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“The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.” –Rachel Carson

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February 8, Top 10 Ways to Help Birds in Bad Weather

by Bill Thompson, III | Editor, Bird Watcher’s Digest

Wintertime, and the livin’ ain’t easy. Birds are hungry, and the snow’s piling high. We all know by now that birds can survive without our help in the winter. Some ornithologists have even suggested that bird feeding is more beneficial to us (humans) than it is to the birds. Be that as it may, studies have shown that birds with access to bird feeders in winter survive at a higher rate than birds without access to feeders. The difference between the haves and the have-nots is not huge, but it’s there. Feeding birds in winter, if done right, is a good thing for the birds (and for us, too).

10. Make sure seed is accessible and dry.  Hopper or tube feeders are good at protecting seed from wet weather, and they dole out food as it is eaten. Sweep snow off of platform feeders, or clear a place on the ground where you can scatter seed for ground-feeding species such as sparrows, towhees, juncos, and doves.

9. Make a windbreak.  A few winters ago we had a week of dry, blowing snow. The drifts were five feet deep, almost burying the feeders. We couldn’t possibly keep the feeders free of snow, so we switched tactics. We made a windbreak using our old Christmas tree, the remains of our brush pile, and two large pieces of plywood. We placed the tree on its side near the brush pile. The plywood pieces were wedged into the snow and the brush pile to serve as walls that drastically reduced the wind. Behind this contraption (on the sheltered side) we cleared the snow from a patch of ground and scattered seed. The birds swarmed to our new, wind-free spot. Which brings me to another good idea…

8. Keep extra feeders for use in bad weather.  We keep an extra-large-capacity tube feeder in the garage for use when nasty weather comes. It not only gives the birds another place to eat, which means more birds can eat at one time, but it also cuts down on our trips outside for refilling the feeders. Other extras to consider having: peanut feeder, suet feeder, satellite feeder (for the small birds to use), and a hopper feeder.

7. Scatter seed in sheltered places. Not all birds will venture to your feeder. Some species prefer to skulk in the thickets, brambles, and other secure places. For these species, consider scattering some seed (black-oil sunflower, sunflower bits, peanut bits, mixed seed) under your deck, in your hedges and bushes, or even along the edge of a wooded area. At our farm the eastern towhees, dark-eyed juncos, and Carolina wrens much prefer to feed on food scattered under our deck. Many of the tree sparrows and white-throated sparrows appreciate the seed we toss into the raspberry thicket on the edge of our woods.

6. Put out high-energy foods….such as suet, meat scraps, and peanut butter. Fat gives the biggest energy boost to winter birds, and without enough energy to keep them going, many songbirds would not survive a cold winter night. Suet (the fat removed from processed beef), meat scraps, and peanut butter all provide fat to birds that eat them. If you don’t have a suet feeder, use a mesh onion bag. Suspend it from a tree branch or iron feeder hook. To feed peanut butter, drill one-inch holes in a foot-long section of a small log. Insert a screw eye into one end of the log. Smear peanut butter into the holes and suspend the feeder from the screw eye. And, no, peanut butter will not stick to the roof of a bird’s bill and choke it to death.

5. Use a birdbath heater wisely.  A water heater can keep your birdbath open in the coldest of weather, which is good and bad. It’s good because birds need water to drink when it’s cold. If there’s snow, birds can use the snow for water. But if there’s no snow they may have no access to water.

There is some anecdotal evidence that birds will bathe in open water in very cold weather (below 0^o F), and the water may freeze on their feathers before it dries up. This can be very bad—even fatal—for birds. I suggest you place several large rocks in your bath so there is not enough room for a bird to bathe, but still plenty of places for a thirsty bird to get a drink. When the weather warms up you can remove the rocks and let your birds get on with their hygiene.

4. Offer mealworms in a heavy dish or small crock.  I’m a big mealworm fan, although I don’t eat them. The birds at our house appear for their mealworms every morning, especially in winter. Where else are they going to get live food when the ground is frozen? Use a heavy dish so the wind can’t blow the worms and dish away. We use a small dog dish made of glazed crockery. The worms can’t climb its slick sides.

3. Furnish your bird houses.  Imagine you’re a bird roosting in a nest box on a cold winter’s night. Wouldn’t it be nice to snuggle down into some dried grass or dry wood shavings in the bottom of the house? We usually layer three to four inches of clean dry meadow grass in the bottom of our bluebird boxes after the last nesting of the summer. Every one of our boxes is used as a roost site in the off-season. Wood shavings work well, too. Don’t use sawdust, however; it can retain moisture once wet, which does not help the birds keep warm.

Here’s another bird house tip…

2. Plug the air vent holes in your bird houses with removable weather stripping.We use the claylike weather stripping that comes in a roll (Moretite is one brand) to plug the air vent holes in our bird houses. Good ventilation is necessary on a scorching summer day, but it’s a real liability for birds seeking winter shelter. Think how cozy the birds will be in a well-sealed house.

1. Be ready for big changes in weather.  If you keep abreast of the weather developments you’ll know when bad weather is coming, and you’ll be able to stock up on seed, suet, and other goodies. You can also be ready to take on some of the activities listed above. Conversely, when the weather breaks, take advantage by cleaning and disinfecting your feeders (one part bleach to nine parts hot water). Whatever you do, don’t let yourself be caught totally unprepared for harsh winter weather. The birds don’t have to live off of your feeder largess, but it sure helps make the winter livin’ a little easier.

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January 28, Top Four Foods to Attract and Feed Woodpeckers (in the Winter)

excerpted from an article by Julie Zickefoose | Contributor, Bird Watcher’s Digest

Suet
Suet is number one on most woodpeckers’ list of preferred foods offered by humans. Suet is dense, hard, white beef fat. It can be offered raw in small chunks, but it is most conveniently purchased in square blocks, shaped to fit in metal cages or dispensers. Beware of commercial suet cakes that contain seeds in the shell and other filler. The shells of sunflower seeds that have been dropped into hot, liquid suet become soggy and unsuitable for birds. Suet cakes that contain mealworms, sunflower hearts, nut meats, and dried fruit—or plain suet—are fine. Commercial suet cakes are made of rendered (melted) suet, which has a longer shelf life than raw suet.

Peanuts
Bulk, raw, unsalted peanuts are a wonderful, fat-rich calorie source for birds year-round. Downy, hairy, and red-bellied woodpeckers find them irresistible, and lucky folks who have red-headed woodpeckers and sapsuckers at their feeders will see lots of action around the peanuts. Peanut feeders are cylinders of stainless steel square-mesh wire, capped by a heavy base and lid, and they’re perfect for clinging woodpeckers, as well as titmice, chickadees, and nuthatches. Taking the woodpeckers’ cue, jays, goldfinches, cardinals, nuthatches, siskins, and even chipping and field sparrows vie for space on the peanut feeders.

Sunflower Seed
Sunflower seed, that staple of feeding stations across North America, is accepted by a wide variety of woodpecker species, but perhaps most frequently by downy and red-bellied woodpeckers. Lacking the ability to crack seeds in their bills, like finches, or by hammering them between their toes, like jays and chickadees, woodpeckers are forced to take seeds to a nearby crevice, wedge them in, and pound them open. This can be a time-consuming proposition for a woodpecker. Hulled sunflower seeds, although expensive, are readily accepted by woodpeckers, as well as any other bird that likes seed. Failing that, most woodpeckers gladly switch to suet and peanuts as soon as they are offered.

Fruit and Nectar
Woodpeckers readily eat fruits and drink nectar from flowers and feeders. Halved sections of any citrus fruit or melon are eagerly eaten by woodpeckers, especially in southern locales. Grapes, raisins, apples, bananas, and other fruits will also be consumed. These may be offered on a platform or from a hardware cloth suet feeder. To make it easier for woodpeckers to get at nectar, offer it in a shallow dish on a platform feeder.

A Note on Woodpecker Feeders
Being adaptable, agile birds, woodpeckers are not picky about the types of feeders they accept; in fact, they’re able to negotiate just about any type, from globe to tube, platform to hopper. They feel most comfortable, however, if they’re able to cling vertically to the feeder; hence you will see them selecting food from cylindrical feeders, or those that are affixed to upright supports, such as posts or trees. Some suet feeders are designed with tail props to accommodate woodpeckers’ stiff, supporting tail feathers, and such feeders are especially attractive to pileateds. The need for keeping our suet feeder away from the reaching fingers of raccoons has forced us to suspend it from a thin, cast-iron shepherd’s crook in the middle of our lawn; it swings freely, and would seem to be a tough place to perch, but downy, hairy, and red-bellied woodpeckers fly right to it, merrily swinging and twirling as they fill their crops with fat.

