Winged Wednesday - Spotlight on Safflower Seed

There are a good number of choices out there when it comes to bird seed. Over the next few Wednesdays, I'll cover some of the seed options, the pro's and con's of, what birds they attract, and what feeders I'd recommend using with them. This week's featured seed is Safflower.

Safflower is a distaff thistle which hails from the Mediterranean, particularly northern Africa. Its seeds are small, white, and hard like rocks. It's not typically found in your generic wild bird seed mixes, but can be found by itself or in specialty mixes.

Safflower's biggest pro is that feeder pests are generally not interested in it. House Sparrows, Starlings, and Squirrels will generally not eat Safflower seeds.

The biggest problem with Safflower seed is that it can make a really big mess. Assuming the birds are eating all of the seeds, the hulls or outer casing of the seed will be discarded on the ground. The pile builds up quick and isn't easy to rake up. It's also been my experience that certain birds, particularly House Finches, will discard a good amount of whole seeds. These seeds may also germinate.

Safflower seed is pretty good for attracting birds. We've found that if you have Safflower seed the arrival of House Finches and Morning Doves is guaranteed. We have also found that Cardinals, Purple Finches, Pine Siskins, Dark Eyed Juncos, and Black Capped Chickadees will dine on this seed.

Initially we had this seed in a hopper feeder which had little to no tray. The volume of seed being tossed to the ground was enormous. We quickly learned that this will not work for Safflower seeds. Hopper feeders are fine so long as they have a good-sized tray. We are also now using a tray feeder which helped prevent a lot of waste. The sides of the tray feed have made it more difficult for the birds to simply discard seed. I'd highly recommend trying to use something like a tray feeder or a hopper feeder that has some edging to help prevent messes under your feeders.

DNRs Offering Opportunities

Looking for a way to get involved with simple conservation efforts? Here are some cool opportunities:

• Minnesota DNR - Frog Calling Count
• Wisconsin DNR - Invasive Species Poster Competition
• Michigan DNR - Lighthouse Keeper
• Iowa DNR - Campground Hosts
• Illinois DNR - Partners for Conservation

Everyone Loves Viburnums

People looking for shrubs may not be sure what plants they'll need and may not be sure what plants are native. I've been particularly impressed by the genus viburnum. The Upper Midwest is home to Highbush Cranberry, Nannyberry, Maple Leaf Viburnum, and Arrowwood Viburnum. The viburnum genus can be found throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere, and these deciduous shrubs fruit with small berries. I've added some pictures of the Highbush Cranberries we planted last year.

Highbush Cranberry(viburnum trilobum) is probably the best known of the viburnums. It can be easily confused with its European cousin and is generally available at many nurseries. You can likely find it in its typical/natural form but also comes in a compact form. It blooms with small white flowers, and in the fall, the leaves turn crimson. The shrubs berry red, if they berry at all. The plants are gendered and in order to get berries, you'll need both male and female plants.

Nannyberry(viburnum lentago) will also flower with white blooms like the Highbush Cranberry. Nannyberry is shade tolerant, and we plan to plant it in our shady corner near our Pagoda Dogwood. The fruit start light green and become blue-ish later in the year. These berries will persist through the winter and should attract birds.

Maple Leaf Viburnum(viburnum acerifolium) is another option you may want to consider. The leaves of this shrub may be broader than the previous two viburnums discussed. White flowers on this shrub give way to red berries which become blue. The green foliage turns purple in the fall. This viburnum is less shade tolerant than the Nannyberry but does require some shade to grow well. This viburnum seems to be more difficult to find commercially when compared with the Nannyberry or the Highbush Cranberry.

Arrowwood Viburnum(viburnum dentatum) has a number of available cultivars including: Blue Muffin and Autumn Jazz. This viburnum will do well in partial shade and produce blue fruit in late summer. The flowers are white like the other viburnums, and this plant is tolerant of Black Walnuts and clay soils.

Generally speaking the viburnums are pretty hardy and low maintenance. Because of their flowers and fruit, butterflies and birds may be attracted to them as well. If you don't already have some, I'd recommend planting viburnums. They are pretty great, and I'm sure you'll see why everyone loves viburnums.

