Indholdsfortegnelse for February/March 2024 i Birds & Blooms

Almost every backyard has them: birds with a little more bravado than the others. They make their presence known with intimidating behaviors, loud squawks or territorial displays. In the story “Bravest Birds on the Block” on page 28, writer Kelsey Roseth explains why it’s totally normal to see the occasional backyard squabble, and she shares which birds are most likely to be involved. In the early stages of crafting that article, we wanted to hear what our field editors had to say based on what they see in their own backyards. So we asked them, “Which birds seem to have an extra boost of bravado or boldness?” Judy Roberts of Graytown, Ohio, says, “Red-headed woodpeckers, because their arrival at a feeder is a visual Outta my way!” Doreen Damm of…

“One of my favorite photos ever was of this young Costa’s hummingbird just getting in his beautiful feathers.”LISA SWANSON RICHLAND CENTER, WI TURN UP THE VOLUME A male Costa’s hummingbird can amplify the sound of his tail feathers by 11 decibels by directing the angle of those feathers toward the female during the courtship rituals. AN ACTIVE LIFE During normal daily activity, the heart rate of Costa’s hummingbirds ranges between 500 and 900 beats per minute. When the temperature drops below 50 degrees, the birds enter a torpor, and their heart rate slows to around 50 beats per minute.…

It’s best to look up specific nest box details for your local eastern, western or mountain bluebirds.…

A fresh pile of seed packets makes gardeners yearn to get growing. But hold tight! If you start too early, you might end up with leggy, overgrown plants that need babying until the frost disappears and the soil warms. Start too late, and you’ll be drooling over your neighbor’s BLTs while forlornly waiting for your plants’ blooms to turn into fruit. Here’s how to ensure your schedule is set up for success. 1 DECIDE WHAT TO GROW Before you sow your first seed, become familiar with that plant’s needs. Does it prefer warm temperatures, or can it tolerate a light frost? Knowing the appropriate growing season and temperature, as well as the light and soil requirements, helps you set a schedule. Many plants, such as peppers, tomatoes and some perennial flowers,…

The birds in our gardens or local parks can feel like old friends after a while. It may seem as if we’re seeing the same individuals year after year—and that may be true because often they stay faithful to their home territory. But it can lead us to wonder: How long do these birds live? That question can be surprisingly hard to answer. Cushy Cage Life After a bird reaches its adult plumage, it’s impossible to tell how old it is just by looking at it. But some zoos and aviaries keep records of individual birds, which means we can track their ages. One example: A pink cockatoo (a type of Australian parrot) arrived at the Brookfield Zoo near Chicago in 1934. When he died in 2016, he was at…

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 December/January issue, we hid it on page 14. 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. 24, 2024, and ends on March 19, 2024. 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…

REAP THE REWARDS Grow double snowdrops near a walkway so that you can enjoy the small blooms. Then snip a few flowers to add to an indoor bouquet. Double Snowdrops Galanthus nivalis ‘Flore Pleno’, Zones 3 to 8 With layered petals adorned with green, double snowdrops provide a refreshing burst of blooms come spring. Plant the bulbs in fall, about 2 to 3 inches deep and the same distance apart. Provide well-draining soil to ensure a spring show. Light needs: Full sun or part shade. Size: 4 to 6 inches tall. Grown for: Early spring blooms that are known to be deer resistant. Bloom time: About two weeks. Growing tip: Plant double snowdrops with other spring blooming bulbs, such as tulips and crocuses, for major early impact.…

1 Raspberry Sundae deutzia DEUTZIA HYBRID, ZONES 5 TO 9 Unlike other deutzia varieties that grow 6 feet or taller, this compact, rounded cultivar grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. It features arching stems and large panicles of purple-pink flowers that attract bees and butterflies from midspring to midsummer. Why we love it: The slightly fragrant flowers are white with pink edges, while the golden yellow foliage is a delightful treat in fall. 2 Midnight Wine Shine weigela WEIGELA FLORIDA ‘SMNWFMS’, ZONES 4 TO 8 The beloved Midnight Wine shrub gets an update with this pick. Enjoy its dark, glossy leaves, and look for hummingbirds at the tube-shaped pink blooms that arrive in spring and last into early summer. Grow in a spot with full sun and watch it…

