Archives

WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN PHOTOGRAPHING BIRD NESTS AND YOUNG IN YOUR BACKYARD

May10

       Many of us are fortunate that birds nest in our yards.  Some of the birds that commonly nest in our trees, shrubs, and nesting boxes are cardinals, brown thrashers, and mockingbirds.  If we just happen across a nest while walking about our yards or notice adults regularly bringing food to their young, it is not hard to find a nest. When you locate one, often the first thing that often comes to mind is the desire to take pictures of the nest, eggs and young. There is nothing wrong with this however, if you are not careful your attempts to take great pictures can result in the birds abandoning it or the eggs and/or young found in the nest falling prey to predators. Here are a few tips that will help ensure that this does not happen.

       Keep your visits to a minimum. If you visit nests where the adults are incubating their eggs, the nesting birds will often abandon their nests.  This is especially tree early in incubation.  In addition, frequent visits can alert predators that a nest is near.

       When photographing nests and their contents, you should never cut leaves and branches that prevent you from taking clear photos.  When you cut down the vegetation, you are making it easier for predators to find it.

       Resist the urge to take pictures from as close as possible. Take your photographs as far away as possible. Then regardless of whether you are taking photos with a camera equipped with a telephoto lens, or a smart phone, you can later easily edit the photographs digitally.

       In addition, when photographing adults bringing food to their young, you should always stand as far away as you possibly can.  When you are too close, the parents will sometimes not visit or reduce the number of times they bring food to their hatchlings.

       If you are careful, you will be able to take some memorable photos of the nest and while you witness a new generation of birds fledge—it does not get any better than that.

      

        

DO BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS LAY THEIR EGGS IN MOURNING DOVE NESTS?

May7

       Brown-headed cowbirds never build a nest, however, they lay their eggs in the nests of more than 220 species of birds. One of these species is the mourning dove.

       It seems cowbirds rarely lay their eggs in dove nests. When a female cowbird lays her eggs in a dove nest it proves to be a poor decision.  The doves typically damage or refuse to accept the cowbird eggs. If an egg is happens to be incubated, a cowbird hatchling cannot survive on the diet of crop milk mourning doves feed their young.

KEEPING CATS INDOORS HELPS SAVE BIRDS

May3

         It is estimated that 100 million free-ranging and feral cats patrol backyards and wildlands across the county. These feline predators are responsible for the deaths of 1.3 to 4 billion birds annually.  A single cat is capable of catching 48 birds per year.

       The problem of free-ranging cats capturing wild birds is just acute in all states.  In Georgia, more than 24 percent of our households share their homes with at least one of these furry friends. By keeping our cats indoors, we will literally save the lives of millions of birds. Meanwhile we will extend the length of our cats will be beloved members of our households. One study found that free-ranging cats typically live only two to five years.  In comparison, those felines that live indoors live 17 years or more.

       With that in mind, if you share your life with a cat and love birds too, consider not letting your cat(s) roam free.

BACKYARD SECRET – IT IS TIME TO PREPARE FOR ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS

Apr29

        Now is a great time to be on the lookout for rose-breasted grosbeaks migrating home for the nesting season.  During the past several days, I have received reports of rose-breasted grosbeaks visiting backyards scattered across the state.  If you want to stand the best chance of seeing the handsome birds in your backyard, here are a few suggestions.

       To begin with, fill your feeders with their favorite seeds.  I have always provided the migrants with black oil sunflower seeds. They are also fond of safflower seeds and raw peanuts.  While I have never served up either seed to northbound migrants, my daughter fills her feeders with both sunflower and safflower seeds.  This year, the birds visiting her yard have shown a preference for safflower seeds. On the other hand, I have not seen a grosbeak in my yards this spring.

       You can also enhance your chances of attracting the birds by offering seeds on platform and tray feeders; they will also use large hopper feeders.

       The location of your feeders can also affect whether or not the birds dine at your backyard diner.  While they will visit feeders in any number of locations, they seem to prefer feeders placed near large deciduous trees and thick shrubs.

       Finally, offer the migrants plenty of clean water.

       I hope you will hosting rose-breasted grosbeaks in your yard very soon.

AN EASY WAY TO PROVIDE BIRDS WITH NESTING MATERIAL

Apr20

 

       Some backyard birds incorporate hair in their nests.  In fact, my wife and daughter watched a tufted titmouse pluck hair from one of our sleeping bird dogs.   This is a form of kleptotrichy.

       If you want to do something to help your feathered neighbors other than provide them with food, water and cover, try offering them nesting material.  

       Recently my wife and I packed hair my wife trimmed from out little housedog into a wire suet feeder.  They next day after we hung the wire feeder up in your backyard, the hair began disappearing.  Since we have not caught any bird in the act of plucking hair from the feeder, we have are not sure what birds are using it.  Perhaps it is a tufted titmouse, who knows?

