"Not many butterflies in my yard last year. Fewer so far this year. Why?"

Monarch

 

Red Admiral

 This is the ninth year in a row that the population of monarchs wintering in Mexico has fallen below its long-term average, and this year it hit an all-time low.  Butterflies, especially Monarchs, are in crisis, and we must take immediate action to protect them! Less than 20 years ago, an astounding 1 billion monarchs migrated to Mexico for the winter. This year, a small fraction of that -- just 33.5 million -- made the journey. 

Why is there a crisis? In large part it's because industrial agriculture is killing off the native milkweed on which monarchs depend. Big Ag's uses “kill everything” herbicides like glyphosate -- marketed as Roundup by Monsanto -- the EPA could dramatically increase the monarch's chance for survival, as well as many other butterflies. This can be done, not by banning herbicides entirely, but by placing common sense limits on their use.

         

Butterfly Weed

Monarchs can't live without milkweed -- it is the only plant on which they lay their eggs. In north Texas, milkweed-family plants include around 100 species.  In north Texas gardens the most common is called Butterfly Weed (Asclepias Tuberosa). having showy reddish-orange flower clusters when it's established. [Before you react poorly to the word "weed", know that it has Germanic roots, and merely means "plant" in another language)  A mass of Butterfly Weed is heaven for butterflies. Other popular native milkweeds are Green Milkweed Asclepias Viridis) and Antelope Horns (Asclepias Asperula). Also, there is the Texas Milkweed (Asclepias Texana) and many many more. Unfortunately, glyphosates like Roundup kill them all. Hence, fewer butterflies.

         Each year, as they have for countless generations, North American monarchs undertake an epic journey, flittering upwards of 3,000 miles across the U.S. and Canada to just a relative few wintering grounds, including Mexico's Sierra Madre mountains where they winter.

But as industrial agriculture has ramped up its use of genetically engineered crops resistant to weed killers like glyphosate, it has also dramatically escalated its use of herbicides -- and butterly populations have plunged.

So I recommend planting a mass (at least a dozen plants) of milkweeds in your yard this year. Maybe they won't flower in the first season, but you may help some butterfly families have a brighter outlook.

Gulf Frittilary

 

Monarch

 

 

Putting red dye in Hummingbird nectar can harm birds

According to Wildbird magazine, if nectar is dyed red, a typical Hummingbird (weighing just a few grams) takes in 10 times the amount of dye necessary to cause DNA damage.

High doses of Red #40 (the most popular dye) will also result in “significantly reduced reproductive success, parental and offspring weight” according to researchers. Plain nectar is what they need.  Nothing more.  Another research study proved that red food coloring is, more often than not, harmful to Hummingbirds.

Here in the north Texas heat, microscopic bits of mold (found in most food coloring) can multiply rapidly in heat, ruining an entire batch of nectar and making the birds go elsewhere, usually for the entire season. So change nectar frequently - every week or so.

         Adding color to nectar is just an “urban legend”; it’s never been proven to be necessary or helpful.  Nowadays, almost all feeders are colorful enough all by themselves.  In truth, it’s not just red that attracts them.  It’s any bright color except green; (an adaptation that lets them spot nectar-producing flowers in a leafy forest or jungle). 

          So please keep the nectar fresh and clear, and the Hummingbirds healthy!

 

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.

Mar.26(W) Want to attract a Kestrel? Get a Wood Duck birdhouse.

 

American Kestrel

A Wood Duck chooses a nest site near water, clearly. But if you’re not near water, but within about half-a-mile of a grassy field or meadow, the same birdhouse, with the same sized hole, is likely to attract an American Kestrel. It’s a beautiful, small falcon that wreaks havoc on mice and large insects near its nest.

 

UPDATE      A U.S. Federal Court has ordered the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to protect migrating birds from colliding with communications towers (cell phone, television etc.) Each year, between 5- and 50-million migrating birds are killed by collisions with towers with steadily burning lights. Those applying for tower permits from now on must comply with existing federal regulations protecting birds.

 

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.

 

You won't find a Hummingbird anywhere but on this side of the planet.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Sunbird (from Africa)

Hummingbirds are found only in this hemisphere (North & South America). In Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia their ecological niche is filled with a relatively small group of birds called Sunbirds, who also eat nectar. These larger, comparatively clumsy, Sunbirds (who may be colorful) cannot hover, fly backwards or maneuver well, like our Hummingbirds.   

 

Spring migration is underway, but…

       Roughly 50-million birds die each year due to lighted communication towers (radio, cell phone etc.), according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Dept.  Scientists have proven that migrating birds get disoriented by towers that use steady-burning lights. Birds will circle them endlessly until they collide with something or drop from exhaustion.  But the FCC hasn’t acted yet.
The American Bird Conservancy reports that, in one case, 10,000 dead birds were found beneath one lighted tower after just one night during migration!

 

 

 

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.

 

Safe, natural weed killers you can use if safety is a concern at your house

There are several natural weed killers around that won't kill or injure wildlife, pets, birds or children. If you have any of these around, you may want to be safety-conscious and use one of these alternatives to Roundup. Nobody makes a ton of money by selling this stuff, which is why you don't see them advertised. But they work safely, and that's what matters.

