DIY Butterfly Feeder

Do not throw away that over ripened banana: Save it for the butterflies! Some species of butterflies use rotten fruit as their nectar source. While they can often find fruit rotting on trees on their own, you can attract butterflies to your yard by providing a butterfly feeder filled with your leftover fruit.

It is easy to make your own feeder. The supplies you will need include: a plastic plant saucer, household twine, and a drill with a small bit.








Drill three small holes equal distance apart at the edge of the saucer.








Tie a 2.5 foot piece of twine through each hole and then tie the other ends together making sure the plant saucer is level at the bottom.









Add your over ripened fruit, hang outside is a shady spot where you will be able to see the butterflies, and wait for the butterflies to arrive!






You can sprinkle a little fruit juice on the fruit slices if they dry out - just keep in mind that it is the mushy, rotting, very over-ripe fruit that these butterflies like best. Replace the fruit if it dries out, becomes moldy, or attracts too many ants.

To find out what kind of butterflies you can attract with a butterfly fruit feeder, see this list of butterflies and their nectar sources: Dave's Butterfly Garden

Red-spotted Purple

A few butterfly species have made there appearance in our yard this past week. One of them is the Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis). It is a Brush-footed butterfly (Family Nymphalidae) that is native to Georgia and can be seen spring through fall.

Above, the Red-spotted Purple is mainly a black butterfly with iridescent blue, but is gets its name from the red spots on its underwing.

This species is one of the butterflies that gains protection from mimicking the Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor). In spite of the lack of "tails" its coloration is similar enough that it is considered a mimic. Predators tend to avoid eating the Pipevine Swallowtail due to it being poisonous. Pipevine caterpillars eat plants in the pipevine family and plants in the pipevine family have chemicals in them which are poisonous to most animals. Caterpillars are able to eat them without being harmed. In fact, the chemicals stay inside the caterpillars and make them poisonous to most predators. While the Red-spotted Purple is not poisonous, predators think it is due to its coloration.

Pipevine Swallowtail

The Red-spotted Purple butterfly is often found in forest edges and openings, roadsides, and trails through wooded areas. You can often see them taking nutrients from gravel roads, roadsides, scat, and even carrion.

It has two broods, one in late May and another in late July. Its larvae feed on several types of trees (host plants) including willow, apple, and cherry. The female will lay her eggs on the trees leaves, one egg at the tip of a leaf. When the caterpillar hatches, it then eats the leaves. When winter arrives, caterpillars go into hibernation. In spring they complete metamorphosis and become adult butterflies.

You can attract these butterflies to your yard by making their host plants available and by putting out a butterfly feeder (more on that in the next posting!).

References:

Butterflies and Moths of North America

Georgia Butterflies

Spring Flowers

Here are a few blooms that can be found in our backyard right now.

Flowering Dogwood











Mint and violets




Dandelions

Wild Strawberry

Wild Geranium

Nest Cams

The Friends of Blackwater is a nonprofit citizens support group assisting the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Cambridge, Maryland and the Chesapeake Marshlands National Wildlife Refuge Complex. At their website they have links to live camera footage (an image updates every 30 seconds) of two very interesting nest sites that will be fun to watch over the spring and summer.


There is an EagleCam that is located at a Bald Eagle's (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nest at the Blackwater Refuge. As of today there are two nestlings that are 22 and 20 days old. Young eagles stay at the nest for about 12 weeks!


When you get a chance, head on over to the EagleCam and see what the eaglets and their parents are up to: http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/camhtm2.html


Also at the Blackwater Refuge is an OspreyCam. This camera is focused on an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) nesting platform. Over the past few days several pairs of Opsreys have been checking it out as a potential nesting site, and they think that one pair may have settled on it.

Watch as they begin to build their nest: http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/camhtm.html


Both websites site have excellent background information on both species as well as past nesting behavior at these nest sites.

Fore more information see the Friends of Blackwater website:
http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/friends.html

Nest Update: House Finch

Here is the finch nest on Monday (March 19th) with three eggs.









And here is the nest Tuesday (March 20th) with 4 eggs.


The female finch is now siting on her nest, incubating her clutch (eggs). These eggs will hatch in about 14 days, so we expect to see the hatchlings on April 3rd!

