Indholdsfortegnelse for December 2016 - January 2017 i Birds & Blooms

When I first started at Birds & Blooms, I was the ® one who opened all the mail and email submissions. Back then I was in my early 20s, fresh out of college and new to the nature scene. I spent my days immersed in the stories and photos you sent, oohing and aahing over every close-up flower and shimmering hummingbird. Fastforward 10 years and my jaw still drops when I see all the amazing images you send us to fill the magazine’s pages. This extra-special issue is jampacked with remarkable photos. An expanded Bird Tales section on page 9 features 23 must-see snapshots of charming winter birds. From a puffed-up cardinal to a huddle of bluebirds, each picture-perfect moment is frozen in time, bound to make you say aah,…

With air plants, the possibilities are endless. Pair them in a grand display with succulents and orchids. Or forgo a container altogether. Set tillandsias on coffee tables, nestle them into your favorite nook or place them on a bookshelf or windowsill. However you decide to grow them, follow these basics for success. WATER Misting a few times per week keeps most air plants fresh, but if your leaves look crispy and are curling inward, soak it in tepid water once a week for one to two hours. LIGHT This plant loves the sun, so give it as much bright, indirect light as possible. An east-facing window will give your plant a few hours of direct sun, which results in an air plant with better color and growth. If your air…

1 Glass water bottle with etched bird design, $25, premierhomeandgifts.com 2 Monthly subscription for bouquets of fresh-cut flowers, starting at $35 a month, bloomsybox.com 3 American Landscapes 2017 daily planner, $10 including shipping, lovethecountry.com/2017P 4 Handcrafted owl ornaments, $20 for a set of three, gardeners.com 5 Mini retro bullet planter in white, orange, turquoise or olive, $85, hiphaven.com we love this! have you seen a great product? Send us a note via our Submission Guidelines on page 76. We’re always looking for suggestions! 6 Turn a cherished photo into a canvas print, starting at $21 for an 8x8-in. canvas, easycanvasprints.com 7 Floral print glass vase, $42, lauraashleyusa.com 8 Birdhouse with succulent rooftop; hanger, plants and care instructions included, $75, thesucculentperch.com 9 Box of five to seven bird items for kids,…

WHY I LOVE IT Step away from the land of big chain stores and explore Door County, a string of charming small-town communities along the Door Peninsula. At the tip sits Washington Island, where my own Scandinavian ancestors settled more than 100 years ago. When I was a kid, I loved riding the ferry to the island and visiting all the pictureperfect spots, like a rare limestone beach and the breathtaking view from a lookout tower. BRING BINOCULARS Over 300 distinct bird species have been spotted in Door County, and the diverse landscapes, from shoreline to forest, create plenty of opportunity to see a wide range of birds in any season. Check out any one of the parks and nature preserves, like Whitefish Dunes State Park and The Ridges Sanctuary,…

21 Celebrate furry friends on Jan. 21— National Squirrel Appreciation Day. 25 Squirrels are known for constantly foraging and hoarding food—and for stealing! They lose 25 percent of their food to theft by birds and other squirrels. 1877 A handful of these mischievous creatures was first released in 1877 in New York’s Central Park, where the population has since flourished. 20 Squirrels are surprisingly fast; at top speed, they can run 20 mph. 180 Their superhero-like talent to reach seemingly inaccessible bird feeders comes from the ability to rotate their hind feet 180 degrees. 285 There are 285 squirrel species around the world and three overarching kinds: ground, tree and flying. Most gray types can pull off an 8-foot jump from a stationary position. 10 A squirrel’s four front teeth…

My backyard birds needed a spot to wait their turn at the feeder, so I set up a tree limb nearby. One morning, these three birds stopped over for breakfast. From left, I identified their species: junco, northern cardinal and American tree sparrow. Though they don’t usually tolerate each other, they all sat together as the snow fell around them. Phil Loparco CORTLAND, NEW YORK I was thrilled to catch sight of this downy woodpecker with its feathers all puffed out to stay warm one icy morning. To me, it looks like she’s singing for spring to arrive. Jean Owens PARIS, TENNESSEE MYTH #1 Woodpeckers drill into houses for food or to create nesting cavities. FACT Most of the drumming you hear in late winter is done to court potential…

