Archive | November 2024

REPORTS OF MONARCHS WINTERING IN THE SOUTHEST NEEDED

Nov27

          For unknown reasons, in recent years thousands of monarch butterflies have been found overwintering throughout the Southeast In an effort to learn more about this phenomena, a consortium of universities, state wildlife agencies such as the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and other conservation groups like Monarchs over Georgia have banded together to form an organization called Monarch Overwintering in the Southeastern United States or MOVERS.  The group is requesting the public’s involvement in reporting sightings monarch in the Southeast during the winter.

         One of the goals of MOVERS is to determine how monarchs that over winter as adults in the Southeast affect future the size of future monarch populations.  The study also hopes to document how winter breeding in the Southeast might affect the monarch’s annual migration to Mexico.

       If you would like to take part in the effort to document monarchs in the Southeast this winter, contact journeynorth.org/surveys or www.inaturalist.org.

BACKYARD SECRET – MANY OAKS DEPEND ON BLUE JAYS TO “PLANT” THEIR ACORNS FAR AWAY

Nov24

 

       Some 150 animals unwittingly “plant” acorns from the trees that produced them.  However, in the case of at least 11 species oaks, the only critter that routinely buries acorns and other large seeds more than several hundred yards from the trees that produced them is the blue jay.

       Blue jays will cache acorns some 2½ miles away.  On top of that, they do not store damaged acorns. Since blue jays never eat all of the acorns, they bury in caches scattered across the countryside. They help ensure the dispersal and survival of the trees that produced them.

WINTER ROOST SITES USED BY NORTHERN FLICKERS

Nov21

      The availability of winter roost sites is a critical component of the habitats used by birds in winter.  Some birds roosts in thick conifers or hardwoods (that retain the leaves in winter). Others use natural cavities or nesting boxes to escape cold, rain, and snow throughout the coldest nights of the year. 

       It is a popular belief that northern flickers invariably roost in natural cavities and nesting boxes.  While they do indeed use them as winter roosts, one study designed to determine the winter roosts used by male northern flickers, found they also roost is some truly odd places.

       The study revealed that during the winter months male northern flickers tend to roost in different locations each night. These roosting sites are typically less than a mile from the place they slept the previous night. Interestingly, over several weeks, all of roosts used by an individual flicker were located in an area less than a half mile in size.

       The research revealed the birds tended to roost out in the open. The types of places chosen by the birds to sleep varied widely.  In addition, of sleeping in natural cavities, they also roosted on the trunks of trees, under the eaves of buildings, under bridges, and even in chimneys.

       Consequently, if you are up late on Christmas Eve, and hear something moving about in your chimney, do not assume it is Santa; it just may be a northern flicker.

 

WATCHING FLYING SQUIRRELS DINE AT YOUR FEEDERS

Nov18

       Chances are, in spite of the fact Georgia is home to both northern and southern flying squirrels, you probably have not seen them at your feeders; this due, in large part, to the fact they are nocturnal.

       The vast majority of Georgians will never see a northern flying squirrel since its range extends only into a small section in northeast Georgia.  The southern flying squirrel, on the other hand, ranges across the entire state, including the range of the northern flying squirrel.  With that in mind, I am going to focus my comments on just the southern flying squirrel.

       Those of us that have mature oaks and hickories growing either in or close to our yards have the best chance of seeing these fascinating mammals. Acorns and hickory nuts are two of their favorite foods.  However, they are also fond of sunflower seeds. The best way to feed them to southern flying squirrels is to place them in a platform feeder.

      Some people have accidentally discovered southern flying squirrels visit their yard when the animals’ activities triggered motion-activated security lights. In addition, some homeowners point incandescent yard lights on their feeders so they can watch the animals feed. Others prefer to bathe their feeding area in the glow of red lights.  Although red light is not totally invisible to the squirrels, we can see squirrels moving about.

