About to Go

And in the middle of our garden tour this weekend, (of course!) the baby robins in a nest on the barn spot lights, decided to fledge, adding much to the entertainment of our garden visitors, who believed we orchestrated it for their benefit. One jumped out of the nest and landed in the crabapple tree next to the barn. The other two, pictured here, stayed in the nest for a few more hours, getting up their courage. It was interesting that they changed their calls and began to make the fledging calls before they fledged. Just after I took this photo one jumped and followed the mother robin into the bushes. The last one soon followed. Whew! I was worried, but they all made it to safety. Now they are well into the woodland cover and the parents are hunting all over our garden for food for them.

Stokes Garden Tour

Us with some garden visitor friends from MA. I'm holding Abby, Don is holding Phoebe.

Long border with gazebo and hummingbird feeders. We sit and watch the hummers.

Garden entry leads to the garden and beyond, down to the pond and mountain

Don talking to some birders. Lots of our visitors brought their binoculars.

Across the entry garden

A view from the entry garden to the urn from lunaform. "Goldflame" Trumpet Honeysuckle vine (Lonicera heckrotii), a magnet for hummingbirds, tumbles over the wall. Prairie Fire crabapple is above it and provides fruit for robins and Cedar Waxwings in fall. We plant lots of bee balm and salvia "Lady in Red" for the hummers.

We have many hummingbird feeders scattered throughout the garden.

View to the mountain, pond and fields, across the kitchen garden.

I was inside and saw two visitors enjoying themselves by sitting in the kitchen garden. The view is to the 'pinnacle rock' viewing area and alpine garden

Our bird gardens were on a garden tour (of The Garden Conservancy, a national organization that protects historically important gardens) this weekend, here are some photos. I do all the design of the plant material and Don and I do all the garden work. Our landscape architect, Gordon Hayward of VT, helped design the hardscape and layout of the garden rooms. We're avid about birds, but we're also avid gardeners. Don grew up in Philadelphia in a gardening family and my grandmother was my gardening inspiration. Even though the garden rooms are formal, with interesting plant material, they're also full of plantings that attract birds and butterflies.

Busy

This week we are too busy to blog, will get back to you next week. Too much work and events at our house, etc. Here's a male Evening Grosbeak photo, taken recently at our feeder, for you to look at. Love those knock-out colors.

On the plus side, we are seeing color proofs of our new Stokes Field Guide To The Birds Of North America and the photos are stunningly beautiful. The color reproduction is excellent and the photos are crystal clear. The book will be available everywhere this October. We will see advance copies earlier. By the way, you can order your copy now, here.

Down the hatch

White-breasted Nuthatches are coming to our feeders regularly now and have babies out of the nest. Makes the blood rush to my head to think of hanging upside down, but it's natural for this bird. Nuthatches can go down tree limbs as easily as they go up. This enables them to probe into tree crevices in search of insects from any angle. They also have a habit of wedging a seed in a tree crack to hack (hatch) it open, hence their name. They also store seeds in tree bark, including our bird seed!

Bee Happy

Bumblebee with pollen on it's legs.

The Bumblebees are coming to the catmint blooming in our garden. I watched in fascination and tired to get a photo of one in flight, not easy! Bumblebees drink nectar from the blossoms with their long tongue and store it in their crop and collect pollen on their bodies which is then groomed into their pollen baskets. They then carry the pollen and nectar back to their hive, and feed it to their larvae. Their nest, depending on the species of bumblebee, is underground or on the ground or in grass.

Scarlet Beauty

Scarlet Tanager, male, way high in a tree next to our house. Whenever we hear him nearby we run and get the binoculars just to get a look at all that scarlet beauty. We stand there and ooh and ahhh. Scarlet Tanagers stay in the tree canopy, not always visible among the leaves, and if you don't know their song you will not know they are there. Some say the song of the Scarlet Tanager sounds like a robin with a hoarse voice.
The female is olive yellowish with brown wings and thus more camouflaged, a good thing, as she has to sit on the nest and incubate the eggs. The males sings throughout their breeding period and occasionally the female sings also. In winter, the male looses his scarlet coloring and becomes bright olive-green on the body.

Overload antidote

Monarch Butterfly

This morning Don and I we were talking about how in today's world we are all bombarded with so many digital things. Cell phones, computers, TV, radios, blogs, twitter, facebook, the internet, are all places that divide and compete for our attention. Many of these are essential to our work and life. In the course of a day we use all of them and sometimes we feel overloaded.

What helps diminish that feeling? For us, it's nature, birds, gardens and being outdoors. Just, even for a moment, watching a butterfly, seeing our bluebird, having a hummingbird come to sip nectar from our feeder just feet from our nose, smelling a rose in our garden, making a point to go out on our deck at night and watch the wonderful firefly fireworks going on right now — renews us, relaxes us, connects us and is the antidote for overload.

