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QUESTION: DO THE BIRDS IN MY BACKYARD SWEAT?

Jul10

ANSWER:

A MALE CARDINAL PANTING ON A HOT SUMMER DAY

A MALE CARDINAL PANTING ON A HOT SUMMER DAY

No, unlike us, birds do not have sweat glands.

When we work outside on a sweltering hot, humid summer day, within minutes our skin and clothing are wet with sweat. Sweating helps keep us from overheating.

Since birds do not have sweat glands, they must rely on other means to keep their body temperature from reaching dangerous levels.  One of the main ways they are able to accomplish this is by panting.

If you closely watch the birds moving about your backyard when temperatures soar, you are apt to see one or more pant.  When a bird is panting it holds its bill open longer than it normally would and increases its breathing rate.  This greatly increases the flow of air across the moist, warm surfaces of its respiratory tract. This helps dissipates the bird’s body heat.

As you might expect, you are most likely to see this behavior during the hottest parts of the day.

QUESTION: HOW DO I KEEP MY BUTTERFLY BUSHES BLOOMING THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER?

Jun25
American Lady Nectaring at a Butterfly Bush Blossom

American Lady Nectaring at a Butterfly Bush Blossom

The butterfly bush earned its name honestly. This perennial shrub is a butterfly magnet.  When a butterfly bush is in full bloom, it will often attract more butterflies than any other plant in Georgia backyards.

However, if you want a butterfly bush to continue producing a bounty of blooms that will feed colorful butterflies throughout the summer, regularly prune the shrub’s spent blooms before they produce seeds.  This procedure is called deadheading.

The best way to deadhead a butterfly bush is to snip off all  spent clusters of blooms down to just above the first set of leaves below flower. This can be best accomplished using a garden pruner or pair of scissors.

QUESTION: Is it possible to tell a male from a female monarch butterfly?

Jun23
MONARCH BUTTERFLY (Male)

MONARCH BUTTERFLY (Male)

It sure is. All you have to do is to catch a glimpse of the top side of a monarch with its wings spread.  Male monarchs will sport a dark spot on one vein running down the hind wing.  Female monarchs do not this spot.  The monarch shown is a male.

HOSTA

Jun17

QUESTION – My yard is mostly shady and I am having a difficult time growing nectar plants for hummingbirds. Can you recommend a plant that I can grow in my yard that is both attractive and will provide nectar for ruby-throated hummingbirds?

HOSTA

Answer:   You might be surprised to learn that the hosta might be the answer to your dilemma.

Hostas are grown by Georgia gardeners primarily for their attractive foliage.  As such, there is a wide variety of hostas available to the home gardener.  These plants vary widely in leaf color, size and shape.

Although some varieties will grow in the sun, most prefer partial to full shade.

What is often overlooked is that they also produce beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers that are laden with nectar. These blossoms range in color from white to lavender.

In addition, some varieties bloom earlier than others.  With that in mind, if you are planning on planting hostas for hummingbirds, it is a good idea to select several varieties that bloom at different times. This will ensure that hummingbirds will be treated to a source of nectar throughout the sum

 

 

 

Feeding Blue Birds

Apr30

FEMALE BLUEBIRD @ NEST BOX.jpg

QUESTION: My wife and I have been watching a pair of bluebirds feeding their young in one of our nest boxes for nearly three weeks.  We have become concerned that perhaps one or more of the babies cannot get out, as it seems well past the time the young birds should have fledged.  What should we do?

ANSWER:   If I were you, I would not be concerned over the fate of the young bluebirds housed in your nesting box. I would just sit back and enjoy watching the adults bringing food to their rapidly growing brood.

Typically bluebirds will fledged when they are anywhere from 17 to 20 days old.  When they finally begin vacating the box, it can take two or more hours for all of the youngsters to leave.  However, it is not uncommon for one or two members of the brood to make their first flight the following day.

WHICH HUMMINGBIRD FOOD SHOULD I USE?

Mar19

Which hummingbird food you use is a matter of choice. Some prefer to purchase commercially prepared food; others like to make their own. Some swear by red-colored nectar while some say that clear nectar is the best.  The hummingbirds don’t seem to prefer one type of nectar over the other.

If you prepare your own hummingbird food, mix four parts of water to one part sugar. Boil the mixture for at least two to three minutes.  Let the liquid cool to room temperature before pouring it into a feeder. Store the surplus in the refrigerator.

WHY IS WATER IMPORTANT TO BACKYARD WILDLIFE?

Mar12

Water is used by wildlife for drinking and bathing. Additionally, species such as amphibians (frogs, salamanders and the like) damselflies and dragonflies need water to reproduce.

Many backyards and neighborhoods have no open water whatsoever. In fact, open water is often not found nearby.  This can seriously limit the number and kinds of wildlife that will use a yard.

Believe it or not, you can actually attract for more birds with water than food.

Water can be provided by adding a small pond or bird bath to your yard.  If you decide to purchase a bird bath, select one that has a gently sloping basin that is not over more than an inch and a half to two inches deep at its deepest point.

WHY ARE NESTING BOXES IMPORTANT?

Mar1

A number of backyard birds nest in tree cavities. The list of these birds includes the eastern bluebird, tufted titmouse, Carolina chickadee, great crested flycatcher, screech owl, brown-headed and white breasted nuthatches, purple martin, tree swallow, Carolina and house wrens.

The problem is there are rarely enough natural cavities to go around. In addition, the suitable cavities that do exist are often taken over by aggressive introduced species such as house sparrows and European starlings.  As a result, often few, if any, native cavity-nesting birds nest in Georgia’s backyards and neighborhoods.

Fortunately, many cavity-nesting species will nest in nesting boxes, Consequently, by erecting one or more nesting boxes in your yard, you will help alleviate this severe housing shortage and increase the diversity of birds using your yard.