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You are here: Home / Archives for birds

May 11, 2022

Male and Female Birds that Look Alike – Monomorphic Birds

Blue Jay sitting on a branch

When I was young, I thought all the Blue Jays that I saw in our backyard were males. They had the crest, the bright colors, and the size of a typical male songbird. So, it just made sense to me. But I always wondered, why did I never see any female Blue Jays? What did they look like? This was my first encounter with what biologists call a monomorphic species. In terms of birds, this term describes male and female birds that look … [Read more...]

/ Wildlife / birds

June 23, 2020

Celebrating Pollinators – Bees, Butterflies, Birds and More

Bumblebee feeding on nectar from a purple salvia

National Pollinator Week occurs in mid- to late-June each year. The goal of this Week is to celebrate the beneficial insects, birds, and mammals that pollinate the flowers of plants that produce much of our food, maintain our ecosystems, stabilize soils, and provide wildlife habitat. It also serves to educate people about what they can do to help pollinators. Why are pollinators important? According to the Pollinator Partnership, pollinators … [Read more...]

/ Wildlife / bees, birds, butterflies, insects, pollinators

January 21, 2020

Give Birds Water Not Ice in Winter: Unfreeze Your Bird Bath

Frozen bird bath with bird sitting on the edge

Winter is here and the birds in your backyard are thirsty. Sure, they can get liquid from snow, but in order to process it, they have to warm it up. Birds have to expend precious calories and use the warmth of their bodies to melt the snow. When the temperature drops below freezing, how do you keep your bird bath from freezing over? Birds need fresh water even in the winter. Use these tips to keep your bird bath filled with water in liquid … [Read more...]

/ Wildlife / backyard habitat, birds, wildlife, winter

November 12, 2017

Japanese Honeysuckle vs Native Honeysuckle Vine

Have you ever plucked a honeysuckle flower, turned it around, and gently sucked the nectar from the tube-shaped back of the flower? If you grew up in the southeastern U.S., I bet you did. That taste of super-sweet honey nectar always makes me think of summer nights spent chasing fireflies and summer days spent running wild and free. Imagine my surprise when taking a class on native plants and shrubs in college that I learned that the yellow … [Read more...]

/ Flowers & Plants / bees, birds, butterflies, deer resistant, flowers, full sun, hummingbirds, moist soil, native plants, spring, spring flowers, vines

August 27, 2017

A Spot of Yellow: Native Partridge Pea Butterfly Host Plant

Partridge pea flower

Yesterday morning, I was driving to an appointment and I happened to glance at the side of the road, only to see a flash of bright yellow color. It made me look twice – it was a patch of partridge pea! This is the time of the year that you’ll see the bright yellow flowers of partridge pea blooming along the side of the road or along streams and ditches. They will continue to flower from late summer to early fall. Food for Wildlife and Plants … [Read more...]

/ Flowers & Plants / bees, birds, butterflies, fall, full sun, native plants, part shade, Summer, wildflowers

July 28, 2016

What’s the Buzz about Joe Pye Weed?

Joe Pye Weed

Despite the name, you’ll find this ‘weed’ in more and more gardens. It’s a good garden staple for attracting pollinators from bees to butterflies. I planted it last fall and this summer the blooms have been prolific and I have seen all sorts of bees, wasps, and flies feeding on the nectar. Joe Pye Weed flowers are really beautiful. The stem at the top of the plant is a lovely shade of pink which transitions into multiple clusters of … [Read more...]

/ Flowers & Plants / birds, butterflies, flowers, full sun, hummingbirds, part shade, perennial, propagation, propagation. wildflowers, wildflowers

July 23, 2016

The Dramatic Baby Bird Rescue

Jenny wren baby bird

Generally I have a policy of leaving nature to take its course. I am unable to care for baby critters - so if I see one that is by itself or looks a little in need, I may provide it some food or water, but I refuse to bring them indoors or try to 'save' them. This may sound a bit harsh, but you would be surprised how many wildlife babies are actually doing just fine and are separated from their parents by well-intentioned humans. Read the … [Read more...]

/ Wildlife / backyard habitat, birds, wildlife

July 22, 2016

Backyard Wildlife Summer 2016

Eastern box turtle

This summer has been full of weird and wonderful backyard wildlife. From a nest of barred owls to frogs to snakes and turtles, I've seen a lot in my garden and backyard. Watching wildlife is one of the things I enjoy so much about my garden and yard. It's why I work hard to create suitable habitat for wildlife. This spring started out unseasonably warm and this summer has only gotten hotter. This week in particular, my state of Mississippi has … [Read more...]

/ Wildlife / amphibians, backyard habitat, bees, birds, butterflies, frogs, reptiles, turtles, wildlife

April 28, 2016

Globe Cage Feeder: Bird Feeder Review

Indigo bunting at the globe feeder

This content includes affiliate links. I get a small percentage of the sale for purchases made through links in this post. However, I use each product I review and only recommend those that I like and have worked well. Read my disclosure for more information. If you would like to see more of the smaller bird species at your feeders but they keep getting chased away by the larger birds or they are in need protection from birds of prey while … [Read more...]

/ Reviews, Wildlife / backyard habitat, bird feeders, birds

April 28, 2016

Droll Yankees Songbird Plus Feeder/New Generation Feeder: Review

Droll Yankees Songbird Plus Feeder

This content includes affiliate links. I get a small percentage of the sale for purchases made through links in this post. However, I use each product I review and only recommend those that I like and have worked well. Read my disclosure for more information. NOTE: Although the songbird plus feeder is no longer manufactured, the Droll Yankees New Generation 15" Sunflower Bird Feeder is nearly identical. I am familiar with the Droll … [Read more...]

/ Reviews, Wildlife / backyard habitat, bird feeders, birds

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About Me

Welcome! My name is Kathy and I live in Georgia Zone 7B. Gardening has always relaxed and rooted me (literally!). It's my happy place. With more than 25 years of gardening, I am far from an expert, but I learn from all my experiments. This blog talks about the plants, backyard critters, and more that have made my garden special. Read More

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