Archive | March 2025
BEEBALM IS A HUMMINGBIRD, BEE AND BUTTERFLY MAGNET
Beebalm (Monardo didyma) is also known as Oswego tea or monarda), is a plant that anyone trying to attract hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and other pollinators need to plant in their backyard. This perennial native is easy grow and produces flowers from June into September. It grows to a height of one to five feet. Beebalm grows best in moist to dry soil types. It will grow in partial shade to full sun.
The plant’s flowers attract a number of species of butterflies ranging from the eastern tiger swallowtail, and fritillaries, to whites and sulphurs. It is also visited by snowberry clearwing moths (better known as hummingbird moths).
Some of the native bees attracted to the plant are sweat bees, carpenter bees, digger bees, leaf-cutter bees and mason bees.
After the colorful blooms die, American goldfinches, sparrows and others eat beebalm seeds.
BACKYARD SECRET – DOWNY WOODPCKERS CAN SMELL
Most birds do not seem to have much of a sense of smell. However, research has discovered that some birds can detect certain scents. For example, recently a group of biologists recently reported that hummingbirds could indeed smell certain odors.
In the case of the downy woodpecker, experts believe that downies have a more highly developed sense of smell than most of the birds that inhabit our backyards. There is evidence that suggests that downy woodpeckers can detect formic acid.
Why would this be advantage to North America’s smallest woodpecker? This answer is simple; this ability enables them to locate insects such as termites, ants and bark beetles.
WHY NOT PROVIDE A NEST SITE FOR BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES?
The vast majority of nesting boxes in the state of Georgia are erected to help alleviate the shortage of bluebird nesting sites. While it goes without question that bluebirds need places to nest, all of the other cavity-nesting birds that nest in the Peach State also have a difficult time finding places to nest. With that in mind, why not put up a box designed for brown-headed nuthatches?
While it is true that brown-headed nuthatches will nest in bluebird boxes, the reason more do not do so is often bluebird boxes are placed in wide-open yards, along the edges of fields and the like. Such sites are great for bluebirds but not nuthatches. These tiny birds prefer to nest in more wooded areas.
In backyard settings, boxes should be placed in yards with open mixed or pine trees. Erect only one box per six acres. While the birds will nest within a minimum of five feet of the ground, boxes placed higher are sometimes more successful. Although brown-headed nuthatches will enter boxes equipped with 1.5-inch holes, the hole size recommend for Georgia’s smallest cavity nesting bird is only 1,”
It has been reported that placing a couple of inches of sawdust in the box will help entice a pair of brown-headed nuthatches to your box. If you do so and later find that it is damp, remove it.
For a set of brown-headed nuthatch nesting box plans, contact Melissa Hayes at melissa.hayes@dnr.ga.gov
If you would like to earn certification for your efforts to provide nest boxes for cavity-nesting birds, request an application for Community Wildlife Project’s Nesting/Roosting Box certification component. Certification is earned by those individuals that provide nesting boxes for Georgia wildlife.
The Community Wildlife Project is sponsored by the Garden Club of Georgia, The Georgia Wildlife Conservation Section and The Environmental Resources Network (TERN).
BACKYARD SECRET – CEDAR WAXINGS DISPLAY UNUSUAL MATING BEHAVIOR
Now that spring in on the way, birds will soon be displaying their own unique forms of mating behavior. One of the most fascinating behaviors is displayed by cedar waxwings.
Male cedar waxwings initiate the courting ritual by performing a dance highlighted by hopping up and down in front of the female. If the male’s dance steps intrigue a female, she will perform her own dance.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the courting ritual is male and female cedar waxwings will exchange petals. The behavior can also take a far less romantic turn when the couple will also exchange insects. Oh well, while that does not sound very romantic to us, from the size of the cedar waxwings flocks we see, it obviously must work for them.
BACKYARD SECRET – BROWN THRASHERS CAN SING FOR HOURS
For the past few weeks, a brown thrasher has been singing around our home. Today, when I stepped outside just when night was giving way to day I heard a brown thrasher loudly signing from the top of a leafless Chinese chestnut. A few hours later when I went out to town the bird was still singing. Surprisingly, when I returned a couple of hours later, low and behold, it was still repeating the phrases of its song two, sometimes three times.
To say the least, I was impressed with the bird’s vocal talent. Even though this talented bird had been singing continuously from the first time I heard it until just before noon, is falls far short of how long these handsome birds can sing.
Brown thrashers can literally sing for hours. They can sing from before daylight throughout the day and well into the night. Indeed, the bird can literally sing for hours. Although it can seemingly sing all day long, the birds often pauses for short periods and then and then return to its vocal performance.
The brown thrashers repertoire is far greater than that of the northern mockingbird. Ornithologists have found the brown thrasher can sing 1,116 song types and as many as 1,971 songs. The experts say it is possible that further research will reveal the bird is capable of singing 3,000 different songs.
If I were such a gifted songster, I would probably sing for hours too!
WATER ATTRACTS NORTHBOUND MIGRANTS
One morning earlier this week when I step outside I was greeted to the song of a Louisiana water thrush. This was the first northbound migrant that has shown up in my yard this year. The only times I see or hear it is during the spring.
Most of us only see many of these migratory birds during migration. One reason why most of these birds are undetected is that they rarely, if ever, eat food at our feeders. As such, one of the best ways you can help the birds and give yourself a chance these see these beautiful birds is to provide them with water.
BIRD BATH WITH BLUEBIRD © Terry W Johnson
Migrants bathe and drink water. Without it, they cannot successfully navigate. Migrants will drink at small backyard ponds and birdbaths alike. If you want to boost your chances of seeing a migrant at a birdbath, install a dripper or mister—moving water acts like a magnet to migrants and resident birds alike.
With that in mind, during the next couple of months a steady stream of potential backyards guests such as warblers, tanagers, vireos, and thrushers will be arriving or passing through the state… If you offer them with water, you are giving them a reason to land in your backyard. If you do, don’t be surprised if you add a half dozen or more birds to your yard list.
A TRULY AMAZING HUMMINGBIRD STORY
One of the things I most enjoy about writing The Backyard Wildlife Connection is fellow bloggers share with all of us a wealth of information regarding ways to enhance backyards for wildlife as well as stories regarding experiences with their wildlife neighbors.
When I read the blog found below, I knew I just had to share it with you. The piece was written in response to a Backyard Secret regarding how hummingbirds recognize human faces.
I hope you will enjoy this story as much as I did.