1.  Vinegar – A favorite choice for natural herbicide use is 10% white vinegar made from grain alcohol. It should be used full strength.  Nature's Guide now has a  20% vinegar registered and sold as an organic weed killer: works well!  Vinegar Herbicide Formula:
      1 gallon of 10% (100 grain) vinegar
      Add 1 ounce orange oil or d-limonene
      Add 1 tablespoon molasses (optional)
      1 teaspoon liquid soap or other surfactant

      Do not add water!

Shake the mixture well before each spraying and spot spray weeds. Keep the spray off desirable plants. This spray will injure any plants it touches. This natural spray works best on warm to hot days.

Vinegar sprayed on the bases of trees and other woody plants will not hurt the woody plants at all.  Use only natural vinegars and avoid all vinegars made from glacial acetic acid.

2.  Molasses - Dry or liquid molasses can be used to safely kill hard-to-control weeds. The dry product is used at 20 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. as a fertilizer and fire ant repellent. Doubling that rate causes a herbicidal effect on certain weeds.

3. Corn Gluten Meal - It is a natural weed and feed fertilizer. It should be broadcast to prevent grassburs, crabgrass, and other annual weeds that germinate from seed. The key is to broadcast the material before the weed seeds germinate.  “CGM” on the bare soil around the young plants feeds them, to help develop big healthy plants while keeping the competing weeds at bay. CGM can also be used in seed planting but only after the seeds have grown into small seedlings.

4. Crabgrass Killer - Crabgrass Killer is a natural weed killer used to kill crabgrass, chickweed, and other similar weeds. Cinnamon bark is the active ingredient in the Agralawn product. It’s especially effective on clovers of all kinds. Apply it dry to moistened foliage, to kill quickly without hurting most grasses in a typical lawn.

5. Fatty Acid & Plant Oil Products -  There are several of these fancy, strong soaps and plant oil products on the market including Monterrey, EcoSmart, Herbicidal soap, Scythe, and Racer. They are non-selective herbicides that usually have to be sprayed more than once.

6. Hand Tools and Mowers - Hand weeding is always recommended and it doesn't take much time if done a little at a time, regularly. Many lawn weeds, especially the purple Henbit coming up now, are easily controlled or eradicated with a once-over with your lawn mower! In fact, most weeds, if you keep cutting them down with a lawn mower, will just die.

 

 

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.

Here come the Hummingbirds. Are you ready?

Ruby-throated Hummingbird



Costas' Hummingbird

The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are about to arrive in north Texas (a few are already here). An excellent check on their daily northward progress is at the migration maps at  www.hummingbirds.net . So put out nectar feeders now, to attract the early arrivers.

A few people have told me that they'll put out nectar feeders whenever they see their first Hummingbird, which is thinking that's illogically backwards. Now is when Hummingbirds establish their nesting locations and movements for the entire summer: where they will look for food, where they can safely build their tiny nests and so on.

 

 

A hawk’s buffet      Hawks, falcons, kites (“raptors”) love it when you put birdfeeders out in the open - like in the middle of a lawn.  A "targeted bird" has no way to get away. All but the bravest, or dumbest songbirds, on the other hand, try out-in-the-open feeders. Every feeder absolutely needs a nearby escape route. Shrubs, tall native grasses, even a discarded christmas tree should be no more than 4 to 6 feet from a feeder, so songbirds don’t wind up as a predator's lunch.

 

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.

How many feathers does a bird have?

 

Scarlet Tanager

A typical bird has between 2000 and 4000 feathers. The feathers all start out as living tissue, complete with a blood supply. After they’re formed, however, the blood shuts off and the feathers remain, sort of like our hair or fingernails – basically dead structures.

Birds' feathers are key to two very crucial features of birds; warm-bloodedness and flight.

To a scientist, a bird’s feathers have all sorts of names such as “flight feathers”, “primary feathers” and things called “filoplumes”. Basically, however, all feathers fit into just two categories: “down feathers” and “contour feathers”.

Loosely arranged down feathers trap large amounts of air, which insulate the bird’s body well. This enables keeps the bird’s body warm and allows warm-bloodedness. Contour feathers help promote flight by smoothing the bird’s body, and making it aerodynamic, allowing flight. These are mainly on the outside of a bird.

That’s all good to know. But all most of us really care about is that birds’ feathers make them pretty and colorful. (There’s a science-based reason for that too!)



Magnolia Warbler

 

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.

 

Hummingbirds don't target the color RED exclusively.

    They like red things, but not exclusively!  And they're flying here soon -traditionally right after Spring Break. The hummingbird products (feeders etc.) seem to rely on the color red. Hummingbirds are attracted by red, certainly, but no more or less than any other bright color. Yellow, white, neon blue - any color but green. They’ve evolved this way so they can differentiate the brightly-colored flowers (where their food is) from the sea of green leaves.

   Actually, red food coloring has been proven to damage the birds’ DNA. These days also, manufacturers have gotten smart enough to make things like feeders with bright colors, eliminating the need for coloring the nectar – and making it stay safe; no risk of DNA damage. The color has faded on some of my older feeders so I’ve just tied a few feet of bright ribbon to it – works fine!

 

 Whether you see them or not, it's very likely there are owls within your sight, as long as there are trees in sight. They are masters of camouflage, and they sleep motionless for most of the day. So camouflage is a necessity.

A friend sent me the link below, where you see several well-camouflaged owls (maybe you won't see them). Try it!

http://twentytwowords.com/15-camouflaged-owls-beautiful-birds-blending-in/

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.