Common Critters - Backyard Reptiles and Amphibians

When we think of animals in our lawns and gardens we often think of birds and small mammals; yet they are not the only vertebrate backyard denizens. With the right conditions, your yard may attract amphibians and reptiles. The biggest key to attracting them is making sure that you aren't using chemicals. Amphibians are particularly sensitive to chemicals like pesticides and fertilizer because their skin is so porous. Here are some visitors which may indicate that you have a healthy lawn.

The American Toad is a fairly common amphibian in the eastern half of the United States. When growing up, there was a creek and a wood lot in the back portion of our yard in rural Illinois, and we used to find many toads in our yard. I was thrilled last year, when taking weeds to the compost, that there were toads living in my yard in suburban Wisconsin. Considering amphibians are considered to be in decline and considering that Wisconsin has had reported cases of Chytrid Infection, these amphibians seem to be doing well in our neighborhood. My wife and I often encountered them while taking our beagle for an evening stroll. They tend to be about the size of an adult palm and they eat various kinds of insects. They enjoy yards and gardens with plenty of plant life and where they can find shade in the afternoon. Having some open dirt is also a good idea because they will burrow and hibernate in winter.

Green Frogs are also an amphibian which means like our American Toad friends they are part of a phylum in decline. Frogs need more water than toads as they are far more aquatic, and with the destruction of our natural wetlands, frogs are being hit from both sides as their numbers have also dropped because of Chytrid Infection. Green Frogs are native to the eastern United States, and while they do not live in our yard (we don't have a pond), they do live in the pond at my work. My wife took the picture you can find below last summer. Green frogs aren't picky eaters and will eat insects, fish, and other amphibians. They can also be tracked by the sound they make; here's a recording from the WI DNR.

The Common Garter Snake seems to have been more common when I was a child. I remember running into these little guys regularly on the playground at school and occasionally at home (although our yard seemed to be more prone to Eastern Fox Snakes). While I haven't seen one of these in our yard yet, I remain convinced that they must be there somewhere. These snakes will eat insects, amphibians, small rodents, fish, and birds. They are often about two feet in length and have yellow stripes along a black or brown body.

One thing worth noting for all of the critters described above is that like many birds we wish to attract, these little guys eat insects. If you want them to hang around then avoid using insecticides on your lawn or garden; also make sure you are planting native plants which the insects will eat. While some people find these types of critters scary or disgusting, having amphibians and reptiles in your lawn is a great indicator that your yard is healthy.

Winged Wednesday: Plants for Birds - Alternative Native Plants

I picked up a book titled Garden Secretes for Attracting Birds, and generally speaking it has lots of good ideas. So if you are in the market for birdscaping ideas, I recommend picking up a copy. The book does not however distinguish between native and invasive plants. Here are few take-aways which I wanted to share.

Beware of Honeysuckle! Lanicera sempervirens is a native plant from North America, but it is not native to Wisconsin or Minnesota. There are a host of invasive honeysuckles which have damaged wild places in Wisconsin. Some of these species include: Tartarian Honeysuckle, Amur Honeysuckle, and Japanese Honeysuckle. Invasive bush honeysuckles can take over the understory of wood lots, forests, and even our preserves and state parks. Invasive Honeysuckles spread quickly from our yards to wild spaces because birds eat the berries and deposit the seeds elsewhere. There are some native species of Honeysuckle you may want to consider instead: Northern Bush Honeysuckle, American Fly Honeysuckle, and Limber Honeysuckle. When these native plants have their seed spread by birds, they don't damage our wild spaces because they evolved as part of the biome.

Norway Spruce is suggested as a good evergreen tree for attracting birds like Red Breasted Nuthatches and Cross Bills. Instead of planting Spruces from across the pond, consider planting some that already grow in the state; White Spruce and Black Spruce are both native to Wisconsin. White Spruces are popular plants in people's yards and make good windbreaks. Black Spruce is not as common in yards but is used by Black Capped Chickadees, Warblers, Owls, and Jays for nesting and roosting; in other words, there is not an advantage to planting their Norwegian cousin.

Common Foxglove is a flowering plant suggested for attracting Hummingbirds and American Goldfinches. There are a number of tall flowering plants native to the American Prairie. Plants like Lavender Hyssop, Blazing Star, Wild Bergamot, Blue Lupine and Joe Pye Weed all make excellent replacements for Foxglove. There are a host of other tall flowering plants, so when you are looking for plants for Hummingbirds, it's very hard to imagine why you would need or want to plant Foxglove. If you are looking for flowers which will have seeds to attract American Goldfinches, I would recommend Pale Purple Coneflower, Purple Coneflower, or Black-Eyed Susans as being excellent seed producers and very effective for attracting finches.

