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Monthly Archives: April 2021

Bird Walk at Ford House April 24, 2021

Posted on April 25, 2021 by Rosann Kovalcik

Our group this morning at the Ford House consisted of many first-time birders.  It was as delightful to see their reactions to the birds they could see as much as it was a delight to see the returning migrants ourselves.  The group was led by me, Bill Rapai (President, G. P. Aududon) and Jim Szelc, who used to carry the telescope for the crowd.  In this covid cautious Bird Walk era, we rely upon him for dispensing great information and encouragement as well as his knowledgeable commentary.

Tree Swallows had returned and were very vocal over the middle section of Bird Island, landing on the bare branches of the central tree and then taking off in pursuit of insects.  A solitary Chimney Swift joined them in the sky, and we noted the different wing beat between the two aerialists.  Yellow-rumped Warblers, both species of Kinglets, a single Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and a Hermit Thrush were also located.  Along the edge of the water where it meets the brush, important habitat to preserve, we spotted two stunning Swamp Sparrows and a Winter Wren.

Of course, Red-winged Blackbird males were all over, engaged in territorial skirmishes.

The water brought us other beautiful species including Wood Duck and Bufflehead.  Forster’s Terns were gracefully flying along the water near the G. P. Woods Park and moments later we were able to make comparisons to a Bonaparte’s Gull who put on quite the show as it circled around the cove in search of fish near the surface.

Killdeer and Robins were already on nests. We had a great look at a Baltimore Oriole Nest left hanging from last year, an educational piece as a few in our group had not realized that they stayed and nested. There were lots of vocalizations by the Red-bellied Woodpeckers which led to a discussion about the sad fact that European Starlings will sometimes usurp the resident Woodpeckers to claim the nesting cavity that they just finished for themselves.

One of the Canada Goose pair already had young ones that they were vigorously defending against anyone that got too close.

 

Lots of bird species were on the move and gave us opportunities to compare wing beat style and speed.  Great-Blue Heron and Double-crested Cormorants flew high overhead while the female Belted Kingfisher paraded back and forth in the cove.

The Red-tailed Hawk was very obvious when we first arrived.  We were unable to locate a nest as in years’ past.

All in all, a wonderful two hour relaxing stroll, with the good fortune of fine looks and observations of 41 species of birds.

Many thanks to Bill Rapai for his photos of Red-winged Blackbirds, Canada Goose and Bonaparte’s Gull and to Lisa Vreede for her photo of the Hermit Thrush.

Rosann Kovalcik, Co-Leader

 

Birds seen on April 24, 2021 at Ford House

 

Canada Goose 

Mute Swan 

Wood Duck 

Mallard 

Bufflehead 

Pied-billed Grebe 

Killdeer 

Bonaparte’s Gull 

Ring-billed Gull 

Forster’s Tern 

Double-crested Cormorant 

Great Blue Heron 

Red-tailed Hawk 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 

Red-bellied Woodpecker 

Downy Woodpecker 

Northern Flicker 

Blue Jay 

American Crow 

Black-capped Chickadee 

Tufted Titmouse 

Tree Swallow 

Golden-crowned Kinglet 

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 

White-breasted Nuthatch 

Brown Creeper 

Winter Wren 

European Starling 

Hermit Thrush 

American Robin 

House Sparrow 

Chipping Sparrow 

Dark-eyed Junco 

White-throated Sparrow 

Song Sparrow 

Swamp Sparrow 

Brown-headed Cowbird 

Common Grackle 

Yellow-rumped Warbler 

Northern Cardinal 

 

Posted in Spring | Leave a comment |

Hummingbird Fun Facts

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Rosann Kovalcik

Why are Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers important to Ruby-throated Hummingbirds?

yellow belly sapsucker

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are a type of woodpecker. True to their name, these birds drill concentric, evenly-spaced holes on trees in order to get them to weep sap. This is the first food available for hummingbirds when they arrive in spring. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds also eat the flying insects attracted to the sap wells. The hummers dart about and use their tongues to snatch the insects in mid-air.

When do I put out my hummingbird feeder?

Mid-April is generally a good time – think tax day. The earliest reports for hummers in 2012 was on March 17th; in 2010 it was April 1st; and in 2009 it was April 2nd. Although rare for hummingbirds to arrive earlier than May 1st, you may help out a migrant by being ready earlier.

 

hummingbird feeder

Where should I place my hummingbird feeder?

Find a quiet place in the yard to hang the feeder, ideally away from your other feeding stations. Make sure the hummingbirds will be easy to see from your windows. Window mounted hummingbird feeders can be delightful.

If available, place the feeder near flowers and plants that attract hummingbirds. Use a small pole that allows the feeder to hang at the flower level.

Place the feeder near (but not directly under) protective cover where hummingbirds can seek shelter in bushes or trees. Hummingbirds also need a small snag, a branch cleared of leaves, to sit upon so that they can digest their nectar. They use snags to watch for flying insects, which they will catch on the wing, consuming them for needed protein. You can make a snag by removing leaves from a branch purposefully or you can purchase a commercial resting spot such as a Hummingbird Swing.  

