Our birds depend on you to plan one-lot habitats all over north Texas

 If there’s one major reason why we see a few less birds every

year,it’s the loss of bird habitat. Little by little! Sure, there are large chunks of habitat like Clear Creek, Lake Ray Roberts, the Elm Fork Greenbelt and such. But the network of smaller habitats that most birds depend on is rapidly disappearing. Birds don’t care about zoning, property lines and easements. All they care about is finding a good place to hang out.

The habitat’s size isn’t a concern for the birds around here. The back yard of a quarter-acre lot can be a good
bird habitat.  The National Audubon Society says the “smaller” places, mostly private lands such as backyards, are especially important and vital. These are sought by local birds (whose territory may be a quarter-acre or so), or can serve as a “waystation” for migrating birds. It’s a great way to attract never-before-seen birds too!

The main concerns for birds seeking proper habitat are: 1. clean, fresh food   2. clean, fresh water    3. nesting places, and   4. places to hide from predators.  The size of the place is not very important.

It could be as simple as using native plants, providing tall, native grasses and shrubs, and putting out a variety of birdfeeders (full of fresh seed) and birdbaths.  Of course, avoiding the use of artificial weed-killers and pesticides is a must. (Native Texas plants are important because they leaf out, set fruit and go to seed in synchronization with local birds’ needs. Birds will seek out familiar, native plants before they resort to perching on or munching on imported, alien species. After all, their ancestors (probably going back thousands of years) learned to exist on whatever grew natively here).  Certain birds, however, are especially attracted to certain native plants and certain types of habitats.

One thing to remember is that very, very few birds are drawn to a big lawn. Lawns offer almost no good food source and no place to hide from predators (like cats). A manicured lawn offers minimal (or no) shade – important in Texas. Nor does it offer a safe place to nest. A big lawn has no place in a truly “birdscaped” one-lot habitat.

Putting out the welcome mat for wild birds is simple, especially in a one-lot situation, whatever the lot’s size.  Just provide the basic elements that local birds look for in any habitat, starting with plenty of fresh, nutritious food – the kind birds in north Texas like (not just the kinds that are low-priced).

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 recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award of the Native Plant Society of Texas, and 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.

Get rid of your old Christmas tree where it'll do the most good

 

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

This time of year many of us have “used” Christmas trees to get rid of, but where and how?  After de-tinseling it (along with removing other adornments) just prop it up vertically in the center of your backyard brushpile. (Don’t have a brushpile? – you haven’t been reading this blog regularly). You could also just lean it up against a fence or something. Your tree will serve the birds for the rest of the winter as shelter from predators and bad weather. Even though the tree is dead it’s several degrees warmer inside, and harsh winds are minimized when birds perch on inner branches.

When spring arrives (and the tree is looking disheveled) just push it over and let it become part of the brushpile, decomposing naturally. At that point it will still be mostly green. Birds will still use it as a nesting site, a source of nest-building material and a place to escape from predators.

Where do birds “roost” in bad weather?   Bad weather, (whether rain, cold or wind) finds birds seeking shelter – a place to roost. Almost all birds roost at night too. Ground-nesting birds such as Meadowlarks roost temporarily in tall vegetation or low shrubs. Shrub-nesting species such as Mockingbirds and Cardinals, roost in dense evergreen shrubs. Cavity-nesters like Bluebirds, Titmice and Chickadees, may roost in an old nest or unused birdhouse. Almost all birds like to roost in a brushpile you’ve built up.

 

 

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 the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award of the Native Plant Society of Texas, and 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.

What's called a "sparrow" isn't really a true sparrow.

       

White-throated Sparrow

 

Harris' Sparrow

 


Chipping Sparrow

When it comes to birds, I have a pet peeve. We’ve all seen what’s usually called sparrows in parking lots, city trees… everywhere. In everyday language, they’re  called house sparrows.  They are not really native sparrows, however, in the proper, scientific sense. They’re weaver-finches. ”Passeridae” for the botanic-minded.

