Indholdsfortegnelse for February/March 2020 i Birds & Blooms

Sometimes I travel for the sole purpose of seeing birds. Other times it’s for pleasure with my husband or friends. But no matter where I am or what I’m doing, my eyes inevitably drift toward the sky looking for a fine-feathered friend that is new to me. Two years ago while flats fishing off the coast of the Florida Keys, Captain Tim was driving the boat, my husband was reeling in a tarpon and I was gazing up at magnificent frigatebirds overhead. We all laughed at how I was more interested in what was in the sky than what was in the water. And although the focus of that vacation wasn’t birding, I remember the frigatebirds, white ibises and flocks of friendly brown pelicans just as much as everything else.…

If you hear something that sounds like a cat screeching in the distance interspersed with bubbly chirping, you might wonder what all of the commotion is about. It’s probably a gray catbird doing what it does best—singing. The catbird’s call is—to say the least—distinctive. But that harsh sound imitating a cat’s meow is just one of the noises these singers make. Catbirds carry more than 100 different tunes ranging from crooning to mimicry. That ability runs in the family. As a member of the Mimidae family, the catbird is closely related to mockingbirds and brown thrashers. “You can tell a catbird’s song because it’s very long and highly variable,” explains Mike Webster, director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Macaulay Library. “It sounds improvised and they tend not to repeat…

Some birders love to track numbers, chasing every last sighting to build a massive life list. Others are more interested in watching than counting. Watchers enjoy the chance to spot a new life species, but take more pleasure in observing the behavior of feathered friends, old and new. If you’re more of a watcher than a counter, patch birding is perfect for you. “Patch birding is a focus on seeing what birds you can find at a specific place that’s special to you,” explains Ian Davies, Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird project coordinator. “This could be a little park in the middle of a city, a pond you check before work, or the best birding hot spot in the state. What matters is that it’s yours.” Think of a patch…

BECOME A FIELD EDITOR Join our online community of nature enthusiasts and contribute to the magazine! Apply for this volunteer role at birdsandblooms.com/fieldeditors. Read The Little Gardener by Julie A. Cerny is an illustrated guide for adults who want to inspire the little ones in their lives to connect with the natural world. Write Send a handwritten note to a friend or loved one. Find a selection of adorable nature themed notecards at carvedesigns.etsy.com. CELEBRATE February is National Bird Feeding Month. Join the fun by encouraging a friend or family member to feed birds or put up a new backyard feeder or birdbath. birdsblooms @birdsblooms birdsblooms…

1 Corn poppy PAPAVER RHOEAS, ANNUAL Corn poppies add vibrant color and are exceedingly easy to raise from seed. Also called Flanders poppies, these vigorous red flowers miraculously arose from battlefields after the end of World War I hostilities in Europe. Check to see if they’re invasive to your area before planting. Why we love it: The crepe-papery flowers paint meadows red in late spring and early summer. Leave the seedpods in place to grow next year’s crop. 2 Mexican sunflower TITHONIA ROTUNDIFOLIA, ANNUAL Just like its namesake, Mexican sunflower is very easy to grow. In a sunny spot with good drainage, the nearly 4-foot-tall flowers spring up in a matter of months. Keep deadheading for flowers that last through the entire summer. Why we love it: It is attractive…

This eastern meadowlark was serenading a field when I took its photo. They have such a pretty song. Sometimes it’s nice to roll down the car window, drive slowly down a country road and listen to them. Peter Brannon TAMPA, FLORIDA Apparently American robins can have a case of the Mondays, too! I caught this one foraging on the ground early in the morning, when it decided to take a break for a big yawn. Jessica Nelson DAYTON, MARYLAND HEALTHY APPETITE Earthworms are among robins’ favorite foods, but they also nibble insects, snails and berries. I lucked out and spotted this scarlet tanager sitting pretty in the sunlight while I was out for a walk. I’m always glad when I bring my camera along. Phillip Werman NEW YORK CITY, NEW…

