Sunflowers Emerging
It’s happening! Sunflowers are blooming and their wonderful shades are emerging across our summer landscape. These will serve as tremendous food sources for birds on the way south. While our aerial insectivores are flying to their winter quarters right now, the seed eaters will be moving in the coming weeks and months. For now the flowers are all for the insects…
Read MoreSunflower Plot
The first “fall” migrant birds are already dispersing or moving about! Young swallows are leaving their nesting areas, shorebirds are beginning to come south, and flycatchers that may have had failed nests are already on the way to the wintering grounds. Later this autumn this sunflower plot will be a tremendously attractive spot to many passerine migrants looking for a feeding or resting area. Let’s keep up a good balance of rain and sunshine, please! For the birds.
Read MorePurple Martins (Progne subis)
Placed along a number of yards and marinas along Chautauqua Lake, these gourds create little neighborhoods for a number of nesting Purple Martins (Progne subis). During the breeding season, Purple Martins will take up residence in these man-made houses to safely nest and raise their young. As the little ones begin to hatch and grow, both the male and female will collect bug food to bring back to them. These large aerial insectivores are incredibly acrobatic and able to turn on a dime in order to pursue a fleeing insect. This summer season, no bug will be safe while the Purple Martins are in...
Read MoreButterflies Coming
Butterflies like this Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) will be emerging next month! As we near the end of avian migration and enter their breeding season we will be seeing many more of our insect friends taking flight. I have not had a lot of time to spend surveying for them yet, but butterflies I have seen so far this year include Black Swallowtail, Eastern Tailed-blue, Orange Sulphur, Clouded Sulphur, Cabbage White and Monarch. When June hits our staff will be sure to begin surveying sites from our Natural History Atlas as well as other critical habitats, or locations that...
Read MoreHoles in the Trees
While you may know your birds, do you know your holes? This handy Birdwatcher’s Field Guide to Holes in Trees can be very helpful when inspecting trees for the presence of invasive insects. If you are out this holiday weekend birding or doing other fun outdoor activities, be on the lookout for these different holes in the trees around you and report any that look suspicious as Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week is nearing a close.
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