Nature Along the El Camino Real
Blog of the El Camino Real Chapter, Texas Master Naturalists, Milam County, Texas
by Eric Neubauer
A bluebird family dropped by. While they hadn’t nested here, they came to visit daily for a while.
Missed photos: all three lined up on the edge of the porch roof; two fledglings on the feeder while a hummingbird closely studied them from all sides.
It’s bad enough that they’ve had to share the feeder with paper wasps, jumping spiders, and a rare praying mantis.
by Donna Lewis
I love the Bluebirds. In the winter I try to help them out by feeding them dried mealworms. They probably like live worms more, but they are more expensive and harder to get. But a little help during harsh weather is still a good thing.
Every year I hate to see the dried worms ruined by rain or ice. However, the Bluebirds will not use any feeder that is closed in. They want an open platform with a perch on it. They do not like anything that they have to go inside.
I have tried many types of feeders marketed for them. They have not worked.
I have been watching the birds for years, so I know what they do. I thought maybe a clear container with a small cover might do. I placed it on a square plywood board, put a back board on the North side to block some of the rain and wind, then watched to see if that would even take a chance and go for the worms.
Success!! They did. Boy, was I excited. Now, I will see what happens when the severe weather arrives. That will be the real test.
They do not like rope or bungee cords attached to the feeder. They might think they are snakes? I don’t know. I hope the wind does not blow the feeder off.
Anyway, we will see soon if the feeder keeps some of the worms dry.
You have to observe our wild friends to see how they feel about something we have made for them. Think like a bird. Keep learning by observing.
Who are you gardening for?
by Donna Lewis
As I have mentioned and you certainly know, this year has been a hard year for every living thing. Water and food are not as plentiful for our wild friends.
So, while I have lots of extra water stations, I also have put out extra bird food.
Black oil sunflower seeds are my favorite for most of the feeder birds, along with dried mealworms for the bluebirds and phoebes. Live mealworms are the best, but even more expensive than the dried ones.
I have spent way over my budget this year, so I need to win the lottery soon. Like me, the birds will have to be careful with our funds.
I took these photos this morning of first-year bluebirds sitting on one of my platform feeders eating mealworms I had just set out. They must fight the cardinals for them. The eastern phoebes also like the mealworms.
The bluebirds were born this spring, so they look a bit rough. They will look better in their second year.
It’s nice to do something for the birds. It’s nice to do something nice for anyone.
Remember who we garden for.
by Donna Lewis
Don’t be fooled by our nice weather… just around the corner could be lurking a cold winter blast. Hopefully not a blast from the past (I am talking about the 10 days of freezing temperatures we had. So, there are some pretty simple things you can do to help our feathered friends right now. Better to do these things while it’s nice for us to go outside.
We built and installed a platform under our front porch for the Phoebe’s to build their Spring nest on. This is to hopefully keep them from putting 10,000 pounds of mud everywhere on our porch trying to build their own platform for their nest. Boy is that messy. I have never done this before, so we will see if they use it.
Many species of birds like open platforms. Here are a few: Chickadees, Wrens, Phoebes, and Nuthatches. Ducks and other large raptors also use large platforms that are higher up.
Also new is a Bluebird feeder. This is an attempt to keep the dried mealworms from blowing off the platform dishes onto the ground and getting them wet and icky in winter weather. It’s hard for any insect-eating bird to find food in the winter.
I have also stuffed the Bluebird nest boxes with dry pine needles for extra protection from the weather. I have shown here the area behind my house where I feed the Bluebirds and put out eggshells for the Purple Martins. The cow panels make perfect perches for the birds. Perches are very important if you want to draw any birds to you.
I have placed these feeders away from the regular feeders so we don’t have conflict between the birds, and I can see it easily from inside the house.
These are my regular feeders. The open hopper is a favorite of most all my regulars, Cardinals, Chickadees, Titmice, and just about every bird.
So, you can do a few things that will assist our wild friends. Do what you can.
Anywhere I look I have baby birds right now, which is a wonderful thing for a naturalist. Who could be bored right now with so many little creatures to look at?
On our front porch we have a nest with five tiny Eastern Phoebes. They are fly-catchers and love things with wings.
This morning mama tried to force a giant beetle down her youngest daughter and I thought for awhile I might have to preform the Hine-lick procedure…
Then in my Blue-bird houses I have five babies in one house and six babies in another. Again, bugs are on the menu. This year the Blue-birds decided to run off the Purple Martins so they could use their perch to look for predators near their houses.
Over in our barn I have a nest of baby Carolina Wrens in a bucket that was hanging on the wall. If you have never seen a wren baby you would not believe how tiny they are. They are the cutest little things ever. There are only three babies.
Up in the oak trees about 18 feet high we have some Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Now talk about a tiny house. You can barely see it. It is wrapped in moss and is very concealed.
There are ton’s of Cardinal nests everywhere. They eat bugs and from my feeders. I have them year round. They are regulars here.
Then at last my beautiful Purple Martins, who came very late this year, are starting to lay their eggs finally. That unfortunately will cause the babies to mature during the hottest time of the year.
I have seven nests with eggs and more that have not started yet. I have the fewest Martins than ever at this site. There are many potential reasons for this, and it’s hard to determine for sure.
But the ones I do have sing to me, and it’s all worth the trouble.
Nature is everywhere you are. All you have to do is look.
Heaven on earth.
Nature Along the El Camino Real 