Archive | June 2024

LISTEN FOR YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS

Jun30

       One of the birds I look forward to seeing and hearing each year is the yellow-billed cuckoo.  During the past few weeks, I have had the pleasure of hearing yellow-billed cuckoos on at least six occasions.  However, only once did I hear it in my backyard.

       These fairly large birds (10.5–12.6 inches long) prefer to live in hardwood forests.  Here they are more often heard than seen.  If you have never seen the bird, there is a chance you have heard it and did not realize what was making the odd call.  Although the bird has several calls, the one easiest to identify is the knocking call (it sounds like something knocking on a piece of hollow wood).  You can hear it and other calls made by this secretive bird at audubon.org/field-guide/bird/yellow-billed-cuckoo.  Once you listen to it, you will find it easy to remember.

       The yellow-billed cuckoo has many fascinating habits.  One of them is it is extremely fond of caterpillars.  In fact, it is one of the few birds that will regularly dine of caterpillars cloaked in prickly spines.

       Yellow-billed cuckoos love eating tent caterpillars.  A single yellow-billed cuckoo can eat 100 or more caterpillars at one time.

       Now is a great time to look and listen for this fascinating backyard neighbor.   Good luck!

 

 

A GREAT PILEATED WOODPECKER STORY!

Jun26

        A while back, I wrote a blog entitled Attracting Pileated Woodpeckers To A Feeder Is A Challenge. The column generated a number of responses from bloggers throughout the country and Canada. One of the responses came from an anonymous blogger that hails from Ontario. It describes more pileated woodpecker activity on and near a house than I would have thought possible.  While most of us are hoping for even an occasional visit by a pileated woodpecker or two, this tale reminds us that if our wishes come true, it is possible the result might far exceed our expectations.  Some people might say that what Anonymous from Ontario experienced. 

Here is what this blogger wrote:

“A Pileated Woodpecker has been tapping at my windows, window frames, brick and back door for over an hour this morning. I went outside and got within 10 feet. He hopped onto the ground! Two of them have been around for two weeks, and have taken the bark off of some pine logs I used to border a garden. There’s a pine stump that’s 4 feet high I plan to carve. They’ve already removed bark from that, to help me out, I guess. I took photos and loads of video of him from the other side of the window. Either he couldn’t see me or he wasn’t bothered about it. Eventually bits were flying off the window frame so it was time for him to move. Once I assume he’s left, he returns and starts knocking on the windows again. I put two pine logs from a pile that have been bored into by something – wood-borer beetles or ants – on the ground so he can explore those next time he comes back.” (East Gwillimbury area, Ontario)

BACKYARD SECRET – LEAKING BIRDBATHS CAN BE REPAIRED

Jun23

       Keeping backyard birds and other wildlife supplied with fresh, clean water is important throughout the entire year.  However, this is often more difficult during the hot summer months.  This is because water evaporates more quickly on hot dry weather than it does when it is cooler.  This is especially true if you have a leaky birdbath.  During a hot day, water can vanish in the matter of a few hours.  If you have a cement birdbath, one of the easiest and least expensive ways to remedy this situation is to reseal the basin.

       Birdbaths should be treated when they a completely dry.  If water is seeping through the basin, spread a clear silicone sealant over the inside of the birdbath.  If there are any cracks in the birdbath, fill them with clear silicone caulk.  Before you refill the birdbath with water, make sure the waterproofing materials are completely dry.

       Before you purchase the sealants, you plan to use to repair a birdbath, seek the advice of the experts working in the store where you plan to purchase them.  Emphasize that you want to use sealants that are not harmful to birds and other wildlife.

 

BACKYARD SECRET – AN UNUSUAL MOURNING DOVE NEST BUILDING BEHAVIOR

Jun19

       Sometimes wild animals engage in amazing behavior in backyards that wildlife watchers rarely witness.  Here is an excellent example of one such behavior. 

       Mourning doves commonly nest in our backyards.  They build their nests in small trees, shrubs and even on wreaths hanging on our front doors, in hanging baskets, or in an upper corner of the inside of a porch.  Since in Georgia doves can be found nesting somewhere in the state throughout the year, we are provided with ample opportunities to observe the birds’ nesting activities.  In spite of this, most of us have never seen a pair of mourning doves actually building a nest.

