Indholdsfortegnelse for December/January 2020 i Birds & Blooms

I love waking upto a winter wonderland of snow-covered trees and watching fluffy, puffed-up cardinals and downy woodpeckers visit my feeders. Although they’re well-equipped to handle frigid weather, birds sure appreciate an easy meal. Turn to “Feeding Cheat Sheet” on page 20 for a handy chart that shows you which foods common backyard birds love most. Tear it out and use it all year! Also in this issue, get to know the northern cardinal, our adorable cover star, in “Cardinal Rules” on page 10. Discover how to create a haven for these colorful winter guests. And for those who live in warmer climates, we have a different kind of snowbird for you. In “Snow Birds” on page 38, read about six birds that have “snow” in their name. You’ll find…

It’s hard to miss a male cardinal and his bold red feathers, black face mask and spiked crest. Although the female is more subdued, she is no less adored. Either is a go-to critter for holiday cards, in snowy scenes that take on vibrancy thanks to the dash of red. Despite being fairly common, the birds can be a bit elusive. They often come to feeders as the sun is setting, when their red feathers are muted under low light conditions. Cardinals like to eat from trays or platforms, preferring sunflower and safflower seeds and often roasted, unsalted peanuts. Seeds and nuts are no match for their hefty pink beaks. Cracked corn is worth setting out, too. “I’ll sprinkle seeds directly on the ground or the sidewalk to give cardinals…

Northern cardinals are always a welcome sight. They decorate the landscape with a pop of red as they sit atop the branches like fluffy ornaments. They’re so refreshing when it’s dreary. Deanna Mayhew CROCKER, MISSOURI Goldfinches seem to be in my area as much in winter as they are in the summer. These birds add bright color to any snow-dusted day. Lori R. Bramble CAMBRIDGE, MARYLAND Sax-Zim Bog in northern Minnesota is a choice place to see birds in winter. This common redpoll is among the birds I’ve spotted; although they’re active, many do sit long enough for you to take nice photos of them. Jeffry Weymier HOBART, WISCONSIN After a round of icy weather overnight, I snapped a close-up of this eastern towhee. I think it was happy to…

IN THE VALLEY An unexpected winter birding paradise. Wabasha, home of the National Eagle Center, is a small town in southern Minnesota, but it is a prime place to see eagles. The local bird population is quite large, and these breathtaking fliers nest in the area’s tall trees. They also flock here for the cold months to take advantage of the Mississippi River, which continues to flow even in the depths of winter, creating pockets of open water where the birds can fish. 1 Pack your parka! Winter is the best time to visit because there’s an influx of migrating eagles. Take a chilly Saturday afternoon to go on a guided field trip. Hosts take visitors around the Mississippi River valley’s hot spots looking for bald or golden eagles in…

True or False? A. CARDINALS CRAVE safety and will frequently hide in evergreens. B. BIRDS NEED A BOOST first thing on cold winter mornings, so putting seed out early is key. C. JUNCOS KEEP WARM by growing feathers that are 15% heavier in the winter. ANSWER 1. AMERICAN ROBIN 2. PILEATED WOODPECKER 3. BLUE JAY 4. AMERICAN GOLDFINCH 5. EASTERN BLUEBIRD A. TRUE B. TRUE C. FALSE; THEY GROW FEATHERS THAT ARE 30% HEAVIER DURING WINTER.…

Use your yard for science! Count birds at your feeders to help Project FeederWatch calculate the distribution of bird species in North America plus the top 25 in each region. 14,000 Journey North examines migration patterns and tracks wildlife like hummingbirds, earthworms and monarch butterflies. In spring 2018, Journey North participants reported more than 14,000 sightings of adult monarchs. 5 To figure out how plants respond to environmental changes, Budburst charts blooming cycles for five groups of plants: wildflowers and herbs, evergreen trees and shrubs, conifers, deciduous trees and shrubs, and grasses. 1,500 Across the country, more than 1,500 citizen science projects lead to important discoveries, using information everyday people submit through websites, apps and in-person reports. As a volunteer you can take part in bird censuses, tracking monarch butterfly…