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December 10, Western Monarch Near Extinction

While the Monarch butterflies of the east and central United States famously migrate to Mexico, did you know that there is a separate west coast population that migrates to points south in California? Like the eastern population, the western has been suffering declines in population. Scientists estimate that between three and 10 million monarchs overwintered in California in the 1980s; in the late 1990s volunteers counted millions of them; more recently they counted 192,624 in 2017 and 298,464 in 2016.Two years ago, when volunteers counted only 27,212 monarch butterflies in the Xerces Society’s annual Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count, it meant the butterflies had crossed a threshold identified by scientists as the point past which western migratory monarchs were likely to become extinct.

Still, after holding steady through 2019, the numbers trickling out of the count so far this fall have stunned even scientists who expected the worst. A week after Thanksgiving, with more than half of monitored overwintering sites — including all the largest ones — reporting their numbers, the 2020 count is below 2,000 butterflies. The number represents an astonishing continuation of the near-total collapse of the western migratory population of the species over the last few decades. See the link below to read more and be aware that our Monarchs are vulnerable too.

https://baynature.org/2020/12/04/with-fewer-than-2000-butterflies-counted-western-monarch-takes-an-astonishing-step-closer-to-extinction/

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December 4,  Chief Quiet Thunder

“The Earth is our Mother, and we all have a sacred obligation to learn to live in harmony with her and protect her for future generations.” — Chief Quiet Thunder (1934–2020)

Water Research Center in Chester County honors and mourns the passing of Chief Richard Quiet Thunder Gilbert, late Native American elder from Woodbury, New Jersey, and tribal chief of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape tribe. For more than three decades, Chief Quiet Thunder inspired thousands of students and adults in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and southern New Jersey, including oral storytelling presentations at the annual Brandywine Watershed Discovery Day Camp led by the Coatesville Youth Initiative and the Stroud Center.

Often surrounded by hundreds of handcrafted cultural items, this “peaceful warrior” captivated audiences with authentic presentations, interactive music-making, the enduring wisdom of the Lenni-Lenape, and a profound passion for the Earth. His voice, like his name, harbored restrained power that left learners spellbound. And just as thunder accompanies lightning, the chief’s words brought essential light to our understanding of native Lenni-Lenape peoples.

His 86 years on the planet included two books co-authored with Greg Vizzi: The Original People: The Ancient Culture and Wisdom of the Lenni-Lanape People, now published and available for purchase, and The Seventh Generation: Quiet Thunder Speaks, which is coming soon.

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November 19, A tiny owl hitched a ride on the Rockefeller Christmas tree

Source: Scottie Andrews, CNN.com

The reaction to the Rockefeller Christmas tree’s reveal this week was … less than enthusiastic. But its scrawny exterior hid a very small, very cute winged stowaway.  A petite Saw-whet owl that had hitched a ride inside the soon-to-be Christmas tree when it was cut down in Oneonta, New York, this week.

The owl, nicknamed “Rockefeller,” is recovering at a wildlife facility about two hours from 30 Rock.  Rockefeller was discovered during tree transport, according to Ravensbeard Wildlife Center. The wife of an employee for the company that gets the tree to Manhattan called the center to report a “baby owl” in need of help.

But Rockefeller is no baby. Saw-whet owls are the smallest species of owl in the region — about the size of a soda can, according to Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology.  Losing his home while he was in it was relatively distressing for Rockefeller, so since arriving at Ravensbeard on Tuesday, he’s been gorging on mice and catching up on some much-needed R&R.

“So far so good,” the center wrote on Facebook. “His eyes are bright and seems relatively in good condition with all he’s been through.”  When he’s ready to fly again, Rockefeller will be released on the grounds of Ravensbeard, the center said, where he’ll have acres of trees in which to make a new home. Saw-whet owls are migratory, which makes them quite capable of adapting to new places.

As for the withered tree, it still needs to be lit, decorated and spruced up before its debut on December 2, Rockefeller Center said. And if it was good enough for the bird, it should make a fine Christmas tree, too.

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October 9, THUD! It’s a sound we hate to hear but is all too common: A songbird has hit a window. How can you help it?

Excerpted and adapted from Birders Digest

Your immediate goal is to keep it safe and reduce its level of stress without causing further harm. The best way to do that is to put it into a secure, dimly lit container. If the bird is lying in a reasonably safe place, go find a paper bag slightly larger than the bird. A lunch bag or a paper grocery bag is fine. If you need to move the bird immediately to keep it safe (from pedestrians, cats, traffic, etc.), pick it up as gently as possible with your hands. Hold it securely and well supported without squeezing it, or gently place it out of harm’s way (outdoors) while you go find that bag.
        (Warning: While a stunned bird won’t bite, an alert injured bird might! These instructions are for an unconscious or groggy bird.)
Gently place the bird in the bag, fold the top over, and secure with a clip. This makes a secure container in which the bird cannot hurt itself.  During hot weather, place the bag in a shaded spot where it will not overheat, or, if the outdoor temperature is frigid, place the container in the sun, but make sure the bird is in a dim or dark space and does not overheat. Check on the bird every 15 minutes or so by listening for movement. Don’t unclip the bag if you take it indoors; it might escape the bag and get trapped in your house!

When you hear the bird scratching about, it should it be ready for release. Slowly and gently turn the bag onto its side and unclip the top so the bird can walk, hop, or fly out when it is ready. (It might be difficult for a bird to fly straight up to exit a tall, upright bag.) It could take the bird an hour or more to recover from a hard strike. Give it time. Do not offer the bird food or water as it is recovering, and don’t try to force-feed it.

If the bird is alive but has visible injuries such as a broken leg or wing, open wounds, or injuries to its eyes or bill, it will need to be taken to a wildlife rehabilitator as quickly as possible. Below is a list of local wildlife rehabilitators:

Philadelphia Metro Wildlife: https://www.phillywildlife.org/
The Schuylkill Center: http://www.schuylkillcenter.org/departments/wildlife
Diamond Rock Wildlife: http://www.diamondrockwildlife.org/

Don’t be surprised if the bird doesn’t make it. Internal injuries are usually invisible, and birds sometimes die from trauma alone.

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October 1, Why Bats Matter!

October is for bats and the celebration ends in Bat Week at the end of the month (October 24 – 31). The following is from Bat Conservation International:

Humans need bats. Worldwide, there are more than 1,400 species of bats—that’s almost 20 percent of all mammal species. Bats live almost everywhere on Earth except the most extreme desert and polar regions. So, no matter where you live, it is almost certain that there are bats living near you. Bats are amazing animals that are vital to the health of our environment and economy. Although we may not always see them, bats are hard at work all around the world each night. Most bats in North America eat insects, including moths, beetles, aquatic insects, and flies. A single bat can eat up to its body weight in insects each night. Eating all these insects helps protect our food crops and forests from insect pests, saving farmers and forest managers billions of dollars each year.
Consider these fascinating bat facts:

• Bats come in all shapes and sizes, from the tiny, adorable bumblebee bat that weighs less than a penny to the big, beautiful flying foxes that can have a wingspan of up to six feet.
• Bats are the only mammal that can truly fly (although some other mammals “glide”). A bat’s wing is actually a modified hand—similar to yours.
• Contrary to popular belief, bats actually have good eyesight (similar to that of humans), but for most species, their main technique for navigating or locating prey is using echolocation (not all species echolocate!): emitting very high- pitched sounds that bounce off obstacles in their path, like trees, other bats, buildings, and food. main target—delicious insects. Not all bats that echolocate are insectivores!
• Bats eat lots of different things. Although almost 70% of bat species feed primarily on insects, some bats are carnivorous, eating meat like rodents, frogs, and fish. Only three species of bats feed on animal blood, with two of these species specializing on bird blood. Many other bats eat pollen, nectar or fruit—these bats are vital for pollinating flowers and spreading seeds that grow new plants and trees.

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September 22, Monarchs on the Move!

From Natural Lands 9-18-2020

Monarchs make the longest migration of any insect; some generations travel thousands of miles. This month is peak fall monarch migration in our region, with the last generation that has emerged from chrysalises now fluttering south. The monarchs who return in the spring will be a new generation, and the cycle will continue.

In recent years the monarch populations have declined due to climate change and habitat loss. Monarchs only lay their eggs on milkweed plants, which grow in open meadows. As land is turned into developments and shopping centers, milkweed is less abundant.

While milkweed plants have all gone to seed at this point in the season, it will be back in bloom next year to feed hungry monarchs returning from their winter migration.

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August 20, An overlooked threat to the honey bee: Air pollution

By Emily Pontecorvo on Aug 11, 2020

It’s no secret that living near a highway, a power plant, or some other source of air pollution can slowly kill you. Health impacts related to the toxic emissions spewing from these places — especially the tinier particles that enter deep into the lungs — are well documented: asthma, heart disease, pregnancy complications, and lower life expectancies make up a non-exhaustive list. But surprisingly, much less is known about how the same pollutants affect the critters fluttering around us, breathing the very same air.