These are just some suggestions about plants from the book that can be easily replaced with native plants. The book itself is pretty good and had some helpful ideas, but be aware that if invasive plants attract birds, the birds themselves will spread the seed and therefore distribute the invasive plants across their territory. No invasive plants are truly confined to your yard or garden; they will make their way out and about. So take a look at the book and use your best judgement.

The Good Weeds

Wood Violets (Viola Sororia) is the state flower of Wisconsin. It often grows in shady spots of your yard like under trees. When left to grow on their own, they will spread rapidly and seed themselves. They are perennials returning each year, typically flowering in late Spring, they provide a nice splash of color before other flowers' bloom. Wood Violets may also attract butterflies before Summer flowers are available. Its roots aren't particularly deep, so if they are causing problems, they are easy to remove. Our yard is full of these little guys, but after I turned up the soil to setup our meadow garden, they started to take over so we pulled them to prevent them from shading out the seedlings.


Dendelions (Taraxacum officinale) are a very common flower which many people have their yards treated for, but dandelions are much more than weeds. They are salad greens and can be turned into wine. Dandelions have large tap roots which is what makes them so difficult to pull. Dandelions are visited by House Finches and Goldfinches for food, and Hummingbirds may use Dandelion fluff as nesting material. Dandelions are also abundant and easily available for bees and butterflies.


Clover (Dalea Candida - White Prairie Clover & Dalea Purpurea - Purple Prairie Clover). There are a number of species of clover that may grow in your yard but not all of these are native. White Clover and Red Clover are fairly common, but these should not be mistaken with White Prairie Clover and Purple Prairie Clover. While all of them are nitrogen fixers, which are good for your lawn, the "Prairie" varieties are native and can get rather large. Both "Prairie" species grow a large taproot that may grow 6 feet deep. Both species of clover attract a host of pollinators. Both enjoy full sun and do well in dry conditions.

If you are interested in other weeds that aren't so good for your yard, click here.

Common Critters - Backyard Mammals - Part 2

Last week, I touched on common critters which you may find in your yard or garden. In Part 1 we talked about some of the really obvious mammals who are probably munching on your plants. This week will focus on some critters who are probably out there but you don't see them very often.

Moles are very common visitors to yards, and while we don't often see them, we do see the result of their handy-work. As they grub around under the grass looking for insects to munch, they push up the grass into molehills. We find ourselves stomping their tracks back into the ground after they've come to visit. The Midwest is home to two different species: the Star-Nosed and the Eastern Mole. While they may manage to disturb our yards; it's good to keep in mind that they are eating grubs and insects which we may not want munching on our plants later. It's worth noting that moles remain active in the winter, and while they are known for eating worms they will also eat snails, centipedes, and beetle grubs. The moles may in turn be eaten by owls, hawks, and coyotes.

Shrews are more closely related to moles than they are to rats or mice. Shrews also eat various small critters in our yards and gardens. Some shrews in your area may include: the Prairie Shrew, Cinereus Shrew, Water Shrew, Smoky Shrew, and the Northern Short-Tailed Shrew. Shrews like the Northern Short-Tailed have a venom to help them catch prey. Shrews eat insects, small rodents, and some amphibians. Pictured below is a Short-Tailed Shrew we had last winter come and visit a tray full of safflower seed.



Voles, unlike our previous two animals are rodents. They can be mistaken for mice and are a common food source for birds of prey such as Great Horned Owls or Red-Tailed Hawks. Voles carve out trails through your lawn; you may notice bare paths where there is no grass. These trails may have multiple burrows to help voles escape predators easily. They are veracious chewers and will eat roots, bulbs, and gnaw the bark off of trees. The Woodland Vole and the Prairie Vole are both native to the Upper Midwest and are considered to be of special concern in Wisconsin. The decline of the Prairie Vole is attributed to the loss of native prairie sod.

