Wild Lake Monticello

Japanese Beetle-Proof Your Roses

2012-05-29T08:00:00.001-04:00

From Birds and Blooms Garden eNewsletter

Try planting geraniums, especially white ones, in and around roses. This helps repel Japanese beetles. In the last 3 years, I’ve found less than a dozen beetles on my roses. — Kathi Richards, Dundee, Ohio

Maybe this will work for other plants as well. We get them on our Rose of Sharon bushes. If anybody gives this a try, please add a comment to this post to let us know how it works! We can't plant geraniums since the deer eat them in our community.

Outdoor Rooms

2012-05-22T08:48:00.000-04:00

The resurgence of the outdoor room is a reflection of yet another new attitude and set of cultural values. The re-emergence of the front porch, screened porch and sleeping porches can be in part attributed to the New Urbanism movement that began more than 25 years ago in an effort to reintroduce traditional urban and architectural patterns as a countermeasure to suburban sprawl. This re-emergence has contributed to the growing “green” message that we must change our living patterns if we’re to maintain a livable Earth.

The green living movement has been instrumental in getting us all to re-examine our connection to nature again. In this paradigm shift, the outdoor room will again play a part in the American daily living pattern.

As we look to ways to live lightly on the land and with a better connection to nature, we’ll optimize the terraces, porches and other extended spaces of our houses. These spaces allow us to acclimate our bodies in ways that we used to and diminish the need to turn down the thermostat at the end of a hot day. And, the unintended consequence could have a significant cultural effect: reconnecting us back to each other and our community.

Want to create an outdoor room or spruce up the one you have? Check out these websites for ideas.

www.notsobighouse.com
www.hgtv.com/designers-portfolio/outdoors/index.html
www.outdoorrooms.net
www.backyardamerica.com/outdoor-room.htm
www.outdoorgreatrooms.com

Source: New Life Journal.

The Magazine of Greenville had an article in it on a guy that took two city lots and turned it into a garden with the design of creating garden rooms like you would have in a home. Rooms To Grow

Flowers and Pollinators

2012-05-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

From Creation Moments.

Matthew 6:28:
So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin…

When a flower lives in harmony with and is dependent upon, say, an insect for fertilization, this is known as symbiosis. Creation Moments programs have given many examples of this, and each one defies the notion that these relationships could have developed by chance over very long times. We have another example today.

Chicory spaces out the opening of its flowers through the summer on a precisely timed schedule that is in perfect harmony with its pollinators. Early in the season, chicory flowers nearest the bottom of the flower stalk open first and, as they are pollinated, they close, and the next flower up the stem opens and so on.

There is a remarkable efficiency to this, but there is more: The flowers usually open only in the cool morning hours, not only to protect the delicate flower from the heat of the sun but also because this is the time the pollinating insects are about.

Other flowering plants open their flowers only at night and tend to have white flowers so that they are easily seen in the dark. These are the flowers that are pollinated by night-flying moths.

Such coordinated inter-relationships between the plant and the animal kingdoms could not have developed through accidental situations. They provide more evidence that the wise Creator designed these and all creatures within their relationships from the very beginning!

Prayer:
Dear Lord, in Your design of the creation You have seen to the needs of all living things. Take from me a mind that thinks that I must do for myself what You will do for me, and replace it with faith in Your promises. Amen.

Visit Creation Moments.

God's Image In Wildlife

2012-05-08T07:08:00.000-04:00

by Donna L. Watkins

What a delight to see Creation reproducing itself as God commanded. We have so many new babies in our bird world here at Bluebird Cove.

© Donna L. Watkins - Carolina Wren Fledgling
One rainy day I sat at the kitchen table at the window and watched the baby wrens wait for their parents to return with food. They had fledged the nest but still weren't accepting the fact that they were soon going to feed themselves. So they huddled there, jumping around a bit, testing the newly discovered delight in what wings were for. Being used to staying in bed all day, they would close their eyes now and then for a few winks of sleep.

What a picture of rest and trust. When they would hear the call of their parents they would get excited and flutter those wings a bit with open mouths. It reminded me of us resting and trusting that God will feed us and take care of us. Sometimes we operate strictly from sheer will power and I've been wondering if that's really the best plan. Jesus told us we need to be as children .... so my recent visual of these baby birds is continually crossing my mind.