 Hummingbird SwingsHang the feeder in a location that has some shade to help slow nectar spoilage. However, make sure the feeder stays visible to the birds as they fly over.  Using a sun and shade guard can provide both added visibility and protection for nectar.

Place the feeder out of the reach of cats and other potential predators.

How often should I change the nectar?

 Think of nectar as sweet tea. If the weather is cooler, 60 degrees, leaving the nectar for two or three days is acceptable. However, if you left a glass of sweet tea out on a day of 90 degree weather, it may spoil and you would not drink it. The same is true of nectar – changing in hot weather every day is best. Rinse your feeder with hot water and clean the feeding ports with a brush to make sure that you prevent a build-up of mold. 

How do I make nectar?

Commercial nectar should be free of red dye. The sugar used in boxed nectar is superfine and can easily be made with boiled water, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. For a home-made version, the ratio is four parts water to one part sugar (ex: one cup of water to ¼ cup sugar). Boil the water to rid it of chlorination and allow the sugar to dissolve easily. Pour it over the sugar and stir until dissolved. Once cooled off, fill your feeder and keep the rest in a nectar bottle in the refrigerator. Do not use dyes, brown sugar or honey.

Are there times of the year when I should make the nectar stronger?

The nectar that flowers produce is the same strength of sweetness throughout the year. Since what we put in our feeders mimics nature, keeping our 4:1 nectar recipe the same is recommended. This is also the same recommended strength for orioles.

What do hummingbirds need for nesting?

A hummingbird builds its nest with thistle or dandelion down held together with strands of spider silk and sometimes pine resin. The female stamps on the base of the nest to stiffen it, but the walls remain pliable. She shapes the rim of the nest by pressing and smoothing it between her neck and chest. The exterior of the nest is decorated (probably camouflaged) with bits of lichen and moss, held on with spider webs. The nest takes 6-10 days to finish and measures about 2 inches across and 1 inch deep. You can offer what a hummingbird needs by leaving spiders in your yard, not using pesticides, and by offering soft, downy material if you do not have it naturally. Commercial nesting material is available and can be extremely enjoyable for purposes of watching – see this great video of hummingbirds using Hummingbird Helper.

hummingbird helper

What if hummingbirds are not coming to the feeder?

Since hummingbirds must wake up and fuel immediately, check first thing (daybreak) in the morning if you want to see if the feeder is being visited. Make sure you are changing your nectar frequently – spoiled nectar will leave a bad taste in their mouths (literally)!

What do I do to keep flying insects out of the hummingbird feeder?
  • Clean the feeder inside and out. Don’t let sugar solution splash on the outside of the feeder as it is a further attractant to bees.
  • Fill the nectar level lower than usual so the bees can’t reach it through the ports in a tray-style feeder. Sometimes this is about half-way full.
  • Move the feeder even if it is a couple feet from the original location. When a bee “scout” finds the food, it tells the others exactly where to find the source of food. If the source is not in the same place, it will remain bee-free until another scout comes across it. The birds will not have an issue with it being moved.
  • A small bowl of higher concentration sugar water, like a 1:1, on the ground may ‘pull’ the bees to that source instead of the nectar feeder source.
  • Pure almond extract around the ports has anecdotally worked for folks in the past. It doesn’t seem to bother or harm the birds.
  • Check to see if there are any yellow parts on the feeder. Many popular hummingbird feeders have yellow feeder ports or decorations. Bees and wasps are attracted to the color yellow. Use bright red fingernail polish and paint over any yellow parts of the feeder. Apply several coats of nail polish, letting each dry before applying the next coat.
  • Place the feeder away from anything that is yellow in your yard. This includes yellow flowers, lawn ornaments or decorations. Again, the yellow color will attract the unwanted insects.
  • Use our bee guards, which prevent bees from actually entering the nectar ports. We also sell a liquid meant to keep ants from crawling up your feeder poles.

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Posted in Summer, Wild Bird Facts | Leave a comment |

Attracting Orioles to Your Yard

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Rosann Kovalcik

Graffius Oriole 3 small


In search of an adequate food supply to raise a family, thousands of Baltimore Orioles migrate from Central America to Michigan during springtime. What does it take to attract these vibrantly plumaged orange and black birds to our yard?

When the male arrives, he is in search of a territory that will provide the basics – food, water, shelter and places to raise young – those elements allow him to carry on his genetics, the sole purpose of migration.

 

Undoubtedly, you will hear Orioles before you see them. The male Baltimore Oriole’s song consists of a short series of paired notes, repeated 2–7 times, lasting 1–2 seconds. The pure, liquid, flute-like sounds have a full, rich tone. Once you accustom yourself to its song, you will be able to search for them visually.

Orioles can be found in open woodlands, woodland edges, and riparian woodlands and in our shade trees in suburban neighborhoods. They do not prefer deep forests.