Groundhogs or Woodchucks are large rodents belonging to a group known as marmots. These mammals have been made famous by Punxsutawney Phil, and growing up in rural Illinois, we had our own Groundhog who ate fallen apples from our trees. They are certainly not the most common rodent in suburbia, but we had a very close encounter with one while sitting on our deck. Groundhogs are mostly herbivorous but will eat some insects. Because of their size and their need to burrow, groundhogs can become problematic for homeowners as they may establish burrows under the deck or stoop or near your foundation or driveway.

WI State Journal: Wetlands Development

In case you interested in checking out developments in the WI State Senate regarding the development of wetlands, I thought I'd post this. Of course, many natural wetlands have already been drained and developed for agricultural, residential, and business reasons, and many municipalities are struggling with rain water retention. Let's also not forget how our lakes in Wisconsin have become so polluted with lawn chemicals that they bloom hazardous algae every summer. Of course if we had more natural wetlands then we wouldn't have to solve any of these expensive problems. Feel free to check out the article: WI State Journal

Winged Wednesday - Bird Arrivals in March

Each fall a large part of the Wisconsin Bird population (and some of the human population) head south for warmer weather. The winter weather in the Upper Midwest is not generally friendly to the insect population, which forces those birds which depend on the insects to migrate. While many of these birds head far south to places in Central America, others only head as far south as places like Arkansas. The birds which remain state-side are the ones we can expect to arrive first. While I imagine that few people anticipate the arrival of blackbirds, I get quite excited about it because it's one of the first signs that Spring has come.

The Common Grackle will be one of the first birds to return. They are black with a shiny iridescence and yellow eyes. They tend to move about in large groups and may roost at night with other blackbirds. Early in the day as the sun comes up and as they gather at night, the grackles can be quite noisy. Their call is quite shrill, and they will forage in our yards and gardens. They will eat human food from our compost piles, they will eat seed from feeders, and they will look for insects in the turf grass.

The Brown Headed Cowbird is another blackbird which will return early. In my experience they tend to be more interested in farmers' fields than in backyards, but we've had them visit our feeders. They have an interesting sexual dimorphism. The male's coloring is where the species' name originates. The male has a solid brown head with a black beak and black body. The female is a sharp slate gray. They will bicker with other birds at feeders, and their aggressive behavior can be unwanted at feeders.

Red Winged Blackbirds are probably my favorite of the blackbirds. The males have bright red shoulders with a golden wing bar. In the mornings and evenings they may gather with grackles and can be heard across town. They spend a fair amount of time by storm water retention ponds, where the male birds will display in the evenings. I enjoy how well they balance on the tall reeds and grasses.

The American Robin is not a blackbird, but the Wisconsin State Bird should arrive during March. The robins can be found in our yard and gardens eating grubs, worms, and other insects from the ground. Robins are a thrush and can be quite aggressive with one another. They even look cocky as they hop around the lawn, and they fly into windows thinking that their reflection is another robin. Their nests are small bowls which will be filled with small blue eggs. They aren't particularly afraid of people and may try to nest near your house such as atop flood lights or on overhangs. Robins are viewed by many as the official herald of Spring.

Common Critters - Backyard Mammals - Part 1

Squirrels are very common backyard critters with little fear of humans. They are attracted to our yards by bird feeders, compost piles, and trees, particularly oak trees. Depending on where you live in the U.S. you may see different kinds of squirrel visitors. In the Midwest we are likely to see Eastern Fox Squirrels, Eastern Gray Squirrels, and Red Squirrels. Both Northern and Southern Flying Squirrels can be found in the Midwest. Squirrels particularly enjoy eating acorns, sunflower seeds, peanuts, and cracked corn. If you have oak trees like many people do, whether they be White Oak, Pin Oak, Black Oak, or Red Oak, you will certainly end up with squirrels gathering acorns and burying them in your yard. Of course, squirrels can also get themselves into trouble by foraging in vegetable gardens and climbing bird feeders, and because they are more nimble and dexterous than rabbits keeping them out of trouble is a big ask. In the case of feeders, you may want to make sure to use baffles and be very aware of your feeder's placement. In the case of vegetable gardens, it's worth considering something like bird netting to put over your produce. More on Squirrels from UW Extension

Chipmunks are squirrel-like rodents who spend much of their time on the ground. Eastern Chipmunks and Least Chipmunks are common in the Midwest and can be seen feeding under bird feeders gathering any seeds dropped by our feathered friends. Because they burrow, some people find them to be a nuisance. We've often been entertained by their high energy antics, we've even witnessed them scamper up the bird feeder pole and devour some safflower seeds. Chipmunks will also try to compete with squirrels for morsels at bird feeders but will find themselves overpowered by their larger cousins. Chipmunks are capable climbers and will also eat berries from shrubs and small trees.