       In recent years, some homeowners have begun watching flying squirrels with using UV-flashlights.  If you decide to use these special devices, read the instruction material that accompanies them.  Improper use of them can lead to eye damage.

       When you shine UV light on the animals, you will discover that areas on their flying squirrels’ body will appear to be pink.

       Whatever source of light you use, if you notice that your light source is altering their activities, shut the lights down. 

 

PLACING FEEDERS CLOSE TO WINDOWS REDUCES BIRD MORTALITY

Nov15

       Nobody likes to hear the sound of a bird striking a window.  One of the ways that we can reduce mortalities caused by birds hitting windows is by locating feeders within no more than three feet of a window.  The reason why this technique works is when a bird leaves a feeder so close to a window, it cannot get up enough momentum to suffer a fatal injury. 

       I will discuss other ways to prevent window strikes in future columns.

LOOK FOR SNAKE SKINS WHEN CHECKING NEST BOXES

Nov10

       Since it is November, it is time to begin checking, cleaning, and repairing nesting boxes.  Since you never know what you will find when you open a nesting box, I find the task exciting. When I peek into a box and spot a shed snakeskin, I consider it a real prize, since in most cases it means a bird brought the skin to its nest.

       The chances of you finding a snakeskin in bluebird nesting box are slim unless a squirrel has enlarged the entrance hole. However, if the whole is at least 2 inches in diameter, the presence of snakeskin means a great crested flycatcher nested there.

       The only other cavity nesting bird in our neck of the woods that brings a snakeskin to its nest is the tufted titmouse, however they only do so occasionally.

       The only other bird that regularly includes a snakeskin its nest is the blue grosbeak.  Since the does not nest in a cavity, look for its nest in low trees in shrubs along the edges of fields.

       The birds supposedly adorn their nests with the skins and even drape them over nesting boxes in an attempt to deter animals such as flying squirrels from entering the cavity and devouring the eggs.

       At times, pieces of plastic bags are incorporated in nests. Are they substitutes for snakeskins? Who knows?

BLUE JAYS EXHIBIT AN INTERESTING BEHAVIOR WHEN EATING FOOD AT FEEDERS

Nov7

      There are all sorts of behaviors we can observe by watching various species of birds eat at our feeders.  For example, whenever a flock of blue jays descends on a feeder, invariably only one bird will feed at a time.  This is because blue jays flocks have a dominance hierarchy.  Consequently, the most dominant bird in the flock is the first to feed.  Once it has fed, the others will feed according to their ranking in the hierarchy.  As such, the least dominant blue jay feeds last.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CHANGE THE NECTAR IN HUMMER FEEDERS IN COLD WEATHER?

Nov3

        Now that November has arrived, we have entered Georgia’s Second Hummingbird Season.  This special time of the year extends from November through February. During these four months, Georgians have the best opportunity to spot see a rufous and other unusual hummingbirds.  Consequently, many hummingbird fanciers maintain a feeder throughout these coldest months of the year.

       Since we rarely see winter hummingbirds, it is easy to forget that hummingbird feeders should be kept clean and filled with fresh nectar.  Dirty feeders containing fluid that is contaminated with mold and bacteria are potentially harmful to the birds using them.


How often feeders should be cleaned and refilled with, fresh fluid is determined by the temperature of the air.  As such, those Georgians that live in South Georgia where winters are milder than anywhere else in the state, will have to clean and refill feeders more often than those of us the live in Middle and North Georgia.

       If the temperature reaches into the 80s and above, it would be a good idea to change sugar water at least every three to four days.  If daily highs average in the 70s, you might be able to go up to a week before refilling your feeder.  When the daily high temperatures drop to 60 or below, nectar will sometimes remain fresh well more than a week.  If the nectar becomes cloudy, however, you have waited too long.

      I hope you will host one or more winter hummingbirds in your yard this winter.  Unfortunately, chances are one will not appear. If one does show up, you are in for a real treat!   Good luck!