Enjoy your weekend and try some antidotes.

(Okay, okay, I am getting sucked into bloggers new templates and trying a new look for our blog, so our blog format and colors looks different than yesterday. I cannot resist. It's still the same blog. Blogger, still part of the overload.)

Bluebirds, how many mealworms can he stuff?

Our male bluebird is coming to our feeder and stuffing his bill full of mealworms to take to his 4 fledglings. So much stuffing, you won't believe how many he can stuff!! The more he stuffs, the more he can take to the 4 hungry mouths waiting for him in the tree. What a good Dad.

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Brown Pelicans are being very affected by the oil spill.

We are as heartbroken and sick about the Deepwater Horizon uncontrolled oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as you are. It is devastating to watch TV, as we did last night, and see birds, almost unrecognizable as birds, completely covered in ugly, gooey oil. It is even more devastating to think that the spill is not stopped, and continues. This will be a menace for years to come to wildlife, the ocean and land environment, to humanity, the economy, and the states affected. Some days it is hard for us to focus on our work, which we must do.

Here are some places to keep up with the news on wildlife:

Spearheading some of the bird rescue efforts are experts from Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research, whose response team has been on the Gulf Coast since the last week in April and is working with their colleagues, International Bird Rescue and Research Center and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to manage the rehabilitation of oiled wildlife. They all are working with many other rehabilitators and wildlife and environmental organizations as well.

- For weekly updates about the wildlife response efforts go here

- For how you can help Tri-State, go here

-To get daily updates on the consolidated number of the collected (including both rescued, rehabilitated and dead) birds and wildlife that have been reported to the Unified Area Command from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, go here

- To report oiled or injured wildlife in the area, call 866-557-1401

- To get the latest news from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about what they are doing and the potential oil impact on the 33 wildlife refuges that line the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, go here

There are also many other environmental and other organizations involved, support those of your choice.

Feeder Friday, Red-breasted Nuthatch

This little Red-breasted Nuthatch female (male has darker cap and redder breast) has been coming to our feeder for hulled sunflower. She also takes it and feeds it to her fledglings. Definitely on the short list for cutest bird. Red-breasted Nuthatches make adorable, nasal, little "meep, meep" calls to keep in contact. They breed in northern parts of the country and the West, but can be found in much of the country in the non-breeding season.

This little female flew into our house accidentally, and hit a window as she tried to get out. She was stunned and we put her outside on the grass. Thankfully she recovered and was at the feeder today. Whew!

Purple Finch survey participants needed

Purple Finch, male

Purple Finches are beautiful birds that breed in upper eastern and mid-western parts of the country, the West Coast and Canada. Here in NH they are the state bird. A graduate student, Sarah Knutie, is starting a long-term monitoring study of Purple Finch population status and distribution and needs volunteers that are interested in monitoring Purple Finches, House Finches and Pine Siskins at their feeders. This will require only 1-2 hours a month between March and Sept. If you would like to participate in the study get in touch with Sarah at purplefinches@gmail.com with your name, city and state, and the months of the year you see Purple Finches.

We'll be doing it, we are lucky to have Purple Finches in our yard. As a matter of fact, as I am writing this a Purple Finch is singing outside.

Goldfinches, where are they

American Goldfinch, female

Someone just asked us where their goldfinches were, they weren't seeing any now. Goldfinches begin breeding later than other birds and may go to breeding areas away from your feeders, if you have no good breeding habitat nearby. They nest in small trees and shrubs, often near wetland areas and place the nest 4-20 ft. high. They build a nest of strands from weeds and vines, downy filaments from wind-dispersed seeds, such as thistle, and bind the nest with caterpillar webbing. 3-7 light blue eggs are laid and incubation takes 12-14 days. The young fledge in 11-15 days. The young are out of the nest by mid-August and then, at least for us, our feeders are descended upon by newly fledged goldfinches.

Yellow Warbler sweeetness

Recent photo I took of a male Yellow Warbler on Bobolink Farm, our 48 acre NH property. He was singing, "sweet, sweet, sweet, I'm so sweet." What a gorgeous bird and such a common breeding warbler all across much of the U.S and Canada. Look for it in shrubs and woodlands near water.

When we paddle around our large pond we see flashes of buttery yellow in the shrubs along the edges, a sign of the breeding Yellow Warblers. Males sing loudly when they first arrive in order to attract the females then quiet down during breeding, as they are now. This is warbler that leaves at the end of the summer, one of the earlier migrating warblers. So take your binoculars when you hike, canoe, kayak, or picnic on a lake and look for this golden jewel now.

