Category: Berries

Buds To Berries

Until I moved here to the cabin, Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) was just a plant that I needed to avoid. Those three leaves – beware. But now I have learned there is so much more to know about the plant. There are buds in May (in the photo above, left). And believe it or not, flowers in June (in the photo above, right).

Then in July there are green berries (in the photo above, left). By October those green berries are turning to white (in the photo above, right).

Come January those white berries are perfect for tempting Chickadees, and many different species of woodpeckers. Surely there are many other birds that enjoy the berries but these are the ones that I see most often eating them. Of course you have recognized the Chickadee in the picture on the left. And here, in the photo above, on the right, is a Pileated Woodpecker and at the bottom of the that photo, is a Northern Flicker.

Though I’m extremely allergic to Poison Ivy I really enjoy having it around, for the birds.

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Busy Day at the Edge of the Woods

Here in the woods I’ve still got patches of snow from last week, and today’s temperatures were mighty cold. Birds gathered ’round the feeders, the birdbath, and the bushes that still have countless berries on them. Consuming calories which will go a long way toward keeping them warm. Keeping warm, something they’re constantly working on during the winter. The body temperatures of birds range from 100°F to 110°F and are generally about 104°F. Like a human putting on a warm coat during the winter, birds have 35 to 70% more feathers than during the summer. An increase in outer contour feathers as well as down feathers.

Yes, a busy place today. With Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Cardinals, Juncos, White-breasted Nuthatches, Robins, Robins, Robins, Cedar Waxwings, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Tufted Titmice, Downy Woodpeckers, the ever-present Chickadees. And a few Hermit Thrushes (Catharus guttatus), including one that was kind enough to pose for me for the photo above.

Gregarious Cedar Waxwings

Gregarious birds. Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum). In a group they’re called an “ear-ful” or a “museum” of Waxwings. They move together, often with American Robins (Turdus migratorius), from one area to another hunting down their favorite berries and fruits. Nomads roaming their range, showing up here and there wherever they can find a meal for their numbers. Here, Smooth Sumac berries have attracted them.

Winter Arrival of the Hermit Thrush

Seems every day I’m seeing another of my winter birds. This one, my treasured Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). A medium sized bird with a magical, flutelike song which it doesn’t bring along on its winter visit. It saves those lovely notes for summer, choosing to blend in and not make too much of a noticeable presence while in the black and white landscape of winter.

Out of necessity it also changes its diet, going from being an active hunter of yummy crawly things such as beetles, ants, caterpillars, true bugs, grasshoppers, crickets, spiders, and earthworms to what winter offers up to birds of winter, berries.

You can see in these pictures that the Hermit Thrush enjoys Smooth Sumac berries to dine on. Other berries they enjoy include Elderberries, Pokeberries, Serviceberries, Grapes, and Mistletoe berries. These are plants that I have in my yard or would certainly consider adding, just to invite more winter birds to come visit for the winter.

The Dewberry Experiment

The Dewberry (Rubus invisus) plant is quite insistent. It wants to be where I don’t want it. Somehow it knows such things. But back in May of this year I decided to give it a chance. Give it a spot to demonstrate what its benefits are. This plant loves rocky soil and enjoys shade, even full shade. Perfect for the conditions here at my place. It is a plant that extends its presence with trailing stems meandering along the surface of the soil. With unpleasant little thorns. Ugh!

These berries are the result of my experiment. A benefit to the birds that frequent the trees here on the side of the mountain. Birds that lift my heart. Now, with the end of my analysis, learning the benefit the birds get from this gift of berries, I think I’ll be more tolerant, more sympathetic and more encouraging in the future. Helping the Dewberry plants to areas where they will be welcome. Guiding them away from gardens that I maintain in my prim and proper way. My gardens that are my canvas to express my artistic style. In my dreams!

Eastern Towhee

A large sparrow with a long tail. The Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) fills the edges of the woods here with their beautiful song of “Drink your teeeeaa” all day long. For me, a constant companion.

Here in Virginia these Towhees have haunting red eyes but in Florida and northern Georgia they will have light straw colored eyes.

The Eastern Towhee is a bird that is here year-round, scavenging in the undergrowth for whatever it can find. Insects, spiders, snails, berries, millipedes, all could be on the menu.

If your bird feeders are close to the understory of the woods you might be fortunate to find a Towhee under those feeders scratching about for sunflower seeds or mealworms. If they feel safe.

Brown Thrasher

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum). Quite the handsome bird. It makes me think of a Roadrunner with its very long tail and long curved bill. They’re here during their breeding season but are year round in the deeper Southeast. The feeders here at my cabin don’t tempt them, not even the suet, but they love my blueberries. Down in Florida at my Mom’s feeders they are constantly eating the suet at her feeders. Omnivores, Brown Thrashers eat insects, berries, seeds and nuts, earthworms, snails, and an occasional lizard or frog.

Blackberries

Wild blackberry bushes (Rubus allegheniensis) have just finished blooming up here in the mountains. The list of insects, game birds, songbirds and mammals that these bushes benefit goes on and on. Needless to say the ecological benefit of these bushes to wildlife is quite high.

Many insects benefit from the pollen and nectar available in the flowers, others eat the leaves, sip the sap, or chomp on the canes. Game birds and songbirds eat the fruit. Mammals enjoy the fruit as well as eating leaves and canes. And the bushes themselves provide sheltering protection and nesting sites for some birds.

What I’m waiting for though is my fill of the berries. They are just at the very beginning stage. Many weeks to go as they get big enough, juicy enough and with that perfect wild in the woods blackberry flavor.

Many blackberry bushes up here. No need to search. They seem to be everywhere. The bushes spread thanks to animals distributing the seeds, rhizomes spreading underground, and as the canes reach out and touch the ground they take root. If you want some growing in your yard, you’ve got to keep a close eye on them. Otherwise they’ll run rampant.

Several weeks from now there will be loads of blackberries and maybe if I’m lucky there will be pears on the pear tree too.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

What a special treat just three years ago when I saw my first Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (Pheucticus ludovicianus). They were migrating through but they took their sweet time giving me great opportunities to observe and admire them. They were wonderful models for me too.

Late April until early May is when they’ve arrived. Three years in a row. Making themselves at home at my feeders where they gobble down sunflower seeds. On their own they eat berries, seeds and insects.

The male outfitted in his striking black and white feathers accented with the brilliant crimson bib.

The female reminding me of my favorite hot fudge sundae with not quite enough hot fudge. I hear they’re in the neighborhood right now but I’ve yet to see any. Hoping I will, before they take off on the rest of their journey to their breeding grounds of northern North America or the mountains of the West.

American Redstart

Hallelujah! More of my summer birds have arrived! A few days ago I mentioned that both male and female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have presented themselves. Now, this morning I spotted my first American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla). A male, looking quite handsome in his striking black and orange feathers.

The female of this species is also quite the knockout but in a more subtle way, as is often the case with birds. Gray and yellow and sweet.

Since American Redstarts eat insects, and in late summer, berries and small fruit, they don’t visit my feeders. IF those feeders are out during the summer. So far so good. No bear sightings. So the feeders are still out. Don’t let the bears know.

Though the American Redstarts aren’t interested in what I offer at the bird feeders they really relish having water available. During the summer I have three bird baths out for all the birds and it is quite the popular place. Like the old watering hole.