© Donna L. Watkins - House Finch Fledgling
Besides wrens, we have baby house finches. Oh my! Talk about chattering children! Finches are known for their singing but it seems you can't get the babies to be quiet when they're waiting for food. Much contrast to the wrens, eh?

They stood on the branch and chattered away running after the Papa. You could just hear the begging urgency of their tone trying to convince him that they only had moments to live if they weren't fed quickly. Doesn't that remind you a bit of you and me? Chattering and begging away for God to do something for us and more importantly, to do it now!

There's a few babies in progress also. A cardinal's nest in the area of our habitat called Cardinal Corner had 4 eggs in it when I took photos. We had almost a week of rain and that Mama sat on the nest faithfully. What a testimony to motherhood, an honorable treasured role of life for many women. We see much devotion to offspring in the animal world.

Mrs. Cardinal comes to the covered front porch where we have a feeder full of millet and safflower seeds (so the squirrels will leave it alone). During the rain she was drenched. The spot she picked is a nice sunny one with an opening towards the morning sun, but the rain blew from that direction so she endured, as mothers are known to do. The Papa would join her at the feeder with treats of worms or a sunflower seed from another feeder out in the rain. How sweet! Would that all husbands be so attentive during the challenging years of being a mom.

© Donna L. Watkins - Gray Catbird Eggs in Holly Bush
There are four (4) bright blue eggs of the Gray Catbird couple in the front of the house in a dense holly bush jungle by the garage. I enjoy their long lilting songs. They are members of the same family as mockingbirds and thrashers. All have the ability to ramble on with various calls copied from other species and some of their own melodies. Years ago, I was Romanced by a Brown Thrasher.

Then there's the Tufted Titmouse family nesting in one of the bluebird boxes. We offer equal opportunity housing, so anybody can use the bluebird boxes. We have 7 of them and actually we knew from the locations we chose that some would not attract bluebirds because they were not in an open area. Sometimes I feel like I've taken up residence in some other species abode. There are times when we just don't feel like earth is "home."

The female Mourning Doves are waddling about with the males fast behind them cooing and begging for attention. Males begin to sing in the spring as the levels of their male hormone, testosterone, rises. Their sound is a delightful one and doves always remind me of peace regardless of the color. Seeing the males chasing makes me think of how Jesus pursues us even when we think we don't need Him. Mourning doves mate for life and Jesus never leaves or forsakes us.

© Donna L. Watkins
Female Red-bellied Woodpecker at Feeder
Oh, the woodpeckers! Red-bellied, Pileated, Red-headed, Downy and Hairy are common to our backyard which is forested for acres behind us. Although I don't like to see trees die, I smile because I know they bring life to many birds including all species of woodpeckers that need them for nesting and food. And we need woodpeckers to save our healthy trees from which they glean bugs that could kill the trees if they were not gathered for a meal.

We have baby bunnies also and they are so furry and cute. During the winter we had an adult that wintered over behind our front bushes against the garage. We eat a lot of veggies and fruit, so we have a lot of food that is scraps to us, but dinner to wildlife, so we put out apple cores, ends of carrots and other veggies. Since the bunny bushes are at the end of the front porch, it's easy to dump them there. Of course, it's not just bunnies that eat them. We enjoy the opossums, skunks and raccoons too, so they all share in our habitat.

Sharing .... hmm, that bring the crows to mind. They're not much for sharing, or maybe it's just their sheer size that intimidates the smaller birds causing them to flee. They are willing to share with other crows since they live and roost in great numbers. They're definitely into the social scene and love to alert others of a find of food.

© Donna L. Watkins - Rabbit Eating Apple Core
One thing for sure is the squirrels don't enjoy sharing with anybody. One of them chased away a rabbit that was feeding beneath a bird feeder. I keep telling them it's not nice not to share, but they totally ignore me, as squirrels do.

I would say squirrels definitely portray the saying, "If it's to be, it's up to me." Surely they expend more energy keeping other squirrels away from food than the energy they get from eating it. Sadly the word "greed" comes to mind. There are those who hurry and worry over getting enough and it seems for those folks, there's no designated limit of what is enough, so the unfulfilling quest goes on for man and beast.

