Welcome to our blog!
It's all about our discoveries in our private Shady Oaks Sanctuary for birds, pollinators and wildlife. We gauge our success by the diversity of species we observe and document with our photography.
We hope you are inspired to create your own refuge!
Happy Fourth of July! 7-4-21
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!
We are officially half way through the year and into summer.
Ten years ago, on June 12, 2011, was the first time I saw a deer in our yard. I remember it well because it was the date our garden was on the St. Louis Garden Tour to benefit the Missouri Botanical Garden. We've seen deer every year since then, but their numbers have definitely gone up. This young buck already has a healthy rack of antlers, eleven points as best as I've been able to count. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation Events Calendar, deer antlers are among the fastest growing tissues found on any animal with fur. "At the peak of growth - which usually occurs from mid-June to mid-July - a buck may add an inch or more to its antlers in a single day." This is the earliest we've seen one with this large a rack!
Here are a few more videos, deer are active even during stormy weather. And, did you know Northern Cardinals will sing as early as 4:30 a.m.?
As you may imagine, the 'salad bar' has been busy 24 hours a day. The deterrent we have used in the past is not as effective this year. Oh, deer!
The inquisitive fawn is getting braver, but still staying close to the doe.
Here are a few views of the garden. The hydrangeas are in bloom, at least the ones that haven't been browsed on. The pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata) in the pond has been visited by bees, dragonflies and other tiny insects. This cliff goldenrod (Solidago drummondii) has taken a liking to the copper praying mantis.
Fruits are ripening. Blackhaw drupes (Viburnum prunifolium) won't be ready until September, but the Rough-leaf Dogwood (Cornus drummondii) should be ready in a few weeks, and the birds will be enjoying them soon. Robins have been high up in the black cherry trees, grabbing those.
Eastern Wood-Pewees have been coming in to catch insects on the fly. Their song is a perfect, lazy tune that always means summer to me.
Song of the Eastern Wood-Pewee
A pair of Blue Jays took a break and visited the bubbler. Young American Robins are learning all about the joys of bathing.
This morning, a Barred Owl flew in and perched in the dogwood right near the deck. It was there at least 35 minutes before swooping down to catch prey. We had been wondering if the nesting crows have kept the owls out of the woodland. Now that the young crows are out and about with the adults, finally, the owls are coming back in. Hopefully, we'll learn if they had a successful nesting, too.
HAVE A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE WEEKEND!
Adding a Dripper for Birds 6-14-21
Here in our sanctuary, the Bubbler is very popular with the birds. Some folks have thought about having a bubbler but perhaps would like a less expensive alternative to consider for the warmer months. We found that adding a dripper to bird baths also effectively moves the water and attracts the birds. We have two working in the garden areas right now, alternating on timers. The birds learn very quickly when they will come on.
In the spring, I put together a thirteen-minute video on this topic for the Arrow Rock Birds and Bees Festival, coordinated by the team at the Missouri River Bird Observatory. Here is the video with a bit of history on our sanctuary and information on putting a dripper on a bird bath. Oh, and if you do, the birds will thank you for it!
Stay cool out there!
Into June. 6-8-21
The last of the spring migrants have moved through the area. This Chestnut-sided Warbler came in with a mixed flock that included at least a dozen Tennessee Warblers on May 19, 2021.
The following day, a female Bay-breasted Warbler graced the woodland.
Five days later, another Veery was here and on May 27, a female Black-throated Green Warbler stopped in to feed and bathe. Now, it's the season for summer breeders!
A Yellow-billed Cuckoo slipped silently into the woodland. In typical fashion, it looked all around for a meal, perhaps tent caterpillars, a favorite.
Most of the year, the diet of Carolina Chickadees is 80-90% insects and spiders. Dr. Doug Tallamy has taught us that one brood of this species requires 6,000-9,000 caterpillars! So, we've been pleased to see a well-fed brood of six Carolina Chickadees coming to the Bubbler now. They are bouncy little butterballs, just full of energy! It is truly gratifying to watch these little birds behaving so confidently in the safe haven we've established. Their proud papa is the bird we watched all winter, with the deformed leg.
Here, the adults were pair-bonding and the male had just fed the female after mating in April.
Other summer breeders have produced offspring, like this young Eastern Phoebe which was exploring the Bubbler. Also seen early one morning was this female Ruby-throated Hummingbird taking a bath! I have seen the male dancing in the air above the female, so she may have built a nest and be taking care of young by now.
Downy Woodpeckers have young to feed and these birds have red feathers on the tops of their heads. The male took a quick break to bathe.
Two weeks ago, I kept an eye on this Carolina Wren, who was napping. And napping...for ten whole minutes! The reason was revealed yesterday.