       If you do try offering your backyard birds hair trimmed from your family dog, make sure that it is free of flea and tick control chemicals and shampoos.

 

 

 

LOOK FOR THE RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD’S COURTSHIP FLIGHT

Apr16

        After the female ruby-throated hummingbirds have arrived in your backyard, be on the lookout for the male’s courtship flight.  When trying to attract the attention of a female a male will repeatedly fly in a large 180-degree arc.  If you have excellent hearing, you will be able to hear the male make a buzzing sound when it reaches the lowest point in the arc.

BACKYARD SECRET – NANDINA BERRIES ARE POISONOUS TO BIRDS

Apr12

       During the spring, the urge to plant flowers, trees and shrubs is high.  For those of us that are trying to enhance our yards for wildlife we are on the lookout for plants that are attractive and benefit wildlife.  With that in mind, sometimes you find a plant that is beautiful and provides food for wildlife.

       A plant that appears to fit the bill is nandina.  It has dark green, evergreen foliage and bears a crop of shiny red berries. As such, the plant seems to add a touch of beauty in the winter.  In truth, you should avoid it.

       One reason why it should keep out of your yard is that it is on the Georgia Invasive Plant List.  That means it spreads across the countryside and thereby threatens native plants.

       The second reason is that its berries are toxic to birds. It seems the berries contain cyanide compounds that produce hydrogen cyanide.  Typically, when a bird eats a small amount (1-2 berries) of the berries it will not die.  The berries, however, pose a greater threat to cedar waxwings.  The reason for this is they often gorge themselves on the red berries.  This is especially true when other food sources are scarce.

       Keep this in mind when you are considering possibly adding nandina to your landscape.  This is a case of where what you do not plant is as important as what you do not.

BACKYARD SECRET – FEMALE RUBYTHROATS ARE NOW IN GEORGIA

Apr8

         My wife and I live in Monroe County just north of the Fall Line.  Each year we anxiously await the arrival of hummingbirds that have spent the winter south of the border.  This year the first male was seen in Monroe County March 7, however, most folks did not see one until March 16-19.

       Female rubythroats are always seen days after the males arrive.  This past week the first females were reported here.  My wife and I, however, have not seen one yet.

      With that in mind, both males and females are obviously flying about the southern half of the state. Chances are, if you live north of Monroe County, there is a good chance you have already seen a male ruby-throated hummingbird at your feeder, although those of you that live in the northern portion of the state may not have seen a hummingbird yet. 

       If you have already seed a male, be on the lookout for your first female hummer.  Since I have no knowledge of the arrival dates for those of you that live in North Georgia, I would appreciate it if you let me know what the arrival dates of both males and females in your neck of the woods.

SINGING BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER ADD TO THE PLEASURE OF MORNING WALKS

Apr5

       I try to walk around my large backyard every morning.  The walks provide me with a chance to get some exercise while keeping abreast of the plants and animals that inhabit my backyard.  For the past few weeks, the singing of up to three black-and-white warblers gave made these treks extra special.

       The black-and-white warbler’s distinctive black and white striped plumage  make it easy to identify.  Most folks, however, are not familiar with its song.  Some say the high-pitched call sounds much like a squeaky wheel—it goes something like this  weesy-weesy-weesy-weesy. 

       If you cannot identify this song, all you have to do to familiarize yourself with it is pull up the Merlin bird identification app on your cellphone.  There you find more than half a dozen examples of this unusual call.  Then the next time you hear it you will know the name of the feathered songster singing it.

       Lately I have heard up to three calling in my backyard at the same time.  When I hear them accompanied by song calls of ruby-crowned kinglets, white-throated and chipping sparrows, pileated woodpeckers, Carolina wrens, tufted titmice, Carolina chickadees and others, I am reluctant to go back inside for a cup of coffee.

       Many of us only hear or see black-and-white warblers on migration  during their spring and fall migrations, some actually nest in Georgia.   Most of these birds breed in the northern half of the state, however, from time to time, some nest below the Fall Line.     

       The vast majority of these migrants spend the winter far south of Georgia.  It is interesting to note that some winter in the Peach State.  One place where I often see black-and-white warblers in winter is Georgia is  Veterans State Park near Cordele.

       I am hoping that birds I have been listening to decide to spend the summer in my backyard.  Probably this will not happen.  In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy there serenades as long as I can,

       Perhaps black-and-white warblers are singing in your backyard right now.  All it takes to see if that is the case, step outside your backdoor and listen.  You may be pleasantly surprised.

      

      

BACKYARD SECRET – ROBINS FIND WORMS BY SOUND

Mar29

        If you have ever watched American robins hunt for worms on your lawn, you have probably wondered whether the worm hunters located juicy worms by sight or sound. 

       Well, researchers have cracked the mystery to this age-old mystery.  The birds locate the worms by sound. Once they find a worm, they often tilt the head to direct their strike at the hidden meal.