Tag Archive | Backyard Secrets
BACKYARD SECRET – BIRDS PREFER AMERICAN HOLLY BERRIES
Nowadays, homeowners are including hybrid and exotic hollies in their home landscapes more often than American holly (Ilex opaca). However, if you are interested in adding an attractive evergreen tree that bears shiny red fruit that is relished by 29 species of birds, you would be better off, planting America holly than an exotic or hybrid holly.
In addition, American holly berries typically have more nutritive value than the berries of nonnative hollies. This can be critical for birds that birds that forage for food throughout the winter.
While some hybrid cultivars may be an exception to that rule, based on my experience the berries found on other hollies are often ignored or only eaten when American berries have all been eaten.
Another reason why the berries found exotic and hybrid hollies are not consumed as often as American hollies – they are too large for some birds to swallow.
Finally, American holly is an important addition to backyards because it serves as the primary host plant for the Henry’s elfin butterfly and is often used a host plant for the holly sallow moth.
BACKYARD SECRET – GLYCERIN SHOULD NOT BE ADDED TO BIRDBATH WATER TO KEEP IT FROM FREEEZING
Over the years, people have tried a number of ways to keep the water in birdbaths from freezing. One the such technique is to use glycerin as an antifreeze; this practice should be avoided. If a bird drinks water treated with glycerin, the chemical can raise the amount of blood sugar in its body to dangerous levels. In addition, glycerin can mat the birds’ feathers together. This can be harmful as the matting can adversely reduce a bird’s feathers ability to insulate its body against the cold.
BACKYARD SECRET – MOST EXOTIC PLANTS IN OUR YARDS HAVE LITTLE OR NO FOOD VALUE FOR NATIVE WILDLIFE
Some experts say that at least 80 percent of the plants growing in our yards are exotics that have little or no food value for native wildlife. This has contributed to the decline in native plant and animal populations in suburban settings.
Just one example of this is studies have shown there is 35 times more caterpillar biomass in native woody vegetation than is found in exotic woody plants. This is important because caterpillars are a key source of food for many wild animals. For example, 96 percent of terrestrial birds eat caterpillars.
With this in mind, if you are interested in increasing the variety and numbers of native animals in your yard, expand the number and diversity of native woody plants that grow on your property.
FLOWERING DOGWOOD
BACKYARD SECRET – URBAN AMERICAN CROWS OCCUPY SMALL TERRITORIES
Researchers have found that American crows typically occupy territories measuring only 10 acres or so. On the other hand, the home ranges of crows living in rural areas are often ten times larger.
BACKYARD SECRET – HYPOTHERMIA HELPS CAROLINA CHICKADEES SURVIVE EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER
A number of birds have the ability to go into a state of hypothermia to survive extremely low temperatures. The bird that is most often mentioned when the subject of hypothermia come up, the ruby-throated hummingbird often comes to mind. You might be surprised to learn that Carolina chickadees also enter a state of hypothermia.
On cold winter nights, Carolina chickadees like to roost in natural cavities and nesting boxes. Temperatures inside these cavities are usually higher than those outside the cavity. When it is extremely cold, the chickadees can literally freeze to death with a little help. That is where hypothermia kicks in.
When a Carolina chickadee goes into a state of hypothermia, its body temperature and heart rates drop dramatically. As a result, the bird may seem lifeless. The reason why this helps the bird is that in decreases the amount of energy the bird’s body needs to survive.
The next morning, as the air temperature rises, the bird’s heart rate and body temperatures increase enough to allow the chickadee to resume its normal activities such as visiting your feeders looking for sunflower seeds.
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.
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!
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.