A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday presents some of the earliest research showing that pollution is bad news for our pollinators, too. Scientists in India studying the Giant Asian honey bee, a wild species native to Southeast Asia, found that bees in heavily polluted areas did not visit flowers as frequently, had negative circulatory responses, and died more quickly in captivity than those found in less polluted or rural areas.

“It’s really interesting because it calls attention to another type of bee stress that maybe we are not considering as much,” said Adam Dolezal, an insect physiologist at the University of Illinois who studies the effects of pesticides and pathogens on honey bees, and was not involved in the research on pollution. “I think it’s, unfortunately, just one more on a long litany of things that are bad for wild insects.”

The findings do not bode well for India’s economy and food security. The country is host to nine of the world’s 10 most polluted cities, and is one of the largest fruit and vegetable producers in the world. The Giant Asian honey bee is an important species that produces more than 80 percent of India’s honey and pollinates hundreds of its plant species, including important crops like mangoes and cotton. It also has a unique lifestyle — colonies migrate long distances repeatedly throughout the year, spending time in both cities and rural areas — which made it a good candidate for the study.

Scientists from the National Centre for Biological Sciences in Bangalore, India, chose three sites within the city with varying levels of pollution, and one rural site, to study how the smoke, soot, and dust in the air were impacting the bees’ health and pollination activity. Looking at affected specimens under a microscope, they could clearly see that the bees from more polluted areas were covered in gunk.

To understand how that gunk might be affecting behavior in the field, the researchers spent 20 days at each site, staring at the blossoms of yellow bells, a common ornamental flower, and counting the number of bees that came to visit. Although there were fewer flowers in general at the rural site, they experienced much heavier traffic than the more abundant blossoms in the polluted area — up to five visits per flower versus just one or two.
When the researchers brought bees back to the lab to see how long they would survive, more than 80 percent of the ones collected from the polluted sites died within 24 hours, and the rest died on the second day. Most of the bees from the rural and less polluted areas survived for more than four days.

The scientists also gave bees collected from the different sites a physical, of sorts, and found that the bees exposed to the most pollution had irregular heartbeats and lower blood cell counts. An analysis of gene expression showed their immune and stress responses were also turned on.
“All the results were more shocking and depressing than surprising,” Geetha Thimmegowda, the lead author, told Grist. Thimmegowda was surprised, however, by one finding: Although air pollution is most associated with respiratory problems in humans, it did not seem to impair the bees’ breathing. To measure this, the researchers sealed bees in a respirometer, a device used to measure the carbon dioxide produced from breathing, for an hour. All of the bees showed similar results.

Shannon Olsson, a chemical ecologist whose lab conducted the study, said that could have been due to a lack of sensitivity in their methodology. “However, another possibility is that the respiratory system of bees and other insects is entirely different than that of humans,” she said.
In addition to studying the wild honey bees, the researchers reproduced the study using lab-reared fruit flies in order to control for factors like age, diet, and physiological differences. They found nearly identical results after keeping the flies in cages at the lowest and highest-polluted sites for 10 days at a time.

“That’s another really important part of this,” said Dolezal. “This isn’t just a bee story. They saw it in bees, but the effects they saw are almost certainly occuring in other insect species as well.”
Thimmegowda said that more research into how air pollution is impacting wild plant and animal systems is urgently needed to better inform international air quality guidelines. Next, she plans to dig deeper into the composition of air pollution to determine what, exactly, is causing the effects she discovered in the bees and flies.

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August 16, Bees and Wasps at Nectar Feeders

by Dawn Hewitt | Editor, Bird Watcher’s Digest

Just like hummingbirds, bees, wasps, yellow jackets, and other stinging things love sugar water. In late summer, they can swarm a nectar feeder, deterring or even driving off hummingbirds. What to do?

First of all, keep the exterior of your nectar feeder clean. Depending upon the design of the feeder, bees might be feeding from drips and spills rather than from the feeding ports. Rinse or gently spray your full feeder with plain water immediately after you hang it, and occasionally between refills. If the outside of your feeder is sweet and sticky, it will draw bees.
Some nectar feeders are designed with removable (washable) plastic bee guards. Bee guards are usually red or yellow plastic mesh devices that fit over drinking ports. They don’t prevent bees from getting to the nectar, but they make it difficult.
Here’s another approach. Fill a jar lid with the same sugar-water solution you use to fill your nectar feeder, and place it below or within a few feet of your nectar feeder. Bees can more easily drink from a jar lid than from any hummingbird feeder, and will prefer to use it. Every night, when the bees are not using the jar lid, move it a few feet farther from your hummingbird feeder. Use the jar lid to attract the bees away from the feeder. Obviously, don’t move the bees to a place where children or pets play!
Here’s what NOT to do: Use pesticides to kill bees. Along with wasps and yellow jackets, honeybees are frequent visitors to hummingbird feeders. They are an important pollinator whose numbers are on the decline. Please do not use pesticides to kill bees—ever. It’s also not a good idea to use toxins anywhere near hummingbirds.
These methods aren’t fool proof, but should reduce the problem. Good luck!

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August 15, My Way: Birdbath Tips

by Julie Zickefoose | Contributor, Bird Watcher’s Digest

Keep your birdbath clean. It’s a simple adage, oft repeated, but there are reasons to be scrupulous that go beyond hygiene and aesthetics. Of course, the birds’ health comes first. If we’re going to provide water, we owe it to them to give the bath a good scrubbing when droppings and algae foul the water. Bird droppings contain nitrogen, which is algae fuel, so the quicker we get rid of them, the cleaner our bath will stay.

I’m often asked how to clean a birdbath. People have heard that a drop of bleach in the water will prevent algae growth. Well, maybe. Thanks probably to my German heritage, I’m more of a scorched-earth practitioner. The Bird Spa, a birdbath with a recirculating fountain, gets slimy every three days in summer. I drain the reservoir and bowl and sprinkle Comet sink cleanser liberally over the bowl, letting it sit for a moment while I clean and refill the eight-gallon lower reservoir. I then use a stiff scrub brush, going over every surface twice, and rinse the bowl thoroughly before reassembling the spa and refilling the reservoir. Yes, I do this every three days. It’s a lot of work, and I’ve yet to see a show of hands from volunteers when I announce—rhetorically, of course—that the Bird Spa is slimy again.

I like things to be clean. But I do it for the birds. This may sound like a scene from Snow White, but when I march into the yard with my Comet and scrub brush, and move to uncoil the nearby hose, a little cheer rises up from the goldfinches who mob the bath. Cardinals stand at attention. Bluebirds call softly and fly closer. Titmice high-five each other. Two by two, birds stack up in the branches of the birches, which lean gracefully around the Bird Spa. Their twittering sounds joyful, anticipatory as they watch me at my labors. I’ll look up, talk to them, and laugh. And when I’ve rinsed the bowl one last time and restarted the burbling fountain, sending clean water splashing, they don’t hesitate. Before I make it to the front door, the spa is ringed with birds that are jostling to be the first to bathe. I retreat to the studio, camera at the ready, because the best birds come to a clean bath. So keep your birdbath clean, for the birds and for you.
This article appeared in the July/August 2013 issue of Bird Watcher’s Digest.

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July 11, Spotted Lanternfly,

Greeting members. Just when you thought you had heard the last of the Spotted Lanternfly, the information below comes from the West Chester Bird Club. Hope the links are informative and useful . Wilbur B. Amand, VMD (Acting President/HMNG).

Date: July 11, 2020 at 1:35:26 PM EDT

Spotted Lanternflies have been appearing in great numbers lately, and many people are searching for ways to eliminate them. One of the earlier suggestions was a form of sticky tape that works, but that also can kill birds, lizards, squirrels, etc. Below are two links where you can get information on the problem with sticky tapes in the first link, and possible alternate solutions in the second link.

Birds can get trapped in lanternfly sticky tape

Trap Lanternflies w/o sticky tape

John Mercer
West Chester Bird Club, Treasurer

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June 17, Finding dead bumblebees

Bumblebee nests grow throughout the season, and produce new males and queens at the end of their life-cycle. Throughout the life of the nest a large number of worker bees help the nest to grow by collecting nectar and pollen – these make up most of the bees that you see out and about in summer. These workers only live for a few weeks, and then sadly die. It’s therefore quite normal to see a small number of dead bees in the garden. So long as you are still seeing live bees in the area, then it’s unlikely to be something new that we should be worrying about.

