Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2020 i Birds and Blooms Extra

Seeing a puffin in the wild is on the bucket lists of many birders, including my own! To cross it off your list, head to northern portions of the Pacific and Atlantic coasts here in North America, where Atlantic, horned and tufted puffins breed during the summer months. As you’ll learn in “Safe and Sound Underground” on page 24, these goofy-looking birds (and a few other intriguing species) nest in burrows carved into cliffs or rocky crevices. If the dapper Atlantic puffin on our cover was a surprise to you, I hope it was a pleasant one! Yes, it’s unusual to see a bird with such a limited range—and one that doesn’t visit backyards—headlining Birds & Blooms Extra. But puffins are well known and adored from coast to coast. Maybe…

When you see small, sweet creatures hopping along, it seems so harmless to draw them in with whatever snacks you have available. Though the urge is fierce, try to resist. Dishes people consume are generally bad for birds in the same way that junk food is bad for our systems. “Malnutrition is certainly a risk if birds aren’t getting the food that they need,” says John Rowden, senior director for bird-friendly communities at Audubon. “They can be undernourished, which makes them more susceptible to disease, so it could cause health or lethal consequences.” With that knowledge, here’s a list of nine nibbles to avoid feeding your feathered friends. 1. BREAD People often drop bread for birds. Because it causes them to become full quickly, fliers may skip foods with actual…

Whether you are just beginning or you’ve been in the garden for decades, give yourself a refresher on some common terms. The next time you chat with a garden center employee or a neighbor over the back fence, you’ll sound like a pro. ANNUAL VS. PERENNIAL. It may seem logical that an annual plant comes back annually. But that would be a perennial, as in a perennial star year after year. An annual blooms, goes to seed and dies all in one growing season—in other words, it needs to regenerate itself annually. BIENNIAL refers to a plant that sprouts one year, flowers the next and then dies. BOLTING is another way of saying “going to seed.” Lettuce plants bolt as hot weather sets in. Sensing their time is short, they…

I hurried down the trail to locate this blue-winged warbler after I heard its raspy, unmistakable buzzing nearby. It was hamming it up on top of one of the smallest trees in the woods. Dan Miller LAFAYETTE, INDIANA Tree swallows are among the first signs of spring in Kansas. I was out walking in a local park and saw a pair checking out a nesting box. I hope they stayed and raised their young near us. Ann Tanner LEAWOOD, KANSAS While I was sitting in my car at a park, this cool eastern kingbird swooped down and posed for me. It really made my day. George Dokes WHITE HALL, ARKANSAS I snapped a photo of this great egret mother and her chick when I went to the Venice Area Audubon…

An old western nickname for the burrowing owl is “howdy owl,” because it appears to nod its head as a way of saying hello. Cowboys had many legends about these birds, including that the owls, prairie dogs and rattlesnakes would live together peacefully in the same burrow. They don’t, of course. But here are the facts behind the myth: When they’re disturbed, young burrowing owls make a harsh buzz that sounds very much like the rattle of a snake. Hearing that sound from deep in a burrow may be enough to make humans (and other animals) stay away.…

1 Start your journey early and drive into the mountains to Hurricane Ridge. The roads up to the summits wind through forest and meadows before opening to views of the peaks. Look for blacktail deer grazing in meadowlands or marmots scampering among their burrows. 2 Head west into the Quinault Valley’s temperate rainforest while watching for a myriad of woodpeckers and Steller’s jays. The densely packed trees create a magical atmosphere, with blankets of mosses and ferns, and a lush green canopy overhead. 3 Trek to Ruby Beach or Kalaloch to see rhinoceros auklets, glaucous-winged gulls and bald eagles. Take a walk along the sandy beach to catch a glimpse of harbor seals, sea otters or whales, and listen to the ocean pounding against coastal rocks.…