Ground Squirrels are very similar to chipmunks and can often be seen along the roadside next to farmers' fields. You may see them dart across the road, they usually appear longer and thinner than chipmunks and don't have the solid white stripes which are characteristic of chipmunks. The 13-Lined Ground Squirrel and the Franklin's Ground Squirrel both call Wisconsin home. We've had the 13-Lined Ground Squirrel visit our bird feeders and have witnessed short skirmishes between them and chipmunks competing over seeds. The Franklin's Ground Squirrel lived in the tallgrass prairie but as much of its habitat has been destroyed; it's now a species of Special Concern. If you've decided that the burrowing chipmunks and ground squirrels are a problem, before setting traps make sure you've correctly identified the species; also consider consulting with your local DNR or animal control.

Cottontail Rabbits are happy to make your lawn or garden their home. They enjoy eating grass, most flowers, vegetables, berries, clover, pretty much anything. They even chewed branches off of my Red Chokeberry and my Serviceberry shrubs. Fencing or raised garden beds can be an effective means to be prevent rabbits from eating what you've planted. We struggled for much of last Spring and Summer with the rabbits eating the Purple Coneflowers, Blue Lupines, and False Indigo. Eventually we put up plastic fencing around some of the plants, and this year we plan to fence off the whole wildflower garden until the plants have a chance to grow. We also purchased a beagle midway through the Summer, and we think she'll be an effective rabbit deterrent as well.

Wisconsin Garden Expo Recap

We spent most our Saturday at the Wisconsin Garden Expo where we met with some friends, spoke with some vendors, and attended a few seminars. I wanted to take a few minutes to highlight some of what we saw.

We started the expo in the main hall looking at the various vendor booths. We noticed that it seemed to be more crowded than last year, to the point of being somewhat claustrophobic. We also had this experience in some of the seminars. While it's good that attendance was high, the folks planning the expo may want to address the overcrowding. We had pretty good conversations with the folks from the Bluebird Restoration Asso. of Wisconsin, Wild Ones, and Midwest Decorative Stone & Landscape Supply. I also took a gander at the new Fiskar's StaySharp mower; it looks really cool!

We took in a few seminars as well. I was most impressed with Samantha Peckham of Olbrich Gardens who spoke on The Good, The Bad, and The Hungry. Her presentation grouped wildlife into two categories: the ones we want to have in our lawns or gardens, and the ones we don't. Her "Good" category consisted of three subgroups: "Parasites & Pathogens, Predators, and Pollinators." While parasites may not sound like a good thing, she specifically addressed Milky Spore and Bt used to control insect populations. Some of her garden good guys included: Parasitic Wasps, Dragonflies and Damselflies, Lady Bugs, Swallows, Robins, Amphibians, Bees, and Butterflies. She also included some more controversial animals like Coyotes and Foxes because they help reduce rodent and lagomorph populations. Her list of "not so good guys" was more contentious, and I've no intention of adding Chipmunks, Squirrels, and Red Winged Blackbirds to a list of backyard bad guys (while I don't like them at my feeders all of the time, I rather enjoy them in the yard). However she also spoke about Yellow Jackets, Gypsy Moths, Tent Worms, Japanese Beetles, and Emerald Ash Borers which can certainly be problematic in a lawn or garden. It is however worth noting, that Ms. Peckham suggested that it would be okay to disturb a Red Winged Blackbird nest and remove it as they can be very territorial; this is however unlawful as these birds are protected by the North American Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

We also enjoyed a presentation about water features which was presented by Shane Wagner of the Bruce Company He presented a lot of interesting information about three types of water features: Bubbling Urns, Pondless Waterfalls, and Ponds. He gave excellent details about how much each of these projects would cost and how to do it yourself. After his presentation we were convinced that we no longer want a pond.

Liza Lightfoot of Avant Gardening spoke about natural stone in landscaping. While she seemed to really know her stuff, there was a malfunction with the PowerPoint and the presentation ended 15 minutes early.

