How to grow and its growing habit: – Needs full to part sun. – Drier to average soil. Avoid wet soils or soils that do not drain well. Fertilizer is not needed and as one of the reasons to add this plant to your garden is to encourage Monarch Butterflies – who […]
When I think of plants that are native to many northern states – and thrive – I admit that a cactus never crosses my mind. But in many of our northern states, we do have a cactus that grows well – Prickly Pear Cactus. This genus of cactus (Opuntia) is native in many states east […]
Rattlesnake Master: – Full to part sun. – Well-drained soil is a must. Will tolerate drought. – 3-4 ft. tall and spread is 12-18”. – Blooms July and August. Greenish-white balls. – Self-seeds. Attractive brown seed heads. – No fertilizer is necessary. – Does not transplant well. – To deadhead, cut flower stalk to the […]
From https://www.thespruce.com: Pishing is a technique birders use in the field to get birds to come out more into the open in order to identify them. Catbirds are a good example of hidden birds as they are almost always within dense shrubs and often impossible to see. Pishing often draws them out to a more […]
Avian flu. Bird flu. Avian influenza. Three different names – all the same illness. And what is it? In simplest terms, it is a viral infection that spreads in birds, some other animals, and can spread to humans (right now, this is extremely rare). There is not just one ‘Avian Flu’, but many subtypes. In […]
Bird Feeders Bird feeders can be purchased from many stores, online, and you can make your own. Smaller feeders work well for smaller birds such as finches, chickadees, nuthatches and titmice. Larger feeders work well for medium-sized birds like grosbeaks and cardinals. Large table/platform feeders are generally good for all birds including the bigger ones […]
The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology – a Unit of Cornell University From their website: We believe in the power of birds to ignite and inspire action. Join us on a lifelong journey to enjoy, understand, and protect birds and the natural world. allaboutbirds.org My recommendation: Explore their online bird guide. Take time to access […]
I make this suet specifically for the feeder I have – not for suet feeders that hold blocks. I do have two of those feeders – one is already in place and you can see it on the bird feeder cam. We will put the second one up when the weather gets colder – probably […]
Beak or bill? Which is correct? Both are. When talking about birds, these words are synonyms. You can use either word for the structure around any bird’s mouth. However, what you might find is that many birders use the word ‘beak’ when talking about songbirds. Birds like robins, cardinals, Blue Jays, goldfinches. And it follows […]
What is albinism? What is leucism? From Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Albinism – exhibiting the traits of an albino. Albino – any creature who is congenitally (from birth) deficient in pigment and usually has a milky or translucent skin; white or colorless hair, fur, or feathers; and eyes with a pink or blue iris with a deep red […]