Wildlife watching is certainly food for the soul. I hope you take time in your life to enjoy it. There are many lessons to be learned within Creation because the fingerprint and character of the Creator is in it all.

© Donna L. Watkins - This article was reprinted with permission from TheNatureInUs.com.
The link URL is: http://www.TheNatureInUs.com

Drought-Resistant Gardening

2012-04-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

Nearly 2 billion people already live in water-stressed regions, where subtle shifts in average annual temperatures could mean inadequate water supplies for people and the environment, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

When water is scarce in sub-Saharan Africa, people spend hours searching for and collecting drinking water. When drought hits Nevada, people have to change the way they wash their cars and tend to their yards.

In urban areas of arid Texas, about 25 percent of treated water goes toward landscaping, according to experts at the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences.

Even small steps can make a difference, so when planting this spring and summer, consider using native species already adapted to the environment you live in. They will require little more than natural rainfall. You can also make soil improvements that help absorb and hold water, and use mulch to prevent water loss through evaporation. “Mulch is your greatest ally in drought conditions,” according to Organic Gardening magazine editor Ethne Clarke.

But most importantly, avoid these thirsty varieties:

Tropical and exotic plants:

Species such as hibiscus and banana, commonly used in landscaping, come from tropical regions that get a lot of rain. These plants tend to have fairly high water requirements.

"Foliage structure tells you a lot about water needs," said David Ellis,  editor of The American Gardener, the magazine of the American Horticultural Society. Plants with large glossy dark leaves tend to absorb more heat and require a lot of water, and a larger leaf surface area equals greater water loss. If hydrating is a concern, stick with hairy, smaller, and lighter-colored or silvery leaves that retain water and diffuse light, such as lambs ear, rosemary, or lavender, Ellis advises.

Exotics in general will probably need more water than native species, Ellis adds. Try to avoid rapidly growing tropical plants with soft, pithy, and fleshy trunks—these are usually plants with large water contents. The banana tree, for example, is 90 percent water.

If you live in a drought-prone region, stick with plants from the arid southwest, parts of California, or the Mediterranean, such as the above-mentioned herbs or drought-tolerant succulents, like agave and yucca.

Annuals:

Generally sighted all around town during summer, short-lived annual plants, such as impatiens, often need a lot of water. Many annuals have a shorter growing season with intense blooms, and a corresponding shallow root system. Plants that have time to grow extensive and deep roots will be able to tap water deep within the soil and live longer in drought-prone regions. It may seem counterintuitive, says Ellis, since large plants take more water to establish, but once they have found their footing, these hardy species don't require as much watering, and can provide shade—and relief from the heat—for much of your garden.

A traditional lawn:

Americans are moving away from the idea of the perfectly trimmed emerald green lawn, Ellis says. "I think people are starting to realize that if you have to put up warning flags [about pesticides], that contradicts the idea of something beautiful to play on."

Most grass and turf species are on the list of thirsty plants to avoid. If you are still attached to the American dream, and are facing water shortages, consider drought-tolerant varieties such as buffalo grass, or consider replacing at least some of your lawn with a garden of native species that attract wildlife and pollinators.

The concept of xeriscaping—landscaping that reduces the need for supplemental water—has slowly become accepted, according to Ellis. "Instead of [being thought of as] an ugly barren landscape, it has become an interesting way to integrate interesting shapes and colors.”

A number of cities in drier parts of the country fund programs that will help transform thirsty yards to ones that use natives and drought-resistant plants, according to Organic Gardening’s Clarke.

Xeriscaping pioneer and famous landscape architect Steve Martino writes on his website: “The landscape profession wasn’t interested and clients were absolutely not interested [in xeriscaping when he started decades ago]. Cities were not interested and nurseries were not interested. Most resistance is now gone. Ideas I struggled to promote are now mandated.”

For more summer gardening project ideas, check out Green Guide's "How to Get a Green Roof for Dirt Cheap."

10 Drought-Tolerant Native Plants
Low Maintenance Plants

Milkweed Bugs

2012-04-17T08:01:00.000-04:00

by Donna L. Watkins

© Donna L. Watkins
Monarch Emerged From Chrysalis on Blade of Grass

After we began getting Monarch caterpillars on our milkweed we were so excited. Especially the morning I walked down to the mailbox to find to find a new Monarch out of its chrysalis warming up its wings. I was hooked!