1st Day of Spring Backyard Point Count

This morning's backyard bird count yielded 16 year round residents, 4 winter residents, and 1 summer resident. Soon we should start seeing more summer residents arrive and neotropical migrants pass through on their way north. We will also begin to see less winter residents as they begin to make their way north as well.

Here is this list. I have indicated if the bird is a year round resident, winter resident, summer resident, or a migrant just passing through. I have also indicated the conservation status of each species.

Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
Year Round Resident, Populations declining throughout range

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
Year Round Resident, Common and widespread

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Year Round Resident, Population density and range increasing

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
Year Round Resident, Populations increasing and expanding range northward

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
Year Round Resident, Widespread and common in urban and suburban areas

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
Year Round Resident, Populations stable

Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
Year Round Resident, Populations stable or increasing

Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
Year Round Resident, Slight, but significant population decreases across range

Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla)
Year Round Resident, Decreasing because of habitat degradation

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)
Year Round Resident, Populations declining slowly throughout range

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
Year Round Resident, There is a slight but significant decline in Blue Jay numbers across the United States, with most of the decline in the East

House Finch (Cyanocitta cristata)
Year Round Resident, Common and benefiting from human development

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
Year Round Resident, Populations stable or increasing throughout its range

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Year Round Resident, Widespread and abundant

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
Year Round Resident, Populations slightly, but significantly increasing

American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)
Year Round Resident, Abundant and widespread

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
Winter Resident, Declining over much of breeding range

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
Winter Resident, Common, may be declining in some areas

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata)
Winter Resident, Populations stable or increasing in most areas.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
Winter Resident, Populations appear stable

Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)
Summer (Breeding) Resident, Abundant and widespread, increasing in many areas

For more information on point counts, visit the Point Count Database: www.pwrc.usgs.gov/point/

References:

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide

Finch Nest Update 1

As of this afternoon the nest now has 2 eggs. House finches typically lay a total of 4 eggs, one each day. Once all of the eggs have been laid, the female will begin incubating them. We should see her sitting on the nest in 2 more days!

Bee Carpenters

Does this look familiar? If you live in Georgia and have a wooden deck, I am sure you have seen these holes. This is an entrance to the Carpenter Bee’s (Xylocopa virginica) tunnel.

Carpenter bees are found throughout Georgia and can be seen during the spring and summer. They resemble bumble bees in size and coloration but, but to tell the difference you have to look at their abdomens: carpenter bees have a shiny black abdomen with no hairs on top while the bumble bees have yellowish hairs on top of their abdomens.

Adults overwinter in their wooden tunnels. They emerge in the spring and will mate within a few weeks. During this time you will often find these bees hovering outside of you home and in your garden. Male carpenter bees are quite aggressive, often hovering in front of people who are around their nests, but are quite harmless since they lack stingers. Female carpenter bees, however, have stingers and can inflict a painful sting, but seldom will unless they are handled.

After mating, the female establishes a nest by burrowing into wood and excavating tunnels. They lay their eggs within a series of small cells. In each cell a ball of pollen is left for the larvae to feed upon. These larvae will emerge as adults in late summer.

References:

Clemson Entomology

Gardening in Georgia

Mid-March Backyard Point Count

The backyard bird community is in transition as winter resident birds are getting ready to head to their summer breeding range, year round resident birds are setting up their territories and beginning to build their nests, summer (breeding) residents are starting to arrive, and neotropical migratory birds from Central and South America are slowly beginning to pass through Georgia on their way north to their summer breeding grounds.

Once or twice a week I will do an early morning bird count to see what birds are waking up in our backyard. Over time we will be able observe the transition of the backyard bird community.

Here is this morning's list. I have indicated if the bird is a year round resident, winter resident, summer resident, or a migrant just passing through. I have also indicated the conservation status of each species.

Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
Year Round Resident, Populations declining throughout range

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
Year Round Resident, Common and widespread

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Year Round Resident, Population density and range increasing

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
Winter Resident, Populations increasing throughout range

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
Year Round Resident, Populations are increasing throughout most of the range

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
Year Round Resident, Populations increasing and expanding range northward

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
Winter Resident, Declining over much of breeding range

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
Year Round Resident, Widespread and common in urban and suburban areas

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerine)
Year Round Resident Populations appear healthy

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
Year Round Resident Populations stable

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
Summer (Breeding) Resident Populations have increased

Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
Year Round Resident, Populations stable or increasing

Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
Year Round Resident, Slight, but significant population decreases across range

Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla)
Year Round Resident, Decreasing because of habitat degradation

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)
Year Round Resident, Populations declining slowly throughout range

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
Year Round Resident, There is a slight but significant decline in Blue Jay numbers across the United States, with most of the decline in the East

House Finch (Cyanocitta cristata)
Year Round Resident, Common and benefiting from human development

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
Year Round Resident, Populations stable or increasing throughout its range

For more information on point counts, visit the Point Count Database: www.pwrc.usgs.gov/point/

References:

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide

Nesting Sights

It is that time of year when local birds are singing to claim their territory and to attract mates. Once they have both, the nest building begins! This is a picture of a House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) nest that is in the beginning stages. Every year since we have lived here a pair of House Finches has built a nest in this very location.

The House Finch is originally from southwestern United States and Mexico. In 1940 a small number of finches were turned loose on Long Island, New York. They quickly started breeding, and then spread across the entire eastern United States and southern Canada within the next 50 years! It is now a common backyard bird and is often found eating at birdfeeders. The House Finch eats a mostly plant based diet including buds, seeds, and fruits. Those who have bird feeders know the finches’ preference for small sunflower seeds over millet.

Before the breeding season begins, females choose their males to pair with; this is called a pair bond. Some pair bonds last all year and into the next breeding season, while other pair bonds can end after a first nesting attempt is unsuccessful. During the breeding season the female will choose the nesting location. The nest is an open cup of fine grass stems, forbs, leaves, rootlets, thin twigs, string, wool, and feathers, lined with similar but finer material. They often place their nests in birdhouses, building ledges, hanging plants, and other crevices. The female lays a clutch of 4 eggs and will nest more than once during a breeding season.

This is a picture of a House Finch nest from last spring; it was in a hanging fern basket that hung underneath the carport.

I will keep an eye on this nest and will post updates throughout the breeding season!

To learn more about House Finches visit: www.birds.cornell.edu

To learn more about the breeding birds visit the North American Breeding Bird Survey: www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBS/

References:

Hill, G. E. 1993. House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus). In The Birds of North America, No. 46 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists’ Union.

Waiting patiently

Last fall a female orb weaver spider (Argiope aurantia) left a brown papery egg sac on the ceiling of our carport, thus completing her life cycle. The life cycle of an orb weaver is an interesting one so lets look at it from the beginning: we will start with the egg sac.

Each oblong sac contains 300 to 1400 eggs. The eggs of this species hatch in the late fall, but the hatchling spiders become dormant and do not leave the egg sac until the following spring. The overwintering egg case will help protect the spiderlings from predation. Some egg cases become damaged by birds, and some species of wasps and flies will also lay their eggs in these cases. In fact, one study found that in addition to the orb weaver, nineteen species of insects and eleven species of spiders all emerged from one orb weaver egg case!

In Spring the spiderlings emerge and look just like small adult spiders. The females grow to be much larger than the males. Like all spiders, orb weavers are carnivorous. They spin an orb web to capture small flying insects such as aphids, flies, bees, wasps, and grasshoppers. A female can take prey up to up to 200% of her own size. These spiders are active both day and night, attacking insects that are trapped in its web which can be up to two feet across. The female orb weaver hangs, head down, in the center of her web while waiting for prey. Often, she holds her legs together in pairs so that it looks like an X. The entire web is usually eaten and then rebuilt each night, often in the same place.

Once the male orb weaver matures, they leave their own webs and wander in search of females. When they find one, they will wait around the edge of her web, sometimes building small webs of their own, waiting to mate with the female. After mating, the female produces 1-3 brown, papery egg sacs. She will attach her egg sacs to one side of her web, close to her resting position at the center. She then watches over her eggs as long as she can, but she will die in the first hard frost, if not before.

This brings us back to the brown, oblong egg case in our carport, which we are patiently awaiting the emergence of the orb weaver spiderlings (and maybe others?).