MISTAKEN IDENTITY Despite its name, the eastern meadowlark is not in the lark family, but is instead in the blackbird family. While birding at one of my local state wildlife areas, I stopped at a large grassland section that was ringing with the songs of eastern meadowlarks. I took this photo from the parking lot as one flew right by me. Andy Raupp MONTELLO, WI I spotted a common redpoll in a sunflower field in Garrettsville, Ohio. The field owner had put up a small wooden sign that said “Birders Welcome.” I was really excited to see this little bird because it is an infrequent visitor to northeastern Ohio and was a “lifer” for me. I like the subtle color palette created by the bird, dried sunflower and background. David…

Measuring only 3½ inches long, the Costa’s hummingbird is a pint-sized delight in its arid habitats. Partly residing in the Sonoran and Mojave deserts in March and April, Costa’s thrive in the heat, says Christopher Clark, assistant professor of biology at the University of California, Riverside. However, they wander toward the sagebrush scrub communities of coastal California to escape the most intense heat beginning in May. Small but Vibrant The male has a hunched appearance with a stubby tail, and is easily identified by its green back and iridescent purple on its head and around its throat. The female looks similar, but without the purple feathers. Putting on a Show Christopher says the Costa’s unique breeding ritual involves a male flying directly in front of a female, flaring his purple…

ENVISION AN EPISODE of your favorite workplace sitcom centering around a protagonist’s troubles, triumphs and, at times, failures. When it comes to TV, we love watching drama unfold. The next time your heart races at the sight of a squabble between backyard birds, remember this comparison. The behavior is normal and showcases fascinating parallels between how birds and humans handle conflict. BACKYARD BRAWLS Two European starlings, one adult and one juvenile engaged in a heated battle over the last bit of peanut suet. Nelson Lamb WILMINGTON, DE Mindset Matters The emotional upset we experience when witnessing our feathered friends fighting is called anthropomorphizing. That means we’re attributing common human characteristics or behaviors to them. Humans’ social behavior is complex and nuanced. We present ourselves differently in various situations to achieve a…

Q What would cause iris plants not to bloom two years in a row? Three years ago they bloomed. Rosemary Dzatko CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH Melinda: It’s always frustrating when our flowers don’t perform as expected. Overcrowded plants often fail to bloom. If this is the case, try dividing the irises this coming summer. Keep in mind that recently divided and transplanted irises may not flower for a year or two after the move. Insufficient light caused by increased shade from maturing trees, nearby plantings and new structures can also reduce or prevent flowering. Move these plants to a sunnier location if needed. In addition, a late spring frost can damage the emerging flowers and prevent blooming. Tracking the weather often provides clues to problems in the garden. Q This bush…

Planter: Garden Planner helps me plan my garden areas. It calculates new garden dimensions, determines what to plant by season and whether there are companion or combative plants. It can also offer new ideas for you to plant. fe Jennifer Broadstreet Hess, MARION, KS I use Facebook for a local birding page and a Reddit community called What’s This Bird for ID’ing birds. Jodie Gunn HUDSON, MI For gardening, I like to use Seek by iNaturalist to identify plants. Dawn Cassel DOWNINGTON, PA I use Merlin for quick IDs, Audubon Bird Guide app for natural history info, Sibley Birds app for illustrations when comparing similar species, Larkwire to learn birding by ear and BirdQR to match songs with info in the Cornell guides. Molly Tanis FAIRFIELD, CT I use eBird to…

17,000 Chicken eggshells have as many as 17,000 pores, which allow air and moisture to pass through. 5-6 Female western meadowlarks construct dome-shaped structures on the ground for their nests before laying five to six eggs inside. 2 Recent research shows two egg colors—reddish brown and green—are determined partly by temperature. Eggs with darker colors exist more in colder areas because they absorb heat better. 1 According to one study, less than 1% of waterfowl eggs contain twins. 65 Emperor penguin dads have a special flap to keep their eggs warm, incubating them for about 65 days. 24 It takes most female birds at least 24 hours to form one egg. 95 Similar to corals and seashells, eggshells have a lot of calcium carbonate in them. It’s estimated that 95% of an eggshell is composed of this…