Sunday, August 2, 2015

Getting rid of squirrels is futile

Shooting, poisoning or trapping squirrels (shame on you) to rid them from your yard is absolutely pointless. It only makes your squirrel problem worse. You see, squirrels are territorial. So if the dominant squirrel is ”removed”, 3 or 4 wannabes, and their entire clans, will fight and squabble over the now-empty territory.

Also if you trap a squirrel and release it elsewhere, the solution may work for only a day or two. A squirrel will do everything in its power to return to familiar territory, especially if babies are left alone. The rule of thumb is to relocate it at least 7 miles away. I’d recommend 10 miles if trapping & releasing is used – even more if the intervening land is full of trees.

Two kinds of kingbirds here Both the Eastern Kingbird and Western Kingbird are summer birds here in north Texas. Both species are found in urban neighborhoods, preferring those that include large open areas and some water. Around golf courses they’re especially abundant. We’re on the eastern edge of the range of the Western species, and we’re on the western edge of the range of the Eastern species.

EASTERN KINGBIRD

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.

Sunday, July 26, 2015

To spot juvenile Robins, look for spots

About the time of year, fledgling American Robins (just out of the nest)

American Robin fledgling

are apt to appear in backyard birdbaths. The male parent is usually in charge of fledglings. Fledglings have to be taught how to fly well, bathe, where to find food, finding safety etc.- how to be birds. They’re the same size as adults, but can be recognized by black speckles on their orange/red breasts, which they outgrow in 3 or 4 weeks.

Painted Bunting- female

Dull plumage Many female birds have an adaptation allowing them to sit on a nest and take care of nestlings in relative peace. Their more muted coloration helps conceal the females and their eggs from predators. The different plumages of male & female Buntings and Cardinals are excellent examples.

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Hummingbirds at feeders; who's who?

The two main species of Hummingbirds in north Texas are fairly easy to tell apart near a nectar feeder. The Black-chinned Hummingbird pumps its tail up and down when hovering; the Ruby-throated Hummingbird doesn’t. This is true of juveniles too, although the coloration may be different.

A well-built feeder should not drip, attracting wasps and such. In Texas’ hot weather, a feeder is more likely to drip if you fill it with cold nectar and place it outside when the air is very hot.

I recommend a nectar-mix of 4 parts water and 1 part sugar. Hummingbirds need a 4:1 mix as much for the water as for the sugar. They’ll eat a richer mixture, but won’t be getting the correct hydration and energy they need to stay healthy.

More Whooping Cranes The number of endangered Whooping Cranes in Texas is at a record level. In a recent census of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding areas, the total number actually seen was 260. It’s estimated that at least 4 Cranes are still migrating. Two more are with Sandhill Cranes near Aransas.

So the total visible flock size is 266. It consists of an estimated 140 adults, 87 subadults, and 39 juveniles. These are the endangered cranes at Aransas, and doesn’t include, of course, ones that weren’t seen, so there are very likely more.

Monday, July 13, 2015

Big birds don’t scare littler birds away

Grackles

Large birds like crows and grackles often get blamed for driving away more desirable birds. However, that’s rarely the case, unless they’re after the same things. For example, crows foraging in a field for insects such as grasshoppers are no threat whatsoever to seed-eating Cardinals or Goldfinches.

Seen a Prothonotary Warbler? The Prothonotary Warbler (seen here, though he’s shy) has an interesting name – probably stemming from a notary or scribe in the Roman Catholic Church. It’s almost certainly derived from the Latin word “protonotarius” – a Catholic official who wears a yellow hood. (The bird has a yellowish head and chest).

Prothonotary Warbler

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Purple Martins actually need people

Purple Martins depend almost entirely on humans for housing. If you put out appropriate accommodations they may just settle in at your place.

Their criteria for nesting sites are usually near some water (or some other source of insects), and plenty of safe, clean housing. The birds also need on open area (meadow?) around the nest with a 40 ft. radius circle - no big trees.

In Texas, white is by far the best color for a house. They’re typically aluminum, and look like little apartments with round doors. The dimensions of the holes, and the “apartment” itself, are crucial in deterring predators. For heaven’s sake, don’t buy what’s alleged to be a Martin House without a proper pole – one that is stable and raises/lowers the house without calling for ladders or cranes. An appropriate pole is almost impossible to buy by itself.

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. Here, it’s best done iun the spring. Also, several neighborhoods and communities in north Texas have become Purple Martin landlords. They depend on us!

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Killdeer often hide in plain sight

Killdeer

Many of us have seen killdeer, but didn’t realize it. These ground-dwelling, long-legged, ring-necked birds are very good at hiding in plain sight. They tolerate quite a lot of human activity. Like, next to a roadway or in a paved parking lot – for example, we see them often in the parking lot "islands" of the Factory Stores, on the north side of Denton. What they can’t tolerate is their nestlings or eggs being picked up by a human and moved to a “safe” place. If someone is headed toward a Killdeer nest, females may divert him or her by acting as if they’re injured.

Killdeer on nest

Are they really “green”? In the U.S., there are over 17,000 circulating publications (that means magazines and newspapers, but does not include junk mail or catalogs). Producing one requires, on average, the equivalent of 2,165 trees.

Of those 17,000 publications, fewer than 200 use any post-consumer recycled material. The few that do, destroy about 217 trees each; 1,948 fewer. In other words, each of those few mailers leaves 1,948 trees – to provide shade, cool the earth, rejuvenate the soil, emit oxygen and provide homes for birds.

Sunday, June 28, 2015

The bird that almost became extinct because of a rumor.

Years ago, there was a fake “bee scare”. Farmers mistakenly thought that the Eastern Kingbird raided the bee hives they kept for pollinating crops, so they nearly killed the birds off. WRONG! (And maybe farmers today should maintain their own bee hives. They might be more concerned about the insecticides they use.)

Formerly called the “bee martin”, The Kingbird is a summer bird commonly seen from the Rockies east to the Atlantic coast, including north Texas. Both Eastern and Western varieties are seen here.

Where is the Cardinal a “native”? Here! It’s lived in north Texas, year ‘round, for a long, long time. However the Cardinal (“Northern Cardinal” to purists) has been introduced into several other places. It was introduced into southern California several times, starting in 1880. In 1929-31 it was introduced into the Hawaiian Islands. Also, it was brought into Bermuda “long ago” (nobody kept records then). It also expanded its range into a few other areas. Now it is a resident, either native or introduced, in pretty much every state in the c0untry.