Photo credit: Terry W. Johnson

      The female actually constructs the nest.  It is the male’s duty to bring his mate the pine needles, sticks, rootlets, grass and other materials she uses to fashion the nest.  Other species of birds display this division of labor.  What is unusual about the manner in which he performs this task; he literally passes the nesting material to his mate while standing on her back!

If you are like me, you would love to see this behavior.  One reason why backyard wildlife watchers rarely witness it is we just do not devote enough time to watching birds go about their daily lives. 

       Now that you realize that such an odd behavior exists, I am sure you are going to put witnessing it yourself on your bucket list. 

COMMON RUE – THE UNCOMMON HOST PLANT

Jun16

       There is a good chance you have never seen common rue (Ruta graveolens) even though it is a host plant for both black and giant swallowtail butterflies.   However, if you have ever played a game of cards, you are familiar with the silhouette of its leaves (they are the inspiration for the club suit).

       Rue is native to the Balkan Peninsula.  However, it currently grows throughout much of the world.  Although is does well in Georgia gardens, I have found it difficult to find at nurseries.

       Rue is an herb that grows only two to three feet tall.  Its blue-green foliage and clusters of yellow flowers that attract a variety of pollinators make it an attractive addition to a variety of garden settings. In many areas, it retains its foliage throughout the winter.  Rue will grow well is partial shade, in a wide range of soil types, and is both drought and deer resistant.  

       On the downside, rue is poisonous.  While some folks can handle rue within impunity, others break out is a rash and/or blisters when they touch the plant.  With that in mind, I recommend that you wear long sleeves and gloves when handling the plant.  NEVER eat it or use it for medicinal purposes.  If you do, you may rue the day you did.

       My wife and I set out rue for the first time this year in hopes of attracting more giant swallowtails. They join two other giant swallowtail caterpillar host plants (wafer ash and trifoliate orange) that have been growing in our yard for a number of years. 

       If you are looking for an odd host plant to try in your landscape, consider common rue.  However, if you do, be careful how you handle it.

      

      

      

      

DRAGONFLIES ARE BIG EATERS

Jun5

       Dragonflies are among the most voracious predators in the entire animal kingdom.  In an effort to satisfy their appetites they capture and devour a wide range of prey animals including bees, flies, mosquitoes, butterflies and other flying insects.

       The insatiable appetites of some species of dragonflies are legendary.  For example, a single dragonfly can eat literally hundreds of mosquitoes in a single day. 

       A scientist once tried to see if he could determine how many houseflies it would take to satisfy the hunger of dragonfly.  He held a dragonfly in place by tying down its wings.  He then proceeded to feed it houseflies one at a time.  Several hours later, the researcher gave up when the dragonfly showed no signs of having eaten its fill!

       Hmmm, this sounds like all homeowners should rejoice when the see dragonflies patrolling their backyards.

IS THE CHUCK-WILL’S-WIDOW POPULATION DECLINING?

Jun2

       One of the things I enjoy about living in rural Georgia is each spring I can enjoy the haunting calls of the chuck-will’s widow (also called the chuck).  Unfortunately, I rarely hear this unmistakable call anymore.  Others have told me that they too rarely, if ever, hear the bird’s chuck-will’s-widow call repeated countless times on a spring evening. As a result, one has to wonder if chuck-will’s-widow population is plummeting.

       Data collected on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Annual Breeding Bird Survey indicate the number of chuck-will’s-widows have declined 58% between 1966 and 2019. The decline appears to be greatest in Tennessee, the Gulf Coastal Plain, and Oklahoma. In some portions of its range that extends from Texas and Oklahoma, across Ohio down to Florida, northward through the Carolinas and Virginia, as far north as New Jersey and Long Island, New York they seem to be holding their own.  However, anecdotal evidence suggests the species is in decline in Georgia.   

       This prompted Birds Georgia (formerly Atlanta Audubon) to add the chuck to its list of Species of Concern.  The organization hopes the designation will highlight the plight of the species and foster interest in addressing it conservation needs.

       Biologists refer to the bird as a data deficient species.  That is a fancy way of saying not much is known about the secretive bird. If you would like to increase our understanding of the chuck-will’s-widow, join The Nightjar Survey Network.  Participants conduct roadside counts spanning 9-mile routes once a year.  For more information on this important survey effort, Google… The Nightjar Survey Network.