Wednesday, August 26, 2015

When is a bird “Accidental” in birdspeak?

"Accidental" is the term used by avid birders to describe a bird that’s visiting where it shouldn’t normally be. One or two (or a whole flock) will suddenly show up for no apparent reason. Example: a Snow Bunting at Lake Lewisville instead of its native Pacific Northwest (it happened last year). Another real example is a Brant (a shoreline bird normally seen in winter on the east and west coasts) that was seen by several people in west Texas. The reason could be a strong wind (hurricane?) or that it just got very lost.

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, August 23, 2015

Landscape Architect’s view of dead trees and birds:

By this time, all of the trees in north Texas that are still alive have leafed out long ago. So we can plainly see what trees are dead. If a dead tree is in danger of falling on your house or into the street, by all means cut it down (after making sure there are no nests in it). How you cut it down however can make a big difference. Birds live in trees, and fewer trees mean fewer birds.

At my house, I have most dead trees cut down, leaving very tall stumps; 6 feet or 12 feet tall! What’s left is a stump (and sometimes bigger branches) for birds to perch on and make nests in. If the stump attracts ants or other bugs, most birds will take care of that matter! (HINT: mark dead trees now, so they can be cut in the winter).

What’s removed frlom a dead tree is the flared top – the “crown” that can catch a strong wind, causing it to sway and possibly topple. The wood in these tall stumps gets softer over time, making it easy for birds to excavate a roost or home. Hence, more birds!

Is this sexist? In almost all bird species, only the male sings. Mainly it’s for courtship and territorial reasons. In a very few species (in north Texas, the Carolina Wren and Northern Cardinal) the female also sings occasionally.

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Here's why native plants will probably lower your water bill

Most native plants (plants that grow here naturally) have deep, extensive root systems. The roots let then get hold of water that's out of the reach of other plants, and survive extended periods of drought and heat.

You can see that in the drawing above. Typically, the root system of Little Blue Stem (sixth from right) is a little over 6 feet deep and Purple Coneflower is roughly 5 feet deep. By comparison, the roots of Bermuda grass go less than a foot deep, and St.Augustine roots are about 2 inches deep - so they demand a lot of expensive water to stay green.

As you know, a Texas summer bakes the ground and kills shallow-rooted plants. But native plants have grown here naturally for centuries, without anyone watering or fertilizing them.

are old birdnests re-used? Hardly ever! A very few cavity-nesting birds will re-use nests within the same breeding season, even though there are real health dangers (tiny mite eggs may have been brought in, which could hatch and infest nestlings). But ALL birds will insist on finding (or making) new nests in subsequent seasons. That’s why I strongly recommend removing old, empty nests and cleaning out empty birdhouses.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Play host to interesting birds during the upcoming migration with a waystation

Every year many, many unusual birds from all over this continent stop for awhile in north Texas during the fall migration period. These are birds that are flying south from up north. They want and need breaks from a long flight.

Almost all birds fly in stages, stopping several times along the way to rest and refuel. What they want most is fresh food to get their energy back up. You might see something like a Rose-breasted Grosbeak that departed from, for instance, Indiana. Some species (like Goldfinch and Junco) come to this area for the mild winter (this is the south after all)

Setting up a waystation for migrating birds is amazingly simple and very productive. Several people have had Baltimore orioles visit their waystations. They’ve seen warblers that aren’t normally here too.

You probably have some elements of a waystation already. It can have any number of appearances, but a proper waystation is simply a grouping of at least three feeders (each offering a different kind of seed), safe cover and water (yes, even in cool weather). All within an area about 10 ft. by 10 ft. Migrating birds look for all these things.

The period of fall migration extends from early September to mid-December. Many migration routes pass through north Texas. A group of birds may take a slightly different route each year. One thing is certain however. Each bird appreciates “waystations” enroute.

The size of the yard a waystation’s in doesn’t matter much. He or she can use even tiny waystations to fuel up, get much-needed water, and rest up (perhaps for a few days) before continuing.

For most birds, the actual migration flights occur in the cool of the night, since birds navigate by the stars, so we may not see them in flight. Also at night, there are few predators and the winds are more predictable. Their migration is governed entirely by the changing length of daylight, the sun's angles along their flight paths and the position of the stars.

So, put out a well-stocked waystation during migration periods. Then sit back and look for some “non-Texas” birds as they migrate through here.

Sunday, August 9, 2015

At 110°, you and the birds will have bigger concerns

Yellow-throated Warbler

Some folks still think suet is for wintertime only. They think that in the summer it might melt. That’s true of basic suet (animal fat) from a butcher shop. But suet packaged for birds is formulated to have a melting point of at least 110-degrees. So it’s perfect for Cardinals, Jays, Woodpeckers, Titmice, Chickadees and lots of other north Texas birds, now and all summer long. (They’re hungry all year, just like you and me!)

Turn off those deadly lights! Millions of birds die each year from crashing into windows of office buildings and homes. Suggestion: join with co-workers and persuade those responsible to turn off inside and outside lights at night - especially during the migration seasons. Also, at home put some sort of sticker on the glass and avoid putting feeders in the ”danger zone” of 3 ft. to 6 ft. from a window (within 3 ft. is OK).

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Orioles’ sweet tooth?

Orchard Orioles

Jams and jellies are good for attracting some of our north Texas birds, including native birds such as Orioles. Just don’t overdo it. Commercial jams and jellies are usually about 50% sugar, whereas natural nectar is about

Summer Tanager

10 – 30% sugar. A little jelly is fine, but a steady diet of it messes up birds’ metabolism.

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