The next year I began seeing bugs all over the milkweed plants and got very concerned about whether they would be eating the leaves that the Monarch caterpillars needed.

Monarchs only eat plants of the milkweed family, and we only had about 8 plants at the time so I was very protective of their food source.

After searching my bug books I found out that the bugs were called Milkweed Bugs and that they had few predators because their bodies contain bad tasting compounds found in the sap of milkweed plants. Milkweed Bugs use their bright colors to advertise their bad taste. Inexperienced birds that take a taste of their first milkweed bug are unlikely get another.

© Donna L. Watkins
Milkweed Bugs Showing Adults and Another Growth Stage

These bugs gather in groups on the milkweed plant until they become adults. The nymphs (immature bugs) look like adults except that they aren't as big and don't have full wings. Their color pattern is different also. They appear bright red, rather than the mix of red and black.

They pass through five (5) molts until they become adults. After the eggs are laid, it takes a week for them to hatch and then another month for them to become adults if the temperatures are warm. Adults are about 5/8 inch long.

Mating is easily observed, as the two bugs attach end to end for an extended time. It is possible to distinguish female and male adults by body markings and males tend to be smaller than the females. LawrenceHallOf Science.org gives this information to tell male from female:

The tip of the abdomen is black, followed by a solid orange segment (with tiny black dots at the edges). If the next two segments following the orange band have solid black bands, the bug is a male. However, if the segment following the orange band is orange in the middle, making it look like it has two large black spots on the sides, followed by a segment with a solid black band, the bug is female.

Our milkweed plants produce flowers in the summer and then produce a large seed pod (about 1.5 inches wide by 4 inches long). The Milkweed Bugs pierce the seed pod to feed on the seeds. They do no other damage and do not bother the caterpillars which feed on the leaves.

However, if you want your milkweed plants to spread by seed, they can be considered a problem. Our plants are spreading by root which they do a better job of than by seed since you generally don't even get great results by putting milkweed seeds in the ground. It's best to plant them in small pots and transplant after they're on their way.

© Donna L. Watkins - This article was reprinted with permission from TheNatureInUs.com.
Link URL is: http://www.TheNatureInUs.com

Water Control and Monitoring For Yard and Garden

2012-04-10T08:25:00.000-04:00

Over-watering of lawns and gardens is usually one of the greatest sources of water waste. There are many reasons why: some people apply too much water, water at the wrong times thereby increasing evaporation, or don’t adjust their sprinklers and end up watering the street / driveway instead.

One of the best ways to control irrigation water use is to use “smart” irrigation controllers. They not only save you money, but they’ll save an incredible amount of hassle by taking the guesswork out of setting your irrigation schedule correctly. In many water-starved parts of the country your local water agency might offer rebates on these systems, sometimes nearly paying for the entire controller!

Smart controllers come in a couple of flavors: controllers that monitor the conditions in your yard (soil moisture, etc) and set irrigation accordingly, and controllers that base your irrigation schedule on weather data received from satellite, radio or internet feeds.

Get the run-down on expected drought conditions in your area and get the information on some of the best options available right now.

Gardening with Buttercups

2012-04-03T16:26:00.000-04:00

We first discovered our buttercups many years ago down by the mailbox in the roadway easement. After they bloomed we moved them into a flower bed. They've spread a bit there and I've enjoyed them so much I asked Randal to dig up all that were down along the road.

© 2009 Donna L. Watkins - Buttercups and Candytuft
We had 10 plants we moved along both sides of the stepping stone path that leads out from our front door.

They're early bloomers (April here in Central Virginia) and they bloom for several months. When they're done the plant dries up, the roots remain and other plants around it take their turn with blooms.

Buttercup is beneficial in many ways in the garden. They will provide butterfly nectar, as will dandelions, the latter being used by species such as the painted lady and brimstone.

Birds readily eat the leaves and seeds of the buttercup. The flowers are also visited by honey bees, moths, bugs, and beetles for pollen or nectar. Buttercups host microorganisms and nematodes. Beneficial nematodes offer a form of organic insect control that affects over 250 different kinds of pest insects.

