Migrating birds have biological clocks



Scissortailed Flycatcher

Birds have biological clocks telling them things like when to migrate. This "clock", based on sun angles, overides everything else, even food availability and local weather. Although many birds migrate at night, some migrate by day. They use a related, internal “sun compass” to keep them traveling in the right direction. The internal clock also measures day-length.  The changing length of daylight tells all birds when to begin their migration flights. Some species are migrating now, others won't migrate for weeks. Nighttime migrators use the stars’ positions. These don't change at all [or only minutely] over several bird-lifetimes. And, lest we forget, our sun is a star, too.

Conversely, the birds depend on the plants at their destination for their food supply. Whether these plants are in bloom, withered, under water, snow-covered or failed to set seed the past year, due to changing climate, is another matter.

Crape Myrtles are being pruned as if it were 1800
About now, Crape Myrtles are being “pruned” drastically for some reason, pushing them near death. After being severly pruned, they will put most of their energy into healing the wound, and will unquestionably produce fewer flowers and are far more prone to disease. Anyone who says different hasn't been following nationwide horticultural research for the past decade.

This outdated pruning style is totally unnecessary. I have no idea why the habit didn’t fade away along with alchemy and human sacrifice. It benefits nobody except whoever has the nerve to charge you for it. Crape Myrtles grow far better if only the old seed pods are removed or if they’re just left 100% alone

 

 

Get ready for Purple Martins' arrival in north Texas

Normally Purple Martins start arriving here in late February.

Purple Martin

If there's no suitable nesting site in your neighborhood when they arrive, they won't come back to your neighborhood 'til next February.  Their criteria for nesting sites are usually near some wetlands or water (or some other source of insects), and plenty of clean housing. The birds also need on open area (meadow?) around the nest with a 40 ft. radius circle - no big trees.

Purple Martins depend almost entirely on humans for housing. They are one of the few birds that prefer communal living. Since Martins are closely related to other swallows, their locational criteria are mostly the same, except...

They prefer man-made houses. In north Texas, white is by far the best color for a Purple Martin house.  They’re typically aluminum, and look like little apartments with round doors.  The dimensions of the holes, and the “apartments” themselves, are crucial in deterring predators. A caution; never buy a Martin house thinking you'll get a pole for it later. Poles are rarely sold separately and it's extremely difficult to securely fasten a Martin house to an 'ad lib" pole, particularly one that will raise and lower the house easily.

If you’re thinking about becoming a Martin landlord, remember that there’s some maintenance involved. Houses need to be cleared of old nests at least yearly, and you’ll need to monitor it so other birds don’t take over.

Last year over a million families put up Martin houses. Plan to put one up now, so as not to miss the early arrivals that scout possible nest locations. If you don't have enough open space around the location, try attracting another kind of bird. Several neighborhoods and communities in north Texas have become Purple Martin landlords as a group. These acrobatic, insect-eating birds depend on us!

 

 

Start looking for birdhouse locations NOW

"bottle" house for Wrens

As winter in north Texas winds down, people should be scouting locations for bird houses. In so doing, remember that the number one criterion is that you, the homeowner, should be able to see it from inside the house. However, it shouldn't be "on display" too much for every bird and possible predator to see.

 

Usually, the best location for a bird house is an area facing, but not in the middle of, an open field.  Keep in mind, however, that many birds do not use birdhouses at all. They include Cardinals, Orioles, House Finches and Barn Swallows (which make their own nests out of mud). Many wild birds usually build nests in thickets or surrounded by small trees, where they have some degree of privacy but also access to open space for hunting food. (Incidentally, some marketers call birdhouses "nestboxes", to make them sound special. They're not!)

Locating a birdhouse near an activity hub, like a birdbath or feeder, is a poor idea. Birds want some privacy when nesting. Locating it where there is some shelter from rain, like under an eave or a healthy tree branch, is good idea. Now, before leaves (and the birds) appear, is a good time to choose sites.
 

Cherry Blossom blooming time is sooner and sooner each year          Bloom times, and other data, for more than 600 species of plants have been recorded for many years by the National Herbarium at Washington’s Smithsonian Institution.  One discovery: the blossoms on Washington DC's famous cherry trees are opening 6 to 9 days earlier than they had in the seventies.

The National Park Service recently revised its estimate of the peak bloom time for the Japanese Cherry trees from March 24-28 to March 20-23. (During WWII they were called "oriental" trees, not "japanese") .

The Cherry Blossom Festival officially began in 1912 with a gift of 1800 trees from Japan. Now, with additional gifts, and graftings from the original trees, there are about 8650. The plantings actually began in back in 1905 with a small trial, to see if they would prosper in that environment;   they did. 

Bats are in very real danger, even north Texas bats

 Bats are in a life-or-death situation. There’s a very real possibility that they’ll become extinct, because of White Nose Syndrome ("WNS").