The reason why dead bees are often found in gardens and near nest sites is simply because that’s where they’ve been living and working. When bees are close to death, they often cling to flowers and look quite lethargic. When they do die, they then drop off the flowers, and you may find a number of these in your gardens, especially near the most bee-friendly plants. Also, you may find dead bees and larvae near nest entrances, this is because dead and dying bees are removed from the nest so that disease does not spread.

May 29, Fire Fly

Hi All. I trust that you all have been enjoying the brilliant weather of the past few days. Hopefully there are more to come. As we approach Summer and warm nights, we expect to see the flickers of light flying about our lawns — the Fire Fly. I have attached some information that you might find of interest. In the meantime enjoy nature and the outdoors but please stay safe.
Wilbur B. Amand, VMD (Acting President/HMNG)

Links

FireFly Official Insect of Pennsylvania

Firefly-brochure

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May 23, World Turtle Day 2020

The purpose of World Turtle Day, May 23, sponsored yearly since 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue, is to bring attention to, and increase knowledge of and respect for, turtles and tortoises, and encourage human action to help them survive and thrive.
World Turtle Day is celebrated around the globe in a variety of ways, from dressing up as turtles or wearing green summer dresses, to saving turtles caught on highways, to research activities. Turtle Day lesson plans and craft projects encourage teaching about turtles in classrooms.
American Tortoise Rescue, a nonprofit organization established in 1990 for the protection of all species of tortoise and turtle, is sponsoring its 20th annual World Turtle Day® on May 23. The day was created as an annual observance to help people celebrate and protect turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats around the world.

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Hi All.

Hope all are well and able to get outside for a bit of sunshine and fresh air. Warmer temperatures would surely be appreciated.

Thought you might like to know that Purple Martins, Tree Swallows and even a few Barn Swallows can be found flying over the Lagoon next to the Community Gardens.  Alan Soldwisch, one of the Community Gardeners, has a Purple Martin house (apartment) down by his patch in the Gardens and he has noticed a few PM investigating his house. He will also talk with other gardeners and find out what birds are using their nest boxes.

Saw several cormorants on the #9 pond yesterday.

And finally, the highlight of my day — observed a male bluebird aggressively take on a gray squirrel that ventured to close to the nest box it was guarding. Bluebird was the winner!!

Wilbur

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March 30,2020

Hello All!!

Hope this note finds you well and weathering the COVID-19 storm.

We have just been advised by the Documents Review Committee that the HMMHOA has approved the final draft of the HM Nature Group Bylaws that were submitted for review/approval on March 24, 2020. We are not “legal.”

Although we have had to cancel/postpone a number of the early Spring events that we had planned as a 2020 kick-off for our Group. When conditions permit, we hope to reschedule some of these events. In the meantime, about 20 members of the HM Nature Group will commence our 2020 Bird Nest Box Monitoring Program.

Stay physically isolated to the extent possible, follow the federal/state/local public health advice regarding COVID-19, and above all stay well.

Wilbur Amand, VMD, Acting President HMNG.

⇦ Return to Nature Main Page

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“Endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.” –Charles Darwin

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August 19, 2023: What was that white bird? Albino vs. Leucistic Birds

In late June, a Yardley resident noticed a “white” bird at her bird feeder, took some photos and sent them to us asking “Is this a white house finch?” This seemed to be a random observation as the bird has not been seen since the original sighting.

But what was this “white” bird? Birds with “abnormal” plumage are quite rare and both leucism and albinism are easily recognized and more commonly reported. The condition has been estimated to occur roughly in 1 in 30,000 birds. Further, of 100 birds that show this abnormal plumage, 82 are leucistic and only 3 are albinistic. In a recent survey, blackbirds (such as crows) and house sparrows seemed to demonstrate a high frequency of abnormal plumage, but it has also been seen in cardinals, white-throated sparrows, purple finches, and even hummingbirds.

Telling the difference between an albino bird and a leucistic bird is not always easy. Genes determine true albino birds. A bird is a true albino if all its feathers are white or pale as well as its feet, legs, and bill. But the tell-tale trait is the pale pink or red eye color. However, birds with pale feathers but normal-colored eyes have a condition known as leucism. Unlike albino birds, which completely lack the natural melanin pigment, leucistic birds produce melanin but can’t deposit it into their feathers and they tend to have normally colored legs, feet, bills, and eyes.

SO, what was this “white” bird seen in Yardley? Based on the description and photos, I believe this was an albino house finch although the eyes in the photo appear black and not the expected pale pink or red color.
Be on the lookout for strange or unusual bird/wildlife sightings. Take photos if possible. And do let us know what you have found.

And above all, Be Respectful of Nature!!

Wilbur B. Amand, VMD

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August 7, 2023: Ladybugs: The Gardener’s Best Friend

Who has not seen that small red-winged insect with numerous black spots? And who does not remember the Mother Goose rhyme:

Ladybug, ladybug fly away home,
Your house is on fire and your children are gone,
All except one,
And her name is Ann,
And she hid under the baking pan.

For most of us, when we think of ladybugs (or more correctly lady beetles), we think of the small red insect with black spots. But some are yellow with black spots or even black and white or dark blue and orange. There are approximately 5,000 different species of ladybugs of which 450 live in North America. Some species use camouflage coloration to match the vegetation when they are in hibernation and later develop the characteristic bright colors to warn off predators during their mating season. In our area, the most common ladybug is the 7-spotted ladybug. (Also, of note is that the ladybug is the state bug of our neighbor state, Delaware.)

Ladybugs are considered a gardener’s (and farmer’s) best friend as they are beneficial predators of plant pests. They feed on soft-bodied insects such as scale insects, whiteflies, mites, and aphids. This makes them valuable allies for gardeners and farmers and significantly reduces the need for chemical pesticides which harms the environment and potentially contaminates soil and water sources. Beyond their pest control abilities, ladybugs also serve as essential biodiversity indicators. Be aware that there is a similar-looking insect, the squash beetle (a type of ladybug). This is a yellow or orange beetle with seven large black spots on each wing covering.

Ladybug populations appear to be facing population declines. Climate change, pollution, and habitat loss all contribute to this decline. Climate factors (such as rising temperatures and heat waves) and changes in landscape composition effects ladybug habitat, while pesticide use further threatens their numbers. Ladybugs, the tiny yet mighty beetles, deserve our attention and protection. Conserving ladybugs starts with individual actions such as restoring their habitats and avoiding the unnecessary use of harmful pesticides.

Remember: Be Respectful of Nature!

Wilbur B. Amand, VMD

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June 25, 2023: Jewels of Summer Nights

As we enter the summer season, thoughts go to warm summer days and those mysterious insects that suddenly appear at dusk or early evening. Fireflies (aka lightning bugs/glow worms) are really not flies but beetles. The glow is the result of a chemical reaction that occurs in photocytes in the insect’s abdomen. The main purpose of the light show is to attract a mate. Males flash their light very quickly as this is what attracts females. The fireflies’ light can also serve as a warning to predators.

And did you know that the firefly was adopted as the official insect of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in April 1974? There are about 134 different species of fireflies illuminating our summer nights. Fireflies are carnivorous, spending most of their lives as larvae and feeding on soft-bodied invertebrates (slugs, earthworms, etc.). Practices that affect firefly prey can diminish firefly food sources and in turn, harm their populations.

So, what can we do to enhance, and create supportive habitat for fireflies and protect the species from extinction? The Xerces Society recommends the following:

• Avoid pesticide use.
• Set aside some natural areas that provide important habitat.
• Plant native grasses, shrubs, and trees of varying heights.
• Provide/enhance moisture availability.
• Eliminate unnecessary lighting that is distracting to fireflies.

Enjoy and respect nature. See how many of these jewels of the night you can see this summer!

Wilbur B. Amand, VMD

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June 13, 2023: From A Patient Gardener

Look what I did! It took months, as these Anemone virginiana (Thimbleweed) seeds don’t germinate quickly like marigolds or zinnias.  The seeds came from our Native Plant Garden. I “winter sowed” them in January in a milk jug after watching a YouTube video to learn how. And they grew!  I am keeping them in my little seedling nursery until fall when they will go into the native plant garden behind my garage.

 

Did you sow seeds from an NPG packet? Email us at hersheysmillnature@gmail.com and show us what you grew!

 

 

Barbara Crispin

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March 29, 2023: Special Treats for Bluebirds

Hershey’s Mill Nature Group has kicked off the 2023 Nest Box Monitoring season. Approximately 15 volunteers have signed up to oversee the 110 nest boxes installed around the HM campus. We have been inspecting and repairing or replacing those boxes.

We often get questions about feeding mealworms to Bluebirds. We have been advised by our past chair, Wilbur Amand, DVM, that it is not a good idea to do so on a regular basis.