GIVE ’EM TIME It takes a few years for seeds to develop and nestle in the cones, but in the meantime, birds use the trees as shelter from harsh weather and predators. Good things come in small packages, and these dwarf conifers are no exception. Whether your space is itty-bitty or super spacious, these terrific trees add year-round interest and come in countless sizes, shapes and foliage colors. Find one that’s a perfect fit for your backyard. TOP 10 1 FIRE CHIEF GLOBE ARBORVITAE 2 WEEPING BLUE ATLAS CEDAR 3 BRIGHT GOLD YEW 4 BLUE SHAG PINE 5 BLUEBERRY DELIGHT JUNIPER 6 DWARF GLOBE BLUE SPRUCE 7 DWARF GOLDEN ARBORVITAE 8 JAPANESE CEDAR 9 DWARF SCOTCH PINE 10 MOON FROST HEMLOCK Fire Chief globe arborvitae THUJA OCCIDENTALIS ‘CONGABE’, ZONES 5…

Sword-billed Meet the only bird in the world with a bill longer than its body. The 3- to 4-inch bill helps sword-billeds reach the nectar in long, deep flowers that other hummingbirds can’t attain. To maintain balance while resting, this bird sits with its bill pointed toward the sky. Black-tailed trainbearer With a small bill and a tail that lives up to its name, this bird is easy to spot. Unlike many of Ecuador’s hummingbirds, the black-tailed trainbearer is not a forest dweller but is commonly seen in backyards, most notably in the country’s capital city, Quito. Sparkling violetear This is a gorgeous bird even before you notice the violet ear tufts that extend past its head. The species is one of the most common in the Andes Mountains, but…

Q&A A few winters ago, four bluebirds spent time in the nesting boxes in my yard. What do they eat during the cold months? Are bluebirds supposed to migrate south? Thomas Bruce WAYLAND, MICHIGAN Kenn and Kimberly: Many bluebirds do stay as far north as Michigan for the winter, although they’re found only in limited areas. Wild fruits and berries make up the main part of their winter diet, so they favor areas where they can consume fruits of red cedar, dogwood, hackberry, sumac, wild grape, poison ivy and other plants. They also eat any insects they can find, and may come to mealworm feeders. In cold weather, they usually sleep in tree cavities or other holes, so they may have been using your nesting boxes to roost in at…

WINTERBERRY Ilex verticillata, Zones 3 to 9 Few deciduous shrubs produce as much coldweather interest as winterberry. Unlike most of its holly cousins, it drops its leaves in the autumn, so nothing detracts from the brilliant red berries (bird favorites!). In warmer weather, watch for Henry’s elfins: Winterberry is a host plant for the larva of these little butterflies.…

WITH FRIENDS Juncos are part of the sparrow family. Look for these dark-eyed beauties in flocks with other sparrows and bluebirds. Dark-eyed juncos reappear in many parts of the Lower 48 just as winter comes alive each year. They leave their breeding grounds in the North Woods and the western mountains to descend on backyard feeding stations across much of the U.S. Many people, like Birds & Blooms reader Jennifer Hardison from Athens, Tennessee, have a nickname for juncos. “We call them snowbirds because we only see them after a snowfall,” she says. To attract a whole flock of these backyard favorites to your own space, it takes a couple of feeders and the right plants to keep them full and coming back for more. Serve the Right Stuff In…

Submission Guidelines GET A free lip balm We love hearing from you—in fact, we couldn’t publish this magazine without you! How to submit: Go to birdsandblooms.com/submit-your-story to send stories, tips or photos. What you’ll get: If you’re published, we’ll send you a lip balm made with honey from Wisconsin bees! Contact: We may contact you via phone, email or mail regarding your submission, but our small staff can’t acknowledge receipt of submissions. Rights: By submitting material to us, you grant RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC, its affiliates, partners and licensees worldwide use of the material without time limitation, including the right to use your name and city/state/province in connection with any such use. We reserve the right to modify, reproduce and distribute your material in any medium (now or hereafter existing) and…