Texas birds are everywhere!!

This is a really nice video about The Big Day in Texas; when a group from Cornell attempts to break the record for the most kinds of birds seen in one day. You may recognize some of the places and/or help you plan your next vacation. If you're vacation is this winter, remember that there are more birds here in the cooler months than in the summer. Texas is a southern state after all!

 

 

 

Enough flowers in your yard?     On average, a Hummingbird visits from 1000 to 3000 flowers per day, in pursuit of nectar. If the "target" flowers aren't in your own yard, they'll just go to the neighbors'.

 

All flowers produce nectar; it's what attracts pollinators. But some types make a lot more than others. For a good average, I suggest 5 to 1. That is, 5 parts of clear water, blended with 1 part of dissolved table sugar.

 

Right now, Hummingbird migration is underway. There are fewer in Texas every day, but the remaining ones are eating voraciously - bulking up for the flight to Central America. By the end of the month they're normally all gone. But we leave nectar feeders up for a few weeks more, to feed Hummers migrating from up north.

OWEN YOST, in addition to being a blogger, is a licensed Landscape Architect emeritus who has lived and worked in north Texas for over 30 years. He is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), International Federation of Landscape Architects, National Wildlife Federation and the Audubon Society. His office is at Yost87@charter.net in Denton.