Innehållsförteckning för February/March 2022 från Birds & Blooms

I love birding from the passenger seat. My husband prefers to drive, so I excitedly declare when I spot a hawk, crane or egret as we’re cruising down a county road or the interstate. I rarely see the hawks well enough to confidently ID them, and sandhill cranes are more scarce, but there’s no mistaking the bright white feathers and regal stance of an egret! Although not typical backyard visitors, egrets and other wading birds are all around you, no matter what part of the country you live in. Their large size makes them easy to spot, and their majestic stature is simply stunning. To learn about the unique traits of these birds—such as why their legs are so long and their feet so big—read “What Makes a Wader” on…

COVER CONIFERS Plant these evergreens that offer protection. Arborvitae Colorado blue spruce Common juniper Mugo pine Ponderosa pine White pine P.S. Dwarf varieties are great for small spaces, too! HELP INJURED BIRDS If you see a stunned bird that doesn’t fly away when you approach, give it a quiet place to recover in (such as a covered box) and immediately call a local wildlife rehabilitator. STUFF WE LOVE A removable bottom tray makes this large feeder a snap to clean. Plus, the roof protects birds from the weather and keeps seeds dry. $90 at duncraft.com…

WHAT’S ON THE MENU Most of these long-legged birds spend their time on the shoreline or thigh-deep in water hunting for food. Their favorite treats include: • Crustaceans • Fish • Frogs • Insects • Mollusks • Reptiles • Small mammals…

1 ASSESS YOUR AREA Chances are that your garden is part of a street or neighborhood with other gardens close by. These gardens all provide essential cover for wildlife large and small, allowing them to move through the area, feeding, breeding and creating homes and habitats for themselves and their offspring. Instead of regarding your garden as an individual space, think of it as part of a green corridor for local wildlife. Look at what is around you in the parks and gardens nearby—are there trees, shrubs and ponds, perhaps? Look at which plants are lacking but also which plants are attracting the birds and wildlife. 2 GO FOR YEAR-ROUND FRUIT AND FLOWERS Planting for year-round interest is great for our gardens but even better for wildlife. Many native plant…

More than 150 species make up a group of native bees called mason bees, which handled pollination here long before European honeybees arrived. “Solitary bees such as mason bees are perfectly adapted for great pollination,” says Matthew Shepherd, director of outreach and education for the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Unlike honeybees that gather pollen in packages on their hind legs, mason bees belly-flop into blossoms, and the pollen clings to the hairs on their bodies. As a result, they can pollinate up to 2,000 flowers per day, according to Thyra McKelvie of Rent Mason Bees in Bothell, Washington. She also notes that each mason bee can do the work of 100 honeybees. And because they’re well-adapted to the climate, they fly in cooler temperatures and brave drizzly conditions. Gentle…

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 33. 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. 10, 2022, and ends on March 10, 2022. 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…

Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’, Zones 4 to 8 Gnarled, twisty branches are an architectural sensation in chilly weather. Grown as a small tree or large shrub, it looks beautiful when not much else is going on in the garden. Attracts: Light needs: Full sun to part shade. Size: 8 to 10 feet tall and wide. Grown for: Winter interest. Long yellow catkins appear late in the season. Foliage: Leaves are puckered and droopy, 2 to 4 inches long, and hairy on the underside.…

FABULOUS FRUITS After its floral show, dwarf Russian almond produces nuts that are about ¾ inch long and have a hard, hairy shell. 1 Dwarf Russian almond PRUNUS TENELLA, ZONES 2 TO 6 SIZE: 2 TO 5 FEET TALL AND WIDE This modest-sized shrub bookends the growing season with showy rose red spring flowers and yellow-orange fall color. It prefers full sun, tolerates a range of soil types and is fairly drought resistant. Ruth’s 100 produces abundant blooms on a compact plant. Why we love it: Flowers appear early and attract butterflies. Plus, the plant provides food and cover for backyard birds and wildlife. 2 Paperbush plant EDGEWORTHIA CHRYSANTHA, ZONES 7 TO 9 SIZE: 3 TO 6 FEET TALL AND WIDER Leafless stems provide interest in winter, while creamy yellow flowers…