The North American Bluebird Society also offers the following note of caution regarding feeding mealworms: “Because they do not provide complete nutrition, mealworms should be used as a supplemental food only. They are calcium-depleting, which can leave young birds with weak bones or cause egg binding in laying birds. Feeding mealworms should be considered a “treat” much like candy for us.”

Eggshells can be an excellent substitute. During the nesting season, female Bluebirds need extra calcium to produce eggs. That’s why eggshells could be what they actually require! You can save the shells in your freezer until you’ve accumulated 6 or 8. Once you have enough, place them on a baking sheet and dry them in the oven for 15 minutes at about 250 degrees. You can then crumble them and place them in a dish. (I use a pie plate.) If you like, mix in just a few mealworms and the Bluebirds will love it.

Happy Blue Birding!

Jado Foot

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March 2, 2023: Red-headed Woodpecker

It was suggested that I post a picture of a Red-headed Woodpecker to compare with the recent Spotlight article on Red-bellied Woodpeckers. A very unusual visitor to our area, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology describes the adult as having a bright-red head, white underparts, and a black back with large white patches in the wings, making the lower back appear all white when perched.

The Red-headed Woodpecker is one of only four North American woodpeckers known to store food, and it is the only one known to cover the stored food with wood or bark. It hides insects and seeds in cracks in wood, under bark, in fenceposts, and under roof shingles. Grasshoppers are regularly stored alive, but wedged into crevices so tightly that they cannot escape.

Several sightings in Hershey’s Mill have been reported. If you are lucky enough to see one, please try to get a photo and report the sighting to the Nature Group so we can have a record. We submit all our monthly bird sightings into eBird for Cornell.

Happy birding!
Jado Foot

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February 28, 2023:  Red-headed or Red-bellied?

A lot of confusion exists when trying to identify our woodpeckers. A common woodpecker who may visit your feeder is a Red-bellied. While they do have red heads, if you look closely you can see a red wash on their bellies. The males are more brightly colored and have red on the top of their heads and down the back of their necks.

Female Red-bellied Woodpeckers only have red on the back of the neck and not on the top and front of the head.

Though this bird mainly eats insects, spiders, and other arthropods, it eats plenty of plant material, too. In particular, they eat acorns, nuts, and pine cones, as well as seeds extracted from annual and perennial plants and (particularly in fall and winter) fruits ranging from grapes and hackberries to oranges and mangoes. Red-bellieds will also occasionally eat lizards, nestling birds, and even minnows. And of course, they love the suet cakes that we provide!

Happy Birding!
Jado Foot

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January 15, 2023:  A Nice Surprise!

It’s been a while since I’ve been out checking on the wintering birds.  We have a Great Blue Heron frequenting the Number #9 pond, and a Red-Tailed Hawk often visits the community garden area.  Many of you have seen the hawk and have had occasion to snap a photo like the one here.

However, one of the best additions to the Native Plant Garden was put in place on Thursday.  Thanks to the hard work of HM Residents Sam and Barb Crispin, we now have two substantial picnic tables located in the Garden Area.

I hope many of you will take a walk to the end of the garden area and join with friends and family to enjoy a nice lunch, or just make use of a wonderful place to gather.

Sam plans to cut holes in the tops so that umbrellas can provide shade in the summer.  We will be able to have speakers and activities there as well as welcome visitors to stop and stay awhile.  There is a suggestion to add signage that says “pack it in/pack it out” so folks understand that there is no trash can and they must keep the area tidy.

 

Happy New Year to All and Happy Birding!

Jado Foot

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October 11, 2022: Painted Turtles

The Painted Turtle is the most widespread native turtle in North America. These turtles have long, oval, smooth shells with little grooves where the large scale-like plates overlap, and a flat bottom. Painted turtles have very distinctive heads. The face has only yellow stripes, with a large yellow spot and streak behind each eye, and on the chin two wide yellow stripes that meet at the tip of the jaw. Painted Turtles mate in spring and autumn. Females dig nests on land and lay eggs  between late spring and mid-summer. I was lucky enough to find a female very near my deck, where I watched her dig her nest and lay five eggs.

While my camera clicked away, she covered the nest with mud and grasses. After she completed the whole process, she took off at a fast pace and headed toward the lagoon. My neighbor and I stared in amazement as she disappeared into the water.

All of this happened on June 8th. Throughout the summer I would check out the nest. The grass was mowed often, and several foxes passed through the area regularly. It was hard to tell if something was going on down under.

On September 23rd, I notice a ball of mud over the nest area. I moved it away and sure enough—there was a baby turtle with its eyes open ready to crawl out. I could see another one and lots of eggshells. My camera was again clicking away. The first turtle headed into the grass, a second was slowly moving, and I thought I could see another one. Darkness set in. The next morning, I checked and there was still a third turtle working its way out. And finally, on Sunday Morning, the last picture I took was of an empty hole. I feel truly blessed to have witnessed the whole process!

Since the videos are best viewed at a larger size, click this link to access them.  Nature Videos and Articles

Happy Turtle-ing!
Jado Foot

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October 1, 2022: Bald Eagles

Every now and then I’ll see a Bald Eagle in flight here at the Mill. The Bald Eagle is a large, powerful bird that has been the national symbol of the United States since 1782 when it was first placed with outspread wings on the country’s Great Seal as a sign of strength. Bald Eagles don’t actually have bare heads. Their name is derived from the old English word “Balde,” which means white—a nod to the snowy-white feathers that cover their heads and tails.

I hope some of you will join us on the Nature Group’s bus trip to observe Bald Eagles at the Conowingo Dam in Maryland. Information about the trip is listed in the October Guide and Digest and in the Bus Trip section of hersheysmill.org. We leave at 11 am on November 17, 2022. It will be an interesting day of bird watching and experiencing the Dam.

Please contact Jayne Lytle at 610-692-2245. Trip payment checks should be made payable to “Hershey’s Mill HOA” sealed in an envelope (noting trip name and date) and placed in the maroon “Customer Service” mailbox next to the Security Center in the exit lane of the Main Gate.

Happy Birding!
Jado Foot

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September 24, 2022: Goldenrod

Goldenrod on the lagoon berm has finally burst into splendid bloom. This abundance of flowers is providing late-season pollen and nectar to native bees and other pollinators—but that isn’t all. Solidago is the top-ranked genus for hosting caterpillars that are food for resident and migrant birds. After the bloom is gone, the seeds are sustenance for winter birds as well as for the voles and mice that hawks, owls, and foxes depend on. Goldenrod roots not only prevent erosion, but their structure uniquely provides for the build-up of topsoil and encourages infiltration rather than rainwater runoff.  And no, goldenrod does not cause hay fever—ragweed does–see this illustration that demonstrates their differences.

Enjoy the display!

Christine McCormick

 

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September 4, 2022: Monarch Chrysalis Watch!

The Native Plant Garden is proud to announce that we are on Monarch Chrysalis Watch! This little caterpillar is one of several discovered on the milkweed behind the fenced community gardens.

We have been waiting all season for monarchs to decide our milkweed patch looked like a good place to raise their family. Now they are here! We will be tracking their development and hoping to see a chrysalis or two before long.

Would you like to participate in the Monarch Watch in the future? Plant a variety of milkweed suitable for your garden. Monarch caterpillars only eat the leaves of milkweed plants. If you’re unsure which variety is suitable for your garden, check the HOA-friendly Native Plant List here https://hersheysmill.org/2021/03/31/plant-and-tree-resources/  on the website to find your best milkweed match!

Happy chrysalis watching!

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August 5, 2022:  American Goldfinch

I met a resident the other day who said he was happy that the Bluebirds had a successful nesting season. He had enjoyed watching a nest box close to his house, but was a little sad that the young had fledged and activity was over. Then, he said, the yellow birds showed up.

“Yellow birds” – the American Goldfinch is the bird he was referring to. American Goldfinches are about 5 inches in size. Males change from a yellowish brown in winter to a bright yellow body, with a black cap with light yellow on their faces and chins during the breeding season. Their wings and tail have black and white bands. The females are yellowish green with black wings and tails.

Goldfinches are seed eaters and can easily be attracted to a special type of feeder filled with thistle or Nyjer seed. I’d read that they are also very attracted to yellow feeders, so I visited Amazon. Sure enough–my new little yellow feeder is busy all day.

Happy Birding!

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July 31, 2022: What’s Blooming in the Native Plant & Pollinator Garden?

The Garden is in full bloom this time of year, with many beautiful native and pollinator plants to admire. Recently, Barb Crispin spotted a real beauty: Allegheny Monkeyflower (Mimulus ringens). According to wildflower.org: “This delicate blossom is said to resemble a monkey’s face. It is a host plant for the Baltimore butterfly (Euphydryas phaeton) and the Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia).”  Clearing the slope to the soggy bottom of the Native Plant Garden gave two Mimulus plants room to spread a bit. Now we can enjoy watching their growth and spying to see if they do host a few caterpillars this year. Fingers crossed!

