Many of us can help Nighthawks rest and get away from it all

 

Common Nighthawk

 

Common Nighthawks

Fairly common birds here are some members of the Nightjar family; Chuck-Will’s-Widow and the Nighthawk.  They aren’t related in any way to hawks, and rarely fly at night, preferring to fly around catching insects at dusk and dawn. The reason for the name is a mystery.

During mid-day they nest (and rest) on flat surfaces, in the sun. Which is where human help comes in handy. Common Nighthawks love flat roofs! So if you have a flat roof, and create an area (8+ sq. ft.) of brownish gravel, you stand a very good chance of attracting some. Especially in cooler weather;  they like the sunshine and relative undisturbed peace of a long rest on a flat roof.

 

Getting good Mileage       Most Canada geese migrate to wherever they can find food (but not all - the ones around here often have enough food available so they can stay all year). They can fly up to 600 miles a day, at 1000 to 4000 feet. They travel at a steady 30 to 35 miles per hour.  (by the way they’re named “Canada Geese”, not “Canadian”.)

 

 

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.

 

A pumpkin planter is a unique, colorful porch decoration

Think of adding plants to your outdoor decorations this fall. Flowers like mistflower and pansies, or ornamental grasses like indiangrass and muhly provide unique and creative ways to decorate for the season. Branches full of berries are good too. Don't be surprised if some of our feathered friends are also attracted.

Paired with pumpkins and gourds grown in the garden, pumpkin planters are unique; I bet nobody else will have one. Adding plants makes for a fun appearance of an outdoor space. 

This Halloween, make containers for the front porch to impress the neighbors who are making their trick or treat rounds. Bold colors like reds and yellows, or cool tones like purples and blues will provide fresh accents for your yard throughout the fall.

 Here’s how you can make this rustic planter:

1. When visiting the pumpkin patch or store with you kids or grandkids, choose a medium- or large-size pumpkin. Choose one with a sturdy base to create a stable container that will dress up the front porch.

2. Cut a hole in the top wide enough to snuggly insert a plant pot — about 6 inches in diameter.

3. Scoop out the pumpkin seeds and pulp for a smooth surface, just as you would a jack-o-lantern. (You can roast the seeds, too, for a tasty snack!)

4. Take a 6-inch round pot of flowers (your choice of color) and place it inside the carved hole. If the pumpkin is large, use filler for the inside, such as empty plastic bottles, or bubble wrap. The container lip should just clear the top of the pumpkin.

5. Randomly stick several stalks of native prairie grass in any space or void, to give it a finished, natural look.

6.  

7. 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.

 

Plant prairie grasses NOW to cut your water bill and attract birds

Yes - plant now!  First let's be clear about what I mean by the term "grass"; there are over 500 species of grass, and I'm NOT talking about lawn grasses such as Bermuda, St.Augustine and a few others. I'm talking about mostly native prairie grasses, sometimes called ornamental grasses.

The vast majority of these grasses grow well in poor soil, don't require much water, need full sun, don't need to be mowed weekly, never need fertilizer and will attract birds quite well.

The response to "WHY?" is easily explained by this chart. The roots go much deeper; to gather stray bits of water and nutrients, getting away from the sun's heat, and providing a safe place for birds on even the hottest Texas day.

"Robin Redbreast" is NOT about the Robin in Texas

 

The bird that inspired many tales, including the children’s story “Robin Redbreast “ is not the same kind of robin that we see here, although both have a red/orange breast.  The stories are about the European Robin (pictured above) a bird native to the British isles and the inspiration for the 15th century poem. The red-breasted bird we see below and in Texas is officially named the American Robin and is a totally different species.  It lives in north Texas year ‘round, but is most active (and more likely to be seen) in the spring.

 

 

Tasty bugs!

In Texas, all but one species of wild bird (even those that eat seed like Cardinals) feed their newborns nothing but insects. They’re easier to digest! When they leave the nest, young birds learn to find and eat seed – maybe at your birdfeeder with the help of parents.  The exception is Finches, whose nestlings can eat seeds.

