BirdLover's Digest

May 2012 Northeast Edition

Attract NEW BIRDS to your Backyard!

Easy How to Guide p.8

Brown Pelican

Species in the Spotlight p. 6

NATIVE Plants Hummingbirds LOVE Bird Lover’s Digest 1

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Bird Lover’s Digest 2

Birds ‘R Us

Bird Lover’s Digest May 2012

Northeast Edition

FEATURES 4

Native Plants Hummingbirds Love

6 Brown Pelican 8 Attract New Birds to Your Backyard

Photo: Statileandtodd.com

Cover Photo of Yellow Wabler: David Zosel

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Native Plants Hummingbirds Love

These eight native plant varieties are excellent nectar producers and are sure to attract a hummingbird or two. Native plants have spent centuries adapting to your garden’s growing conditions, so they won’t need much in the way of supplemental fertilizer or mulch.

Female Ruby Hummingbird sipping nectar from a Beebalm flower.

Photo: Joe Schneid

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Beebalm (Monarda didyma) • Zones 4 to 9

These long blooming perennials produce clusters of scarlet, tubular flowers in mid to late summer. Beebalm grows best in full sun to partial shade and in moist to well drained soil, and will grow up to 3 feet or more in height.

Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia) • Zones 3 to 9

This perennial will yield blooms that will be either pink or white in April or May. Bleeding Hearts require full to partial shade and well drained soil that has a good amount of humus. This plant will reach 2 to 3 feet tall and has a similar spread.

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) • Zones 3 to 10

Cardinal Flowers are very appropriately named having vibrant red flowers. The plant grows best in moist, almost wet soil in full or partial shade. Cardinal flowers bloom in late summer to mid autumn and last for several weeks.

Columbine (Aguilegia canadensis) • Zones 3 to 9

While Columbine plants come in many different colors such as white, pink, blue and purple, but this particular variety has vivid red bell-like flowers. These perennials grow up to 2 feet tall and flourish in partial shade.

Wood Lily (Lilium philadelphicum) • Zones 4 to 7

This perennial produces bright upright red-orange flowers around the months of July and August. Wood Lilies will grow well in any spot in your as long as the soil is dry. This plant will reach anywhere from 1 to 3 feet in height.

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) • Zones 4 to 8

Foxglove plants are slender, tall perennials that reach 2 to 5 feet tall and about 1 to 2 inches wide. A number of tubular flowers appear on one spike. Foxglove flowers appear during the summer months, and range from purple to white in color. These plants grow well in partial to full sun. Foxgloves are very pretty when they bloom, but they are very poisonous!

Mountain Laurel (Kalmia lafitfolia) • Zones 5 to 9

This round shrub bears clusters of whitem red or pink floweres in late spring. Soil for the mountain Laurel has to be acidic and moist, but well drained. Mountain Laurels will tolerate full sun if the soil is moist, but it grows better in partial shade if the soil tends to get dry. This plant will grow up to 12 feet tall and 12 feet wide. Just like the Foxglove, this plant is poisonous.

Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) • Zones 3 to 9

The Trumpet Honeysuckle is a rambling vine that yeilds clusters of deep red tubular flowers.

The plant grows reasonably well in partial shade, but for the best flowers it needs lots of sun.

Trumpet Honeysuckles will produce flowers in mid-to-late spring.

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Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis

Brown Pelican in Breeding Plumage

Photo: Chris Martin Photography

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Description:

The Brown Pelican is a large waterbird that has two plumages. The non-breeding plumage consists of a white head and neck, grey back and wings with a dark brown belly.

The breeding plumage is about the same, except they have a very dark brown nape with their crown remaining white. These birds have a pale yellow bill that measures from 9-13 inches. Brown Pelicans have relatively short black legs and black webbed feet. Since these birds have a wingspan of over 6.5 feet, they are excellent at soaring and will often glide low over thev water. Male and female Brown Pelicans look identical to each other.

Distribution and Habitat:

Brown Pelicans breed from southern California to Chile and from Maryland to Venezuela and Trinidad. After breeding season, they can be seen as far north as British Columbia and Nova Scotia! These birds prefer warm coastal marine and estuary waters, especially bays.

Diet and Feeding Habits:

These birds feed on medium sized fish which they capture by diving head-first from as high up as 60 feet in the air. After they capture the fish, they tilt their bill down to drain out the water and then swallow by pointing their bill up.

Reproduction:

Brown Pelicans breed in colonies of up to several thousand pairs, preferably on small islands, and will make their nest on the ground or in trees. In a typical nesting pair, the male pelican gathers the nesting material and the female constructs the nest. The nest can range from very simple scrapes to very elaborate stick nests. For about a month, 2 to 4 white eggs are incubated under the web’s of the parents’ feet. Both the parents feed their young predigested fish until they reach 3 to 4 weeks old. After they reach that age, they eat whole fish which the parent catches for them. At 3 months old the pelicans begin to fly and fend for themselves, but the parents will continue to feed them. At about 3 to 5 years old the young Brown Pelicans reach sexual maturity.

