.