Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2020 i Birds and Blooms Extra

A year ago last summer I was gifted a mother-in-law’s tongue plant (maybe you know it as snake plant) at my office bridal shower. I was assured that the plant was indestructible and that even I could not kill it. We’ll see, I thought as I placed it on my desk under the standard office lighting. It did OK despite the fact that soon one of its three upright leaves shriveled enough that I had to pluck it off. And then COVID-19 closed our office in March. As I packed my desk to move my belongings, I said a silent apology to the plant—I was certain it would not survive at my house. My home lacks a plant-friendly windowsill and natural light. Fast-forward more than a few months and the…

“ The tufted titmouse is a favorite among photographers. The birds seem to be extra friendly and almost always have cheerful expressions.” John Baughman FISHERS, INDIANA LINGUISTIC TWIST The tufted titmouse’s name may seem a bit odd, but there’s an interesting story behind its origin. The second part of the bird’s name is actually derived from the Old English word mase, meaning “small bird.” DINNER’S SERVED Invite tufted titmice during fall and winter with this suet ball feeder, complete with an overhanging roof to keep food dry. $40 at duncraft.com…

HEAD SIZE Proportional head that’s easy to see in flight. HEAD COLOR Dark cap with lighter coloring on the neck. LEGS Thicker with a shorter appearance. TAIL Tail feathers create a rounded look, with middle ones longer than the outer ones. RANGE Seen throughout the lower 48 states during most of the year. HEAD SIZE Smaller head that barely sticks out when in flight. HEAD COLOR Gray beginning on top of the head and continuing down through the neck feathers. LEGS Long and very thin. TAIL Tail is more square and uniform. RANGE Stays year-round in parts of the Northwest and the Northeast; seen in most of the U.S. during the nonbreeding season.…

Although one southwestern bird is officially named the curve-billed thrasher, three other species actually have more strongly curved bills. One of those, the California thrasher, is a specialty of its namesake state, living only west of the Sierras in California and part of northern Baja. Although it favors thickets in wild country, it also lives in parks and gardens that have enough dense, low cover. Its overall dark color and deeply curved bill make it recognizable. The California thrasher is easiest to see when it perches atop a bush to sing short, repeated phrases, which often include imitations of other birds, reflecting its place in the mockingbird family. Similar to the California thrasher but living farther east, the crissal thrasher is found from southeastern California to western Texas. Like other…

WHEN YOU THINK about the benefits of birding, a few points may immediately come to mind, such as taking walks and getting fresh air. And you’d be right about both. But now researchers say there’s even more good news for anyone who doesn’t leave the house without binoculars, and even for those who prefer to watch from the backyard or a park bench. Bird-watching and exposure to nature have profound positive effects on not only physical health but also mental well-being. Bird Therapy in Action Tina Toth of Sheridan, Wyoming, can attest to the benefits of birding. For more than a decade, she was afflicted by migraines and spent countless hours with neurologists. Then, in 2013, a spinal tap revealed that her spinal fluid pressure was three times the normal…

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 September issue, we hid it on page 10. 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 Oct. 8, 2020, and ends on Dec. 3, 2020. Visit birdsandblooms .com/contests for official rules. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Sweepstakes sponsored by RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC.…

Autumn Inferno Cotoneaster Cotoneaster ‘Bronfire’, Zones 5 to 7 Look no further for a fiery fall accent—Autumn Inferno transitions from dark green to orange and red as soon as the temperatures start dropping. In spring, look for small pink flowers on the branches. Attracts: Light needs: Full sun to part shade. Size: 5 to 6 feet tall and nearly as wide. Grown for: A privacy hedge with seasonal benefits. Foliage: Dark and glossy green in the summer. Other cultivars: Coral Beauty offers low-growing color in fall. BIRD BENEFITS Berry-eating birds like robins, bluebirds and cedar waxwings dine on the shrub’s red berries in fall and winter.…

1 Air plant TILLANDSIA SPP. Air plants absorb moisture from the air through their leaves, which is why they typically grow best in humid environments. To promote the health of this low-light houseplant, submerge it in water for 30 minutes every week or two. In nature, air plants cling to branches, bark or bare rocks. Why we love it: Air plants add decorative flair to any space. They are commonly seen mounted, placed in a terrarium or set inside seashells. 2 English ivy HEDERA HELIX Most commonly known as an indoor hanging plant, English ivy can be trained to climb a trellis or moss stick. Stay consistent with watering; ivy prefers evenly moist soil. Mist the leaves to keep them from gathering dust and to prevent spider mites.…

MOZART’S STARLING A naturalist finds common ground with the composer Mozart after rescuing a baby starling. $17 at barnesandnoble.com THE BIRD WAY Take a fresh look at traditional bird behavior from courting to survival techniques and discover the secret intelligence that birds around the world possess. $28 at bookshop.org BEAKS, BONES & BIRD SONGS We love our favorite fliers because of their exaggerated physical features and behaviors. In this book, professor Roger J. Lederer explains how those physical attributes help birds survive. $25 at bookshop.org HOW TO KNOW THE BIRDS Take your bird-watching knowledge to the next level with this collection of more than 200 bird profiles. Critics say it’s unlike any field guide they’ve seen before. $28 at bookshop.org HOW BIRDS WORK Filled with insightful illustrations, the book answers…

The spread of COVID-19 has disrupted the way people live. Change brings uncertainty but, as readers write in, this experience has helped many rediscover the soothing qualities of their backyards. Amy Imperato of Michigan City, Indiana, writes, “Like many, I worked a 40- to 60-hour workweek. Then quarantine hit. It gave me the time to enjoy my backyard and introduced me to birding. I’ve counted 51 species in my backyard alone!” The slowdown has set an example for longtime birders, too. Being able to observe a pair of eastern bluebirds raising their young inspired Susanne Miller of Manassas, Virginia, to stay patient. She writes, “The birds shared the chores, carrying materials and guarding the nest. It was a lesson in cooperation I hoped my husband and I would learn while…

