Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2021 i Birds and Blooms Extra

Seeing my local goldfinches bring their young to my feeders fills me with pure joy. I admire the mama and papa finches year-round, so it’s especially gratifying to watch them raise their families. I serve birdseed throughout the summer, even when natural food sources are plentiful, so I can witness the growing finches make their first trips to the feeder. But baby birds aren’t the only perk of keeping feeders stocked. As Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman explain in “Setting the Summer Table” on page 26, seasonal treats attract colorful guests that usually visit only in the warmer months, like orioles and hummingbirds. While you’re outside topping off the feeders, take a moment to survey your garden. There’s always something to do when the heat of summer arrives. Reading “Be the…

“I spotted this summer tanager while walking in the park. He seemed to enjoy the morning as much as I did, singing away for a long time.”Kimberly Miskiewicz RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA VERY SHARP Summer tanagers are clever eaters. People have observed them catching bees and wasps, flying to a branch, and rubbing the insects against it to remove their stingers before gobbling the bugs. GROWING INTO THEIR FEATHERS Young male summer tanagers are tricky to identify, thanks to the tie-dye patterns of their feathers. They wear a splotchy mix of red and yellow plumage.…

I love orioles, and they love the red hot poker plants in my backyard. This male Bullock’s oriole was feeding on the blooms. The plants have sturdy stems that are strong enough to support a bird’s weight. As many as four orioles feed simultaneously on my poker patch. I hope more people will plant this spectacular flower for this beautiful bird! Marina Schultz FRUITA, COLORADO This painted bunting was in a low-lying brush area at the Cypress Island Preserve at Lake Martin in Louisiana around sunrise. I volunteer at the preserve, so I’m there almost every week. I was so excited that this male hung around for a while, allowing me to get several shots of him. My bucket list wish is to get a photo of a male and…

1 Explore the expansive Denali National Park for impressive sightings of American pipits, surfbirds, northern harriers, boreal chickadees, olive-sided flycatchers, long-tailed jaegers and willow ptarmigans. Before you go, see a full species list on the park’s website. 2 Wander Denali’s footpaths for the best birding. Try Horseshoe Lake Trail or Mount Healy Overlook Trail, and ask a naturalist for recommendations before lacing up. For a less intense option, drive the 15 miles of road open to the public or hop on a tour bus. 3 Support park research by participating in the Critical Connections program or actively recording Canada jay sightings. This helps researchers monitor jay populations and examine how climate change may affect the future for this bird. Contact Denali for details.…

130 If you’re lucky enough to see a male Anna’s hummingbird during a courtship ritual, you’ll observe him go up to 130 feet in the air before diving back down to stop near his potential mate. 3.9 These hummingbirds are quite small, measuring about 3.9 inches from beak to tail (and weighing only 0.1 to 0.2 ounce!). 107 Though it may seem very warm to humans, an Anna’s average body temperature is 107 degrees Fahrenheit. 0 Similar to other hummingbirds, Anna’s take zero steps because of their very small legs. Instead, they rely on flying and landing to move around. 18 Young Anna’s hummers take to the skies at an early age—they’re typically between 18 and 26 days old when they set off on their first flights. 600 An average…

Jazzy Jewel Ruby Hibiscus Hibiscus rosa-sinensis , Zones 9 to 11 Long-lasting ruby blooms add a touch of the tropics to gardens in hot climates. Or if you live in a colder region, grow this frost-tender gem in a large pot on a patio. Light needs: Full sun. Size: 4 to 5 feet tall and wide. Grown for: Bright red, showy blooms that work well in homemade bouquets. Foliage: Glossy green leaves. Water needs: Water weekly or more often in extreme heat, or when grown in a container. WILDLIFE BENEFITS Hummingbirds love this lush beauty. The huge red blooms lure them in, and the sweet treat keeps them coming back for more. Butterflies may stop by as well.…

1 Brasco Violet brachyscome BRACHYSCOME ‘DBRASC9’, ANNUAL This long bloomer sticks around all the way from spring until frost and features violet blossoms that resemble daisies with their golden centers. The plant’s mounded habit is 12 to 18 inches tall with a slightly smaller width. Why we love it: Not fussy at all, it is both low maintenance and heat tolerant. SOIL MATTERS To grow happy potted plants, it’s essential to select a soil that drains well. Pick a high-quality potting soil with a mix of peat moss or coir, compost, and perlite or vermiculite to ensure your plants get enough air and won’t get waterlogged. 2 Senorita Rosalita spider flower CLEOME ‘INNCLEOSR’, ZONES 10 TO 11 OR ANNUAL A container-friendly, shorter version of an old cottage favorite,…

Q How do you attract orioles to a suburban backyard? Katie Pauer GAITHERSBURG, MARYLAND Kenn and Kimberly: The strategy for attracting orioles is similar no matter where you live. Start by offering fresh fruit—healthy food that they love. Oranges and grapes are favorites. Many fruit feeders are available to purchase, but it can be as simple as slicing an orange in half and impaling the halves on a branch. Orioles also love sugar water, and there are feeders made specifically for them. If you plan to go the sugar-water route, make it yourself with 6 parts water to 1 part white sugar. Skip the orange dye and other ingredients—they’re not needed and could harm the birds. Orioles also love grape jelly, but it should be offered in limited amounts. Think…

I spotted this pipevine butterfly on some ironweed in our pasture in July. I watched the butterfly feed for several minutes before it fluttered away. I enjoyed observing as it floated from flower to flower. I love this photograph and the memories it brings. Carol Boykin PETTY, TEXAS Late summer is my favorite time to go for a walk in my local state park. I love to see butterflies on native thistle, and the pipevine swallowtail is one of my absolute favorites. Patricia A. Winter BECKLEY, WEST VIRGINIA CATERPILLAR As the pipevine caterpillar grows, its appearance starts to change as well. It slowly becomes darker and has more pronounced dots of color and longer black tubercles, which look like antennae.…

Summer tanagers are an explosion of color and look perfectly at home in the tropics, where they spend the winter. But during the warm season, they are found in their core breeding range, which includes the Southeast and stretches all the way into California, with sightings reported as far north as southern Ontario. Roughly the size of red-winged blackbirds, summer tanagers in the western part of their range are 15% larger than the birds in the east. Male summer tanagers are unmistakable. They’re the only entirely red birds found in the United States and Canada. You’d think that it would make them stand out in green treetops, but they can be surprisingly difficult to spot. Females are a leafy greenish yellow, blending in even more. Males about a year old…

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 May issue, we hid it on page 48. 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 June 10, 2021, and ends on Aug. 4, 2021. Visit birdsandblooms.com/contests for official rules. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Sweepstakes sponsored by RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC. Contact Us! CUSTOMER CARE For subscriptions, renewals, gifts, payments, account info and inquiries: Email: customercare@birdsandblooms.com…