    So what, you say?! Bats are vicious (wrong!), are infested with rabies (wrong!), they suck your blood ( wrong!), they and are dirty (wrong again!). Poor little bats; they're probably the most misunderstood animals in existence.

 Truth is, we need bats for our very existence. Without bats, life as we know it wouldn’t exist.  Bats eat tons of insects.  Really – tons!  A single bat eats about 5000 flying insects per night, per bat! And bats pollinate a lot of plants (but we rarely see it, since it’s done at night).  Without bats, many of our everyday products (including some heart medicines and foods) wouldn’t exist.

    However, a fungal disease called White Nose Syndrome (“WNS”) is killing them by the thousands. It drains all their energy and interferes with needed hibernation. WNS is spreading rapidly. Scientists are looking for a remedy, but right now there is none. Homeowners can help by providing plenty of appropriately-built housing for bats, keeping bat houses clean and not killing their food by liberally spraying insecticides.

 Bat World is a non-profit group that does excellent work that few others want to do. There's simply no clearer way to say it. For over 20 years, this north Texas-based volunteer group has rescued (and released when possible) native bats. They could use your vote on the challenge web-site: https://thebille.com . This video covers just a few rescues, and says why they're worthy of your gift.

 

    

 

Birds sometimes share roosts on cold nights

 

In winter, birds often share warm, protected roost cavities with others of their species; everyone benefits from the cumulative body warmth. Usually, for example, Bluebirds share roosts with young Bluebirds they raised earlier in the year, but on particularly wet, cool or windy nights, a dozen or more unrelated birds may pile into a single roost cavity to keep warm, if they can find one.

    At our home, we simply set some sturdy boxes around, with entry holes near the bottom (so birds’ body heat can rise, but not escape). Unused birdhouses may work - depending on where the entrance hole is, it may have to be turned upside-down so the heat doesn't escape. Since birds roost at night, you may never actually see them, but you'll know they don’t die out in the cold, plus you'll have more birds around in coming seasons.

 

Survival of the fittest trees              When high winds blow down twigs and branches, we’re witnessing a little bit of evolution in action. Think about it. Those “blown off” leaflets, if not dead already, were the weak /insect-prone ones. The seeds associated with them, will never grow – the seeds from strong, remaining branches will!  Throughout the year it happens, and every year the trees’ “gene pool” gets a tiny bit healthier.

Woodpeckers probably aren't hurting your house

Red bellied Woodpecker

Woodpeckers peck on houses for two reasons. First, searching for insects, in which case the holes are small. Not much damage is being done. A dead tree, left standing, is much more appealing. If this is happening, the wood of your house is staying damp, attracting insects. This leads to wood rot. Check for water leaks, and thank woodpeckers for alerting you.

Sometimes, woodpeckers will peck hard on a metal part of a house. They've found that their noise is amplified greatly. This happens early in mating season and marks a  territory.

Very rarely, woodpeckers may be creating a nest cavity. Although quite rare, it can cause serious damage. Fake owls or snakes don’t work at all. They don't move, which is what scares birds away. Save your money.

Instead, suggests Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology, try tacking up brightly-colored or shiny ribbons (about 4–5 ft. long) that can blow around with the wind. Their motion should shoo Woodpeckers away, and they can usually be taken down after a few days, allowing you to check for the real problem.

 

 

"The Goldfinches in my yard aren't bright yellow, like in magazines"

Eastern Goldfinch

    If you’re looking for a yellow goldfinch, try looking in New Jersey in the summer. The tiny birds are nowhere to be found in Texas at this time of year; except in their dull, winter plumage.  In north Texas, in the winter, goldfinches are what I call ‘”dirty yellow” (see picture).  Bright yellow is what’s called their ”breeding plumage”, but you see that only up north in warm seasons.

Goldfinches travel and feed often in flocks. So you may see none on your feeder – then a minute later you may see several on it, and another dozen nearby waiting a turn. Special Goldfinch feeders are sold with many small holes [“ports”] for the small, imported seed called “nyger”. Nyger (often incorrectly called “thistle”) is their favorite food. A close, and less expensive, runner-up is Black Oil Sunflower seed. That’s what I use.

In north Texas they start appearing about mid-to-late November. They usually start their migratory flight back north around the end of April. About that time, they may begin molting their drab winter plumage - turning again to bright yellow. But, unless you're looking at a magazine written up north, you'll never see it.

 

  Starlings love to steal chunks of suet. Especially from a feeder that's meant for woodpeckers. Put these impolite, non-native birds in their place by using a suet feeder that only has access from below. Woodpeckers and several other nimble, clinging birds will nonchalantly cling to the underside of an “upside-down” feeder, using strong feet. Starlings (a pesky, black bird) don't have the physical features it takes to hang by their feet, and will go elsewhere.

A few friends of mine have had success with ordinary, less expensive, suet feeders, by putting a length of duct tape across the upper edge and halfway down each vertical side-edge.