Archives

WHERE ARE THE FEEDER BIRDS?

Oct12

       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

Oct9

         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.

SOON THE HUMMINGBIRDS WILL BE GONE

Sep10

        Here at my Middle Georgia home, during the past few days the number of hummingbirds visiting our four feeders has dramatically decreased.  As late as last week, my wife was making 20 cups of nectar a day in an effort to meet the birds’ demand for food. Today for the first time in weeks, only two feeders needed to be refilled.  I suspect that the rubythroats are rapidly disappearing in your backyards too.

       With that in mind, I would like to know when you first noticed a noticeable drop in the hummers visiting your feeders. In addition, it would be great if you report the date, the last hummer is seen in your yard.    I have been studying hummingbirds for more than 30 years and still have much to learn about these fascinating birds.  Your information would be helpful in delineating the fall migration of the ruby-throated hummingbird in Georgia. 

 

       If you do respond to this request, please include the name of the county where you live.

 

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.

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.

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.

 

THE BLACK-EYED SUSAN – A BEAUTIFUL HOST PLANT

Jun11

       If you are searching for a native plant that has stunning blossoms, provides food for pollinators, and is a butterfly host plant, look at the black-eyed Susan.

       I doubt there is a Georgia gardener that cannot identify the black-eyed Susan.  It provides beauty to the countryside and backyard gardens alike.  It also does well in containers; my wife has raised black-eyed Susans in large containers on our deck for the last couple of years.  While we enjoy the beauty the plants provide just outside our backdoor, we also like the fact its blooms are favorite dining spots for many pollinators.  While we occasionally see butterflies such as pearl crescents on the blooms, small bees seem to visit the blossoms more often than any other insects.

       On top of all of these virtues, this tall native plant also serves as a host plant for the silvery checkerspot butterfly.

       If you do not have the black-eyed Susan growing in your gardens, give this one a try.

BACKYARD SECRET – STAGERING SOWING ZINNIA SEEDS PROVIDES BUTTERFLIES WITH NECTAR UNTIL FROST

May19

       Zinnias have long been a favorite of Georgia gardeners. They not only adorn our flower gardens with a wide variety of blossoms, they provide food for a wide range of butterflies and other pollinators.  However, since we typically sow zinnias seeds only in the spring, zinnia blooms are scarce in autumn… This is unfortunate as pollinators often find food hard to find late into the fall. Here are a couple of ways you can alleviate this situation.

       One way that you can prolong the zinnia’s blooming period is by deadhead plants.  This will stimulate the plants to produce more blossoms.  The downside of this practice is you eliminate a food source for songbirds.

       Another way that you can enhance the availability of zinnia blossoms until frost is stagger the times you sow seeds.  By sowing seeds every few weeks well into the summer, when some zinnias fade away, they are replaced by plants just coming into bloom.

       This simple practice will enhance the available of nectar and pollen well into autumn a when food is often scarce and add color to your gardens.

BLACK-EYED SUSAN – A NATIVE PLANT OF VALUE TO WILDLIFE THAT CAN BE GROWN IN CONTAINERS

Apr23

        If you are looking for a native plant that can be grown in containers, is both beautiful, hardy, and benefits wildlife too,  the Black-eyed Susan  (Rudbeckia spp.)  just might fit the bill.

       My wife and I have grown Black-eyed Susans in containers on our deck for several years.  The tall plants produce a profusion of gorgeous long-lasting blooms.  While the blossoms are visited by pollinators, I would not call it a butterfly magnet.  This is because, at best, butterflies only sparingly nectar at the large blossoms.  The pollinators I see most often on our plants in search of nectar and pollen are small, solitary bees.

       In addition, the Black-eyed Susan is a host plant for the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly.  Well after the plant’s blossoms have withered and died, a number of songbirds eat plant’s seeds.

       The fact the plant is deer resistant make a favorite among gardeners plagued by hungry deer.

USE CAUTION WHEN TRIMMING SHRUBS IN SPRING

Apr13

       The beautiful spring weather we have been enjoying in my neck of the woods apparently prompted many homeowners to take on any number outdoor jobs.  One of these projects was cutting shrubbery. In truth, shrub pruning should have been accomplished much earlier in the year.

       When I brought a load of household garbage and recyclables to a nearby recycling center, the huge amount of shrub clippings piled in one of the huge recycling bins at the center told me a lot of folks took on this particular chore this weekend.  That prompted me to wonder how many bird nests their well-meaning activities disturbed.

       Whenever we talk about providing nesting habitat for our backyard bird neighbors too often we only think about birds that nest in nesting structures.  Consequently, too little thought is given to providing nesting sites for birds that routinely nest in the thick shrubbery growing in our yards.  The shrub-nesting birds I most often encounter in my yard are northern cardinals, mockingbirds and brown thrashers.  They will nest in thickest shrubs. Since these birds begin nesting in the spring, it is best to avoid trimming shrubs at this time of the year.

       There is nothing worse than to trim a branch off a shrub and find that nestled deep within the shrub an active bird nest.  When a nest exposed it becomes more vulnerable to nest predators and the weather.  Often nesting birds will abandon such a nest.   Birds are more prone to do prior to their eggs hatching.

       If, for some reason, you just have to trim your shrubs right now, before you begin, carefully search for nests.  If you don’t find any, go ahead with your job.

       When I think about the recycling bin that I saw this weekend, I wonder if the folks that created pile of trimmings took the time to ensure that their shrubs were being used by the bird neighbors to build their nests and raise their young.