Conservation:

Because of DDT poisoning, Brown Pelicans were once severely endangered. Since DDT was banned, there has been full recovery on the east coast, with other populations showing increasing improvement.

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Attract New Birds to Your Backyard W

Photo: Nextdoornature.org

hen only a couple of very common birds come visit a backyard feeders it is very easy to become disappointed, especially when there are hundreds of bird species in the local area. Luckily, it is very simple to attract new birds by providing new food and water sources. Providing shelter is another essential element to attracting new bird species.

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Male American Goldfinch

New Foods

One of the easiest and most effective way to attract new songbirds is to offer new types of food sources. A basic seed mix is a great start to the world of feeding birds, but offering different kinds of seeds, along with fruit and a suet block or two will attract a greater range of species.

Safflower:

Safflower seeds look similar to sunflower seeds, except they are white in color. This kind of seed is often used to discourage grackles, starlings and house sparrows since they don’t seem to like it quite as much. Birds attracted to this type of seed includes chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, goldfinches, jays and cardinals.

Hulled Sunflower:

Hulled sunflower seeds are black sunflower seeds without the hulls, and it comes in either whole seeds or sunflower chips. It attracts a greater variety of birds than regular sunflower seeds with the hulls on because birds that normally can’t crack the shell open can eat it.

Hulled sunflower seeds attract birds such as jays,woodpeckers, mockingbirds, wrens, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, goldfinches, cardinals, house finches, sparrows, and grosbeaks.

Nyjer:

Nyjer is a tiny, thin black seed and is sometimes referred to as a “thistle” seed. It does not come from our thistle plants, but is imported from India or Ethiopia. Since this seed is so small, it should be offered in feeders with small seed portals so that it does not spill out. Nyjer seeds will attract Purple Finches, Pine Siskens, and redpolls.

Goldfinches especially love this kind of seed.

Cracked Corn:

These are dried corn kernels that have been cracked into smaller pieces. Cracked corn is generally less expensive than some of the other seeds. Birds that like to feed on the ground will be attracted to cracked corn, such as pheasants,quails, sparrows, doves, towhees, jays, grackles, blackbirds, and juncos.

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Peanuts are a rich source of protein and are a favorite food for many birds, including towhees, grackles, crows, jays, ravens, woodpeckers, cardinals, juncos, titmice, nuthatches, wrens and doves. Whole peanuts, with or without the shell, are popular with the larger birds, while the smaller birds will take the nut meats and pound them into smaller, bite-sized pieces.

Offering peanut chunks, instead of whole peanuts will be appreciated by birds of all sizes.

Be careful to not offer too many peanuts at once in warm weather because they go rancid in just a few days.

Suet:

Suet is a high source of energy for birds, that is usually made with animal fat and other ingredients, and shaped into cakes or balls. It is an excellent way to attract insect eating birds normally don’t eat seeds, such as wrens, woodpeckers, mockingbirds, and nuthatches. Suet can be purchased or it can be easily made from scratch. Suet should be offered in a hanging wire cage so that a squirrel doesn’t make off with it.

White-breasted Nuthatch on a suet feeder

Photo: wildbirdfeeder.org

Peanuts:

Easy Suet Recipe

1 cup vegetable shortening or lard 1 cup chunky peanut butter Downy Woodpecker at a suet feeder 2 cups regular unbleached or bleached flour 3 cups yellow cornmeal 1 1/2 cups honey, dried fruit, unsalted nuts, or birdseed (optional) 1. Melt shortening/lard and peanut butter in a large pot on the stovetop using medium heat; remove from heat when melted.

2. Add flour and cornmeal right into the pot. Add dried fruit, unsalted nuts, honey, or birdseed in the pot. Stir until everything is blended together.

3. Place the mixture into a container that is about the size of your suet cage or just scoop up a bunch and then pat into the desired shape.

4. Set the container or patties into the refrigerator and then use as needed.

Bird Lover’s Digest 10

Bird Lover’s Digest 10

Fruit:

A plastic plate works well as a birdfeeder

Photo: Q-Corner.blogspot.com

Also, it is important to note that unless the tube feeder is large, many birds such as doves, jays, bluebirds, cardinals and mockingbirds are too big to eat from that type of feeder. Placing the food on a platform feeder or on any clean, flat surface is an easy way to feed those birds.

Photo: D. Heiser

Fruit is another great way to attract birds that don’t like to eat seeds. Blueberries, cranberries, currants, chopped apples, orange halves, grapes, and raisins are attractive to many different birds, such as bluebirds, mockingbirds, thrashers, waxwings, catbirds and orioles.