Birdscaping in the Midwest was presented by Mariette Nowak, formerly of the Wehr Nature Center. Her presentation validated much of what we've tried to do in the yard so far, and we were excited when plants such as viburnums, chokeberries, dogwoods, and serviceberries all got a shout out, as we have planted shrubs of these types. The most interesting part of her presentation were the graphs that demonstrated how increasing your yard's native plant density will also increase your overall bird abundance as well as the variety of species that spend time in your yard. When living in suburban Milwaukee on a small lot, she had counted close to 90 different species in her yard. She also plugged Doug Tallamy's Bringing Nature Home, which was awesome! Her presentation was generally good and had a lot of information, but it was too long for the allotted time so the end was rushed.

Generally the expo was fun, and we came away with some good ideas about how best to go about this year's landscaping. It's too bad that we'll need to wait another couple of months before we can really do anything.

Green Stuff? In February?

As the snow started falling this morning just as I was headed off to work, I had to wonder how we managed to have such a lovely, balmy weekend only 6 days earlier. Last Saturday, I spent some time out in the yard cutting back some our of plants. I brought the beagle out with me for some company and came to two realizations while I was out there.

Firstly that I needed to do some weeding. And I needed to do it in February.

Secondly, I had some green. Some of plants had come back and were just as ready for Spring as I am.

I was not overly surprised that I needed to pull some Quackgrass, and I even found some spots in the yard where I could justify taking the mower out. (Note: I did not actually take the mower out.) I did however notice that many of the invasive plants which I thought I had successfully removed last Fall were blooming. It appears that we will be stuck with Purple Pansies and Asiatic Lilies forever. They seem to be doing quite well in front of our house.

Pansies are hybrid plants based on European Violas.

The Lilies seeded themselves.

When I made it to the backyard though I found cause for some celebration. Some of the native plants which I planted last year were coming back. It was late Spring last year when I started pulling up the invasive plants which the previous owner had planted and began adding native plants like Purple Coneflower and Little Blue Stem. Neither of these plants were coming back, but I as cut back some of the native plants, I found three surprises.

The Blue Lupine is coming up already. This was good news considering the rabbits had chewed it to the ground.

The Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida Columnifera) was looking very green.

And here's some white clover which despite being invasive adds nitrogen to the soil, so I usually leave this one alone.

Winged Wednesday - Local Raptors

There are many species of raptor which wildlife enthusiasts and birders hope to observe. Many of them may not be tolerant of human development so we don't generally expect them to show up in our backyard or in town. However just as many of our furry friends have adapted to suburban or urban life, the raptors have adapted as well. This post is just about the raptors we see or hear around neighborhoods in our area.

Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks are smaller hawks and have become common sights around bird feeders. These hawks are fairly successful bird killers, and are attracted by the high concentrations of birds around feeders. We had a youngster around our yard last year. Our introduction came one night while we were sitting on our deck, and some Mourning Doves were milling around on the ground. Suddenly doves were airborne and there was a hawk at the base of the feeder, and as a quick as it descended it was up in the neighbor's tree. It had a number of other observed failed hunting attempts in the yard in June and July, and then one evening in late summer, as I was returning from walking the dog the Mourning Doves took off again. Initially I assumed it was from the arrival of the beagle brigade, and then our hawk friend snatched a dove in mid-flight and proceeded to devour it our neighbor's yard. So long as there are birds to feed on, these hawks will be around somewhere.

Red-Tailed Hawks are the large hawks people often see along the highway sitting atop the big green signs. They are expert mammal hunters. If there are squirrels, rabbits, mice, etc then the hawks should have plenty of food. If your yard, neighborhood, or local park is home to small mammals then on a warm day pay attention to sky. We often see the local Red-Tail above our own yard on clear days. We've seen it circle above enough to frighten our backyard wildlife, but we've yet to see it make a kill.

Great Horned Owls are highly adaptable. They are the most widespread raptor in North America. These owls have the distinct "hooting" that people identify with owls. They will duet when finding a mate. They seem to prefer perching in evergreens and are nightly ambush predators. Like the Red-Tailed Hawks they also feed on the small furry critters in our yards. They fly almost silently and may be difficult to spot in the dark, but we often hear our local owls when taking our dog on her bedtime walk.

