A Native Garden Attracts Many Migratory Birds

There are four requirements to attract wildlife to a garden: food, water, shelter, and a place to raise their young. Over the past few years we have added quite a few native plants to our garden. Some of them surround our small pond, making it not only a focal point in our backyard, but also a prime stopover location for migratory birds. Even though we have a bird bath, many birds seem to prefer running water to quench their thirst.
During the past few weeks we have spotted the following visitors in our garden: a male scarlet tanager, a Tennessee warbler, an immature male Cape May warbler, two yellow-rumped warblers, and probably a first-year white-crowned sparrow.

By adding water - be it a fountain or mister - you too might view some exciting migratory birds in your yard.

Measuring up the Gardening Year

This summer has been wetter than usual, at least until August arrived. Luckily, a native garden can cope with all kinds of weather conditions. And for dry spells we have a rain barrel that provides free water.
Every year we observe new kinds of insects in our certified wildlife habitat and we never cease to admire them. Needless to say, I find many photo objects in my own backyard. Bees - especially bumble bees - are drawn to purple coneflowers, common milkweed, Joe-pye weed, and blazing star.

Unfortunately, the milkweed did not attract any monarch butterflies this year. We had noticed fewer monarchs last year, but seeing not one of them this year is very distressing.
I plant few annuals, but have always had beautiful zinnias in our flower bed. This year, however, it has been a war of rabbits vs. me, and I'm afraid the rabbits won. I even put down a fence wrapped with landscape cloth, but it was no use. The salvias I planted in their stead are beautiful. I plan on planting them again next year.

Birding at Magee Marsh

Black-throated green warbler

American woodcock

 

We recently visited Magee Marsh in Ohio during the height of the warbler migration season. Warblers, however, are not the only birds you can see and hear in the marshes. I believe it should be called the red-winged blackbird capitol of the world because I have never seen so many blackbirds in my life. Their calls surrounded us from all directions. All in all, we spotted these birds at Magee and the Ottawa National Wildlife Reserve:

 

Red-winged blackbirds, great blue herons, great egrets, tree swallows, barn swallows, purple martins, yellow warblers, warbling vireos, palm warbler, black duck, common grackles, yellow-rumped warbler, black-throated green warbler, downy woodpecker, scarlet tanager, Baltimore oriole, common nighthawk, American woodcock, bay-breasted warbler, black-throated blue warbler, white-crowned sparrow, American robin, northern cardinal, trumpeter swan, bald eagles. Another awesome sighting was a huge snapping turtle on the wood floor making its way to the water.

The weather was gorgeous. I did not get to shoot as many photos as I liked since the warblers were often high in the trees, but I had a great time sighting the birds. Birders are most helpful pointing out birds that we would not have spotted on our own. Thank you all!



Bird baths are essential for winter birds

Bird baths and other water features attract many birds to a yard. We all know that water is essential for all creatures during the heat of summer, but birds also need water in winter. Keeping a bird bath ice-free is a challenge, so a couple of years ago we purchased a bird bath heater. It is a big draw. One frigid day recently, I spotted a squirrel (nothing keeps them away from yards), a Northern cardinal, and a Caroline wren drinking from the bird bath in quick succession.
Naturally, you'll need to check the water level regularly to make sure it doesn't dry out. It is also necessary to clean it on a regular basis. If this sounds like a lot of trouble, it is. But you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping birds survive.