Buttercups are considered invasive in some areas, so consider where you put them since it is not generally welcome in lawns, but if you're tired of the "keeping the lawn looking good" maintenance schedule, convert your lawn into flowers and a place that birds and wildlife will enjoy.

Note: Buttercups are poisonous and can cause death to grazing animals if consumed.

Related Articles:
Your Weeds May Be Wildflowers
Wildlife Gardening
Converting Lawns to Gardens
God and St. Francis on Lawns
Make Your Mowing Better

Don't Kill This Bug!

2012-03-27T07:33:00.000-04:00

by Donna L. Watkins

A couple of years ago I discovered these bugs all over some aphids on the Honey Locust tree. As usual I had to know what they were to know if they were good bugs or bad. I am always hoping for more good bugs in our habitat.

I found out they were the larvae stage of the ladybug. This year I am seeing them everywhere and particularly on the plants that have aphids.

The larvae stage of the ladybug actually eats more than the adult beetle. We've left the aphids alone on a variety of bushes (spireas) and trees and perennials (black-eyed). Seems they attract more ladybugs so it all works out. The plants don't look affected at all.

This year I took another picture that isn't so close-up so you can get an idea of the size (in comparison to my thumb nail) and what they look like.

Most folks would think it's "just a bug" and not know it's a good thing to have around. Far too many would run for the chemicals and then talk about ordering ladybugs for their garden.

The orange pattern can vary a bit on the back and they're pretty small but very distinctive since they're different than anything else I've seen.

Be sure to share this information with other gardening friends, especially those who love birds or have pets and children in the yard. There's far too much research now on the damaging effects of these products applied much too profusely to our homes and yards.

We all need to learn more about the beneficial things we can do to coexist with the natural world around us. Thanks for helping me get the word out to others. Get more ladybug information.

Guide to Bird Study

2012-03-20T06:37:00.000-04:00

Cornell University has a great website for educator's to get resource to learn and teach about birds. But! You don't need to be an educator to benefit from the informaiton. There are lots of fun activity ideas and support materials to learn about birds and conduct inquiry-based research. What a great way to learn more about birds ... after all, we're all children at heart and we are never too old to learn. Visit now.

Free Natural Fertilizer

2012-03-13T07:52:00.001-04:00

Okay, not totally free. You'll need the initial investment in worms but thereafter you've got a manufacturing plant of worms and fertilizer.

From Creation Moments.

The lowly earthworm is one of the most under-appreciated little creatures on Earth. People probably don't appreciate the earthworm because it's not very pretty. Biology textbooks say that the earthworms were among the first simple land creatures to evolve. Well, clearly there hasn't been much evolution since, and they are not that simple. The earthworm has a well-developed nervous system, a brain and ten hearts!

Earthworms tunnel through the soil by literally eating the soil itself. As the worm draws nutrition from organic matter in the soil, its digestive system processes these chemicals to produce excellent natural fertilizers.

In one recent test, soil scientists compared earthworms and the best fertilizers you can buy. The earthworms easily won the contest. The ground they fertilized had five times more nitrogen, twice as much calcium, two-and-a-half times more magnesium, and seven times more phosphorus than the best that modern science could produce.

Since earthworms like lots of organic material in the soil, you can encourage earthworms in your garden by digging lawn clippings and most types of tree leaves into your soil this fall rather than throwing them away. One caution, however. Some leaves like red oak are acid and best left out of the soil.

So, while earthworms are not pretty, our Creator has provided them to enrich the soil and help to feed us all. Visit Creation Moments.

Plant Asters and Daisies To Fight Bagworms

2012-03-06T09:15:00.000-05:00

The bagworm (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis) is a common pest of many coniferous and deciduous trees in the eastern U.S. This moth’s larvae spin unsightly baglike shelters in tree canopies and can cause serious damage through defoliation.

Typical control methods include mechanical removal of the bagworm shelters (when feasible) and the application of pesticides. However, the bagworm has a number of natural enemies — in particular, parasitoid insects, such as ichneumonid wasps — and research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has shown that bagworm control by these insects can be enhanced by planting certain flowering plants near trees and shrubs that are susceptible to bagworm infestations.