This skipper was enjoying a coneflower in my garden. I love how its eye looks almost as if it’s made of glass or marble. Christine Gill MARICOPA, ARIZONA I noticed some butterflies at our flowers while I was mowing the lawn, so I ran and got my camera. They had all flown away when I returned, except for this lone skipper. I waited for it to land for nectar. Michael Nanton CAMILLUS, NEW YORK A silver-spotted skipper stopped to enjoy the sweet William flowers in my neighbor’s yard. It was a beautiful scene I happened upon while out on a walk one day. Kathy Jenkins ALBRIGHT, WEST VIRGINIA…

How to submit: Share photos and stories with us using the online form: birdsandblooms.com/submit. Please send submissions only through our online form. What you’ll get: If we print your submission in the magazine, we will send you a complimentary copy of the issue in which it appears, and any compensation as may be specified by us in writing. Returns: We regret that we cannot return unsolicited materials. Rights: By submitting material to us, you grant RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC, its affiliates, partners and licensees worldwide use of the material without time limitation, including the right to use your name and city/state/province in connection with any such use. We reserve the right to modify, reproduce and distribute your material in any medium (now or hereafter existing) and in any manner or…

The next time you notice a large group of various bird species congregating in your backyard, scan the hungry crowd for a stocky, gray-crested bird with a white belly, peach coloring on its flanks and a small black patch on its forehead. The tufted titmouse is a common sight among small winter groupings of chickadees, nuthatches and woodpeckers. It can be spotted year-round in backyards and parks in the eastern half of the U.S. Although you can attract tufted titmice to your yard in any season, fall and winter are especially good opportunities to set up hanging feeders—that’s when the bird’s normal prey, insects, become harder to come by. Tufted titmice love sunflower seeds, but they’ll snack on suet and peanuts, too. Instead of staying at the feeder to eat,…

Northern gardeners love growing dahlias, calla lilies and gladioluses as much their neighbors in the South, but the northern climate just isn’t quite right for these plants. Storing non-hardy varieties indoors helps preserve your favorites and save you money. Cannas, caladiums and tuberous begonias are also among the more common plants that need extra winter care when grown in colder regions. As their foliage begins to yellow or the first fall frost arrives, it is time to dig, cure and store their underground storage structures, which for the sake of simplicity we’ll call bulbs. Carefully dig up the bulbs, allowing enough space around the plant to avoid damage. Speared, sliced and bruised bulbs do not store well. Prepare the bulbs for storage by curing them in a warm, dry location…

Red-bellied woodpeckers are my favorite birds to see in the backyard. Last summer, a male and female visited my feeders. Later on, I was delighted to see a new immature female show up. When late fall came, I still saw the male and sometimes the female. Kathleen Janik OCONOMOWOC, WISCONSIN Belmar Park is an open space just outside of Denver, Colorado. The ponds host several species of ducks as well as herons, cormorants and Canada geese. I was hoping to spot some warblers, and luck was with me. There were a few “butterbutts,” which are also known as yellow-rumped warblers, in their fall plumage. Carl Muehlemeyer BROOMFIELD, COLORADO It’s always a thrill to capture blue jays showing their dominant personalities. They bicker when I put out food, but there’s plenty…

Although they usually pass on feeders, here’s how to lure them to your yard. Thrashers can’t resist water. A birdbath that’s close to the ground and to natural shelter is sure to draw them if they’re nearby. The best way to ensure that thrashers stay around is by planting dense shrubs for brown thrashers in the East or for California thrashers on the West Coast, and cholla cactus for curve-billed thrashers in the Southwest. The important thing is to choose native plants whenever possible.…

Q Every time I put out bird food, the birds come fast. How do they know? Noelle Haverhals PEORIA, ILLINOIS Kenn and Kimberly: That’s an interesting question; we’re more often asked why birds are not coming to feeders right away! But if you put out feed regularly, your local birds are definitely tuned in to your feeders. Even if you’re not seeing them nearby, they’re still in the general area and constantly checking out possible food sources. When feeders are replenished, some birds will soon notice. We often joke that blue jays, for example, seem to have what we call “peanut radar.” We can go for days without seeing any blue jays, but the minute we put out the peanuts, they quickly appear. Q Do I need to trim my…

1 Bring all your birding essentials when visiting East Potomac Park and the Tidal Basin. Located on an artificial island, the park attracts a variety of fall migrators, including Forster’s terns, common loons and great black-backed gulls. 2 Licensed fishers may cast lines at the Constitution Gardens Lake and several other nearby locations. Reel in bluegill, largemouth bass and more. It’s important to note that the Constitution Gardens Lake is best for catch-and-release fishing. 3 Get a whole new view of the Tidal Basin by renting a paddleboat for an afternoon. During March or April, the sight of the blooming cherry blossoms is spectacular from the water. And throughout the year, the monuments look amazing from a different angle.…

WINGSPAN 13/4 to 21/4 inches. DISTINCTIVE MARKINGS Upperside of the wings is dark brown with a long golden orange section toward the center. Hindwings have a prominent silver-white spot. RANGE Most of the continental U.S. and southern Canada. HABITAT Roadsides, gardens, fields and woodland edges. HOST PLANTS Black locust, false indigo, American wisteria and honey locust. EGGS Females lay single green (sometimes appearing white) eggs on or near host plants. NECTAR FAVORITES Common milkweed, blazing star and thistles.…