Archive | August 2025

BACKYARD SECRET – DANDELIONS CAN HAVE VERY LONG ROOTS

Aug31

       I think it would be difficult to find a Georgia homeowner that is not familiar with the dandelion.  This exotic plant is grows throughout the state.

       Although it is often a valuable wildlife plant, many homeowners wage a constant war against those dandelions that crop up in their lawns. 

       The dandelion’s showy yellow flowers provide nectar and pollen to a host of bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Rabbits and other mammals eat its foliage.  In addition, its seeds provide food for a host of different songbirds.

       Most homeowners would have a hard time believing that dandelions can have extremely long roots.  Typically, dandelion plants have roots that grow to a length of 10-15 inches.  Some dandelions, however, have roots that are up to 15 feet long!

MY FAVORITE BUTTERFLY BUSH

Aug27

       Over the years, my wife and I have planted a number of butterfly bushes.  The flowers produced by these plants varied from yellow, to lavender and dark purple.  While they all attracted butterflies, bees, and other pollinators, the one that is most often visited by these amazing insects is a dark purple variety named Black Knight.

       As long as I regularly prune the spent blossoms, it produces flowers from late spring into fall.  In late August, it is often difficult for pollinators to find food.  Since Black Knight is still profusely blooming every time we visit these butterfly bushes, I see several eastern tiger swallowtails, skippers, buckeyes and other attractive butterflies.

       While Black Knight does well in our yard, it may not do as well in your yard.  If you do try it, I would like to know how it does.  In addition, if you have a variety that attracts lots of pollinators in your yard, I would like to know about it.

BACKYARD SECRET – DO RATTLE SNAKES RATTLE BEFORE THEY STRIKE?

Aug24

      As far as most Georgians are concerned, the chance of them being struck by a rattlesnake is remote.  However, if you do encounter a rattlesnake stay clear of the snake.  Most rattlesnake bites occur when people are trying to get close enough to identify the snake, trying to kill it, or attempting to coax it to leave.

       In spite of this, many homeowners believe that as long as the snake does not strike until it rattles.  This myth can get you in trouble, as rattlesnakes do not always rattle before striking.

       If you or a family member receives a rattlesnake bite, treat the incident as a medical emergency and immediately call 911.

Photo credit: GA DNR Wildlife Biologist, John Jensen

DO NOT TAKE HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS DOWN

Aug20

       When I began working with hummingbirds more than 40 years ago, it was a common practice for Georgians to take down their hummingbird feeders in September; this was done because many folks subscribed to the popular belief that, if you left your feeders up past August, you would entice the birds not to migrate.  We now know that hummingbirds migrate due to declining day length and not the availability of food.  As the days become shorter, ruby-throated hummingbirds begin storing fat the fuel needed to complete their long migration.  When it is time for them to leave, abundance of nectar-bearing flowers and hummingbird feeders stocked with sugar water cannot keep them from making this epic trip.

       If you keep your feeders up, you will help provide late migrants with a much-needed source of food.  In addition, it gives you the chance of having your feeders visited by a western hummingbird.  The hummer you are most likely to see in Georgia from November through February is the rufous.

      

BACKYARD SECRET – HEADBOBBING HELPS GREEN ANOLES SELECT MATES

Aug17

        In the natural world, females select their mates in many ways. Interestingly, in the world of the green anole, the males that bob their heads the most often are the ones that are most likely to get a chance to breed with females.

GREEN SOLDIER FLY – VALUABLE BACKYARD NEIGHBOR

Aug13

        Here is an insect that you have probably never seen in your backyard.  If you have been fortunate enough to encounter it, more than likely you thought it was a wasp.  In truth, it is not a wasp and does not have a stinger.  This remarkable beautiful insect is the green soldier fly (Odontomyia cincta).  This insect is also called the broad centurion fly.

       My granddaughter found this soldier fly on the door of her car. It is, however, more often seen flying around flowers, damp environments, rotting fruit, and other decaying organic matter.  Indeed the green soldier’s larvae are important decomposers.

     

       If that is not enough, the adults also pollinate a wide variety of plants where they feed on both nectar and pollen.

       Unfortunately, few homeowners are familiar with this insect.  Now that you have been introduced to it, if you happen to seen one, please don’t kill it, as it is indeed a valuable wildlife neighbor.

TWO LATE AUGUST POLLINATOR FAVORITES

Aug11

        By this time of the year, gardens are often losing their value to pollinators day by day.  The reason for this is many of the plants we plant for their beauty and ability to provide pollinators with nectar and pollen have already stopped blooming.  This is unfortunate because butterflies, bees and other pollinators still desperately need sources of food.  Consequently, if you spot bees and butterflies flying about your yard vainly looking for flowers, don’t let this happen again. With that in mind, I suggest that next spring you add some nectar plants that continue to bloom until frost. Two of the best are purple coneflower and cosmos.

       Both bloom throughout the summer into the fall. They are also hardy. In addition, birds will eat the seeds produced by both plants.  Although a number of birds eat the seeds, American goldfinches are especially fond of them.

TAKE PART IN THE GREAT SOUTHEAST POLLINATOR CENSUS

Aug6

        In 2019, the University of Georgia’s Cooperative Extension Service launched The Great Southeast Pollinator Census.  Since that time, the census has been adopted in the states of North Carolina, Florida, and South Carolina.

       This year marks the seventh anniversary of this citizen science-based wildlife service.  During the past six years, the number of participants has grown from more than 4,000 participants in the inaugural count to more than 18,000 in 2025.

       The scientists that are spearheading this initiative have three goals.  One goal is to enhance public awareness of the wide variety of pollinators that live in this part of the world.  The second goal is the encourage the public to maintain and create pollinator habitats.  In addition, the efforts of thousands of volunteers will help develop a database that can be used to identify and monitor pollinator populations.

    The 2025 Great Southeast Pollinator Census will be staged August 22-23.

       Volunteers are asked to identify and count the number of pollinators they see visiting a pollen-bearing plant of their choice during a 15-minute period.

       Census takers separate the insects they see into eight categories (carpenter bees, bumblebees, honeybees, small bees, wasps, flies, butterflies/moths, and other insects.

       Fortunately, you do not have to be an expert entomologist to perform this task.  The reason for this the count coordinators provide each participant a full color guide that makes separating the insects into the proper categories easy.

       If you think you would like to join the Georgia Count Team, go online to the Great Southeast Pollinator website.  There you will find all you need to know about the survey as well as survey forms and the insect identification guide.

       Check it out.  It is a great way to serve as a citizen scientist.

WHAT CRITTERS EAT SUET AT NIGHT?

Aug3

        If you feed suet to the birds that visit your backyard feeders, there is a chance when you make your morning check of your feeders, you will find that your suet was eaten by some critter during the night. If this occurs, you will undoubtedly scratch your head trying to come up with the name of the nighttime raider.

       You know the culprit is not a songbird or even a crow since these birds are not active at night.  In rare cases, the nocturnal raider may be a barred owl.  Yes, there have been a handful of reports of barred owls visiting suet feeders. Apparently, the chance of this occurring is greater if rodents are visiting your feeding area to dine on seed scattered on the ground.

       More than likely, however, the phantom visitor was either an opossum or raccoon.  Both of these mammals are active at night. If it is one of these two animals, they will often leave clues that you can use to solve this mystery.  Look for droppings, tracks or even their scat.

       Fortunately, raccoons and opossums have never staged a nighttime raid on my suet feeders.  If one does, I will not be a happy camper.  On the other hand, if I go outside one night and see a barred owl dining on suet, I will not mind a bit. In fact, it would be event that I would fondly remember for the rest of my life.