You can't see the singers in the shadows, but you sure can hear them! Their music fills the night air pulsating, chirping, clicking, and buzzing from every direction. The concert starts soon after dusk and keeps going strong until around midnight, and it can last well into November in some areas.
Who are these secret singers? Crickets and katydids. Depending on where you call home, you might hear any of hundreds of different species, including a couple with amusing and grand monikers. For example, you might hear the aptly named melodious ground cricket, splendid shield-backed katydid, or robust conehead.
Night-singing insects fill all sorts of ecological niches, making homes under logs and in fields, marshes, deserts, shrubs, trees or grasses, and our own yards, too. To boost the number and variety of your musicians, naturalist, and educator Carl Strang, who holds a doctorate in wildlife ecology, recommends planting your garden in layers: "The same as you would for birds, with a nice structure of trees, bushes, and herbaceous plants, including natives."
Denne historien er fra October/November 2022-utgaven av Birds & Blooms.
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Denne historien er fra October/November 2022-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
Maple Mania
Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay
Sense or Nonsense?
Why some birds can taste and smell - but others can't
IN GOOD COMPANY
BIRDS OF A FEATHER MAY FLOCK TOGETHER, but what about other collectives of critters-and what do you call them when they do?
YOUR OWN Perfect Prairie
Learn how to cultivate an oasis of grassland flora in your backyard
ON THE MOVE
Birds approach the challenges of migration in surprising ways. Learn about how they walk, swim or take the scenic route during their travels.
Autumn Wonders
Fall colors offer befitting backdrops for these stunning reader photos
Sparrow Look-Alikes
Distinct sounds help separate these similar species
Embracing the Darkness
From black plants to moody decor, Gothic garden elements can offer a unique outlet to express your dark side
Red-Hot Plants
Scarlet-hued berries add a pop of color to any garden
Food-Focused and Fierce
Meet Canada jays and learn why they eat almost anything they can find