This is the time of year when the true Sparrows fly down to north Texas (from Canada) to spend the winter. Since they are all mainly ground-feeders, and the ground up north is frozen solid and snow-covered, they like our relative warmth. And the insects/food they have access to.  You’re most likely to see them foraging among “leaf litter” on the ground in large flocks, which often contain other species too.

 Most importantly, the true sparrows aren’t here in the warm months, and they all migrate here for the winter.

The bird that has picked up the name “house sparrow” is not native to this continent (not found here naturally). They were imported from Europe in the late 19^th century. The intent was to rid cities of some insects. Instead they reproduced and spread like crazy, mostly because they have no natural enemy on this continent. (Sort of like the imported Kudzu vine has taken over many southern landscapes). Not being native, they are not protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Act.

They seem like cute little birds. But their aggressiveness and domineering habits have made them pests in situations where they live alongside our native birds – particularly Bluebirds and Purple Martins. In fact, you see fewer of these native birds around (especially Bluebirds) because the birds known as house sparrows destroy Bluebird eggs, kill babies, and take over their nesting sites. (They’re here all year long)

Savannah Sparrow

North America’s true Sparrows are here only in the cooler months, and don’t deserve to be called “just sparrows”.  Our Chipping Sparrows, Lincoln Sparrows, Grasshopper Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Harris’ Sparrows, Juncos (a kind of sparrow) and such are subtly attractive and well-behaved, unlike the imported usurper of the name.

Fox Sparrow

 


White-crowned Sparrow

 

 

 

What pulls Santa's sleigh?

reindeer or caribou ??

As most of you know, reindeer and caribou are the very same animal, with the same scientific name. As to what pulled Santa’s sleigh, remember that the Christmas tradition developed mainly in Europe.

The deerlike animals live north of the tree-line in sub-arctic regions. The “reindeer” in northern Europe and Greenland are slightly smaller than the animals called “caribou” in North America, probably having developed that way over thousands of years when different populations of the same species were separated over long periods of time. During that time they had different diets.

Both, of course, are fast runners and are able to live largely on lichens during the arctic winters. None, as far as science has observed, have a red nose; except in peoples' imagination.

 

Most of us live in a “suburbia” of some sort, so I’ll relay a study published in  the Journal of Ornithology that sheds new light on a situation relevant to suburbia and birdwatching.

The study focused on 3 suburban sites, all near a major U.S. city.  It found that predation accounted for 79% of bird deaths. Not disease, not starvation, not bad weather---but an otherwise-healthy songbird being fatally attacked. 47 percent of predation events was by domestic cats.

Whatever your viewpoint on this issue, the need to reach some sort of agreement is clear. Letting domestic cats roam freely outdoors is no good for any creature. Cats that roam freely live only half as long as indoor cats, and tend to bring all kinds of germs and dirt into the house. Cats rarely kill birds because they’re hungry; it’s simply in their nature as hunters.

So if you have a housecat, like me, be kind and keep it safe and indoors.

 

The importance of using FRESH seed, besides attracting more birds

 

 

Carolina Chickadee

Using fresh birdseed is just as important as planting fresh grass seed or fresh tomato seeds. Both boil down to what, and how many of them, you want to appear in your yard. (of course, feed fresh birdseed year 'round, but hold off on the grass and tomatoes). In my unscientific observations, I've seen that fresh seed is available only at specialty stores.  Seed sold at "big-box" or grocery stores almost always has been sitting on a shelf too long, and/or has seeds not appealing to north Texas birds.

   You probably wouldn’t buy grass seed left over from last year, or tomato seeds that have been sitting on a warehouse shelf for several months. They lose “viability” over time. This is especially important in cold weather, since birds need the energy and nutrition from fresh seed to stay healthy. Also, many birds who eat insects have switched to seed for the winter.