I visited Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha, Wisconsin, to look for cardinals and blue jays. As I walked along the tree line, a northern flicker flew low in front of me, coming in from my right. I had just enough time to raise my camera and capture this beautiful bird with its wing feathers spread in a downward position. Mike Brickl DOUSMAN, WISCONSIN I was not disappointed sitting in my backyard, Nikon Coolpix P900 in hand. A beautiful female pileated woodpecker flew from tree to tree looking for a good meal. As she finally perched on a wooden fence that had seen better days, I took aim and got the perfect shot. Persistence does pay off! Lillian Stewart PRINCETON, WEST VIRGINIA The spotted towhee inhabits many areas of western North America. The species tends…

THERE’S A HERON ROOKERY near my home. When I took this photo in March 2020, this great blue heron pair was still in the nest-building stage. Another male had returned to a neighboring nest, which is what prompted this pose as they watched. Curt Lundeen MEQUON, WISCONSIN I MADE A MAD DASH to Brazos Bend State Park here in southeast Texas when it reopened after being closed due to COVID-19. As I was watching and photographing the many roosting birds in the trees, I noticed this cattle egret starting a flight path in front of me. Jerry Hopman RICHMOND, TEXAS I FOUND THIS GREAT EGRET in Morro Bay, California. I watched as it stole nesting material from cormorants and delicately balanced each piece just so. The nest was 30 feet up and constructed…

6+ Most irises thrive in full sun for at least six hours per day. The rhizomes should be partially exposed to light and air to keep them dry and safe from rot. 28 You can find 28 native species of irises in the United States, including western blue flag, crested and Klamath. 6 Bearded irises are among the most commonly planted types of irises and are divided into six different classes by the American Iris Society. 300 Almost 300 species exist within the iris family. Most are perennials that grow via rhizomes, which are horizontal underground plant stems that form shoots. 4 Siberian irises can reach a whopping 4 feet tall, while dwarf irises max out at 6 inches.…

Feeding backyard birds is one of the greatest joys in life, but it’s important to take steps to keep the birds healthy in the process. Use these tips to make your backyard an appealing and safe space. Keep Things Clean Dirty feeders can spread disease. Completely empty yours about once every two weeks, and more often in wet weather or if the food looks moldy. Take each feeder apart, then clean it thoroughly with dish soap and boiling water or a dilute bleach solution (one part bleach to nine parts water). Rinse the feeder well, dry it completely and refill with fresh seeds or other bird food. Clean hummingbird feeders and change the sugar water every three to five days. Provide Window Warnings Windows pose a huge risk by reflecting…

1 ASSESS YOUR SPACE While the saplings in the nursery may look small, one day they could easily dwarf your home, depending on the species. Take a look around to make sure there’s plenty of room for the branches to stretch outward. While you’re outside, look up. Check for any overhead utility lines that the tree could touch as it grows taller. Keep in mind that trees are not one-sizefits-all. Each tree species has different spacing requirements—and many dwarf varieties can suit smaller spaces. 2 DO A SAFETY CHECK Always call 811 three business days before digging. The service calls local utility companies to mark the location of the wires and pipes that are buried underground. This will keep you safe, ensure that your backyard project won’t disrupt utility service,…

Q Common grackles consistently throw birdseed and empty my feeders. How can I deter them? Stefanie Vanderbush WAUPUN, WISCONSIN Kenn and Kimberly: To deal with the big appetites and messy habits of grackles, the best approach is to switch to different styles of feeders. Hanging tube-style feeders with short perches will attract finches and other small birds, but grackles find them hard to use. A suet feeder that can be accessed only from the underside will work for chickadees, nuthatches and other acrobatic birds, but may discourage grackles. You can also place a wire cage around a feeder—use wire with openings too small for grackles to squeeze through but big enough to let in finches, chickadees, juncos and other small birds. Q When I purchased this plant, I was told…