Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2021 i Birds and Blooms Extra

Last summer my husband and I traveled to a rural part of our state, where neither of us had ever been. We spent hours exploring small towns via winding roads, hiked in two state parks and did a half-day canoe trip. It was a last-minute getaway we wouldn’t have taken had it been a normal summer, but it is now one of our favorite memories. We spent so much time outside, just the two of us, and it was a much-needed reminder that no matter what is going on in the world, birds, landscapes and nature are all still there for us to safely enjoy. For places you can explore when you’re in need of some fresh air and new scenery, turn to page 38 and check out “6 Winter…

1 Winterberry ILEX VERTICILLATA , ZONES 3 TO 9 Few deciduous shrubs produce as much cold-weather interest as winterberry. Unlike most of its holly cousins, it drops its leaves in the autumn, so nothing detracts from the red berries that are favored by game birds, songbirds and waterfowl. Plant both female and male shrubs for berries. Why we love it: In warmer weather, watch for Henry’s elfin butterflies. Winterberry is a host plant for the larvae of these little fliers. BERRY BENEFITS While many birds head south for the winter, others stay put despite limited natural food sources. Berries, with their antioxidants and high calorie count, are easy meals for cardinals, waxwings, woodpeckers, mockingbirds and more. 2 Yaupon ILEX VOMITORIA, ZONES 7 TO 10 This evergreen shrub forms…

1. Parsley. This is a great choice for a sunny windowsill where no supplemental lighting is available, as it can produce a good harvest in less light. Parsley adds bright flavor to pastas, soups and salads. 2. Oregano. Sun-loving oregano offers the best harvest when it’s given plenty of light. In spring and summer, a bright south-facing window should provide enough light. In autumn and winter, add a grow light. 3. Thyme. The tiny leaves of thyme add big flavor to soups, stews and marinades. It’s also very easy to grow on a south- or east-facing windowsill. For a flavor twist, plant a pot of lemon thyme. 4. Rosemary. A popular indoor option, rosemary is a Mediterranean herb that needs full sun and well-draining soil. It’s hard to replicate these…

I happened to look out my window and saw this butterfly on one of my sunflowers. I quickly ran outside to take a photo. Taylor Gailhouse LAWTON, MICHIGAN This photo shows  a lot of the butterfly’s body. You can see the antennae curving up above those big eyes, the proboscis dipping into the flower and its long legs. Brenda Johnson BOYDS, MARYLAND Photographing nature nature has brought me such joy and peace. This swallowtail entertained me for several minutes as it flitted over four lantana plants. Jennifer Hardison ATHENS, TENNESSEE…

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Eastern Redcedar Juniperus virginiana , Zones 3 to 9 Despite a confusing name, this evergreen tree is actually a member of the juniper group. It produces blue-gray fruits that birds love, and although they look like berries, they’re actually cones. The tree is resistant to drought and deer. Attracts: Light needs: Full sun, tolerates some shade when young. Size: 30 to 65 feet tall and 8 to 25 feet wide. Grown for: Attracting wildlife, offering cover for birds and year-round appeal. Foliage: Ranges from gray-green to dark green. Cultivar to try: Canaertii looks beautiful in winter and offers a substantial amount of fruit. BEFORE YOU PLANT Choose a juniper that’s native to your area and does not pose a threat for nearby environments. If you’re not sure, reach out to…

A little greenery is the perfect antidote for post-holiday blues. Here is how you can keep your poinsettias pretty nearly all year round. Start with a healthy, fresh plant. Houseplant grower Costa Farms says if the tiny flowers in the center of the colorful bracts are green buds, not brown or producing pollen, the plants will tend to keep their color a little longer. At home, keep the plant away from drafts and heat, which include doorways, vents and fireplaces, and in a very sunny spot—the pros at Costa Farms emphasize that “poinsettias thrive on sunlight.” Poinsettias also need water, but not too much. Jim Faust, an associate professor of plant and environmental sciences at Clemson University, says, “Watering once per week is sufficient,” depending on the size of your…

I still find the adult cedar waxwing to be one of the most beautiful birds around, even after photographing birds for more than 40 years. Every time I see one up close it looks surreal, as though it was just painted. I continue pursuing these magnificent birds and never get tired of photographing them. Willy Onarheim MEDFORD, OREGON While taking pictures of a male downy woodpecker, this female decided to investigate my intrusion on her peaceful morning. She hopped from one log or branch to another until she settled on this dead tree trunk. It was as if she was posing for my camera. I love how she seems to be daring me to take her picture. Dennis Peters DEARBORN HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN My husband and I enjoy watching the cardinal…