   Birdseed’s the same. It loses nutrition over time. It looks the same to you and me.  But birds (who depend on nutrition to stay alive) know the difference instantly. Almost all birdseed will retain some viability from the previous year - not 100%, but enough to attract birds. (The only seed that's not good the following year is Nyger/thistle, which has to be new each year).

   Filling feeders with fresh seed should be augmented with planting several kinds of “birdscape” plants in your yard. These are plants whose seeds are especially prized by birds. And the seeds are certainly fresh. Keep in mind that the best time to plant trees and shrubs in north Texas (unlike up north) is now.

   I’d be glad to e-mail you my list of birdscape plants that are native to north Texas.  They’re the trees, shrubs and flowers that grow naturally here. In my experience, also, our local birds look for them, and flock to them.

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 recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award of the Native Plant Society of Texas, and 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.

 

Calling birds by their right names avoids confusion

 

The names of birds change frequently, thanks to the governing organization - American Ornithological Union. Most of the time the name-change doesn’t concern an amateur birder, but it can as one gets more into the activity. For instance, the Robin, Cardinal and Mockingbird were modified several years ago to American Robin, Northern Cardinal and Northern Mockingbird (in order to avoid confusion with, for example, the rarely seen Clay-colored Robin – and so on).

Sometimes names have changed to correct incorrect or outdated customs. Like:  the “chicken hawk” is now the American kestrel or Kestrel in everyday conversation. It really never attacked chickens. In fact, a chicken is larger; the Kestrel being about the size of a Blue Jay.
 

The Baltimore Oriole went away, and then returned. Several years ago it was lumped with the Bullock’s Oriole as the Northern Oriole. Further DNA testing, however, showed that they were two distinct species, so the original names were reinstated.

This sort of thing happens quite a lot, and probably some bird’s name was changed while I was writing this. But it rarely has much impact on amateur birders.

 

 

The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is the granddaddy of all birding events – with over 1500 separate events and at least 50,000 participants each year, across the country. The way the CBC got started, however, is unique.

It began in 1900 as an alternative to the Sidehunt tradition. At the time, the Sidehunt was an informal custom involving going outside on Christmas morning for several hours and shooting (with a gun) every bird and animal encountered (not popular with neighbors). Frank Chapman, a noted ornithologist of the time, started the CBC to counter the hunt. He encouraged some friends to go out on Christmas morning and count, not kill.

It grew from there. The CBC has not only provided a lot of good, raw research material. It has also uncovered and created many strong friendships centered on birdwatching.

PS: There is almost certainly a Christmas Bird Count scheduled to take place in your part of north Texas. All skill levels can participate, and it takes place during Christmas season (not necessarily hristmas Day). To find one near you, try an internet search, or contact a local birding organization.

 

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 the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award of the Native Plant Society of Texas, and 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.

The "Texas Thistle" isn't the same as what Goldfinches eat.

 

 

The small, black seed that Goldfinches are crazy about is not the same as the “thistle” that grows here in Texas.   The thistle we all see growing in pastures and roadsides around here is Cirseum texanum. However, Goldfinches love the tiny seeds of the Guizotia  abyssinica, which grows in semi-arid Africa and parts of India. This tiny seed is sometimes called Nyjer (nī-jĕr), which is a trademarked name. It's the only common birdseed that comes from overseas.  How it came to be called "thistle" (incorrectly) is a mystery.

Since it has to be imported, the U.S.D.A. requires that it be heated (250 degrees for 15 minutes) at customs, to kill any stray weed seeds. This partially dries out the seed. So its “freshness” has a life of only 6 or 7 months. Even with all this government-mandated processing, Goldfinches love it, and eat it like candy instead of throwing it on the ground.   But they won’t eat it if given last season’s, dried-out, Nyjer seed, which (unlike other birdseeds) doesn't remain viable for the following season.

It's expensive and, like toddlers with Halloween candy, is eaten voraciously by Goldfinches even though the energy it provides is minimal. So I like to put it out only as a special treat, mostly feeding the energy-packed black-oil Sunflower instead.