The flowering plants used in the UIUC research were all members of the Asteraceae, or aster family, which includes many species with daisylike blossoms known to attract parasitoids. Among them were a shasta daisy cultivar (Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Alaska’), a cultivar of the Newfoundland aster (Aster novi-belgii ‘Professor Anton Kippenburg’), and the treasure flower (Gazania rigens), a South African native.

The bagworm host plant was an arborvitae cultivar (Thuja occidentalis ‘Woodwardii’). In one trial, surrounding host plants with flowers led to a 70 percent increase in the parasitism of bagworms. In another trial, attacks on bagworms by parasitoid insects increased by a factor of three when host plants were surrounded by a high density of daisy flowers. Many plants in the Asteraceae are native to North America.

Source: J.A. Ellis et al., “Conservation Biological Control in Urban Landscapes: Manipulating Parasitoids of Bagworm (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) with Flowering Forbs,” Biological Control 34(1), July 2005, 99–107 (Elsevier Science, 6277 Sea Harbor Dr., Orlando, FL 32887).

Reprinted courtesy of Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Another Resource: Attracting Beneficial Insects

For Those Who Miss Being in the Garden

2012-02-28T00:07:00.001-05:00

Last week I just couldn't stand not being in my garden any more. The cold weather here in Central Virginia has made me a shut-in by choice. We've been entertaining ourselves with an interior painting project, but I wanted garden time. So I got my clippers from the garage and went out to cut down the poke weed which was now totally devoid of berries.

Then I cut down the Blue-Black Salvias. I like to leave things stand through the winter for any seeds that might benefit the birds ... and to provide cover for ground birds from the variety of hawks we have visiting the property

I didn't want to let my husband without the joy of garden time, so I made piles of my trimmings so he could gather them as he does the rest of the year. It was so much fun, I will probably do it again on one of those days when I just can't stay inside any longer.

For all those gardeners who are also getting cabin fever .... here's a video that will make you smile.

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10 Things To Know About Groundhogs

2012-02-21T18:31:00.001-05:00

From National Wildlife Federation

The groundhog, also known as the woodchuck or the mouse bear (because it looks like a miniature bear when sitting upright), first won its reputation as a weather prognosticator in 1886, when the editor of western Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper, one Clymer Freas, published a report that local groundhogs had not seen their shadows that day, signaling an early spring.

This story begat Punxsutawney Phil, the legendary woodchuck weathercreature, which begat Ground Hog Day and the familiar idea that Phil (and his namesake successors down through the years) can predict the perpetuation of winter.

It is likely that the story of Phil is based on European beliefs that badgers and hedgehogs can provide signals about the future; lacking those species in his area, old Clymer substituted the local animal that most resembles a badger or a hedgehog.

But the groundhog is much more than a weather rodent. It’s also a real animal with a real life. Here are 10 things you may not know about this roly-poly rodent.

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Be a Backyard Scientist-Naturalist

2012-02-14T10:24:00.001-05:00

From Beautiful Wildlife Garden

Becoming an ecologist of your yard, your habitat will help you understand better and as a result, provide the best habitat possible for your specific yard. Perhaps just as important or even more so, you will gain knowledge and data that can be useful to others such as neighbors, the city or conservation organizations.

Participate in Citizen Science
You’re not alone, there are dozens of citizen science projects already ongoing throughout North America. Among the many include:

Participate in them and if you have a local species of concern or interest, start your own project, start local groups, be a local citizen scientist.

Share and Teach
With your expertise, data and experience, share the knowledge with your neighbors, local organizations such as Audubon, parks department, the city or anywhere it can be beneficial. Be confident with your recordings and data to speak at public hearings or to encourage other local homeowners and organizations to participate, especially when discussing a wildlife species on a watch list or threatened status.

With your knowledge you will arm yourself with data to help wildlife not only in your yard, but in your neighborhood, region or in fact the entire world. With many citizen scientists and their data, city planning departments may change that next road placement or have to protect that wetland from a shopping center.

Your data may help a conservation organization or Department of Transportation, plan and design a suitable wildlife crossing for the proper species. In addition, your knowledge and observations will also help to continually improve your own habitat by observing what works and what doesn’t. So go observe, study and record!

