Innehållsförteckning för December/January 2023 från Birds & Blooms

Before becoming a mom, no one told me how much time I’d spend simply following my toddler around our yard. He’s perfectly content doing laps around the house picking up sticks, saying hello to bugs and digging in the mulch. I know I need to get creative this winter when we still want fresh air but options are limited. The ideas in “Frosty Fun” on page 38 got me excited to experience winter through my son’s eyes, especially the one about turning the yard into a canvas! No matter your age, the activities will inspire you to embrace the season—yes, even the snow! Whether you love or hate the fluffy white stuff, we can all agree that it has its moments. It’s stunning when bright red, puffy cardinals perch on…

“A few evening grosbeaks arrived in January 2020. Within two weeks, we had a flock of over 100 feeding on sunflower seeds! What a memorable winter.”Sally Harris SEQUIM, WA SONGLESS SONGBIRDS Despite being classified as songbirds, evening grosbeaks don’t really have a song. They use chirping calls but don’t rely on singing to select a mate or defend their territory. STUFF WE LOVE Attach this side mount tray feeder to your deck, fence or even a tree to welcome evening grosbeak flocks. $48 at thecrittercornershop.etsy.com…

RANGE Can be found year-round in the northern half of the U.S. Appears in the southern states during the winter. SOUND Listen for a high-pitched sseee trill. APPEARANCE The dark mask on a waxwing’s face is one of the bird’s standout features. Also look for the bright yellow tail tips, yellowish tint on belly, and white under tail. RANGE Seen in Alaska and western Canada during summer. Visits the northern U.S. in winter, overlapping with cedar waxwings’ range. SOUND Very fast and vibrato-heavy trill. APPEARANCE Different from the cedar waxwing in the yellow and white markings on wings, gray coloring on belly, and cinnamon under tail. Bohemians are also slightly larger birds. WHY WAXWINGS? The birds are named for the waxy red tips on certain wing feathers.…

Q What’s the best way to clean a nest box? Ellie Blondin LEESBURG, FL Kenn and Kimberly: Cleaning is an important part of being a responsible bird host. We recommend cleaning out the box after each brood or at the end of the year, at a minimum. Because wasps, mice or other things that are potentially harmful may be in the box, never stick your hands inside if you can’t see the interior clearly. We use a paint scraper to remove the old nest, followed by a stiff brush to remove any debris. Wear gloves to protect your hands and a mask to avoid inhaling any dust. Discard the contents far away from the nest box to avoid attracting predators. Do not use any soap, as it can harm the…

Berry Heavy Gold Winterberry Ilex verticillata ‘Roberta Case’, Zones 3 to 9 Large golden fruits dot the branches of this winterberry, instead of the classic red. While it looks gorgeous outside, it’s even more fun to bring nature inside. Cut off whole branches to arrange in wreaths, decorate a mantle or place in a vase. Attracts: Light needs: Sun to part sun. Size: 6 to 8 feet tall and wide. Grown for: Interest in fall and winter, as well as wildlife appeal. Foliage: Green in summer with delicate white flowers. Pair it with: Plant a male Mr. Poppins winterberry in order to pollinate Berry Heavy Gold. Grow at least one male plant for every five female plants. WILDLIFE BENEFITS The berries are a fantastic source of energy for birds in…

1 Snake plant DRACAENA SPP. A snake plant is a solid choice for beginners and frequent vacationers because it can be left alone occasionally. In fact, snake plants are more affected by too much water. They tend to easily succumb to root rot, so avoid watering when the soil is still damp. Stick a finger a couple of inches into the soil—if you hit moisture, wait to water. Why we love it: Put it in any room, as a snake plant tolerates a range of light conditions, but it does prefer bright light. 2 Pothos EPIPREMNUM AUREUM Pothos gets its other common name, devil’s ivy, because it’s a vigorous grower that is difficult to kill completely, bouncing back from most rookie mistakes. For maximum growth, keep pothos in bright indirect…

Butterflies employ strategies to survive the blankets of snow and bitter winds marking the winter months. Many venture to warmer climates, but more of them than you might think hunker down in your backyard. “The great majority of butterflies stay where they are. They spend the winter where they spend the summer,” says Jeffrey Glassberg, biologist, author and president of the North American Butterfly Association. Shorter days trigger the butterflies to get ready for winter, which could take the form of five different strategies depending on the species. Winter Capsules Some butterflies lay eggs in late summer that hatch the following year in spring. “Female butterflies are choosy, selecting locations that allow their emerging larvae to access fresh food as soon as they hatch,” says Karen Weaver, interpretive content developer…

