Attract orioles like this Bullock’s with oranges and jelly as they migrate through your area.
A basic peanut feeder brings in songbirds of all kinds, like this tufted titmouse and black-capped chickadee.
Pygmy nuthatches and other insect-eating songbirds stop by backyards that offer mealworms.
JUST KEEP FEEDING
When springlike weather arrives, it’s tempting to let feeders go empty. Remember that it’s actually a critical time when natural food is hard to find because wintering birds have eaten most of the weed seeds, wild berries and hidden hibernating insects. So even as the temperature rises, local birds still need a hand, and your feeders may help get them through until more spring insects start to appear.
SUET UP FOR ACTION
Suet, both raw beef suet from the butcher and commercially produced suet cakes, is a popular winter food. While it attracts birds in spring and summer, it requires more attention. Some kinds of suet cakes melt in warm weather, so look for those specifically designed as all-season bird food. And because raw suet turns rancid quickly in hot weather, it’s wise to not use it after temperatures warm up in spring.
MEALWORM MADNESS
Denne historien er fra April/May 2020-utgaven av Birds & Blooms.
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Denne historien er fra April/May 2020-utgaven av Birds & Blooms.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Basics of Hydroponics
Use these top tips and plant picks to have a successful soil-free garden
Rooted in Resilience
These hardy perennials will thrive in most zones
Social and Supportive
Brown-headed nuthatches take a helpful approach to raising their young
All About Owl Pellets
And why you should give a hoot about them
Ask the Experts
Advice from our pros about houseplants, bird feeding and more
BRING THE OUTDOORS IN
Making a terrarium is about as close as you can get to a Zen DIY project. Once you have gathered the proper materials and squared away your plant selections, it's as simple as layering it all together and watching your mini ecosystem thrive. Here, I'll walk you through my foolproof process and cover all the required elements for good filtration, healthy soil, strong root growth and resistance against fungus and disease.
GROW THIS. NOT THAT
Six easy-to-grow houseplants—and six that may not be the right choice for you
Winter MAGIC
Forecasts may be frigid, but grab your binoculars because birding opportunities are still incredible
Sense or Nonsense? - Why some birds can taste and smell - but others can't
Does a porcelain berry taste like a blueberry to a gray catbird? Does a block of lard smell like frying bacon to a northern flicker? The short answer is no. While some avian species do have a well-adapted sense of taste or smell, they can't distinguish between flavors and odors the way humans can. They're not picking up every ingredient in the suet you put out, says José Ramírez-Garofalo, an ornithology researcher at Rutgers University in New Jersey and the director of Freshkills Biological Station in Staten Island, New York.
Maple Mania - Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay
Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay