Indholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2020 i Birds & Blooms

I’m writing this in early April from my living room in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. My work-at-home routine includes frequent visits to the window to check my bird feeder. Earlier this week I messaged my team, declaring that every dark-eyed junco in the county was in my yard—or so it seemed. And editor Rachel shared her first goldfinch sighting. Art director Sharon chimed in to say that honking sandhill cranes were her background noise. In this trying time, sharing bird sightings is bringing us together even though we’re working miles apart. That’s the best thing about birds. No matter what’s going on in the world, they’re still the hungry, entertaining fliers we all love. Nothing lifts our spirits quite like hummingbirds, so it’s been a treat to work…

FEED A MULTITUDE Hang a few feeders instead of one, because these territorial birds come in droves. EXPANDING EAST Several types of western hummingbirds, including broad-taileds, are now showing up in the Gulf States in fall and winter. While no one knows exactly why, David Mehlman jokes, “Maybe it’s the gumbo.” FAVORITE NATIVE The red birds in a tree shrub (Scrophularia macrantha, Zones 4 to 9) attracts broad-tailed hummingbirds where it grows wild in the Southwest. It produces nectar-filled flowers that look just like little birds.…

Last fall I made a detour on my way to the airport. Wrapping up a visit to my hometown, I wanted to see one last friend before getting on the plane. I live a thousand miles away now, so it’s not often that I get to see the tree my dad planted for me when I was born. It may be just a silver maple to some, but it’s my silver maple. Through the years I’ve continued this tradition. When my nephew Nick was born, I planted a black walnut to mark the occasion. I paid $2.50 for the seedling, but it was priceless to hear Nick had made a pilgrimage to see the tree decades later. I had always made it plain to him that it was his tree,…

THE BACKCOUNTRY Get off the beaten path with trails and tours. Backcountry trails allow visitors to explore from the Rio Grande to the summit of Cerro Grande Peak, the highest point in the park. But if striking out into the wilderness gives you pause, try a ranger-led tour instead. During these hikes, which are as short as 4 miles, rangers offer glimpses of rarely seen terrain, geology and wildlife. Call the Bandelier Visitor Center for dates and locations and to reserve your spot in the group. 1 Walk through the Main Loop Trail to view archaeological sites with structures and petroglyphs created by the Pueblo people thousands of years ago. Along the trail, wooden ladders allow you to enter carved alcoves called cavates that dot the cliffsides. 2 Spot black-chinned and…

True or False? A. LEAVE SPIDERWEBS ALONE—hummingbirds use the silk to securely build and anchor their nests. B. BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS migrate the farthest of the North American species. C. DURING TORPOR, a hummingbird may slow its metabolism by up to 95%. ANSWERS 1. CALLIOPE 2. ALLEN’S 3. BUFF-BELLIED 4. BLUE-THROATED MOUNTAIN-GEM 5. RUBY-THROATED A. TRUE B. FALSE; RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS TRAVEL THE FARTHEST C. TRUE…

34,000,000 Among the most common and successful hummingbirds, ruby-throats are found in summer across most of the eastern U.S. and east of the Rockies in southern Canada. Their population totals an estimated 34 million birds. 1,200 When ruby-throats are really exerting themselves, their hearts race around 1,200 beats per minute. In calmer times, that rate drops to 600 beats per minute. Humans, in comparison, have a resting heart rate of about 72. 3 Invite these teeny delights into your yard with flowers in their three favorite colors: red, orange and pink. 53 Zipping around in every direction (even backward), the nimble ruby-throated hummingbird beats its wings around 53 times per second. 2 Ruby-throats can consume up to twice their body weight (which is less than a penny) in nectar, small…

Playin’ the Blues Salvia Salvia longispicata x farinacea ‘Playin’ the Blues’, Annual Part of the Rockin’ series, Playin’ the Blues salvia is a true pollinator magnet. Its purple-blue flowers bloom shortly after planting and last until the first hard frost. The fragrant foliage is deer resistant, and the flowers are sterile—which means no need to deadhead. Attracts: Light needs: Full to part sun. Size: 2 to 4 feet tall and about 3 feet wide. Grown for: Attracting wildlife and showy cut flowers. Foliage: Glossy green leaves. Other colors: Try Deep Purple, Blue Suede Shoes or Fuchsia for dark purple, blue or pink tones. Also part of the Rockin’ series, they offer the same benefits.…

1 Larkspur DELPHINIUM SPP., ZONES 3 TO 7 Although it’s a bit picky, larkspur is well worth the effort when spires of blue flowers reach for the sky. Delphiniums require full sun and organic, moist, well-draining soil. Avoid planting it in windy locations, and cut it back around midsummer for a second set of flowers. Why we love it: Delphinium exaltatum is native in the East and sturdy enough to grow in Zones 4 to 8. 2 Flowering tobacco NICOTIANA ALATA, ANNUAL Plant flowering tobacco along sidewalks, next to your deck or patio, or near open windows where you can enjoy the lovely evening fragrance. This adaptable plant reseeds readily and grows best in full sun and rich soils. It also comes in a variety of colors and sizes. Why…

Hummingbirds aren’t usually known for the noises they make—unless it’s the sound of one zooming past you—but broad-tailed hummingbirds are loud visitors. Females keep up a constant vocal twittering, and males add a loud trill from their specialized wing feathers while in flight. “Once you learn their sound, you won’t forget it!” says David Mehlman, who served as director of the Nature Conservancy’s Migratory Bird Program. “The male broad-tailed is the most distinctive-sounding of all North American hummingbirds,” David says. If you live in the mountains of the West or visit the region in summer, you’re bound to hear these very common and abundant hummingbirds, maybe even before you see them. Aside from the noise, it is the male’s bold throat that first catches attention, not the tail. Adult males…

To attract hummingbird moths, plant phlox, bee balm or any other pollinator favorite. WHAT’S A HUMMINGBIRD MOTH? Four species in the sphinx moth family hover around flowers during the day, like hummingbirds. The two most common garden fliers are also known as snowberry clearwings and hummingbird clearwings.…

COSMOS Cosmos spp., ANNUAL Throughout the growing season, bees and butterflies can’t resist these colorful pinwheel-shaped blossoms with feathery foliage. Grow single or double cultivars of this easygoing bloomer in full sun, and you’ll have flowers and seeds for the birds from summer through late fall. Plants stand from 1 to 6 feet high, so no matter how large your space, there’s a type of cosmos that will fit right in. BLACK-EYED SUSAN Rudbeckia spp., ZONES 3 TO 9 Lovely as a background planting or in a wildflower garden, black-eyed Susan also shines when grouped with other daisy-shaped flowers. Plants range from 1 to 6 feet in height, offering a big visual impact in any size yard. Butterflies appreciate the landing pad the blooms provide, bees flock to the bright…

Everyone knows of male hummingbirds and their dazzling iridescent hues. But the females wow us in a more practical way: They are among the best mothers in the bird world. Male hummingbirds take no part in raising the young, so these miniature moms do the big job all by themselves. A Perfect Cradle To shelter her cherished eggs, a female hummingbird builds an exquisite nest that is equally as precious as it is practical. She fashions a tiny cup from the finest plant materials, like the wispy down from dandelions or thistles, and places it on top of a branch, tying them together with sticky spiderwebs. She covers the outside of the nest with tiny flakes of lichen to camouflage her masterpiece. The build time is anywhere from a week…

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 receive a one-year subscription to Birds & Blooms. In the April/May issue, we hid it on page 52. 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 May 6, 2020, and ends on July 7, 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:…