These wrens have been feeding a Brown-headed Cowbird, twice their size. The cowbirds lay their eggs in other species' nests. No wonder that poor wren needed a good nap! The adoptive parent had been in and out of the Celandine Poppies (Stylophorum diphyllum), foraging in the leaf litter beneath to find insects to feed this young bird.
I realize it has been longer than usual for a new blog post, but we have not been slackers! Our garden was on the 2021 Native Plant Garden Tour this past Saturday. Tickets sold out within days, it was very well-attended. There have been 36 species of birds coming in to forage and feed their young, so the tour threw a bit of a wrench into the works for them. However, Sunday was recovery day and this young Eastern Phoebe was among the birds back in business, fly-catching in the swampy thicket on its own.
Goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus) near the pond and Indigobush (Amorpha fruticosa) near the back property line were both in bloom.
One last hurrah unfurled from a Louisiana iris hybrid of the Copper Iris (Iris fulva) and Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor), named 'Black Gamecock'.
The Indian Pinks (Spigelia marilandica) were at their peak on Saturday.
Our favorite vine greeted visitors in front and near the pond, Coral Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). Hummingbirds sip its nectar.
Until next time!
A Bevy of Beauties. 5-18-21
The last two weeks have been a bit of a blur!
Some of you know this bird and it will be revealed to all at the end. Let's take a look at some of the migrants that have stopped in to rest, refuel and refresh before heading on to their breeding grounds.
A female Blackpoll Warbler perched briefly, a male was seen high in the pond cypress. Their orangey legs help to give them away.
Northern Parulas were more vocal early in the month. Their chestnut and black breast bands deepen each year in the males.
Golden-winged Warblers, both male and female have been frequent visitors. They are one of the most endangered of our migratory birds and yards with lots of native oaks and other plants help to sustain them and 96% of our native songbirds.
A Northern Waterthrush found small larvae in the string algae at the bubbler. I'm never too quick to scrub the algae away because it is beneficial.
After struggling to get a photo of this Magnolia Warbler, which was foraging frantically, it suddenly stopped to sing! Ah, feed them and rewards will come.
Philadelphia Vireos come in with the mixed flocks. Sometimes confused with the Tennessee Warbler, this species enjoys splash-bathing.
Chestnut-sided Warblers are often heard singing, "Pleased, pleased, pleased to meet 'cha!" Ditto, I'm sure!
A White-crowned Sparrow came in this year. I don't take this one for granted, the last time I had one was May of 2018.
This is the only Canada Warbler that I've been able to see this year. Every spring can vary quite a bit with the mixed flocks that circle the 'hood.
A beautiful male Orange-crowned Warbler bathed and revealed its secret.
A Wilson's Warbler popped in to bathe after filling up on caterpillars.
This female Common Yellowthroat, a small warbler, spent a lot of time deep in the gooseberry patch. It would come out briefly, then dive back in. The thorny Gooseberry (Ribes missouriense) supports at least 60 different moth and butterfly caterpillars, which forage on the leaves and then may become food for birds.
A pair of Great Crested Flycatchers have been such fun to watch as they sally out to catch gnats and other flying insects. It's a pretty sure bet that they are the pair that nest here.
Another vireo, the Red-eyed was caught as it dive-bombed a Chestnut-sided Warbler!
Striking Black-throated Green Warblers seem to show up every spring and it's always a delight to hear their " zee-zee-zee-zee-zoo-zee!" song. Then again, one might hear their alternate song, "zee-zee-zoo-zoo-zee!"
There are indeed, uncommon species that make my heart stop, like the Bay-breasted Warbler. I don't always get to see this one in breeding plumage. Last year was exceptional with males here for10 days. This year, I've seen two males and a female so far. Yesterday, this male spiked up its crown which is a new behavior to me!
Ah, yes. the Fire-throat! Blackburnian Warbler, another gob-smacking eyeful of incredible beauty. If you'd like to see all the images of these and even more migrants, check out the gallery beginning here:
If you just have that hankering for warblers, start here:
It's still raining here, but I just saw another Bay-breasted Warbler...
IT'S MAY!! 5-3-21
BIRDS, BIRDS, BIRDS!
So many colorful, neotropical migrants are showing up now. Here is a sampling.
All seemed right with the world when a Kentucky Warbler sang its 'Purdy-purdy' song.
New Bubbler Bird #123, a female Orchard Oriole was here several days.
A gorgeous Scarlet Tanager came in.
Brilliant Indigo Buntings are present.
Two male Golden-winged Warblers joined two Tennessee Warblers in a flurry yesterday, May 2, 2021.
For all the beautiful birds since the last post, begin here: Warblers and more since 4-25-21