Birdfeeding: Friends of a Feather Flock Together

I found a giant silk moth caterpillar crawling around a can on the patio. I love Saturniid moths. They get huge, and many look spectacular. Even their caterpillars are big and interesting. This one is about the size of my pinky finger, so it's probably a middle instar and still has a lot of growing to do. I'm really excited to see one of these guys. I expect the birds will be excited too -- these are the Polish sausages of the caterpillar pantry.

( Read more... )

August wildlife gardening tasks feature the height of summer. Keep on top of harvesting and weeding so they don't get away from you. Some flowers need deadheading, but most wildflowers don't. By this point, some plants have set seeds. You can start collecting seeds, especially native ones, to save for next spring. For species that need cold stratification before they will sprout, you can either chill them in a refrigerator or plant them in a bed during fall and let the winter chill them naturally.

Make sure wildlife has shade from the hot summer sun. Keep birdbaths or other watering stations full. Right now, honeybees have taken over my small metal birdbath, which is fine. Take care when working outdoors as many species of birds and other creatures are nesting. It is now safe to mow fields, as ground-nesting birds have completed their cycles. Birdwatching is slow in late summer, as many have concluded nesting. The first migrations are beginning but the real surge doesn't come until later.

( Read more... )

June wildlife gardening tasks introduce the summer season. Clean up spring things that are winding down. Begin harvesting early produce. If you don't offer water year-round, start now.  Make sure wildlife has shade from the hot summer sun.  Take care when working outdoors as many species of birds and other creatures are nesting. Birdwatching is good during summer, because once you find a nest it typically maintains activity for weeks. If you have birdhouses for particular species (like bluebirds) then keep a sharp eye for invasive species (like European house sparrows) so you can jettison unwanted nests as soon as possible.

( Read more... )