Baltimore Orioles love oranges

Bird Lover’s DigestDigest 11 11 Bird Lover’s

Provide Water

Water is needed by all species of birds to survive. Besides drinking, water is used for bathing to keep their feathers clean and parasite-free. By providing a supply of fresh water year-round, even during the colder months, will dramatically increase the number of feathered visitors to your backyard.

Even birds that will not ever visit a feeder might stop by for a quick drink or bath!

Choose the Right Birdbath

When selecting a birdbath, look for one with a basin that can be easily cleaned. It should also have a gentle slope, so that birds can wade into the water. Common items, such as an old frying pan, garbage can lid, or a saucer-type snow sled, make great birdbaths.

However, if you would rather buy one make sure it is made from tough plastic rather than concrete, and it won’t be easily knocked over. Concrete birdbaths, which are very often sold at garden shops, are too deep and are much more difficult to clean.

Setting Up the Birdbath

When installing the birdbath, try to imitate a natural puddle. Birds prefer baths that are American Robin standing in a birdbath a ground level, but if you are concerned about outdoor cats, raise the bath about two or three feet off the ground. Also, it is a good idea to put a layer of sand at the bottom of the bath to give the birds surer footing.

If possible, place the bird bath in the vicinity of a potted or in-ground shrub or bush.

Birds can’t fly well while wet, so they are particularly vulnerable to predators when bathing. With nearby cover, they can quickly escape if interrupted by a hawk or cat. In addition, make sure the bushes or shrubs aren’t an ideal spot for a cat to hide in ambush.

Special Bath Features

One of the best ways to make sure your birdbath even more attractive is to create motion on the water’s surface. Consider adding a wiggler, mister, dripper, or bubbler to help gain the attention of birds. Birds can hear and see water from great distances and will stop by to investigate.

Winter Water

Although it is advocated by some people, adding glycerin to a birdbath to stop the water from freezing, it is not a great idea. Ingesting a large amount of glycerin can be harmful or even fatal. Instead, it is a better idea to use an immersion heater. Immersion heaters can be purchased at most places that sell bird feeders and cost a few pennies a day to operate.

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Bird Lover’s Digest 12

Maintaining the Bird Bath

All birdbaths need to be cleaned eventually, but there are steps that can be taken to minimize the need for frequent cleanings.

• Position the bath where it won’t be clogged with falling leaves, grass clippings, and other debris.

• Place the birdbath in a shady location to slow evaporation and minimize algae growth.

• Make sure the birdbath is far enough away from the bird feeders, so that spilled seed won’t land in the water.

• Dump out the old stagnant water instead of just adding more when refilling the birdbath.

• Consider adding enzymes approved for wildlife consumption to a clean birdbath, which will minimize algae growth. Such items can be found at pet and bird supply stores.

Photo: Fredmiranda.com

Bathing is a very vigorous activity!

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Provide Shelter

Birds love to feel protected while visiting any area. If there is no place to quickly hide, they might not visit that area often. By simply building a brush pile or planting a tree or two, even the most skittish of birds will be willing to stay for a lengthy visit.

Build a Brush Pile

Brush piles are not very attractive looking so they should be built where they won’t present an unwelcome eyesore to the other neighbors. Additionally, the bursh pile should be placed where it won’t be disturbed by prevailing winds, for example at the side of a garage. If such a spot isn’t available you will have to use a lot of branches or logs to keep it from blowing away.

Materials

Logs, branches, twigs and sticks of all sizes can be used for the brush pile. Small branches will provide many perching spots for birds, while the larger branches will be used to keep the pile stable. Piles can be made with branches from all types of trees, and there is not need to pluck the leaves or pine needles off the branches. The leaves or needles will help provide more secuity for birds.

Easily compostable materials such as grass clippings or leaves shouldn’t be used to build the brush pile because they will clog up the pile’s entrances. However, you may put those materials at the bottom of the pile which will attract the sort of bugs that birds love to eat.

To Build the Brush Pile

1. Start by creating a horizontal frame of logs or branches for stability.

2. With the medium to large branches, create a kind of mounded cone shape by bracing the bottoms of the branches against the solid frame.

3. To create layers of shelter and perching spots, weave smaller branches into the pile. If the pile isn’t in a sheltered spot, use the additional branches to create thicker sides.

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Photo: Nestbirds1.org

Plant Some Trees

For those with the space, planting a tree or two is an excellent way to provide some shelter for birds. In addition to shelter, bird parents may decide that your tree is the perfect place to raise their young! To make the trees do double duty, choose trees that will bear fruits that birds will enjoy.

Fruit Trees for Birds

The most popular fruit-bearing trees for birds are: •Ash •Chokeberry •Crabapple •Dogwood •Hackberry •Hawthorn •Holly •Madrone •Magnolia •Mulberry •Serviceberry •Sugarberry

After you have upgraded your backyard offerings, the next step is to be patient. Birds tend to not approach new feeders or birdbaths right away, but after a couple of days you should see a more varied set of avian visitors!

Photo: Forestscene.com

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