In each issue, we hide a hummingbird like the one above left. Enter to win at birdsandblooms.com/contests if you find it. Winners receive a one-year subscription to Birds & Blooms . In the January issue, we hid it on page 21. HIDDEN OBJECT GUIDELINES No purchase necessary to enter to win. Purchase will not improve your chances of winning. Sweepstakes is open to legal residents age 18 years or older of the U.S., its territories and possessions, or of Canada (excluding the Province of Quebec). Sweepstakes begins on Feb. 5, 2020, and ends on April 7, 2020. Visit birdsandblooms .com/contests for official rules. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Sweepstakes sponsored by RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC.…

CELEBRATE March 12 is National Plant a Flower Day. If it’s still too cold to dig outdoors in your area, start marigold, zinnia or cosmos seeds on a sunny windowsill. Read Try the 2020 edition of The Best of Birds & Blooms free for 30 days! Get your copy now at birdsandblooms .com/birds20. Make Create a teacup garden with fresh and silk flowers, succulents and moss. Add mini figurines for extra whimsy. They make charming gifts! VISIT Check out the special “Salvador Dali: Gardens of the Mind”exhibit at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida. The Dali-themed event runs through June 28. birdsblooms @birdsblooms birdsblooms…

GROW A BUFFET Instead of shopping for birdseed, save time and money by growing native plants that produce fruit, seeds and nectar. Favorites include crabapple trees, sunflowers and salvia. “I don’t feed the birds because they need me; I feed the birds because I need them.”Kathi Hutton CINCINNATI, OHIO WARM WEATHER TREAT When temperatures reach 40 degrees or more, it’s no longer safe to serve birds suet, lard and other fats that spoil. Instead, try this summer-safe option from Linda Popejoy of Concord, North Carolina. Pseudo Suet 2 cups shelled, unsalted peanuts 1/2 cup raisins 2 to 3 tablespoons cornmeal Blend peanuts in a food processor until they’re the consistency of peanut butter. Then add the raisins and process to combine. Mix in the cornmeal and process again. Press into…

Review the fundamentals of planting, potting and pruning with Beginner Gardening Step by Step: A Visual Guide to Yard and Garden Basics . The book provides solutions to common backyard problems and features DIY projects with helpful how-to photographs. $15 at amazon.com Whether you have acres or your lot is a little bigger than a postage stamp, Gardening for Beginners: Your Starting Guide to Learn How to Grow Anything from Decorative Plants to Backyard Vegetables helps you plan for a beautiful and productive garden. $8 at amazon.com…

NORTHEAST : New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), bee balm (Monarda fistulosa) SOUTHEAST : Purple passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea), giant ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) MIDWEST : Scarlet bee balm (Monarda didyma), Eastern smooth beardtongue (Penstemon laevigatus), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) CENTRAL PLAINS : Tahoka daisy (Machaeranthera tanacetifolia), plains coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) NORTHWEST : Meadow checkermallow (Sidalcea campestris), blue gilia (Gilia capitata), Pacific aster (Symphyotrichum chilense) SOUTHWEST : Mexican hat (Ratibida columnifera), California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) Jill Staake lives in Tampa, Florida, and firmly believes that weeds are just wildflowers waiting to be loved.…

I see mostly tiger swallowtails in my yard, but this zebra swallowtail showed up one day! It was exciting to see a new species. Susan Perren FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA The zebra swallowtail is Tennessee’s state butterfly, but we rarely see them in the western part of the state. It was such a thrill to find one, I took photos of the whole life cycle. Rare, indeed! Jean Owens PARIS, TENNESSEE MOVING TARGET A red spot at the base of the wings creates a place for predators to aim away from the tiny body, increasing chances of survival.…

Lenten Rose Helleborus orientalis , Zones 4 to 9 Cup-shaped flowers sprout from evergreen foliage in moderate winter climates, and range from white or pink to rosy purple, and anywhere between. The long bloom period begins in February, March or April, and flowers tolerate late-season snow well. Attracts: Light needs: Part to full shade. Size: Plants reach up to 11/2 feet tall and wide. Grown for: Cold season interest and early color. Foliage: Glossy dark leaves. Cultivars to try: Choose one of the many hybrids, such as Onyx Odyssey with purple, almost black, double flowers, or Phoebe with lovely pink spotted blooms.…