1 Winterberry ILEX VERTICILLATA, ZONES 3 TO 9 A close relative of the Christmas favorite, holly, this hardy shrub tolerates almost anything nature throws at it. It grows best in moist, acidic soils and easily handles winter cold. To get berries, plant male and female types. Why we love it: Unlike other holly, winterberry’s leaves fall away during winter, exposing its red berries and creating a perfect setting for photos. 2 Mountain ash SORBUS SPP., ZONES 2 TO 7 Mountain ash is a fall beauty. Its leaves turn beautiful shades of yellow and red, and its berries red-orange. This small, low-maintenance tree reaches 10 to 25 feet tall and prefers acidic, sandy, moist soil. Why we love it: These oval-shaped trees produce white flowers in spring that are attractive to…

Q I watched a red-bellied woodpecker stick its tongue out over and over. What was it doing? Kimberly Miskiewicz RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA Kenn and Kimberly: Red-bellied woodpeckers use their incredibly long tongues to forage for insects. They stick their tongues into tree cavities and crevices to probe for insects and grubs. The end of their tongue is barbed to allow them to latch on to food. Sometimes they even use them to drink syrupy sugar water from hummingbird feeders. Considering all the places they use their amazing tongues for feeding, they can get messy in a hurry. The bird you watched, sticking its tongue out repeatedly, was probably just cleaning its tongue after foraging. Q Where do the black swallowtail caterpillars on my dill plants spend their winter? Vicki Brown…

Winter Heath Erica carnea, Zones 5 to 7 Just as the new year dawns, this winter stunner bursts into bloom, even when coated in a dusting of snow. Low-growing, it eventually forms a thick ground cover. Native to the Alps, it does best in climates with cooler summers, but grows well in warmer places with afternoon shade. Attracts: Light needs: Full sun. Size: About 1 foot tall and wide. Grown for: Early blooming and showy winter interest. Foliage: Evergreen needles about ¼ inch long. Cultivars to try: December Red has pink flowers that fade to purple. Or, if pink’s not your thing, plant Springwood White for its silvery blooms. WILDLIFE BENEFITS Songbirds hide in the cover, but the real attraction is for butterflies. Pollinators, especially ones that emerge early, rely…

Nothing is more festive than a locally grown, freshly cut Christmas tree filling your home with smells of forest and holiday. But by the end of December or early January, it’s more eyesore than centerpiece, littering your carpet with dead needles. This year, instead of kicking the tree to the curb as everyone else does, repurpose it in your yard—and watch as birds, insects and perennials reap the winter benefits. INSULATE PERENNIALS Cut or saw off branches from the tree and layer them flat over your perennial beds as winter mulch. Even if snow already blankets the ground, the branches add an extra layer of protection from fluctuating winter temperatures, says Vijai Pandian, a horticulture specialist with the Milwaukee County (Wisconsin) extension. Use only local trees, as the greens from…

The yard might be snow-covered and the air a bit chilly, but you can still use your green thumb. For nature lovers, January, February and early March often spark impatience, but fret not—we’ve got you covered with gardening activities to pass the time until the ground thaws. 1 Be Scrappy Wait, don’t throw out that carrot top! Many veggies and herbs—carrots, celery, ginger, potatoes, peppers, basil, radishes and more—are comeback champs, as long as you keep the right part of the plant (usually either the top or the seeds inside) to stick back in the soil. If you feel the need to do a little research on the subject before plunking that radish top into the dirt, you’ll find plenty of books and online materials on the subject. And best…

The best thing about birding is that it can mean different things for different people. Some like to enjoy birds in their own backyard or at a local park, while others travel the world in search of avian delights. Many enthusiasts leave their binoculars at home and primarily pursue birds with cameras instead. No matter your approach, understanding birding etiquette and obeying the law are common threads that unite us in our hobby and experience. Here are seven of the most important things to remember to protect yourself and birds. 1 It may be exciting to watch birds in a new place, but it’s never acceptable to trespass on someone’s private property. Always err on the side of caution if you have any doubt at all, and when you contact…

Find the Hummingbird In each issue, we hide a hummingbird like the one above left. Enter to win at birdsandblooms.com/contests if you find it. Winners get a one-year subscription to Birds & Blooms. In the October/November issue, we hid it on page 13. 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 Nov. 13, 2019, and ends on Jan. 7, 2020. Visit birdsandblooms.com/contests for official rules. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Sweepstakes sponsored by RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC…