Indholdsfortegnelse for October/November 2020 i Birds & Blooms

Although most North American woodpeckers stay within their ranges year-round or make very short migratory movements, we like to celebrate them every fall here in the pages of Birds & Blooms. This season suits them. Maybe it’s because they look so beautiful when perched in trees lit up by autumn-colored leaves, or perhaps it’s because one of their favorite foods—suet—is best served in the cooler months. In this issue, meet our cover star, the red-headed woodpecker, in “The Flying Checkerboard” on page 8. It happens to be one of my favorite birds. The first time I saw one was on the last stop before hitting the road for home from the Biggest Week in American Birding in northwest Ohio. The bird was so far away (even with binoculars), high in…

FIERY FEATHERS Many woodpeckers have some red on their heads, but the red-headed is one of the few with a full head of scarlet. Some bird-watchers may even confuse the redbellied woodpecker—which has a red crown and nape — for a red-headed. “Red-headed woodpeckers thrive in the old trees of central Missouri. I consider them patriotic because of their coloring—almost like an American flag in flight.”Ann Tanner LEAWOOD, KANSAS SHORT-DISTANCE MIGRANT The red-headed woodpecker is found year-round within much of its range, but the species makes small migratory movements to winter grounds in southeastern states.…

WHY AUTUMN? Planting trees in fall gives the roots time to establish before the extreme heat of summer. As long as you plant before the ground freezes, most trees can survive winter.…

Southern Idaho has its very own bird that is not found anywhere else in the world. The Cassia crossbill looks very much like a red crossbill, and it wasn’t officially recognized as a separate species until 2017. Although its relatives wander far and wide, the Cassia crossbill doesn’t stray from the lodgepole pine forests of Idaho’s South Hills and Albion Mountains. Why? Because the two areas have no red squirrels. In most places, lodgepole pine cones are quickly stripped of seeds by red squirrels, so the crossbills grab whatever seeds they can and then move on. But in these two isolated mountain ranges where there is no competition from squirrels, Cassia crossbills dine on those seeds all year without having to fly away in search of more.…

Q Gambel’s quail keep eating my flowers. I have tried various kinds of netting, but the quail just push through and eat everything. Can you suggest a solution? Barbie Slavkin MESA, ARIZONA Kenn and Kimberly: Our first thought was how lucky you are to have Gambel’s quail in your yard! But we can relate to the challenge of creating a habitat for wildlife and then balancing that with the need to protect garden plants and flowers. If netting has failed, you could try creating exclosures with chicken wire. Available at most farm supply stores, chicken wire is a sturdier product that might keep the quail at bay. But if exclosures fail, you may want to reconsider the plants themselves. If the quail feast on particular plants, try eliminating those flowers…

When I was in fourth grade, we were told to choose a bird and write a report on it. I chose the snowy owl, and my grandfather gave me a photo to go with my presentation. Ruth Snyder-Bonnau MONTGOMERY, MICHIGAN Although I’ve never seen one in person, my favorite is a northern saw-whet owl. Lynn Lewis MARINA, CALIFORNIA I admire the extreme adaptability of great horned owls. They’re such skilled hunters. Doug Velting WYOMING, MICHIGAN The burrowing owl is my favorite because of its unique dwelling. Plus, its tiny face is too cute. Rebecca Torchia ELLICOTT CITY, MARYLAND I frequently see barred owls behind my home in the winter when I am snowshoeing. They are not shy and will look down at me from the trees. Heather McIlravey SEVERN BRIDGE,…

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 August/September issue, we hid it on page 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 Sept. 15, 2020, and ends on Nov. 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 &…

14 It takes 10 to 14 days for the eggs to hatch into caterpillars after the female lays them. 1 Males heavily rely on one sense during mating season: their sense of smell. Female cecropia moths send out pheromones for the males to follow. 100 During the spring and early summer, a female lays about 100 eggs on hardwood tree leaves. 3 You’ll quickly notice the bright bumps, called tubercles, on the caterpillars. These bumps come in three colors—blue, yellow and red—and can change as they grow. 0 An adult cecropia moth eats zero times—it doesn’t have a functioning mouth, since its only purpose is to mate. Caterpillars, on the other hand, munch on a variety of leaves. 7 These moths are among the largest species native to North America,…

BIRD BENEFITS Watch for white berry-like fruits in the middle of summer. They ripen and turn blue in late summer and attract birds. Silky Dogwood Cornus amomum, Zones 4 to 8 Like most dogwoods, this shrub looks fantastic in autumn and winter. The fall leaves don’t last long, but with the cultivar Cayenne, they’re replaced by bright red branches that offer tons of winter interest. It also shines in summer when its light green foliage is dotted with delicate white flowers. Attracts: Light needs: Full sun to part shade. Size: 6 to 12 feet tall and wide. Grown for: Try it as a hedge to fill a wet area. Foliage: Oval, medium green in summer, turning bright red and orange in autumn. Benefits: Deer tend to avoid it, and it…

1 Dark and Handsome hellebore HELLEBORUS ‘DARK AND HANDSOME’, ZONES 4 TO 9 Part of the Wedding Party series, Dark and Handsome steals your heart with black-purple good looks. Hellebores thrive in part to full shade. After the blooms fade, attractive leathery green foliage remains. Why we love it: This sturdy chap stands its ground when facing ravaging deer and rabbits and quickly naturalizes in woodland gardens. 2 Chocolate cosmos COSMOS ATROSANGUINEUS, ZONES 9 TO 11 OR ANNUAL Chocolate cosmos sprout from tender tubers that can be grown as annuals or brought inside for winter in cold climates. They ultimately reach up to 30 inches tall, growing best in a sunny garden patch. They shine from midsummer into fall and are easy to care for. Why we love it: This…

I always enjoy my backyard birds. One of my favorite things is setting up scenes for them to visit. I just put out food, and they will come. This Carolina chickadee stopped by to grab a snack. I love being able to capture them from behind the camera. Jacqueline Hodsdon FOREST, VIRGINIA This yellowrumped warbler came to eat a ripening persimmon fruit last October. The bird has been an autumn visitor to our Southern California yard for the last several years. I’ve also spotted it eating suet in the winter. James Tucker VENTURA, CALIFORNIA NOT SO FAR SOUTH Most warblers fly to the tropics for winter but some, like yellow-rumpeds, stay in the southern states. Although I’ve seen many downy woodpeckers, I was so happy to spot my first hairy…

Think about the last time you saw a northern oriole or rufous-sided towhee. Technically, nobody has seen either of these birds for 25 years. That’s because in 1995, these species were reclassified by a committee of the American Ornithologists’ Union, which has been the keeper of the Checklist of North and Middle American Birds since 1886. Now northern orioles are classified as Bullock’s in the West and Baltimore orioles in the East. Similarly, rufous-sided towhees were also split into two species: the spotted towhee in the West and the eastern towhee east of the Great Plains. These changes aren’t simply taxonomic trickery. Instead, when making these decisions, the committee weighs evidence including plumage variations, differences in songs, DNA, and the amount of hybridization between closely related species. While many birders…

Flashing rich crimson, jet black and ivory white—the same bold colors found on a classic deck of cards—the red-headed woodpecker starkly contrasts with the muted colors of its natural habitat. MAGNIFICENT MARKINGS “The red-headed woodpecker has very distinctive, large color patches with no variegating, striation or striping,” says Emma Greig, project leader at Project FeederWatch, a winter-season initiative that surveys birds across North America led by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This beautiful bird has a red head, a snow white body and inky black wings with white patches. Both males and females sport the bold, bright colors, while juveniles appear subdued in brown, black and white. DISTINCTIVE BEHAVIORS Red-headed woodpeckers have the ability to catch insects while in flight, which Emma says is unusual, and they’re known to stash…

When summer starts to fade and cooler temperatures prevail, it’s time to jazz up your outdoor living space with fresh fall decor in a pot. Rather than simply placing a potted plant by the doorway, use this season to unleash your inner artist and create a stunning fall vignette. AUTUMN DISPLAY For a wonderfully easy and quick container creation, try pairing up assorted mums and chartreuse sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) to serve as the focal point. Then place squash, pumpkins and gourds around the container to complete the fall picture. GO FOR GRASS Ornamental grasses are a popular fall container plant, since they often peak during the season with ripening flower heads and changing foliage. Purple fountain grass goes perfectly in containers, working with other plants or calling attention…

WILDLIFE HOT SPOT Explore wetlands, woodlands and more. Point Pelee National Park is Canada’s secondsmallest national park, but it holds the title for being the country’s most ecologically diverse. Lake Erie warms this 5-mile peninsula, creating an environment ideal for many birds and plants. Discover sandy beaches, dunes and trails for biking, hiking and bird-watching. Or meander through the marsh on a boardwalk or by canoe, looking for waterfowl, beavers, turtles and muskrats. 1 Watch thousands of monarch butterflies at the Tip, the southernmost point of the park and of mainland Canada. Monarchs congregate in the trees during the fall, waiting for the right moment to cross Lake Erie on their 1,800-mile migration to Mexico. 2 Experience the park on a designated Dark Sky Night, when park visitors are allowed…

answers on the bottom! ANSWERS 1. GULF FRITILLARY 2. BANDED ORANGE HELICONIAN 3. PAINTED LADY 4. MONARCH 5. REGAL FRITILLARY A. TRUE B. TRUE C. FALSE; DOZENS OF BUTTERFLIES HAVE ORANGE COLORING True or False? A. IRIDESCENT COLORS come from the microscopic structures in butterfly wings, not from pigments. B. BUTTERFLY WINGS ARE COVERED with thousands of tiny scales that overlap each other. C. ONLY SEVEN North American butterflies sport orange hues.…