This was an excerpt from the entire article at BeautifulWildlifeGarden.com

About the Author:
Kelly Brenner writes The Metropolitan Field Guide, a blog for ideas, thoughts and resources for the design of urban wildlife habitat. She has a landscape architecture degree from the University of Oregon and has studied and watched wildlife from a very young age in the great Pacific Northwest.

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Great Backyard Bird Count

2012-02-07T02:49:00.001-05:00

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent.

Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds.

The 2012 GBBC will take place Friday, February 17, through Monday, February 20. Get the details here.

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For more nature and gardening information, visit The Nature In Us.

Stop Cats from Catching Birds

2012-01-30T05:16:00.002-05:00

It's that time of year when birds are getting ready to mate and nest and produce babies. Cats do not need to be around. Cats kill millions of birds each year and it's not their fault ... it's ours if we leave them out to do what they instinctively do. It's not a hunger thing ... it's a chase and kill thing. Please be a responsible pet owner. Maybe you'd like to convert your cat to be an indoor kitty. Learn How!

Cats are cute and cuddly, but they still are felines. Their instincts are to hunt. Many cat owners are horrified to find their cat stalking and killing birds, especially those at the bird feeder. It’s estimated cats kill more than 4.4 million birds a year. Unless you keep your cat indoors 24/7, there is a possibility they will go after birds in your yard.

Now there’s a new product that will allow your cat to roam the property freely, yet prevent them from catching and killing birds. May not be fashion plus, but keep in mind it's life saving for the birds.

The catbib is a lightweight neoprene material that attaches to the cat’s collar. It hangs down in front of your cat to disrupt their hunting while allowing the cat to run, jump, eat, sleep, and act normally. The brightly colored bib alerts birds to a cat’s presence before they strike.

Tests at Murdock University, Western Australia, showed the catbib prevented 81% of cats from catching birds. It also reduces small mammal predation as well.

Purchase at CatGoods.com.

Why Birds Feet Don't Freeze

2012-01-23T06:10:00.001-05:00

Job 12:7,9 - "But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you: and the birds of the air, and they will tell you: Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?"

© Donna L. Watkins - Song Sparrow on Winter Morning
Have you ever wondered why it is that ducks can spend all day in near-freezing water and it doesn’t seem to bother them?

For that matter, birds never seem to be bothered about cold feet. If we ran around in the ice and snow with bare feet, it wouldn’t be very long before we had a good case of frostbite. So why don’t birds need socks?

Birds have a network of arteries that take the blood down to their feet. These arteries are interwoven with the veins that return the blood from the feet. This network of arteries and veins is called a “wonder net.” The blood going down the arteries is hot at 106 degrees but the temperature of the blood returning in the veins may be as cool as 37 degrees as it leaves the foot. The warm blood reheats the cold blood coming from the foot before it enters the body.

The result is that the bird loses very little body heat, and the blood going into the foot never becomes dangerously cold in normal winter weather.

Source: Creation Moments

Wilderness: Where We Meet Our Ancestors

2012-01-16T01:58:00.000-05:00

One thing that’s very clear from the current PBS series on our national parks is that the generations before us had a love for our wild places and had the good sense to preserve many of them. What’s also clear is that access to the wilderness is also access to significant aspects of physical and spiritual health.

The contemplation of the natural world and its relationship to the spiritual has historically taken place in wilderness settings. A significant aspect of wilderness is that it is one of the few places where we can connect emotionally and spiritually through shared values with those who have gone before: where we can relearn the lessons our ancestors learned. Read the entire article.

Winter Hanging Basket

2012-01-09T01:49:00.000-05:00

From Birds and Blooms

Instead of purchasing a winter flower arrangement, I made my own from a hanging basket. I used different varieties of holly, blue-spruce cuttings, magnolia leaves and pinecones. The arrangement lasted several months and was attractive from both inside and out. -- Janet Walsh, Bel Air, Maryland

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Winter's Garden Pondering

2012-01-02T17:29:00.000-05:00

From The National Gardening Association

Let's make one thing perfectly clear: winter is not my favorite season. It's cold and there is ice and snow. Yet I find myself enjoying it for a variety of reasons. For one thing, it is the interlude when I'm not totally wracked with guilt for not working in the garden 24/7. (Already the plant and seed catalogs are luring me into thinking I can, once again, have and do it all.)