Stokes Feeder Friday: Bird Baths

American Goldfinch, drinking at Stokes Select clamp-on bird bath

Summer like weather is here, even though it is May. LIke us, birds get hot and thirsty and just want to dip in the pool. One of the best ways you can get more birds in your yard now is to get a good bird bath and keep it cleaned and filled. We have our bird bath on our deck, near the garden hose, so it's easy to do this. We just sit on the deck and watch the birds enjoy.

Here are some Bird Bath Tips

Water works wonders in making your backyard sanctuary an instant hit with your featherd friends. Birds need clean water for drinking and bathing and If they see it, and hear it, they will come flocking.

1. All birds need water, not just the birds that come to your feeders for seed. There are many more potential visitors to water, including vireos, warblers, thrushes, buntings, bluebirds, hummmingbirds, orioles and more.

2. Traditional bird baths usually are a basin on some kind of pedestal and come in a beautiful variety of colors, textures, materials, and finishes. Pick one that goes with the style and decor of your garden.

3. Choose one that is shallow and has gradually sloping sides. Birds will land on the rim of deeper water and tip their heads down to drink, but if you want them to bath, it must be the right depth.

4. Small birds, like chickadees, prefer water less than an inch deep. Larger birds, like robins, will bath in water that is up to 2 inches deep. That is why we like bird baths with sloped edges; they have both shallow and deep parts and accommodate everything from goldfinches to Mourning Doves. We also like bird baths with a good solid edge on which the birds can perch as they drink. Our Stokes Select clamp-on bird bath attaches to decks railings and has both shallow and deeper areas to accomodate birds of all sizes.

5. Surface texture is also important. Glazed baths can sometimes be too slippery on the bottom for birds to enter and bath, although they may stay on the edge to drink. Birds need to feel sure-footed as they ease themselves into the water to the right depth to bathe. So look for surface texture that has some grip, whether pottery, stone, or cement compositions.

6. Birds are very attracted to the sound and sight of dripping or splashing water; it seems like they cannot resist investigating. Drippers work by having a tube run from the faucet to the dripper and have an adjustable valve that enables you to get just the right flow. Make the drip very slow — it conserves water and still attracts the birds. Some bird baths have a solar fountain, that circulates the water with a pump that works from a solar panel. These are energy efficient, but only work in bright sunlight so do not expect them to run all the time.

7. Misters are similar, but create a fine spray that seems to be a particular favorite of hummingbirds who fly through to bathe. Misters, if near foliage, will make the leaves wet and some birds even bathe by rubbing against the leaves.

8. Recycling fountains are also great, but usually need a larger container to take the pump that is needed. This means deeper water. You can make a deeper fountain bird-friendly by adding a shallow shelf on one side, or a large rock the birds can land on.

9. No matter what type of bird bath you have, you must keep it clean. For bird baths, scrub them each day and refill with fresh water. A good brush is a big help. For really tough stains, use a little bleach and water, scrub, and rinse very thoroughly before adding fresh water. You want to keep your bird spa spotless. Some companies even sell natural enzymes, water plants, and other biological clarifiers to control algae, especially useful for larger pools and ponds.

10. Clean and refill your bird bath every day in warm weather. This will prevent algae. Place your bird baths within reach of your garden hose to make this task much easier.

11. Place bird baths in the open, so birds can watch for potential predators, but have some sort of cover or landing spots within about 10 feet.

Have a great holiday weekend and enjoy all your birds.

Bluebirds mate-feeding & breeding

"Here's a tasty morsel for you, my dear"

Birds are in full time breeding mode right now. Many birds do mate-feeding as part of their courtship and nesting. Males will get food and feed it to the female. She may quiver her wings as she is getting fed. In bluebirds mate-feeding continues from the start of pairing on into the nestling phase. Cardinals and other birds also do this. Whether it's just part of the pair-bonding, extra nutrition for the female or other reasons, it's just adorable to watch.

People do not always understand a bird's breeding cycle. Someone just asked us

"I put my bluebird house up late. They did start making a nest about a week and half ago. I haven't seen them around for a whole day. I did check the nest I could not see any eggs. Could they have possible left the nest by now?"

To help you better understand bird behavior, here is some basic information on the breeding cycle of birds. This is generalized information for most songbirds, certain species may vary from this.

Breeding begins by a male singing, forming a territory and trying to attract a female. If he is lucky, a female bird will choose him and join him on the territory. He then usually diminishes or stops singing.

The female builds the nest and it may take a day or several days. There may be a pause before the eggs are laid. The pair will mate, then the female lays 1 egg per day until the clutch is complete. Most songbirds lay 3-6 eggs. She usually lays the egg in the morning and does not stay near the nest the rest of the time. So if you see 1 or 2 eggs in a nest it does not mean it is abandoned, chances are the female will come back the next day and lay another egg until she has a complete clutch.