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 October/November issue, we hid it on page 46. 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 Nov. 7, 2022, and ends on Jan. 11, 2023. 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:…

It would be nearly impossible, even for beginner birders, to overlook a flock of evening grosbeaks. These beauties—named for the mistaken belief that they appeared more often at dusk—aren’t always easy to find, though. Bold Feathers Few bird species are as stunning as evening grosbeaks. Charlotte Demers, a researcher from the Adirondack Ecological Center in Newcomb, New York, describes them as “big, gorgeous birds.” The yellow, black and white feathers of the males truly stand out, while females are more yellow-gray in color. Males sport an almost comically bold unibrow. Changing Range Evening grosbeaks are forest specialists found year-round across Canada and down into the western mountains of the U.S. The species expanded into New England during the early 1900s, perhaps following ornamental plantings of box elder trees. Charlotte says…

Whether you prefer simple or dazzling, you can create a Martha Stewart–worthy planter for your holiday porch with items from the garden and garage. Katherine Kinch, founder and designer of Your Space by Design in Calgary, Alberta, offers some suggestions to take your arrangements to the next level. STAY IN SIGHT Front-door planters greet visitors, but other placements are also worthwhile. Katherine says, “Consider exterior areas such as decks or patios that have clear sightlines from interior spaces.” That way you can enjoy them inside, too, no matter how low temperatures go. GET IN GROUPS One container is a focal point, but multiple pots are a party. Be creative in how you arrange your planters and displays. “You will see matching planters on each side of the door,” she says.…

“We’re fortunate to have a favored wintering spot for short-eared owls nearby. I went out in a bit of snow, hoping to see one. Bingo!”Linda Keister LEROY, NY Short Flights True to its name, a greater roadrunner is more skilled on land than in the air. It mainly flies from perch to perch or to the ground. “On a frosty day, I looked for the perfect photo and saw this American tree sparrow.”Mary Carlson PRINCETON, MN Winter Visitors Find American tree sparrows in backyards and fields in the northern U.S. during the cooler months. On the Open Snowy owls prefer to hunt in clearings, often surveying the surrounding area from an elevated vantage point. “I filled my peanut feeder, and California scrub-jays cleaned it out in one day!”Lornna Nunez PROSSER,…

My son and I love to take pictures of owls. When he’s out of school, we go on short trips to search for them. We decided to look for burrowing owls in Cape Coral, Florida. We sat in the car to watch from a distance and not disturb them. These owls are on Florida’s threatened species list, mainly due to loss of habitat. The picture is special not only because the burrowing owls are close to each other, but because of the time my son and I spent together.Jason Patterson SAFETY HARBOR, FL Help us crown a winner! Readers submitted thousands of fantastic entries to the 2022 Birds & Blooms Annual Photo Contest, and our team picked four standouts from each category: birds, blooms and butterflies. Turn the page to…

Now everything you need to create a splendid, bird-friendly garden space is right at your fingertips with The Best of Birds & Blooms 2022! This all-new edition is packed with our editors’ favorite tips, tricks & Photos from the past year of Birds & Blooms magazine. • 200+ proven tips from experts & hobby gardeners• 320+ gorgeous bird & flower photos• Photos of the year in every chapter• Insightful bird facts & zone maps• 256 glossy pages with easy-to-read type LIMITED-TIME Offer! Order now at:birdsandblooms.com/B2022 or scan the QR code below! Scan & Order online…

2013 In 2013 Project Snowstorm began collecting data on snowy owl movements. To date, the project has monitored nearly 100 individual owls. 100 Pygmy nuthatches communally roost to stay warm. Researchers have documented 100-plus birds roosting in a single tree cavity. Additionally, they drop into a hypothermic state to save energy. 359,479 During the 2022 Great Backyard Bird Count, 359,479 eBird reports documented 7,099 species. 20+ Ruffed grouse dive into snow to stay warm. Their snow caves maintain temperatures of 20-plus degrees, no matter how cold the air temperature drops. 700 Feeding on salmon from rivers kept open by percolating groundwater, 700 to 900 bald eagles congregate annually in early winter along southeast Alaska’s Chilkat Valley. 105 A bird’s body temperature remains at approximately 105 degrees, even in winter. 100+…