But from a more positive perspective, winter actually makes me more aware of plants, the landscape, and my environment. Read the entire article.

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Nest Boxes Provide Winter Retreat

2011-12-26T08:48:00.000-05:00

From The Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Ever wonder what you should do with your nest boxes during the winter? After you clean out old nesting material, consider leaving them in place throughout the colder months.

Non-migratory birds seek sheltered locations to stay warm during chilly winter weather. Cavity nesters, such as titmice, chickadees, wrens, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and screech-owls, may consider your nest box to be the perfect place to spend a cold night or wait out a storm.

The body heat of birds can keep the air temperature inside nest boxes about 10 degrees warmer than outside. This means that birds burn much less energy sleeping indoors. Some species prefer to roost alone, but others are more social and may roost in groups.

Although not much research has been done to determine preferred specifications of winter roosting boxes, some species seem to like having perches and ledges to sleep on. Wrapping boxes in foam insulation and blocking ventilation holes may help keep them warm.

Also, don’t forget to make sure that the boxes are well protected from predators. You can help your backyard birds maintain their body fat reserves by providing them with suet and keeping your feeders filled with black-oil sunflower seeds. Check out Project FeederWatch for more information about how you can help birds during the winter.

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Beak Deformities in Birds Rapidly Increasing

2011-12-19T01:50:00.001-05:00

From Alaska Science Center

Over the past several years, Alaskans have witnessed a startling increase of beak deformities among local birds. Large numbers of Black-capped Chickadees and smaller numbers of many other species of birds have appeared with grossly overgrown and crossed beaks.

We began research in 1999, and have since identified more than 2,000 deformed Black-capped Chickadees in south-central Alaska—the highest concentration of such abnormalities ever recorded in a wild bird population anywhere!

More recently, rapidly increasing numbers of other species, including Northwestern Crows, Downy Woodpeckers, Steller’s Jays, and Black-billed Magpies have also been reported with beak deformities by biologists and local residents throughout the state.

Although we do not yet know the cause of this widespread problem, we continue to investigate potential agents, including environmental contaminants, nutritional deficiencies, and disease. Nearly all of the species affected are year-round residents, and we suspect that factors responsible for this cluster of deformities may be unique to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.

We are currently pursuing additional studies to determine where these deformities are occurring and why. Reports from the public help us to determine where and how many birds are affected.

Share this information with other bird watchers. If you see a bird with a deformed beak, please report it to the Alaska Science Center. Get more information on beak deformities.

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Winter Birds in the Wildlife Garden

2011-12-12T07:10:00.000-05:00

by Carole Brown

Birds are especially visible in our wildlife gardens in winter, and they are not as fragile as we may think. Access to food, water, and shelter will help them get through the cold winter days.

Water is one of the most important elements to provide for birds in the wildlife garden in winter. While birds are able to melt snow to drink, this consumes a lot of energy. Providing clean unfrozen water will help them conserve their energy. I use a heated dog dish in which I place a brick to allow the birds to drink, but not bathe.

Cold birds are slow birds, and frozen feathers are not helpful in escaping predators. During the winter, the Robins line up at this water to get a drink, which is so much fun to watch! Read the entire article with bird photographs.

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Top 10 Things to Do For Birds For Winter

2011-12-05T05:41:00.000-05:00

From George's Top 10 in Birds and Blooms Magazine.

• Double your number of seed and suet feeders, as birds are now flocking and there are many more mouths to feed.

• Check the condition of feeders and squirrel baffles to make sure they will make it through another winter. Replace the ones you can't repair.

• Stock up on sunflower seeds in any form. They offer the greatest amount of energy for the birds in winter.

• Birds that are migrating south need water to both refresh themselves and to maintain their flight feathers.

• In the North, revert exclusively to suet and seed, as the fruit and insect eaters have gone south for the winter.

• After all the orioles and hummingbirds have passed through the area, remove all sugar-water feeders.

• Revert to simpler, shallower birdbaths that you can heat when the temperatures drop below freezing.

• Plant evergreens around feeders to protect birds from predators, and to provide safe roosting sites during cold winter nights.

• Take down most birdhouses and clean with a solution of 10% bleach.

• Leave several birdhouses up all winter as roosting sites for chickadees, bluebirds and woodpeckers.

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