A look into a fascinating research effort. Project SNOWstorm helps track the movements of snowy owls using cutting-edge technologies to log the precise latitude, longitude and altitude of tagged birds as frequently as every six seconds. Since 2013, Project SNOWstorm has become one of the world’s largest collaborative research projects. This project is funded entirely by the public and has tracked more than 90 snowy owls across the Dakotas, Great Lakes, New England, the mid-Atlantic and southern Canada. Its largely volunteer team consists of scientists, bird banders and wildlife veterinarians from across the country. Its latest efforts include tagging and tracking owls on the Great Plains and studying how the construction of wind turbines affects these birds. In addition, the group is researching the mortality and movements of juveniles, while…

1 MERRITT ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA Special sightings: roseate spoonbill, reddish egret, Florida scrub-jay Situated a few miles south of the Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island is one of central Florida’s best winter birding spots. An array of migratory waterfowl flock here in the thousands, which offers visitors chances to see hooded mergansers, northern pintails and many more. Regular residents include some of Florida’s best species like the roseate spoonbill—and alligator sightings are pretty much guaranteed. Take the 7-mile Black Point Wildlife Drive through saltwater marsh and pine flatwoods for easy viewing of the refuge’s most fascinating creatures. Look for songbirds and raptors while hiking the Cruickshank Trail, and scan the roadsides toward Canaveral National Seashore for your best chance to see scrub-jays. 2 SANTA ANA NATIONAL WILDLIFE…

WINGSPAN 3 to 51/2 inches. DISTINCTIVE MARKINGS Four black parallel stripes at the top of each wing and a solid black stripe along base. Females have more blue on the hindwings. A dark form looks similar to a pipevine swallowtail. RANGE Spans from the East Coast to the Great Plains. HABITAT Parks, suburbs, forests and fields. HOST PLANTS Wild cherry, tulip tree, cottonwood, sweetbay, willow and white ash. EGGS Females lay a large green egg on a host plant’s leaf. NECTAR FAVORITES Milkweed, Joe Pye weed, wild cherry and lilac.…

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500 There are more than 500 species of Tillandsia, which are also called air plants. The nickname comes from their ability to grow in any nook or cranny instead of in soil. 2 To ensure your plants get the two types of light that they need—red and blue wavelengths—gardeners can use both warm- and cool-toned fluorescent bulbs or a LED plant light. 86 Most indoor plants grow best between 70 and 80 degrees during the day—although some like it hot, tolerating temps up to 86 degrees. 3 Philodendron, aloe and snake plants are three very low-maintenance options for beginners that thrive in different amounts of light. When repotting 1/2 a houseplant, make sure the soil reaches about a half inch below the pot’s edge. 7 African violets, a longtime favorite,…

Purple finches are an absolute backyard treat but, despite their vivid-sounding name, their subdued pattern can make them difficult to spot. Roger Tory Peterson, the ornithologist and editor of the Peterson Field Guide series, once described these birds as a “sparrow dipped in raspberry juice.” These forest-dwelling songbirds are found mainly in the Midwest, East and along the Pacific Coast. Look for a bird that’s slightly larger than a chickadee or nuthatch, has a short notched tail and a prominent, strong beak, which they mainly use to crack into tough seeds. They’re often confused with the house finch—however, purples are slightly heavier birds with shorter tails and longer wingtips. Male purple finches have an almost completely red face and neck with pinkish red also covering most of the body. Purple…

Q A flock of songbirds in my yard seemed unbothered by a hawk. Do they feel safer in large numbers? Barbara Godshall SOUDERTON, PENNSYLVANIA Kenn and Kimberly: Birds react to the presence of hawks in a variety of ways, and sometimes they do seem bolder when they’re in a large flock. A lone bird may dive into cover, but a flock may simply keep an eye on the hawk and stay ready to flee if necessary. Their behavior also varies depending on what kind of hawk it is. Small birds won’t act so brave around a Cooper’s hawk or peregrine falcon, both of which are speedy raptors that often prey on birds, but they may tolerate a red-tailed hawk, which isn’t fast enough to capture most birds. Q I saw…

True or False? A. WHITE ROSES are often given to represent innocence or purity. B. BEES RARELY VISIT white flowers. They prefer to stop at more colorful blooms. C. IT’S NOT UNUSUAL for certain varieties of roses to start off as red or pink in spring and fade nearly to white in summer. Find the Hummingbird 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 November issue, we hid it on page 13. 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…