Insects are, hpefully, abundant in the spring, unless you rake up all leaves on the ground (where they overwinter), or use a lot of chemicals. About 96% of insects are harmless anyway -many are even beneficial

 

 

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.

 

American Robin

Maybe not in Pennsylvania or Illinois, but NOW is by far the best planting time in north Texas

In north Texas, the very best time to plant is NOW. Not in the spring like up north. If you’re new to Texas, this may come as a surprise. But if you’ve been planting things here for several years (like me) you’ve learned to follow Mother Nature’s example. So, if you want to attract birds next spring, plant hardy birdscape plants now.

All of the most hardy and effective plants are Texas natives.  I’ve had the most success with the woody, perennial kind, including shrubs and trees. Of course, you won’t actually see growth until next year, but the roots will be growing like crazy all winter. Choose the right plants and I’m positive that birds will hang out in your yard.

It has to do with the fact that plant roots can’t grow through frozen soil.  Here, the ground may freeze a quarter inch deep (if at all). Even then the ground is thawed by mid-afternoon. All woody trees and shrubs do best if planted now. Also all ground covers and most flowers – all but the very tender species that could be killed by a long, hard frost (if we have one) Up north the ground may freeze solid many inches deep, possibly all winter long.  And “up north” is where gardening advice columns were written, originally.

Sumac & friend

My favorites, to plant now, include mistflower, Mexican plum, beautyberry, sumac, lantana, flame acanthus, Maximillian sunflower and several prairie grasses. Don’t forget the mulch!

 

What’s vertical migration?       Unlike regular bird migration which involves flying south for hundreds of miles, vertical migrants may just fly down a slope. They may make the short journey from a mountain down to the valley floor. Thus they spend the winter in better weather conditions, and with more available food, that isn't covered up by ice and snow. 

 

 

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.

Chickadees remember where they (or you) put that seed

In a study of Black-capped Chickadees, the portion of the brain used to process spacial information (the hippocampus) varies in size during a typical year. It enlarges in the fall and winter, when seeds are harder to locate, coinciding with seed-hoarding and -finding activity. It shrinks in the spring, when feats of memory are no longer crucial.

 

Careful of those hot-air balloon injuries!   During the past 50 years, only 48 U.S. residents contracted rabies from bats (not "died from"); that's less than one per year. That’s less than the number of hot-air balloon injuries in the whole country! (for comparison: in 2001 alone, 15,989 people contracted TB). Nationally, less than half of one percent of bats even have rabies. Bats aren’t rabies vectors anyway.

Just to be super-safe, however, never pick up a bat from the ground with your bare hands.

 

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.

Cooler weather's coming here fast. Get ready now!

if you have no trees...

Fall is here, and cool weather is right around the corner - falling leaves and all! A tree without leaves can look gloomy, but a simple, old method can liven things up by attracting bunches of birds to it. There’s even a simple way to attract tree-loving birds, when you have no trees. 

Just mix up what I call “tree goop”; peanut butter and seeds - like the old scouting trick. I use cheap peanut butter (smooth or crunchy – doesn’t matter). Into it I blend (with a sturdy utensil) a bunch of fresh birdseed containing black-oil sunflower seeds. There’s no magic ratio, but the more seed there is, the more it appeals to birds. 

Now, visit your bare trees and liberally spread some of the mixture on it (at least a square foot).  (in north Texas, most leafless trees are Post Oak, Blackjack Oak, Green Ash and Cedar Elm). With the addition of the “tree goop”, however, the birds will bring some color. You could spend a lot more money buying some costly, pre-packaged mixtures. But the results are the same.

If you don’t have a tree (which means few, if any, squirrels), try a log section (pictured). All it is is a log about a foot long and 2” to 4” in diameter.  Simply screw an eye-hook into the top, spread some “tree goop” and hang it outside. Any “clinging” birds in your area should find it.

 

 

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.