Archive | October 2025
BACKYARD SECRET – TERMITES HELP FEED BACKYARD WILDLIFE
The wildlife that inhabits our yards eat a variety of foods ranging from nuts and berries to birdseed, nectar, pollen, plants, insects the list goes on and on. Remarkably, the termites that we try to keep from eating at our homes are also part of the diet of a wide variety of wildlife.
This source of food is more abundant than you may think. According to the Mississippi State University Extension Service, a mature colony of subterranean termites can contain anywhere from 50,000 to more than 200,000 individuals.
Fortunately, a wide range of critters help keep these destructive insects at bay. Spiders, ants, woodpeckers, blue jays, eastern bluebirds, sparrows and even mourning doves and wild turkeys, eat termites. When the insects are swarming, bats, swallows and dragonflies take advantage of these pests. Frogs and toads also eat them, as well as snakes. In addition, mammals such as skunks, opossums, and armadillos join in on the feast.
NORTHERN FLICKER ROOSTING SITES
It is very difficult to attract northern flickers to Georgia backyards; however, it can be done. One of the best ways is provide roost sites for these large birds. For example, leave dead trees in which large holes have been excavated or enlarged by squirrels and cavity nesting birds.
Flickers also roost in barred owl nest boxes. If you see a flicker enter an owl-nesting box, do not be discouraged if it 
does not return the next evening. It seems that male northern flickers tend to roost in different location each night. These roosting sites are usually located within a half-mile square area. If roosting cavities are scarce in your neighborhood, the bird may return sooner than later.
Friends of mine find flickers roosting in wood duck boxes during the winter. They have noted that flickers tend to enter the boxes earlier in the afternoon than do the other birds that also roost in boxes. The flickers that show up at their wood duck boxes often arrive well before the sun drops below the horizon.
Northern flickers will also roost in variety of odd locations such as under bridges. They will also use our homes as roosting sites. For example, they will sometimes roost on the sides and eaves of buildings, and even inside chimneys.
If you have seen northern flickers in your, I would love to hear about it.
DEAD LEAVES ARE IMPORTANT TO MANY MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES
Most of us do not enjoy raking fallen leaves in autumn, however, not raking leaves around butterfly and other host plants is one of the most important ways to ensure you will see your favorite butterflies and moths flying about your yard next year.
A beautiful day-flying moth, the snowberry clearwing, is a great example of a moth that benefits from not raking leaves beneath its host plants.
The snowberry clearwing is a day-flying moth that frequents our flower gardens during the summer. This stunning moth uses a handful of plants as its larval host; one such plant is coral honeysuckle. This native honeysuckle bears long red tubular flowers throughout the spring and summer. After the moth’s bright green caterpillars have grown as big as they are going to get, they literally drop to the ground beneath their hosts and hide among the fallen leaves. They then enter the next stage of their life; forming a cocoon and pupate during the winter. This miraculous process only works if the caterpillars fall into a protective blanket of leaf litter.
Other moths and butterflies also spend the winter in leaf litter. With that in mind, when we refrain from raking the leaves under host plants, we benefit the moths and butterflies wintering among these fallen leaves too.
BACKYARD SECRET – WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO SEE MONARCHS IN GEORGIA DURING THEIR FALL MIGRATION?
The best time to catch a glimpse of fall migrating monarch butterflies is during the months of September and October. Records, however, suggest the greatest number of these butterflies pass through the state in mid-October.
With that in mind, if you want to see these large orange and black butterflies, spend some time outside during the next few days.
Good luck!
WHERE ARE THE FEEDER BIRDS?
Every year when early October rolls around, people tell me that the number and variety of birds visiting their feeders and birdbaths has dropped off significantly. That always leads to question, “Where are they?” Depending on where you live, and whether not the habitat near your home has changed, and other factors, the reasons for a decline can vary from yard to yard. That being the case, I attribute the drop-in activity around most bird feeders to three things.
Many of the common migratory birds that inhabit our will shortly reach their winter homes. That alone can make a big dent in your backyard bird population. While many of these birds do not often visit seed feeders, they do frequently bathe and drink at birdbaths.
In late summer and early fall, the abundance of seeds produced by native plants is greater than it is at any other time of the year. As such they birds have an abundance of places where they can feed this provides them with lots of spots where they can dine elsewhere.
Another reason your backyard bird population is low is that for folks in most parts of Georgia, southbound migrants have not yet reached the Peach State. This is the case for white-throated sparrows, dark-eyed juncos, blackbirds, and others.
Another thing to consider is some of our permanent residents, such as the chipping sparrows have yet to form winter flocks. Consequently, if your yard is not in a chipping sparrow breeding territory, chances are you will have to wait awhile to see them in your yard.
The bottom line is be patient, if your feeding area is safe, feeders are stocked with variety of foods, and clean water is close by, I promise they will come; just be patient.
TELLING GULF FRITILLARIES FROM MONARCHS
During October, we see more monarch butterflies in Georgia than at any other time of the year. Because monarchs have become so rare, when we spot a large orange butterfly flying about our yards, it is easy to assume we are looking at a monarch when it is actually a gulf fritillary. In fact, since gulf fritillaries are more common in our backyards at this time of the yard, the majority of the orange butterflies we see are actually gulf fritillaries. With that in mind, here are a few tips that will help you tell the difference of a gulf fritillary from a monarch.
The dorsal side of the gulf fritillary’s wings is bright orange and displays black spots scattered about its wings. Three black-rimmed white spots decorate the leading edge of each forewing. When this butterfly closes its wings, you will notice large silvery spots cover most of the underwing.
In comparison, the duller, orange-colored monarch is noticeably larger than the gulf fritillary. The topside of its wings is marked with prominent black veins. In addition, two rows of white spots are present near the tips of the wings. Its underwings display black veins set on a muted orange background.
Another clue to the identity of the monarch is its flight pattern. Monarchs flap their wings and they glide for a brief time; gulf fritillaries do not glide.
Both of these butterflies are beautiful; however, I wish that we would see as many monarchs as we do gulf fritillaries.
HOW FAR DO MONARCHS FLY IN A SINGLE DAY DURING THEIR FALL MIGRATION THROUGH GEORGIA?
Each fall untold numbers of monarchs pass through Georgia enroute to their winter home in Mexico. If you are a fan of these amazing insects, you might be wondering how many miles do monarchs fly southward in a single day.
As you might expect, the distance travelled depends on several factors. For example, with favorable winds, thermals, and temperatures, these winged jewels might cover up to 100 miles in a single day. On the other hand, they often fly as little as 25 miles per day. On average though, they typically fly an average of 25-30 miles per flight. The record distance flown in a day is an amazing 265 miles!
BACKYARD SECRET: MOTHS VISIT HUMMIMNGBIRD FEEDERS
Until a few nights ago I had never seen a moth visit a hummingbird feeder at night. Although I have spotted a few butterflies such as cloudless sulphurs and even a monarch briefly dining a hummingbird feeder but I have never spotted a moth engaged in this activity; here is what I saw.
A few nights ago, I took our family dog out. Just beyond our deck four hummingbirds hang from Shepard’s hooks. As I stood on the deck waiting to come back, a large fuzzy moth flew in and visited one of the feeders. It hovered above two of the feeding portals on one of the feeders; it remained there for several seconds. Since the moth visited the portal on the back side of the feeder, I did not actually see the moth extend its long proboscis into the feeder.