It’s also the time of year for summer flowering Phlox as you can see in this beautiful shot of an Eastern Swallowtail on Phlox captured by Derek Stedman. Take a stroll through the Garden soon to see what else is blooming!

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July 12, 2022: What’s Happening to the Sedum??

I have been watching a large patch of sedum growing near my deck, and the leaves are looking chewed and wrinkled. I looked closely for insects and didn’t see any.

Mystery solved! Nature Group member Deb Charlesworth asked me if I had seen birds eating the sedum. No, I replied but headed to Google to check it out. Sure enough, I found the answer.

 

“If your sedums are getting ragged-looking like this, you can blame the birds. In summer, birds seeking water will begin eating the juicy, succulent leaves of sedum. Maybe they like the taste too because the damage has been seen with available water in close proximity. Fortunately, the birds usually leave the flower buds alone to bloom in late summer, but the whole plant certainly looks worse for wear for the rest of the summer.” Source: newgarden.com

One solution is to cover your sedum with bird netting for a good part of the summer. Spray-on repellents don’t work on birds since they have little or no sense of taste or smell.

No taste or smell? Well, that’s a question for another day.

Happy (maybe a little ragged) birding!

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May 10, 2022: Surprise Surprise!

I was out monitoring my Bluebird boxes this morning, anxious to see if our baby bluebirds survived the nasty weather. Sure enough, all intact, as best I can tell. We have two active nests with at least 9 young. I breathed a sigh of relief. Linda, my fellow birding friend came along, taking lots of pictures.

We thought since we were close to the small retention pond on the south side of the lagoon, we should take a look. We were in for a big surprise! Linda found a brood of baby Wood Ducks—13 of them! Then for a second surprise. Another birder found a second brood, this time out on the main lagoon. We may have counted 8.

The HMNG has undertaken the restoration of many of our Wood Duck boxes, with volunteer Rod Heckman refurbishing, cleaning, and taking inventory of the boxes. Wood Ducks use both natural cavities and manmade boxes. You can learn more about Wood Ducks and their nesting habits at our Wednesday, May 18, 11 AM Zoom presentation. Just send a request for the Zoom link to hersheysmillnature@gmail.com

Happy Birding!

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May 5, 2022: Birds and Turtles!

Spring bird migration is in full swing. The House Wrens are singing their lovely tunes, and Catbirds are out there trying to imitate many other birds. Everyone is searching for a mate and nest material and getting ready to raise a family.

So, what does that have to do with turtles? Basically, the turtles are doing the same thing. Our resident turtles are emerging from the bottom of our small ponds. Many are traveling into the open waters of the lagoon and larger ponds, searching for a mate, and continuing the cycle. This means they must cross Chandler Drive and Mill Road.

Recently, Hershey’s Mill Nature Group placed three new turtle crossing signs in the Springton pond area, two on Chandler and one on Mill approaching the three-way stop at the intersection.  These are in addition to the existing signs located near the tennis courts. I’m hoping drivers will be aware and allow our turtles a little time to cross the road.

Our most common native turtle is the Snapping Turtle, but many others reside here at Hershey’s Mill, including Painted Turtles, the non-native Red-Eared Slider and the threatened Northern Red-Bellied Cooter. The latter was discovered by residents and verified by PA at the Mill in 2020!

Happy Birding (& Turtle Watching)!

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April 16, 2022: Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

I’ve been checking the rare bird alerts for our area, and it’s time to get your feeders out! Many PA counties are reporting hummers. I looked back over the spotlights and found that in 2021, they arrived the second week of April.

An easy mix of 1 cup of sugar to 4 cups of water will do. Make sure you boil the water, then add the sugar, as boiling helps keep the mixture from spoiling. There is no need to use food coloring or store-bought feeder food.

I haven’t heard of any being seen here at the Mill, so if you see one, please report it to hersheysmillnature@gmail.com.

On another note, I’ve had a few reports from residents of Great Blue Herons being seen, both wading in one of our ponds and fly overs. Please let us know if you see any.

Thanks and Happy Birding!

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April 4, 2022: Eastern Phoebe

A rainy, chilly and damp spring did not stop one of our early migrators.  I listened carefully and heard the quiet, lovely sound  FEE – BEE,  FEE – BEE repeated again and again.  A quick look, up into the maple tree outside my window and sure enough, an Eastern Phoebe, a member of the flycatcher family.

According to Audubon, despite its plain appearance, this flycatcher is a favorite among eastern birdwatchers. Seemingly quite tame, it often nests around buildings and bridges where it is easily observed. Best of all, its gentle tail-wagging habit and soft fee-bee song make the Eastern Phoebe easy to identify, unlike many flycatchers.

Later the Eastern Kingbird will be seen around our lagoon.  It’s also a flycatcher, but that’s a story for another Spotlight.

Happy Birding!!

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March 22, 2022:  A Very Unusual Bird

On Monday of last week, I was out for a nice walk and ran into a fellow birder.  We exchanged sightings, and she said there was an unusual duck on the Lagoon.  We headed for a nice bench and put our binoculars on the ducks floating in the middle of the water.  Sure enough, we found this unusual bird and after much discussion agreed that it was a Long-tailed Duck.

The Long-tailed Duck is a small, slender sea duck with a rounded head and a small bill. The male has long tail plumes most of the year.  A very active diver, they spend most of their time underwater and dive down as far as 200 feet.    I discovered that we are in the migration path as this bird makes its way north to the tundra for nesting season.  My friend and fellow birder, Linda Kane took these pictures.   Notice the very long tail!

Happy Birding!

 

 

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March 13, 2022: Nesting Material

Now that some nice weather has returned, we’re out there walking. Please keep an eye out for that green plastic netting used by landscapers to hold seed in place. Now I understand it’s bio-degradable.  However, these pictures demonstrate what happens when birds use the broken pieces as nesting material.

Unfortunately, the size of the openings in this material makes it easy for birds to get trapped. Last summer, I disentangled several birds (often babies) that I was able to reach–a job I will do willingly.  So if you see loose pieces while walking in Hershey’s Mill, please retrieve them.

If you need help freeing a bird, contact Hershey’s Mill Nature Group at hersheysmillnature#gmail.com.

Happy birding!

 

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March 6, 2022: Be Careful: It’s Canada Goose Nesting Season!

Spring is just around the corner, and I see more people out walking and enjoying the nice weather. Some of those walks might include wooded areas or along Ridley Creek or our ponds. I know we have a lot of Canada Geese, and it’s now their breeding season.

Geese couples are showing up in many areas, so here are some things to know:
• Both sexes look alike with the male being 10% larger.
• Canada Geese usually roost on the water and will sleep there, taking turns to be on the lookout for predators.
• When a goose feels threatened, it will stretch out its neck and honk loudly. It may also hiss, bite, and slap at the perceived threat with its wings.
• Males are very aggressive towards anything or anyone that they see as a threat to their nest.

You should always be cautious around geese in the spring, as they have been known to attack humans trying to defend their territory.

Safe Birding!!

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February 18, 2022: On a Sad Note

I’m sure that many of you who walk around the lagoon or on the nature trail have seen a Great Blue Heron.  Actually, we had two in residence—an adult and a younger bird who was probably this past year’s young.

Our adult bird was found dead along the northern part of the Nature Trail, and I found the other in Ridley Creek recently. Both birds walked and stalked prey in the rocky and sandy shorelines of the lagoon and creek, and the edges of the ponds.

We do not know what caused their demise but suspect the very cold weather may have played a part. We have good habitat for the Great Blue Heron and hopefully, another one (or two) will choose to call Hershey’s Mill home.

(A little unhappy birding)

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February 13, 2022: Mourning Doves

I was out for a walk yesterday, enjoying the nice, warmer weather. As I stepped off my porch, I heard the quiet “coo” of a Mourning Dove–the first coo of the upcoming spring migration and breeding season. A holly tree close by provides a lovely nesting area and an opportunity for me to observe their activities.

After doing some research, I discovered that the male is responsible for the cooing, a mournful love song to attract a mate. Doves mate for life, and the male brings twigs and sticks to the female for nest building. The female lays two eggs (apparently only two), and both parents incubate, feed, and protect the young.

They gather in small flocks and can easily be seen foraging for seeds under a bird feeder. Another distinctive sound of the Mourning Dove is the “whistle” you hear when they fly. This sound is produced by air rushing through specialized wing feathers and serves as an early warning mechanism for the flocks if danger is sensed.

I hope some of you stop and listen to the cooing and wooing of our resident Mourning Doves!

Happy Birding!

