Indholdsfortegnelse for October - November 2017 i Birds & Blooms

With my binoculars raised and my neck craned so far back that I almost tipped over, I tried my hardest to locate the eastern screech-owl that I knew was hidden high in the tree. “I think I see it,” I remember saying on the boardwalk at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area in northwest Ohio. I’m still not 100 percent sure that I ever laid eyes on that well-camouflaged bird. Many owl species have barred or streaked brown feathers that let them blend in with tree bark. And despite their upright posture and large size (even small owls are bigger than the average songbird), these evasive fliers are incredibly difficult to spot, even when they’re perched on a branch or peeking out of a tree cavity. If you yearn for your very…

If there’s a nesting owl in your neighborhood, there’s a good chance it’s a great horned. The second-largest owl species in North America, these birds of prey make themselves at home in a diverse range of habitats, including deserts, wetlands and forests. Overall, they prefer woods near open areas and fields, but they aren’t too picky about what they eat. From snakes and scorpions to rabbits and mice, a great horned owl’s diet is expansive. One thing that makes great horned owls skilled nocturnal hunters is their hearing capability. The owl’s facial disk (the collection of feathers around the eyes) works like a satellite dish, trapping the sound and forcing it toward the ear canal. Its ears are on either side of the head, with one higher than the other…

1 Alma Potschke aster SYMPHYOTRICHUM NOVAEANGLIAE ‘ANDENKEN AN ALMA POTSCHKE,’ ZONES 4 TO 8 Vivid rose-pink blooms on this New England aster grab the attention of passersby. Pinch the stems back to 6 inches throughout June to encourage compact growth, sturdier stems and more flowers. Or let it grow (it’ll reach about 4 feet) and surround it with sturdy neighbors. Why we love it: Birds and butterflies visit this beauty, which adds motion and life to your yard. 2 Mammoth garden mum CHRYSANTHEMUM MORIFOLIUM ‘MAMMOTH,’ ZONES 3 TO 9 Bred by the University of Minnesota, this hardy mum is right at home in both the north and south. Grow it in full sun in the garden or a container. This heavy bloomer produces plenty of flowers, so share fresh-from-the-garden bouquets…

Q In an ornithology college course, I was told that the plural of titmouse is always titmouses, not titmice. Which is correct? Jim Worrell RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA Kenn and Kimberly: The word titmouse doesn’t have any connection to the rodent. Instead, the second syllable is based on the Old English word mase, which means “small bird.” Technically, there’s no reason why mouse and mice should match titmouse and titmice. A purist would probably say titmouses is correct. On the other hand, a couple of major dictionaries (and bird guides) give titmice as plural. So you can probably get away with either! Q I took this photo at our bird feeder last October. Could this bird be a cross between a snow bunting and a redpoll? Ken Thommes HILLMAN, MINNESOTA Kenn…

Autumn Joy sedum. These plants not only put on a beautiful show in fall, but light green foliage accents the garden all summer. Everyone should plant them! Bonnie Vaden BYHALIA, MISSISSIPPI Brown-eyed Susans pop up almost anywhere, with lots of sweet little blooms that last a long time. This plant is also called the three-lobed coneflower. Kathy Baus SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN Obedient plant (Physostegia) is one of my favorite late-summer plants. I love the color and height. Judy Ellis TOLEDO, OHIO Solidago, also known as goldenrod—it grows wild in my garden. I used to call it the back-to-school flower because it blooms about the time I wanted summer to go on and on. Carolyn Hopper BOZEMAN, MONTANA Mums are always nice. They say autumn just as much as pumpkins and colored…

Find the Hummingbird In each issue, we hide a hummingbird like the one above left. In the August/September issue, we hid it on page 26. Enter at birdsandblooms.com/contests if you find it. We’ll draw winners to receive Birds & Blooms seeds. HIDDEN OBJECT GUIDELINES No purchase necessary to enter to win. Purchase will not improve your chances of winning. Sweepstakes is open to legal residents age 18 years or older of the U.S., its territories and possessions, or of Canada (excluding the Province of Quebec). Sweepstakes begins on September 6, 2017, and ends on November 1, 2017. Go to birdsandblooms.com/contests for official rules. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Sweepstakes sponsored by RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC.…

1 Have some fun with your backyard birds like Janet Kirk of Fort Myers, Florida, did! She gave each of the young screech-owls in her yard a name—Henry, Phoebe and Leo. 2 Say sayonara to the basic jack-o’-lantern and carve a bird-themed pumpkin! Kirsten carved this one last year. Share your masterpieces with us at: birdsandblooms.com/submit 3 Go on an owl prowl. Grab your friends and family for nighttime hike to look and listen for owls like this long-eared.…

BIRTHDAY VISITOR On the morning of her birthday, my wife was blessed with a gift from Mother Nature herself. The first thing Jan saw when she looked out the bedroom window was the neighborhood great horned owl gazing back at her! The bird continued to perch in the juniper tree for most of the morning. Alan St. John BEND, OREGON PERFECT PAIRS Great horned owl pairs are monogamous and may stay together for five years or more. Some researchers think they stick by each other’s sides for life. STUFF WE LOVE Award-winning photographer Paul Bannick takes readers along for the ride as he documents one year in the life of various owls in his book Owl: A Year in the Life of North American Owls. Visit barnesandnoble.com to order a…