Because of Orioles’ habit of feeding at treetop level, consummate birder Pete Dunne nicknamed them The Eastern Arboreal Oriole. So why the nickname? This is a bird that is wedded to dense leaf canopy. Males sing from exposed perches to warn other males of proclaimed territory. Both the male and female land on the tallest point of a tree before slipping into the dense canopy to begin foraging for insects. These include caterpillars that emerge to eat unfurling new growth on trees.

Oak trees in particular offer more diversity of caterpillars than any other tree in Southeast Michigan. While an oak may not mature to full size during your lifetime, planting it for its food value to birds is an investment in the future of birds. Orioles eat many pest species, including tent caterpillars, gypsy moth caterpillars, fall webworms, spiny elm caterpillars, and the larvae within plant galls. Larger caterpillars are a challenge for some birds, but the Oriole has many strategies for eating them. The birds’ beak is quite pointed and is used to slice through the exterior of a caterpillar, allowing it to eat the nutritional insides. Orioles often have a feeding limb, a favored place to feed, as can be attested to by dried caterpillar skins accumulated on the branch. Orioles eat other insects as well including beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, moths, and flies and non-insects including spiders, snails, and other small invertebrates.

Baltimore Orioles sometimes use their slender beaks to feed in an unusual way, called “gaping”: they stab the closed bill into soft fruits, and then open their mouths to cut a juicy swath from which they drink with their brushy-tipped tongues. Fruits that are especially attractive to Orioles are those that are dark in color. A variety of these plants can offer the high lipid fat that the birds need for fall migration – dogwoods, chokeberry, elderberry, and viburnums. Native plants grow native caterpillars in abundance and therefore, are the perfect choice when planning your bird-friendly yard.

Orioles also have an early spring feeding strategy– they drink from the wells of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. These woodpeckers create purposeful holes to encourage sap to run, which in turn attracts insects, an additional food source for the birds.

 

For a closer look at Orioles, you can place feeders in your yard that offer the same types of foods they find in the wild. Dark grape jelly can be offered in plastic and glass dishes, oranges can be placed on pronged feeders, and nectar feeders will round out the offerings.

Mealworms are another great food source to offer – the birds will take the worms back to their young as well as bring the young to the feeders once they are fledged. Your feeding station will be most successful if it is some distance away from other feeding stations. Your feeding station should be set up before the first week of May to attract the abundance of Orioles that migrate at that time. Once migration is over and the local birds have established their territory, you may find that the mated pair (or two if you are lucky) near your home can be very skittish at feeders. As a bonus, other birds will enjoy these offerings including House Finches, Cardinals and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

Female Orioles are responsible for the building of the nest that will hold their eggs and resultant young, usually four in number. Long strips of plant material are the backbone of their nest. Most frequently they use milkweed and dogbane, clipping the plant at the base just above where they are holding it firmly in their feet. Pulling up, they create strips that are then flown to the nest site and tied in place. Leave last years’ milkweed and dogbane standing into the spring so that these birds can utilize them, or clip it and add it to your nesting material basket. Elms were the favorite trees of Orioles for nest building before Dutch elm disease took its toll on them. Now, they favor maples, willows, poplars and oaks. Placed at the tip of branches, the sock-like structure has the advantage of being difficult for predators to reach.

 

The nest is a work of art, a suspended pouch woven as two separate walls. The female uses a shuttling motion to create the walls and then stitches the two halves together. The inside plant material can consist of dandelion fluff, the downy material from willows and poplars and short strips of grape bark. Natural materials can be placed in a suet basket and placed where you can enjoy these beauties helping themselves. Short strips of natural fibers (avoid polyester), hair, and string may be used by Orioles in nest construction. Fishing line and dryer lint are two materials not to be used. The fishing line is too thin and can easily entangle the bird. Dryer lint has materials that will hold moisture and would cool eggs and babies instead of keeping them warm as natural materials would. The female builds the nest over a period of about eight days. Nests are not reused, although some of the nesting material might be used in the new structure.

Graffius Oriole 2 small

Males keep a watchful eye on the female as she works, mating with her when she allows. Incubation is done by the female entirely, lasting a period of 12 to 14 days. Both parents feed the young for the next two weeks, during which time the naked hatchlings develop into fully feathered adult sized birds.

Now it is the male’s turn to take over as the young follow him for lessons on where to look for food. The female spends her time eating to regain the weight she lost and preparing herself for fall migration.

Orioles leave early back to their southerly home, our yards quieter without their songs as early as the end of August.

Oriole Father feeding baby

Well worth the effort to attract, Orioles make our time in the yard a special time indeed!

Thanks to Bill Creteau, John Graffius, Wayne Hoch and Randy Repicky for  sharing their photos

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Posted in Bird Feeding Solutions, Spring, Summer, Wild Bird Facts | Tags: baltimore oriole, Bird Feeding, birds, fun facts, orange, orioles, Spring, summer, wild birds unlimited | Leave a comment |

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