answers on the bottom! True or False? A. CEDAR WAXWING MALES choose the location of their nests. B. LOVEBIRDS REALLY DO EXIST—they’re native to Africa and they mate for life. C. MALE NORTHERN FLICKERS share incubation responsibilities and keep the eggs warm all night (and part of the day too). ANSWERS 1. CEDAR WAXWINGS 2. DOWNY WOODPECKERS 3. WHITE-WINGED DOVES 4. HOUSE FINCHES 5. WOOD DUCKS A: FALSE; THE PAIR SEARCHES TOGETHER BEFORE THE FEMALE PICKS A FINAL SPOT. B. TRUE C. TRUE…

250,000 These birds of a feather really do flock together. While they pair off during breeding season, robins move as a large group to search for food in other months. As a result of this behavior hundreds of them might roost in the same place—as many as 250,000 have been spotted at once. 3 Adult robins begin to pair up in April and their chicks are among the first birds to hatch. On average, they have three to five young in a brood, with up to three broods in a year. 1926 In 1926-27, Wisconsin schoolchildren voted to make the American robin the official state bird. Later Michigan and Connecticut made the popular flier their symbol, too. 2,900 Though abundant when the ground thaws, robins are not necessarily the bringers of spring.…

Higan Cherry Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’, Zones 4 to 8 Voluminous semi-double pink flowers bloom in late March or earlier in warmer climates. But as the cultivar name suggests, spring isn’t the only time this tree shines. In fall, look for a crown of thin, yellow leaves. You may see a second but more sparse bloom, too. Attracts: Light needs: Full sun to partial shade Size: Up to 35 feet tall. Grown for: Disease resistance, hardiness and a second bloom. Foliage: Narrow lance-shaped or ovate leaves. Similar species: Try Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula’, known as weeping higan cherry. Dramatic blooms emerge in early spring before leaves sprout. BIRD BENEFITS Birds are drawn to the tree’s shelter and dark pea-sized fruits that develop in late summer.…

It’s easier than you may think to manage pests while minimizing the harm to pollinators, birds and the backyard wildlife you enjoy. Start by picking plants that suit your growing conditions, indoors and out, and keep them in good shape to reduce the risk of unwanted attacks. When you first notice a potential problem, decide if control is needed. Only a small percentage of insects actually harm plants; the majority help you grow beautiful and productive gardens. When harmful bugs bombard plants, consider waiting for predators and birds to step in and take control. Green lacewings, lady beetles, parasitic wasps and mantids like praying mantis are just a few of the insects that eat troublesome pests. Outdoor Fixes If you need to intervene, select the option that is most eco-friendly.…

Q My husband is worried about woodpeckers in the area. Do they damage trees? Beth Pearson PAULINE, SOUTH CAROLINA Kenn and Kimberly: It’s completely understandable to be concerned about these industrious birds hacking away but, in reality, woodpeckers almost never damage healthy trees. In fact, they usually protect them by eating insects that would otherwise attack the tree. Woodpeckers typically excavate their nest holes in trees or limbs that already are dead or that have internal issues like heartwood rot. When a woodpecker digs out a big section of living trunk or branch, it’s going after insects, such as beetle grubs or carpenter ants that already are damaging the tree. So attracting woodpeckers won’t put your treescape at risk. Q This bird came to my backyard. What is it? Darryl…

Find the Hummingbird In each issue, we hide a hummingbird like the one above left. Enter to win at birdsandblooms.com/contests. Winners receive a one-year subscription to Birds & Blooms. In the December/January issue, we hid it on page 64. 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 Jan. 8, 2020, and ends on March 3, 2020. Visit birdsandblooms.com/contests for official rules. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Sweepstakes sponsored by RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC. Contact Us! CUSTOMER CARE For subscriptions, renewals, gifts, payments, account info and inquiries: Email: customercare@birdsandblooms.com Visit: birdsandblooms.com/customercare Write: BIRDS &…