American Kestrels are much smaller than the other birds on this list. You can even purchase nest boxes for these petite raptors. When driving, pay attention to the birds you see perched on the power lines. While you may see blackbirds, pigeons, and doves, these lines often have kestrels perched as well. Kestrels have a fairly varied diet of insects, small mammal, and birds. Their diet makes them fairly adaptable, but they do rely on woodpecker cavities for their nests. Hence, if you want to attract a kestrel to your yard, you could consider adding a large nest box.

Bald Eagles are not exactly the kind of bird I would expect to find in my yard. That said, if you live near a river, in particular one with a hydroelectric dam, you can find them hunting in groups during the winter. One example of this is the Sauk Prairie metro-area in Wisconsin. Because eagles need open water to fish, the eagles will stay near the dam as the waters begin to freeze. They gather in convocations and pick off the stunned or injured fish that make it through the dam. Other cities, like LaSalle-Peru on the Illinois River, also play host to convocations of eagles during the winter, so if you live on a river in the Upper Midwest you should keep your eyes open as you may be fortunate to see a Bald Eagle in your neighborhood.

This one fed in our yard over the summer.

Eagle over the dam in Sauk Prairie

Crane & Wolf Updates

Just thought I should keep updating everybody. Here's the latest on the Sandhill Crane and Gray Wolf Hunts from the WI State Journal

Other states have made some movement on the issue as well. See MN DNR's Wolf Management Site

Here's what's new in Michigan where a hunt appears unlikely.

Wisconsin Garden Expo - Top Picks

It's finally here; the Wisconsin Garden Expo at the Alliant Energy Center presented by Wisconsin Public Television is this weekend. Last year's expo included a number of seminars on native plants and green gardening. This year's expo has fewer sessions along these themes, but I thought I'd share which sessions we plan on attending and which ones we almost chose. Note that we are only planning on attending sessions on Saturday.

Hr	Top Choice	Back-up
9 am	Make Your Garden and Landscape Sustainable	Rich's Good Old Conifer Chat
10 am	Birdscaping in the Midwest	Controlling & Preventing Invasive Insects
11 am	The Good, the Bad, & the Hungry: Wild Things in Your Garden	Seed Starting
12 pm	Native Plants for Any Garden	Gardening for Hummingbirds
1 pm	Elements of Natural Stone	Basics of Permaculture
2 pm	Water Features in Your Yard	Going Green in Landscaping
3 pm	Edible Native Plants	Successful Seed Starting
4 pm	Butterfly Gardens	Energy Efficient Landscaping

Note that there are sessions which we did not list that are good to attend. Speaking from last year's experience we would recommend Attracting Bluebirds by BRAW. We have also been to Gardening for Hummingbirds multiple times. It's presented by the Rocks, they have a website here.

The Expo also brings in a number of vendors. We have a number of booths we plan to check-out. We recommend the following:

1. Agrecol
2. Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin
3. The Bruce Company
4. The Flower Factory Nursery
5. Invasive Plant Association of Wisconsin
6. Madison Audubon Society
7. The Prairie Enthusiasts
8. Tallgrass Restoration
9. Wild Ones

Next Monday, I'll recap what we learned, what was exciting, and what was a dud. Hope to see you there!

The Not So Good Weeds

Weeds are defined by Webster as "a plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of vigorous growth; especially : one that tends to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants." Notice that Webster makes no claims about where the weeds have come from. The USDA lists both introduced (invasive) and weedy plants as weeds. So what is a weed? There's really no right answer, but for the sake of this post I'll address common invasive plants that have the potential to overgrow the other plants in our yard. While generally in favor of a biodiverse lawn, these are plants I remove.

Canada Thistle is in fact not native to the U.S. or Canada; it's a European thistle. It's deep rooted, prickly, and grows pretty quickly. It can grow pretty much anywhere in the yard and has spread through most of the U.S. Most states list it as a noxious weed. It can travel large distances because finches will feed on its seeds, and as they fly through your yard or feed at your feeders, they deposit the seeds.WI DNR on Canada Thistle

Quack Grass is a plant native to Europe that often grows in our yard, flower beds, and even in our flower pots. It's native to Europe as well and spread through most of the United States and Canada. Quack Grass grows very quickly, spreads rapidly, and from my experience seems to be able to take over turf grass. This stuff will grow anywhere. I've also found it difficult to mow with the push-reel mower when it grows in a bunch. Quack Grass on USDA

Yellow Sweet Clover and Red Clover These clovers are not native to the U.S. The Red Clover is native to Europe and parts of Western Asia. It's a nitrogen fixer and grows in your lawn along side white clover. It has pretty purple flower and large leaves with a characteristic light water mark on the leaves. Yellow Sweet Clover is in fact not a clover at all. It's native range is also across the pond. It will overtake natives. Sweet Clover can grow tall and shade out native plant species.