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January 19, 2022: Great Blue Heron

Winter has settled in at the “Mill.” Ice has been forming on our lagoon, and only a few waterfowl are feeding in the small open areas. The Mallard Ducks have been foraging in the weeds along the shoreline. Perhaps some of you have noticed the Great Blue Heron walking around in the rocks.

Now we all know there are NO fish in our lagoon. So, what can that Great Blue be looking for?
Check this out:

photo credit: Bruce Piecukonis

I was lucky enough to see this bird in action. In addition to fish (and voles!), Great Blues eat mice, snakes, and chipmunks.

Happy Birding!

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December 14, 2021: Vultures

As we walk around the open areas of Hershey’s Mill, a quick scan of the sky almost always includes spotting a Vulture. We have two species, Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture.

The Turkey Vulture’s distinctive slow, teetering flight style probably helps the bird soar at low altitudes, where it is best able to use its nose to find carrion. Large with long wings, its black body contrasts with grey flight feathers and tail. Also, look closely for a naked bright red head.

By contrast, the Black Vulture has broad wings, a short tail, and a very small black head. If you watch closely Black Vultures fly higher, above the Turkey Vultures. The greyish feathers on the underside of their wings are only at the tips.

I’ve been told that TVs (as some call them) hunt by smell and the Black Vultures hunt by sight. Apparently, the birds feed cooperatively as well, with the Blacks taking over a carcass and leaving the scraps for the Turkey Vulture.

Happy Birding!!

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November 18, 2021: Wintering Waterfowl

Cold weather is beginning to settle in over Hershey’s Mill. The fall colors have been especially bright, with lots of yellow, gold, and red foliage. But the leaves are dropping, and it’s only a matter of time before snowflakes start to fly.

The wintering waterfowl have begun to arrive at our Lagoon, so be sure to bundle up and check out the following birds:

 

Ruddy Ducks

 

 

Bufflehead Ducks

 

 

Ring-necked Ducks

And I spotted one Coot the other day!

There’s also a group of about 7 or 8 Mallard ducks. Look closely for the one that is much smaller in size. That’s not a female Mallard—it’s a female Green-winged Teal who has chosen to spend her time with the Mallards.

 

Happy Birding!

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October 10, 2021: Early Fall Flowers

The shorebirds we have been enjoying have headed south. Bird migration is at its peak. As I walk around the lagoon these lovely fall days, I can’t help but notice the colorful flowers that are in full bloom. One of my favorites – Asters.

Here at the Mill, we have white and violet or blue varieties. They are about 1 to 2 feet in height, bushy with many small daisy-like flowers. While they are difficult to identify precisely, my Peterson Wildflower Guidebook gives me several possibilities.

We have pictured the New England Aster and Small White Aster.
Many pollinators and small birds can be found among the flowers and leaves. Several types of Goldenrod add to the color mix, and soon the trees will begin their fall transition.

Hope to see you out there, happy birding!

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September 10, 2021: More Shorebirds

Shorebird migration continues to be a highlight around our lagoon. The water level remains low, and the muddy edges provide a perfect feeding ground for our visitors. Spotted Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers have been joined by Lesser Yellowlegs and Solitary Sandpipers.

The Lesser Yellowlegs is a graceful, slender, medium-sized shorebird recognized by its bright yellow legs and distinctive “tu tu” call. It is an active forager, often running in shallow water to catch invertebrates, especially snails, flies, beetles, and dragonflies of all life stages.

Described by The Cornell Lab as “natty,” the Solitary Sandpiper—with its olive-gray wings, black-and-white tail, and bold eye-ring–is a distinctive exception among the many lookalike sandpipers. Its helpful habits of bobbing the back half of its body or trembling its tail (and often feet) while foraging make it instantly recognizable. In flight, look for blackish underwings against a white belly, a pattern unique among North American shorebirds. As the name suggests, this species is normally seen singly. During migration, it turns up very widely, even in very small or temporary wetlands.

Happy Birding!!

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August 11, 2021: Shorebird Migration

I hope everyone is staying safe in this very hot weather. Walks in the early morning or early evening are now a much better option. The water level in the lagoon is lowering as more water is needed on the golf course. So now a very nice muddy shoreline has been exposed—perfect for our migrating shorebirds!

The Spotted Sandpiper is a regular spring and fall visitor. The spots are part of their spring breeding plumage. Although they lose those spots in fall, they can be easily identified by their scurrying over the rocks and mud, their tails often bobbing up and down, imitating wave action, hoping to capture an unsuspecting insect.

If you’ve been on our ocean shores, you have probably seen many species of sandpipers. As they return to their wintering grounds in South America, they make stops at our inland lakes and ponds. One of the smallest is the Least Sandpiper, only 6 inches in length. However, if you look closely, you will notice yellow legs, although they are sometimes obscured by the mud that gets splattered around!

I have seen both birds this month and hope you will too.

Happy Birding!!

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July 26, 2021: A Closer Look at Chimney Swifts
Many birds are flying over the Lagoon. Maybe you have seen the Cedar Waxwings and Tree Swallows. But one of the more interesting birds is the Chimney Swift. They can be easily identified by their silhouette in flight. Very dark with a cigar-shaped appearance, this bird spends almost its entire life airborne. When it lands, it can’t perch—it simply clings to vertical walls.

Chimney Swifts now nest primarily in chimneys and other manmade sites with vertical surfaces and low light (including air vents, old wells, abandoned cisterns, outhouses, boathouses, garages, silos, barns, lighthouses, and firewood sheds).

At the end of summer, they gather into large groups to migrate to South America. They spend the winter in the upper Amazon basin of Peru, Ecuador, Chile, and Brazil, where they are found in open terrain and on roosts in chimneys, churches, and caves.

Happy Birding!

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July 2, 2021: What’s Flying Over the Lagoon?
As the very hot weather has descended on Hershey’s Mill, it’s led to an overabundance of the insect population above the lagoon. And as a result, several bird species are taking advantage of the smorgasbord!

TREE SWALLOWS – The Tree Swallow is about five inches long. It has a forked tail, metallic green to blue head, back and wing feathers, and white feathers on its underside. Females are duller in color.

BARN SWALLOWS – Barn Swallows are bright little birds, with blue “suits” and orange “dress shirts.” From the tops of their heads to their tails, their feathers are blue. On the other side, from their throats to the undersides of their tails, they are reddish-orange. They also have a bright orange patch of feathers directly above their beaks. This species is quite small, with most individuals about six or seven inches long and weighing in at less than an ounce.

CHIMNEY SWIFTS – Chimney Swifts are very small birds with slender bodies and very long, narrow, curved wings. They have round heads, short necks, and short, tapered tails. The wide bill is so short that it is actually hard to see.

 

A very large population of CEDAR WAXWINGS – A treat to find in your binocular view field, the Cedar Waxwing is a silky, shiny collection of brown, gray, and lemon-yellow, accented with a subdued crest, rakish black mask, and brilliant-red wax droplets on the wing feathers. Cedar waxwings were discussed in a Spotlight from February 2021.

Happy Birding!

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June 17, 2021: House Wren

Just back from a month-long family reunion, I was greeted by the lovely sound of a House Wren. A small birdhouse under my deck had remained empty. Now–nest-building activity, with the hope of another wren family!

Cornell Lab of Ornithology describes the wren as a plain brown bird with an effervescent voice. Listen for its rush-and-jumble song in summer, and you’ll find this species zipping through shrubs and low tree branches, snatching at insects. House Wrens will gladly use nest boxes, or you may find their twig-filled nests in flowerpots and door decorations.

They eat a wide variety of insects and spiders, including beetles, caterpillars, earwigs, and daddy longlegs, as well as smaller numbers of more mobile insects such as flies, leafhoppers, and springtails. Maybe our natural insect control?

Now the voices of Gray Catbirds and House Wrens combine.

Happy Birding!

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May 25, 2021: Gray Catbird

So there you are, sitting out on your deck or porch. All of a sudden, you hear the meow of a cat. You look around and see nothing. A dark-gray bird darts into a close shrub.

Sure enough, you have just heard the Gray Catbird make some of its very loud vocalizations. The males keep up an almost continuous chatter trying to sound very attractive to the females. A medium-sized gray bird with a black cap and bright rusty feathers under the tail, Gray Catbirds are relatives of mockingbirds and thrashers.

If you’d like to improve your skills at identifying birds by their songs, consider Cornell University’s “How to Identify Bird Songs” course. This course will help you identify bird songs from the High Sierras to Coastal Maine (and many places in between).

Happy Birding!

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May 11, 2021: Northern Cardinal

By now many of you have been hearing and seeing the very bright red male Northern Cardinal–calling from the treetops, trying very hard to defend the territory that he has selected. He will chase off intruding males, even going so far as to crash into windows, thinking his reflection is another male.

