Archive | July 2025

BACKYARD SECRET – ORCHARD ORIOLES ARE EARLY FALL MIGRANTS

Jul30

       When we think about the fall migration, it is easy to believe that this epic event takes place solely in the fall when days are cool and the woodlands are painted with a kaleidoscope of colors.  While it is true some birds are migration through Georgia at that time, others have already pass through the Peach State.

       Take the orchard oriole for example.  In Georgia, this popular backyard bird actually begins its fall migration in mid-July!

DON’T FORGET TO FILL BIRDBATHS

Jul27

       With the number of hummingbirds swelling at our hummingbird feeders, it is easy to forget to keep the water in our birdbaths from drying up.  Don’t let this happen!  With daily temperatures soaring in the nineties and feel like temperatures reaching well above one hundred, our avian neighbors have a tremendous need for water.

       It goes without question that birds require water to drink, bathe, regulate their body temperature, and maintain their feathers.

       With that in mind, check your birdbaths daily.  In the kind of weather we are facing right now, it is not uncommon that the water in birdbaths needs to replenish daily.  What the birds do not use simply evaporates. Keep in mind, the water should always be clean and fresh.

       Indeed, providing your backyard birds with water is one of the most important things you can do for them at this time of the year.

DO NOT PLANT THIS MILKWEED IN YOUR GARDEN

Jul23

        With each passing year, more Georgia gardeners are planting milkweeds in hopes their efforts will bolster the dwindling monarch butterfly population.  The University of Georgia’s Cooperative Extension Program recommends we do not plant the common milkweed in our gardens (Asclepias syriaca) in the state.

       This reason they want us to defer from planting this particular milkweed is it is not native to Georgia. This recommendation is based on the fear that this milkweed could potentially become invasive and usurp habitats currently occupied by Georgia’s native milkweeds and other wild plants.

SUMMER TANAGERS EAT WASPS AND BEES

Jul20

      One of my favorite backyard birds is the summer tanager.  The male is Georgia’s only all red bird.  Unfortunately, I do not see summer tanagers as often as I would like.  In fact, I see more bathing in birdbaths than moving about the canopies of the numerous trees scattered across my property.  Fortunately, for the past few weeks I have been hearing them practically every day calling from the canopy of the numerous trees scattered about my property, their picky-tucky-tuck call is unmistakable.

       If I saw the birds more often, perhaps I would have better luck watching them capture wasps and bees. Tanagers catch these insects in flight.  When a tanager captures one of these stinging insects it lands and beats them against a branch and removes the insect’s stinger.  Studies have found that a single tanager may capture and eat 10-20 wasps and bees a day.

       If you just happen to see a summer tanager this summer, spend some time watching it.  Perhaps you will see the gorgeous bird capture and eat a bee or wasp. Now that would be something!

IS THERE A SEED OR SEED MIX THAT HOUSE SPARROWS DO NOT LIKE?

Jul16

       The house sparrow is on a short list of birds that most folks that feed birds would rather not visit their feeders.  There are, however, seed mixes that house sparrows seem to relish more than others do.  A good example of this is house relish mixed seed blends that contain high percentages of fillers such as cracked corn, wheat, milo, rye, and oats.

       Instead of feeding these mixes, opt for blends that include high percentages of sunflower seeds, millet, and safflower seeds. House sparrows usually sparingly eat these blends.

       Since there is no foolproof mix that will be ignored by house sparrows, you may have to stop feeding to deter them.  This will force house sparrows to forage for food elsewhere.

THE BARRED OWL MORE OFTEN SEEN THAN HEARD

Jul14

       The barred owl will sometimes nest in neighborhoods blessed with mature trees. Often the only way you might know birds are living close by is to hear their calls.  The birds’ vocalization sounds like they are saying, “Who cooks for you?  Who cooks for you all?”

       Whether they nest in your neck of the woods is often determined by whether or not they have suitable nesting sites.  The birds typically nest to hollow trees, however, when one is not present, they will nest in the stick nests of large birds such as red-shouldered hawks.

       If you want to encourage them to nest nearby,  erect a barred owl nesting box.  These huge nest boxes look like bluebird boxes on steroids.

       Since of the bird’s favorite food is the gray squirrel, folks that are vainly trying to keep squirrels away from their bird feeders should welcome these large fascinating birds to their neighborhood.

       If you would like to receive barred own nest box plans, and information on how you can certify you backyard in the Community Wildlife Project (sponsored by the Georgia Wildlife Resources Davison, TERN (The environmental Resources Network and the Garden Club of Georgia), email Melissa Hayes (melissa.hayes@dnr.ga.gov)

 

BACKYARD SECRET – A LITTLE-KNOWN WAY BIRDS STAY COOL IN SUMMER

Jul10

        Birds have several ways to keep cool during the summer. One of the lesser-known strategies is to hold their feathers as close to their bodies as possible.  This behavior allows much of the heat trapped against their skin to escape.

       Wow, that is a neat way to beat the heat!

ATTRACTING MOTHS ON HOT SUMMER EVENINGS

Jul6

      One of the reasons why moths are so underappreciated is many of them are only active at night.  However, those few wildlife enthusiasts that know how to attract them can often view some of the most beautiful and unusual backyard residents.

       One of the best ways to lure moths to spots where you can observe them is by luring them to places where you are able to easily them.   This technique is known as “sugaring for moths.“ This involves preparing bait out of some unlikely ingredients.  You can find a number of recipes for these moth brews on the internet.   Here is one posted by Oklahoma State University’s Extension Office.  Here is the recipe:

1 can of beer

2 overripe bananas, peeled and mashed

½ cup of grape jelly

2 Tbsp. sorghum syrup

1 Tbsp. pineapple-flavored gelatin
Mix the concoction until you form a smooth liquid paste. The paste needs to be thin enough to spread to a tree trunk but thick enough to adhere to a tree.  Store the mixture at room temperature for 10-12 hours before using.

       Then, just before dark, paint 12-inch patches on several tree trunks (roughly head high).  Then return the bait stations as often as you like.  In some cases, the best time of view moths attracted to the bait occur after 10 p.m.

       Do not be surprised if the concoction attracts moths that you never knew were flying about your yard while you are inside your home watching television.

       If this recipe does not work as well as you thought it would, simply alter it.  You just might develop a recipe that is superior to this one.

 

BACKYARD SECRET – ONLY ONE ACTIVE CHIMNEY SWIFT NEST IS FOUND IN A CHIMNEY

Jul3

       If you are lucky enough to have chimney swifts nesting in your chimney, you are probably wondering how many active nests are found in an individual chimney. 

       The answer might surprise you.  The truth of the matter is only one of these remarkable nest is attached to the interior wall of a chimney.  Typically, the female lays a clutch of 4-7 eggs in a saucer shaped nest.

       The vast majority the breeding pairs raise only one brood per season.  In states such as Texas where chimney swifts have a longer breeding season sometimes two broods are raised in the same year.