Bird's Foot Trefoil is vine-like crap that grows along the ground. I personally have a terrible time getting rid of this one. It spreads quickly and creeps out of the yard over the curb and into the street. It may also appear in driveway cracks and disturbed soil. This plant is available for purchase and can choke out other plants in your yard or garden. Bird's Foot Trefoil at the Minnesota DNR

Canada Thistle

Bird's Foot Trefoil

State Journal Reports on Sandhill Crane Hunting

Wisconsin is also looking at allowing further hunting of sandhill cranes. See the State Journal Article and here's some information on Kentucky's Sandhill Crane Hunt in the Courier-Journal.

More on Wisconsin Wolf Hunting

In case folks are still interested, here's the latest. Wisconsin State Journal on the Wolf Hunt

Winged Wednesday - Feeder Pests

Many people add bird feeders to their lawn or garden in hopes of attracting a splash of bright color, some wildlife, and perhaps in hopes of hearing a spring tune as sung by a Northern Cardinal or American Goldfinch. However people often find, as we did, that getting the birds you want is not always easy. Feeder pests may include anything which frightens song birds away or anything which takes over the feeder preventing the desired birds from eating.

Common Feeder Pests include:

1. English House Sparrows
2. European Starlings and other Blackbirds
3. Squirrels
4. Hawks
5. Neighborhood Cats

House Sparrows pose two problems for native song birds attempting to feed. First they descend in large numbers, and second they are bullies. They will attack native birds both at feeders and in nests or nest boxes. They do very well in areas of human habitation and will eat human leftovers or use them as nesting material. If you want to attract native birds to your feeders, you need to prevent a House Sparrow invasion. Avoid wild bird feed seed mixes. Most of these seed mixes are filled with cracked corn, millet, and other fillers; excellent sparrow food, not so good song bird food. Be mindful of the feeders you use, House Sparrows often need somewhere to sit or perch while feeding. They are generally not clingers. For example, they enjoy peanuts but are more likely to eat them from a tray feeder than from a metallic mesh tube with no perches. You can also disturb or remove House Sparrow nests as they are not protected because they are invasive.

Starlings are also an invasive species which may take over feeders in large numbers. If given the chance, they can eat you out of house and home. Follow the plan above for preventing House Sparrows, and you're feeders should remain relatively Starling free. These birds can also be disturbed as they are invasive. Other blackbirds such as Brown Headed Cowbirds or Red Winged Blackbirds are native and should not be disturbed. Generally if you do not have millet or cracked corn, they will avoid your feeders. They also require some perching space.

Squirrels and other mammals like raccoons may take interest in bird feeders. The best means to protect feeders from mammals is with careful placement and the use of baffles. Be mindful of power lines, fences, and tree limbs; if the critters think they can make the jump, they will certainly try. Baffles are often made of metal. They come in many shapes and can be mounted above or below a feeder. They are designed to block a mammal's path. Note they can be used in conjunction with birdhouses as well.

Hawks are a particularly tricky matter. Cooper's and Sharp-Shinned Hawks will target feeders as hunting grounds. You have two choices. Take your feeders down long enough for the raptors to find other hunting grounds, or let nature take its course. You can also help even the odds by providing good shelter for birds. Dense grasses and wildflowers, shrubs, evergreens, and trees all help give the song birds a fighting chance.

Just like hawks, cats may come to your yard looking for a meal. Keep your feeders high, baffled, and provide some cover for the birds. Keep the ground area near your feeder well mowed and open so that the cats can be spotted.

Keep in mind that many of these animals are quite adaptable and surprisingly clever, so be vigilant and adaptable yourself, and happy birding.

Squirrel Coming to our Feeder

Blackbirds on our Feeders - Clever Grackle