The crested flycatcher is often more heard than seen, for although handsomely plumed, his soft colors blend well into his treetop surroundings. He sits motionless on some flowery branch and proclaims possession of his chosen territory, which he has ruled for successive seasons. But by careful observation, we may see him, the flash of reddish … Read more
Birds serve to maintain balance in nature by keeping in check insects, rodents, reptiles, and amphibia, the overpopulation of any one of which could drive a man from great areas of the earth. Birds also reduce the competition of weeds with cultivated plants by consuming millions of weed seeds. Warbler The warbler is probably our … Read more
Martins and tree swallows are friendly birds that like people. They feed while on the wing, eating thousands of flies, mosquitoes, moths, and many other insects. We should do everything we can to encourage them to live in our gardens. Martin’s Nest The martins will nest in houses as low as 7’ feet above the … Read more
Would you like to have tree swallows in your garden? These friendly birds often visit in spring, but few bird lovers have succeeded in getting them to nest. Unfortunately, sparrows usually fill all the birdhouses two weeks before the swallows arrive. But you can prevent their taking over all the avian real estate by leaving … Read more
When choosing trees and shrubs for home ground beautification, we should keep in mind their landscape value and their value as havens of refuge and food sources for birds. Thus we may enjoy the enlivening flashes of birds’ wings about our homes, their cheerful songs, and their entertaining seasonal antics without violating the principles of … Read more
In the very earliest spring, or even in the late winter, one hears the mournful long-eared owl, plying “his sad song,” and this may be one of the earliest, if not the very earliest, of our awaited songs of spring. All the owls nest very early, between the first of March and the end of … Read more
Birds in the garden are always a joy! What’s more, they are off in an estimable value to plants because of the great number of insects they consume. One way to attract them to the garden is to provide them with boxes for nesting purposes. This, too, is the time to build these structures and set … Read more
Generally speaking, the fruit of the Washington hawthorn, Crataegus phaenopyrum, is not eaten by birds in the fall or early winter. And therein lies its great value. By January or February, mellowed and softened by the rigor of cold weather, it becomes a boon to such fruit eaters as crossbills, pine and evening grosbeaks, cardinals, … Read more
Everyone knows that birds often return to the same spot year after year to build their nests. We wonder how they can travel hundreds or even thousands of miles over land and sea to the warmer lands of the South and then return the following spring to the same little patch of northern woodland or … Read more
Well-chosen plant materials and the birds attracted by them do much to brighten the often drab days of midwinter. Black Alder: Winterberry A good example is a black alder or winterberry (Ilex verticillata) whose fruits show red in September against their own foliage and continue the display long after the branches are bare. The berries … Read more