1 Sweet pea LATHRYS ODORATUS , ANNUAL Colorful sweet pea is sweetly fragrant when blooming in spring. It’s also quite ornamental, thanks to the brightly hued pastel flowers of pink, purple and white. Give it something to ramble on and plant it where you can enjoy the scent—perhaps by a garden gate or near a frequently used doorway. Why we love it: Sweet pea is a cinch to grow and provides many fragrant cut flowers from spring until fall. It grows best in cooler temps. 2 Chamomile CHAMAEMELUM SPP., ZONES 4 TO 9 If you’re ready to relax, chamomile is the plant for you. Not only is the scent soothing, but so is the tea made from the plant. Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is shorter than most ground…

TALK THE TALK Some terms used to describe a bird’s makeup can be a little confusing, say when the difference between a side and a flank isn’t immediately apparent. Let the language of birding help you with identification—and better communication with other birders. Visit Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s online Bird Academy for an interactive quiz on bird anatomy. In winter, a male American goldfinch trades all of its bright yellow feathers and black forehead feathers for drab brown ones.…

Life isn’t a bed of roses for the plants grown in Will Radler’s test gardens. After seedlings go through an intense review in his basement workshop, a lucky few get planted in the test garden, affectionately called the boot camp. Young bushes are planted close to each other to encourage disease, and they’re generally mishandled. They’re watered from overhead around dusk (typically a no-no) and diseased leaves are saved, ground up and sprinkled on healthy plants routinely. The abuse is purposeful. Many roses meet their end in a trash pile, but the best plants receive more testing and may even make it to a grower.…

Q The yellow rosebush in my garden is producing velvety red flowers. How did this happen? Carol Grajzar SILVER CREEK, GEORGIA Melinda: Roses are often grafted onto the roots of a different variety to speed development and increase hardiness. If the graft dies, the desirable rose disappears and the hardier rootstock takes over producing its own flowers. You can enjoy the new red velvety flowers or replace the plant with something you prefer. Q What kind of flowering shrub is this? Mary Bennett MINERAL BLUFF, GEORGIA Melinda: The white flowers indicate this is a star magnolia. This small-scale tree grows up to 15 to 20 feet tall, and its fragrant blossoms brighten spring landscapes in Zones 4 to 8. Star, like other magnolias, prefers moist, deep, rich soil and full…

I’d love to photograph a red-bellied woodpecker up close. I have encountered ones at a distance, but they always fly away before I can get a good look. Jennifer Broadstreet Hess MARION, KANSAS It’s the greater sage-grouse! I have made many trips southeast in search of them and have been skunked every time. Ken Orich LETHBRIDGE, ALBERTA My nemesis bird is the wood thrush. Bud Rodgers JACKSON, ALABAMA A great horned owl—I’ve heard them and even found a pellet but I never saw one. Kathy Lorigan EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA The scarlet tanager is in my area, but I can never spot one. Every time I see a red bird, I think aha! But no, it’s usually just a cardinal coming to visit. Valerie Bartholomew GALETON, PENNSYLVANIA The whip-poor-will is my nemesis.…

True or False? A. YELLOW is the most noticeable color to the human eye, but it’s also an irritant. B. GOLDFINCHES change from sunny summer yellow to winter brown by molting, which is when they grow new feathers to replace old ones. C. EVERY WARBLER in North America sports at least one patch of yellow. answers at the bottom!…

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2008 These bright delights have cemented a place in literature and popular culture; Shakespeare included the primrose as a symbol in many of his plays. More recently, in Suzanne Collins’ 2008 young adult novel The Hunger Games, main character Katniss’ sister is named after the evening primrose. 400 More than 400 species of primroses exist, appearing in many colors including red, pink, purple and gold. They’re a hardy flower, thriving in mountain ranges, marshes and other varied habitats. 2 There are two types of unrelated flowers that are called primroses. One simply goes by the name primrose ( Primula spp.) and the other is called evening primrose ( Oenothera spp.). 1 Primrose means “first rose,” and it’s certainly accurate. Primroses are one of the first flowers to appear in many…