A simple, accurate i-phone app for backyard birders. Get it free!

Since I write about birds, I'm exposed to many applications (for the I-phone) that allegedly help identify local species of birds. Allow me to recommend one by the name of "Merlin Bird ID" created by the experts at Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Cornell is, in my opinion, the leading bird authority in the country. The Merlin app was created with the input of many, many thousands of people, nationwide, who participate in Cornell's "e-Bird" citizen/science project, as well as descriptors provided by the millions of visitors to their "AllAboutBirds.org" web site.

Merlin

Another thing that sets it apart is its simplicity. It doesn't plunge the user into a mysterious morass of technical terms. It asks you for simple responses about the bird in question. First, the part of the country, and the date, where you saw it. Then the relative size of the mystery bird; sparrow-like or goose-like and so on. Then the dominant color. Then the location; on the ground, swimming or whatever.

Then, using your input, Merlin lists a few possible birds that it could be. It also gives you pictures of each possibility and the sounds each one makes (I really like this part).

It's incredibly accurate (for instance, it will exclude a bird from New England or one seen only in the summer). Also, it gives you range maps of the birds. And it can go into greater detail on the bird's behavior if you want. For instance you can find out that the actual Merlin is a small species of Falcon, occasionally seen in Texas and areas mainly to the west.

Right now, you can get Merlin at no cost - free!  At some point in the future, however, it may have a price tag, for new buyers.

The unique way a woodpecker eats suet

 

Red-bellied Woodpecker

If you look closely, you’ll see that a woodpecker has many tiny barbs on the end of his (or her) long, narrow tongue.  So the tongue has sort of a bottle-brush shape. The barbs catch on the suet and break off tiny pieces. The “regular” part of the tongue brings these pieces into the woodpecker’s mouth. Although many birds peck at suet with their beaks, only our woodpeckers (in north Texas, the Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers and Red-bellied Woodpeckers are common) are adapted like this.

Hairy Woodpecker

 

A birdfeeder outsides a sick person’s window has a magical healing effect. Of course it can’t replace following the advice of a physician, like taking aspirin, or whatever’s prescribed, but helps quite a bit. This helps even if the illness is just feeling depressed, tired, a cold or something else relatively minor.

  It has been proven over and over that people who experience nature are able to recover more quickly and completely from stressful events. A birdfeeder is one of the cheapest and quickest ways to experience some nature. Both heart rate and muscle tension decrease much faster in stressed individuals when watching bird activity. 

The calming effects are certainly quantifiable.  I’ve put a feeder (actually two) and a birdbath outside the window of my home office. When I’m feeling particularly stressed, just looking out the window for a while helps noticeably calm and refresh me.

 

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.

 

Easily creating a wren-yard in any size back yard

            

Bewick's Wren

 


Bewick's Wren

In this area, Wrens are the easiest bird to attract …they may already be in your yard in fact. I’m talking about the kinds of Wren native to north Texas, not the House Wren that’s inundated many other areas. Inviting Wrens into your landscape is relatively simple, because they’re often attracted by the way we live

            Our native Wrens are the Carolina Wren and the Bewick’s Wren. They look pretty much alike, but the Bewick’s (pronounced like “Buick”) is gray, not tan like the Carolina Wren. They’re both slightly huskier than other Wrens, and probably won’t be able to get in a “one-size-fits-all” birdhouse sold by many big-box stores, which are sized for a House Wren. Their tails tilt upward (unlike most birds) and they flit about nervously (as if they’ve had too much caffeine). They’re also very loud!

            Wrens have shared living space with humans for ages.  They’ve learned to use our houses, garages, vehicles and tools as homes and breeding places, although they prefer old woodpecker holes, birdhouses, or a dark, natural cavity. If nothing else is available, they’ll construct their own home – a globular cave of sticks, grasses and leaves with a small entry hole on the side.

            They’ll make their nests in unusual, unlikely places. Last year, a Wren built a nest in a hanging basket I had up. Until the nestlings fledged, we watered the basket with ice cubes...they melted slowly enough not to saturate the nest.

            It’s not just housing that attracts them; it’s also the countless spiders and other insects found in the exterior nooks and crannies of all homes. These insects are its food supply – Wrens rarely eat seed. The slender bill is slightly curved, enabling them to grab and retrieve food that’s beyond the reach of most other birds.

            Of course, some of us are better at attracting Wrens than others. For example: if you spend hours manicuring and weeding your yard and spraying for bugs (or having it done) you probably aren’t inviting Wrens. If, however, you let brush piles accumulate, and let vegetation grow naturally, you can almost be certain of attracting Wrens – no matter if your lot is big or small.

            That’s the first key to attracting Wrens; having plenty of nest-building material around.  Small twigs, long grasses; even fur from brushing a family pet. In this area, tall, native grasses (at least 1 ft.), coral honeysuckle and holly shrubs work nicely.

            The second key is a brushpile; just a random mound of branches with lots of “cubby holes” on the inside. In the winter, it’s a comparatively warm and sheltered place to “roost” during bad weather. All year ‘round, a brushpile provides safety from the many animals that would like to have a Wren for dinner. The brushpile encourages the growth of some insects, which Wrens keep under control as they dine.

            Water is essential year ‘round too. A shallow birdbath (2” at most) is ideal. Wrens like to poke around among the leaves at the edge of a shallow water body – that’s where the insects and tiny snails are. A bit of “messy” vegetation on the ground near a birdbath simulates this. Since most yards around here aren’t 100% debris-free 100% of the time, they make ideal homes for our native Wrens.

Carolina Wren

 

Carolina Wedn

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do your birdfeeders make it tough on visiting Cardinals to eat naturally?

Cardinals are among the prettiest of north Texas birds - especially in the winter, when there's a paucity of outside color. To achieve their natural color, they need to eat plenty of nutritious seed.

Cardinals, however, have a problem. They can't turn their heads easily. Their natural "eating position" is head/neck straight, and food in front of them. They can adjust somewhat to a traditional perch, but it's not easy for them. They also have a little trouble perching securely, whereas most other birds can clamp tightly onto a feeder or other perch.

So if you want your yard to become a Cardinal hangout (in our yard we usually have at least 6 at a time) I recommend having seed feeders that respond to their physical differences. Like a tray feeder or hopper feeder (pictured) or any of several other feeder types available that doesn't discriminate. 



What cutting down all dead trees means     It means that lots of birds will go homeless and will face the full brunt of winter. “Cavity-nesters” are kinds of birds that roost and nest primarily in old holes in trees. Usually, the holes were made originally by a Woodpecker. Examples locally are Chickadees, Titmice, Bluebirds and Wrens.  When dead and dying trees are totally removed (cut almost to the ground), it reduces the number of potential nesting sites…and eventually the number of birds.

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