Then incubation begins. It is done mostly by the female and usually lasts about 12 to 14 days (12-18 days for Eastern Bluebirds). During this time the female is quiet and the male stays somewhat near and does not sing.

When the eggs hatch both parents become very active bringing food to the nest. They carry away from the nest fecal sacs, little white packages that are the droppings of the young. This keeps the nest clean. The young, called nestlings, stay in the nest for about 12-14 days (longer for birds thart nest in birdhouses, for Eastern Bluebirds it's 16-21 days). The young at first have very few feathers. Then they have "pin feathers", feathers enclosed in sheathes. By the time they are ready to leave, the feathers have broken out of the sheathes, the young are fully feathered, and they call loudly.

When the young "fledge", or leave the nest they are called "fledglings". At first they may not be able to fly that well and for the first few days stay in the vicinicy of the nest. They are still fed by the parents for another several weeks. The fledglings often stay scattered in trees and call constantly. So if you hear constant chirping and see adult birds carrying food to different bushes or trees, chances are they are feeding fledglings. During the fledgling phase the adults may start a new brood. The male may sing again, mate with the female, and she will start a new clutch of eggs. even while he is still feeding fledglings from the first brood. The fledglings will eventually learn to feed themselves and the parents stop feeding them. and so the whole thing starts over.

Pleased, pleased, pleased to meet 'cha

Chestnut-sided Warbler was singing next to our driveway in a small birch tree next to a big swath of dense, low hemlocks and rhododendrons. Some people say the song sounds like he is saying, "pleased, pleased, pleased, to meet 'cha" with the accent on the 'cha. That is what he sounded like to us. Sometimes Chestnut-sided Warblers sing an unaccented song, however, and that is a more confusing one to recognize.

On the New Hampshire Audubon birdathon this weekend, a friend of ours walked a powerline and said she had never seen so many Chestnut-sideds. That second growth habitat is what they prefer. Habitat, habitat, habitat to birds, is what location, location, location is to realtors and home buyers.

Stokes Feeder Friday: Hummingbirds

Ruby-throated Hummingbird, female, at Stokes Select Royal hummingbird feeder.

The weather has been crazy here, ranging from a frost last week to, now, weather in the 70's and 80's. It is so important to keep your hummingbird feeders clean and filled with fresh fluid every 2-3 days, or every 2 days when it gets really hot. To make this easier, get feeders that come apart and you can easily clean! Clean with hot water and a little vinegar to get rid of any mold and rinse thoroughly.

Here's the recipe to make your own hummingbird nectar solution.

1 part white table sugar (not honey or artificial sweetener)

4 parts water

Boil for 1-2 minutes to dissolve the sugar, cool. Fill feeder. Store unused solution for up to

a week in the refrigerator. 

We now have Ruby-throated Hummingbirds coming regularly to our feeders here in NH. Females just recently showed up. We saw a male do a courtship display to a female where he flies in a big "U" shaped flight right over her, his red throat patch (called a gorget) flashing in the sunlight. After mating, the female lays 2 smaller-than-jelly-bean sized eggs and raises the young herself.

I'm going to go make some fresh hummingbird solution right now. Love those hummers!

Tree Swallows

This elegant pair of Tree Swallows are breeding in one of our bird houses. This morning they were sitting together on a perch we attached to the top of their box. They are in egg-laying stage and after a 14-15 day incubation period, new Tree Swallows will hatch and there will be 5 or 6 more Tree Swallows in the world, depending on how many eggs they lay.

What is striking to me is the composition of this photo. They were posing that way, I just captured it. Digital photography captures and creates the art in the photographer's eye and mind. We often think that if John James Audubon (who painted in the 1800's) were alive today, he'd be using a high end digital camera, a long telephoto lens and Photoshop to create his bird images.

Veery peek-a-boo

Right next to our front door in a big viburnum shrub yesterday, was this Veery, peering out at me. I thought it was just about to ring the doorbell. What a beautiful thrush! You can see the cinnamon malar streaks (the two lines coming down at an angle off either side of the bill) nicely in this, facing you, photo. I love the intimate look and the lovely feather detail of the chest spots against the buffy upper breast. Veerys, Wood and Hermit Thrushes breed in the woods around us. Not many come to our front door.

Chickadee Fur Fever

We put out fur from our Corgis in a suet basket for nesting birds. This chickadee just went wild over the fur. She couldn't get enough! Here's a video of her collecting the fur. In the top photo she just looks like a wooly chickadee. What do you think the caption should be?