Before you put your feet up and settle in for the garden off-season, dedicate a few days to getting your landscape tucked in tight. Follow these simple steps to tidy up and prep your yard for a long winter nap. DAY ONE A.M.: TRIM & TIDY Divide your overgrown perennials and cut back the dead foliage on others. Remove any spent annuals and vegetables from the garden—roots and all—and add any disease-free debris to your compost pile. As you yank out plants and weeds, be mindful of pests and diseases. Double-bag and discard diseased plants or foliage. “Some diseases and pests overwinter in plant debris,” says Melinda Myers, horticulture expert. “Remove them in fall to prevent infection next year.” But not everything in your landscape needs to go. “Leave healthy…

In autumn, the earthy colors of the season—russets, golds and buffs—signal that cooler temperatures are on the way. And nothing takes the stage this time of year like the classic perennial border sedum, Autumn Joy. With its garnet-hued flower heads, Autumn Joy has become something of a sedum poster child. But it’s by no means the only worthy example of this broad family of plants. Many charming cousins offer a surprising variety of flower and foliage colors sure to capture your imagination and enhance your garden—and not just in autumn. Plus, most sedums are just as low-maintenance as Autumn Joy, asking little more than a sunny spot in well-draining soil. Because they are technically succulents, they survive drought or neglect, thanks to their juicy, moisture-retaining leaves and tough root systems.…

Owls are both popular and mysterious. They’re so obscure, in fact, that most people report they’ve never seen one in real life. But some kinds of owls come into suburban neighborhoods and city parks, and they might even call your backyard home when you follow these four tips. O 1 Provide shelter. Most kinds of owls like to hide inside dense cover during the day and venture out only at night. Evergreen trees provide this kind of shelter year-round. Depending on where you live, ideal choices include pine, spruce or juniper; check with a local native plant nursery to find out which grows best in your region. Eventually you may find long-eared owls, northern saw-whet owls, great horned owls or other species nestled away among the branches, sleeping the day…

answers on the bottom! True or False? A. THE COMMON NIGHTHAWK is part of the hawk family. B. BIRDS OF PREY have superb eyesight. C. RED-TAILED HAWKS can be spotted throughout North America. D. PEREGRINE FALCONS fly only about 50 mph. ANSWERS 1. RED-TAILED HAWK 2. GREAT GRAY OWL 3. EASTERN SCREECH-OWL 4. COOPER’S HAWK 5. BARRED OWL A. FALSE B. TRUE C. TRUE D. FALSE (THEY DIVE AT 200 MPH)…

7 Wizards and witches in J.K. Rowling’s seven-book Harry Potter series use owls to deliver their mail. The author says her interest in owls began when her mother made her an owl toy when she was 6 or 7. 801 In the Pokemon game franchise, players are encouraged to catch and train all 801 of the titular fantasy creatures, many of which are based on real-life animals, such as dogs, cats, fish and even owls. Hoothoot, Noctowl and Rowlet are three Pokemon inspired by the bird. 364 Mr. Owl informed TV viewers it only took three licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, but Purdue University engineering students built a licking machine to calculate an average of 364 licks to the center. 4 Woodsy Owl, the U.S.…

TO-DO LIST October Watch for monarch migration. As the weather cools down, monarchs set off on a journey of up to 3,000 miles to spend the winter in Mexico and southern California. Serve more seed. While the birds prepare for lean winter months to come, double the number of seed and suet feeders in your yard, and let seed-bearing plants such as clematis, aster, allium and goldenrod stand. Switch feeders. Avoid moisture from wet autumn weather and switch out tray feeders for hopper ones.…

Puzzling Out Pellets Owls swallow smaller prey whole, but can’t digest bones, fur or feathers. They regurgitate undigestible material in a tight mass called a pellet. Researchers dissect pellets to study what owls eat, but birders can use them to figure out if they’re roosting nearby.…

While picking out pumpkins, I saw some broom corn and decided to hang it up near my backyard feeders. The American goldfinches, which had been absent for about a month, quickly came back to eat the seeds and use the broom corn as a perch while waiting for the feeders. It certainly made for a beautiful photograph. James Prutilpac MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA I was taking photos of some red-winged blackbirds when this female snatched up a dragonfly to feast on. Sometimes an opportunity like this one falls right into your lap, but other times you can shoot all day and not get many keepers. I took this photograph at a marsh connected to Lake George in New York. Don Blais MECHANICVILLE, NEW YORK There were hundreds of these birds stripping nearby…

field EDITOR WHY I LOVE IT Portland is a foodie’s paradise, but what makes this city unique is its staggering number of food carts. Over 500 food carts are found in groups called “pods” throughout the city, and there’s a delicious dish for everyone, whether you love doughnuts or fresh fish tacos. SPOT THE SWIFTS Mount Tabor Park, a huge park on top of an extinct volcano, is a must for visiting birders. Species such as whitecrowned sparrows, Wilson’s warblers and willow flycatchers have been spotted here. If you’re in Portland in the fall, make sure you see the thousands of migrating Vaux’s swifts pass through the city on their way to Central and South America. Their most popular perch is the Chapman School smokestack, and onlookers watch as the…