The female is a fawn color, with mostly grayish-brown tones and a slight reddish tint on the wings, the crest, and the tail feathers. Eventually, if you watch closely, you will see the male select a seed and very carefully feed the female beak-to-beak. This behavior continues throughout the breeding season, during which they may have two nesting periods. The male continues to offer seeds, but eventually, she will refuse his offering.

The Northern Cardinal is the state bird of seven U.S. states, more than any other species: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. Hope you will enjoy seeing one of our most beautiful birds.

Happy Birding!

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May 1, 2021: Count the Birds!

Be a part of birding’s biggest team! Global Big Day on May 8th is an annual celebration of the birds around you. Migration is in full swing. They are singing their best songs and are in their best colors.

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, your sightings contribute to hundreds of conservation decisions and peer-reviewed papers, thousands of student projects, and help inform bird research worldwide.

Watch birds on 8 May: it’s that simple. You don’t need to be a bird expert or go out all day long–even 10 minutes of birding from home counts!

Global Big Day runs from midnight to midnight, and you can report what you find to hersheysmillnature#gmail.com. For each observation, please note the time and location (Village name is fine). HMNG will compile our sightings and send in a report.

Happy Birding!

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April 16, 2021: American Coot

An interesting duck-like bird has been frequenting the small pond area along the nature trail. The American Coot can be identified by its dark grey color and white beak. A small detail that’s often overlooked is a faint red strip near the very tip of its beak.

Although it swims like a duck, the American Coot does not have webbed feet like a duck. Instead, each one of the Coot’s long toes has broad lobes of skin that help it kick through the water. The broad lobes fold back each time the bird lifts its foot, so they don’t impede walking on dry land. When taking flight, they must patter across the water, flapping their wings furiously, before becoming airborne.

They eat plant material, including stems, leaves, and seeds of pondweeds, sedges, grasses, and many others, as well as a lot of algae. Insects, tadpoles, fish, worms and snails can also be part of their diet

Why we only have one Coot here at Hershey’s Mill remains a mystery.

Happy Birding!!

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April 2, 2021: Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds

They are on their way!  A frequent question – When should I put out my hummingbird feeder?

Our only breeding hummingbird is leaving Central America and heading North for the upcoming nesting season.  The males arrive first to establish mating territory and defend feeders.  Our feeders should go out around the middle of April.  An easy mix of 1 cup sugar, 4 cups water will do!  Make sure you boil the water, then add the sugar, as boiling keeps the mixture from spoiling.  There is no need to use food coloring or store-bought feeder food.  The glass Perky Pet feeder is one of my favorites.

Hummingbirds will enjoy the nectar of flowers that may include rhododendrons, petunias, and bee balm among others.  Later in the season, we will see the hummers over in the garden area and around our flower plantings.

Dr. Bill Hilton Jr has been the Director of “Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project” and its website at http://www.rubythroat.org.  Lots of interesting information can be found there.

Happy Birding!!

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March 14, 2021: Wood Ducks

It’s late winter/early spring and already a few of our Wood Ducks can be seen in the ponds and our wooded, swampy areas. They’re usually in small groups, but unlike other waterfowl, they are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark, so it’s not unusual to see them perched in trees.

The Wood Duck is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather. The elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye.

The Wood ducklings, covered with dull brown feathers, leave the nest shortly after birth as they are raised in water instead of in the nest. Later in the season, we will see moms with their young trailing behind. Always a sight that many of us enjoy!

Happy Birding!

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March 1, 2021: Juncos and Sparrows

Winter is about to lose its icy, cold grip. Most of our walking paths are
visible again, and yes–you can hear birds singing. A subtle sign that spring is just around the corner.

Two of our visitors from the north can be seen busily rummaging through the shrubs and on the ground. The Dark-Eyed Junco–a small grey and white bird–darts off, giving a sharp twittering call as it flashes the white outer feathers of its tail. Often referred to as snow birds, watch for their disappearance from your feeder areas as they make their trip north for breeding season.

Frequently seen in the company of Juncos is the White-Throated Sparrow—a large plump bird. As its name implies, it has a white throat and white- and black-striped head with visible yellow dots located over each eye. One of its most distinguishing characteristics is its call. Listen for a distinctive whistling sound from the tops of the trees……..“Old Sam Peabody-Peabody” or I think I hear…….“Oh Canada – Oh Canada -Oh Canada”.

Happy Birding!!

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February 16, 2021: Pileated Woodpecker

Walking about has been tough with our trails still covered in snow and ice. However, the path around the lagoon has been plowed, and my birding buddy and I have been out walking every day. We were able to observe two Pileated Woodpeckers in the trees on the south side of the lagoon.

Nearly the size of a crow, the Pileated Woodpecker is black with bold white stripes down the neck and a flaming-red crest. Excavating deep into rotten wood to get at the nests of carpenter ants, it leaves characteristic rectangular holes in dead trees. Males and females are similar except the male has a red stripe on his cheek.

The male begins excavating a nest cavity and does most of the work, but the female contributes, particularly as the hole nears completion. The entrance hole is oblong rather than the circular shape of most woodpecker holes. For the finishing touches, the bird climbs all the way into the hole and chips away at it from the inside, periodically picking up several chips at a time and tossing them from the cavity entrance.

Now the Pileated has its own claim to fame: it’s been named Bird of the Year for 2021 by the American Birding Association.

Happy Birding!

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February 2021: Cedar Waxwings

Winter has finally settled in on Hershey’s Mill and the Northeast. Our ponds have frozen over, our wintering ducks have moved to a better feeding area with running water in Ridley Creek. Now, it’s time to turn our binoculars to the shrubs, bushes and trees……

One of the birds you may encounter is the Cedar Waxwing. A very colorful medium size bird, it is tan in color with a crest, a black mask, red-tipped wing feathers that look like they have been dipped in wax, and a striking bright yellow band on their tail.

They may be seen in small flocks, on the edge of our wooded areas. They forage in the cedar cones, eating berries and then fruit and insects during summer months.

The tail of a Cedar Waxwing usually has a yellow band at the end but in the 1960s, birds with orange bands started to show up in the northeastern United States. The orange color results from red pigment found in non-native honeysuckle fruits introduced into their diet. Maybe you will be lucky enough to find one!

Happy Birding.

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January 2021: More Wintering Ducks – Mergansers

With the winter seasonal closing of the Hershey’s Mill Golf Course, we have a great opportunity to check out the ducks on the rather large pond between the lagoon and Franklin Village. Two species of Mergansers can be found there. (Check out our map for more location info.)

The more striking of the two species is the Hooded Merganser. A small duck with a slender pointed bill, the male has a white, fan-shaped, black-bordered crest, blackish body with dull rusty flanks, and white breast with two black stripes down the side. Females are a dull gray brown, with a warmer brown head and crest. Both sexes show white wing patches in flight.

The other–the larger of the two, is a Common Merganser The males are striking with clean white bodies, dark green heads, and a slender, serrated red bill. The gray-bodied females have rich, cinnamon heads with a short crest.

Their primary food source is fish followed by aquatic insects. You will see both species popping up and down as they forage. An occasional Bald Eagle can be seen perched in the trees, waiting for a chance to steal a fish or two.

Happy Birding!!

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December 2020: Another Winter Duck Visitor – Ruddy Duck

I hope some of you have had a chance to walk around our lagoon and to observe our wintering ducks.

Another one of my favorites is the Ruddy Duck. They gather in small flocks (rafts). The males are brown with a very white half-moon shape on their cheeks. The females not as bright, but if you look closely you can see that half-moon design. Both males and females have a very pronounced tail that looks rather like a sail. Many sleep during the day as they feed on aquatic insects during the night.

In the spring, males molt into a very rich rusty brown and interestingly enough, their bills turn blue–a very pretty baby blue. All of this color change occurs before they head north for the mating season. They nest in marshes, and apparently their nests are built only a few inches over the water.

Happy Birding!

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November 2020:  Wintering Duck Sighting – Bufflehead

If you walk around the lagoon these lovely warm fall days, you might get a chance to see one of our wintering species of ducks.   The male Bufflehead has a very white body with some dark coloring. The female is mostly dark with a small white patch on her cheek.  They are diving ducks, searching for aquatic insects.

The English name is a combination of buffalo and head, referring to the oddly bulbous head shape of the species. This is most noticeable when the male puffs out the feathers on his head, thus greatly increasing its apparent size.  Gathering in small groups, one individual stands guard to alert the rest to potential danger.  When startled, they scoot across the water surface to a safer location.

Buffleheads find safe refuge here until ice forms on the lagoon, then they are off to another location to feed.  They are usually the first to arrive from their breeding grounds in Canada and then first to leave in the spring.  Speaking of breeding grounds, Buffleheads nest in trees, in nest holes that have been carved out by the Northern Flicker.

Happy Birding!!!!

 

 

 

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