Where the bugs are

By Beth Sullivan

It’s really beginning to feel like winter. The temperatures have really taken the downward turn, and as I write this, we are anticipating a winter storm. We have had a few random warmer days when I have noticed small flies doing an air dance outside the window in the sun and the winter moths were out on warmer nights several weeks ago, but overall, the insects are not in evidence at this time of year. There are, however, birds that rely on insect protein to be part of their winter diet.

Spring or bust

Insect species have different ways of surviving the winter. In many cases, though, it is not in the adult form. With the exception of those that migrate, like some large dragonflies, or hibernate in their adult form like some bees and hornets, most are in some other stage of their life cycle. Many insects lay their eggs in the fall before they die. The eggs winter-over and hatch in the spring if they are not disturbed or eaten by birds. Most insect eggs are protected in ways to deter birds: think of praying mantis egg masses which are straw like and uninviting. Rarely have I seen a bird attack a mantis egg case. Other insects, most notably species of flies or small wasps, lay their eggs inside plant tissue which then modifies itself to create a protective casing around the egg and later, the developing larva. These are galls. The type most visible now is the goldenrod gall. The stem of the goldenrod forms a ball of tissue around the egg which stays intact all winter. They can be seen easily at field edges. They are not, however fully protected from the eyes and beaks of small birds. The downy woodpeckers and black-capped chickadees are noted for alighting on the sturdy stem and pecking into the gall to expose the egg, and then picking it out . Perfect protein.

Paper wasps, or white faced hornets, make the big gray nests that hang unnoticed overhead all summer and are only revealed when the leaves fall. Very often the colony is killed by the cold before all the eggs have hatched or larvae developed in the fall. I have watched several species of birds, including blue jays and titmice, go after such nests as they remain hanging or even rip at them once they fall. The frozen eggs and larvae are great sustenance.

The paper nest of the hornet may still contain unhatched larvae and eggs well into the winter.

Some flies and wasps will inject an egg into the goldenrod stem which swells around it, creating a gall.

Inside the gall, the egg and then the developing larvae are protected over winter.

Winter treehouse

Other groups of insects spend the winter under bark flaps and in crevices on trees. They can be adults, eggs, larvae, or pupae. Some are even embedded in bundles of lichen or deeper in holes where there may be some rot. This is also where the birds know where to look. Spend some winter day observing a tree, preferably from inside at a warm window. These persistent birds, woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, and kinglets, among others, will hop along branches, inspecting all surfaces. What is also interesting is observing how each species of bird approaches the task. The nuthatches will always work a tree going head first, down. They inspect bark flaps and cracks from this particular angle. Another very special, very small, bird is the brown creeper. They are not nearly as common as the other birds, and their camouflage is so good they are rarely spotted, except as they move around a tree trunk. This birds start at the bottom of the tree and work their way up the tree, examining the underside of everything and finding what the nuthatches may have left behind. They each have their own niche.

Of course the larger woodpeckers have the greatest advantage of having a big enough beak to delve deep into the heart of a tree, especially dead or rotting ones, to find the ants and termites and beetles in all stages.

The insects are out there. You just need to have a bird-brain to find them.

The tiny brown creeper goes headfirst up a tree then drops down to the bottom to do it again.

The white breasted nuthatch will go down the tree headfirst.

Woodpeckers with long, strong beaks can probe deep inside a tree looking for insects. 

Photographs by Beth Sullivan.

Under the Snow

By Beth Sullivan

It has been an interesting winter so far. We have had some really terrifically, deep, cold spells - some when there was snow on the ground, another time when the ground was bare. It is the time of severe cold with no snow cover that is hardest on plants and animals. While snow can be a nuisance or a hazard or a chore for us, it is an important factor in survival during the winter for so many elements of wildlife.

After this most recent snow fall, 7 inches here, of lovely fluffy stuff, it was interesting to get out and look for tracks in the snow and evidence of life underneath . Small mammals will actually thrive under the snow pack. Voles and mice have stored seeds and grains in their burrows since the fall. While most mammals will slow down a bit during the winter, many will remain active, tunneling shallowly under leaves and loose soil. It is not uncommon to see shrews or voles disturbing the soil under birdfeeders, like small earthquakes as they search for seed remnants or insects. However, even such small movements are very noticeable to predators. But once the snow blankets the ground, they can actually tunnel more freely. They can move between protective hiding places and food sources and usually avoid detection.

My resident chipmunk emerged from her semi-hibernation, to pop her head through the leaves in perfect position under the bird feeder. I watched as she stuffed her cheeks full of seeds, several times, then retreated into the burrow. This was a day before the snow storm. I wonder how she knew. I have seen wonderful images of foxes triangulating their senses on an underground burrow, then leaping high and diving head first into the deep snow to catch their prey. I have witnessed it only once, and it is truly a wonder to watch. Owls have hearing abilities that allow them to do the same, and while they do not hurl themselves head first into the snow, they can land with spread wings and thrust their talons deeply to latch their target.

A Fox family made this den and the tracks and dirty snow indicated it was actively used.

A large bird of prey, likely an owl, was able to hear a small mammal under the snow cover. Photograph by Rick Newton.

When the snow melts, the  tunnels used by small mammals are revealed.

My resident chipmunk come out to snack in between storms.

Evidence appears come Spring

When the snow melts in the spring, it is also easy to see trails etched into the grasses and dirt that point out the well-worn paths these creatures have used all winter. It can be a problem when these trails wander through and under favored garden plants.

This is the time of season when brush piles and tangled hedgerows are their most valuable as refuge in the winter for many creatures. The heavy snow catches on upper branches and preserves open areas beneath for hiding. Dense shrubs that are alive provide an extra bonus. Small mammals will seek living bark and gnaw it for valuable sustenance. However, the longer the snow is on the ground, the longer they have to gnaw, and when spring arrives, stems have been girdled and the branch will die. Under the bark of trees, insects remain, some in a suspended state - some as larva, some as eggs - but available as food for birds if above the snow line, and for shrews under the snow.

The deeper snow cover also offers insulation. Hard to believe but the snow pack remains warmer, closer to the freezing point, while the air above may have temperatures plummeting to zero. Plants survive bitter winters much better when there is a constant snow cover.

Whether you observe from a window, or strap on snowshoes and get out into the snow, take some time to think about what is happening below the drifts. Think of all the wonderful adaptations wildlife has to survive in the places we preserve for them.

Twigs under the snow are gnawed by small mammals while protected by snow cover.

Don't you wish you could read the story these tracks tell.

Winter presents a bigger challenge for a fox who will need to locate food deep under snow. Photograph by Rick Newton.

Photographs by Beth Sullivan unless otherwise indicated.

Dealing with Windfalls

By Beth Sullivan

Happily ( hopefully ), we still have some lovely days ahead of us to be out in the yard and woods. This year we seem to have an abundance of debris left on the ground by the wind storms of this past month. As stewards we can’t possibly take all the limbs and branches to the land fill. We know there are many good uses for what Mother Nature has left behind from her annual tree shake-out.

A Song Sparrow perches on top of a brush pile but later will find refuge inside.

A great deal of what has come down will stay on the ground, settling closer and closer to the earth and, gradually becoming composted, will re-nourish the soil. Bigger pieces take longer, but before they settle and rot they are of great use to wildlife. The bark and wood remain accessible, and are even more tempting to beetles, bugs and all sorts of creatures, which in turn attract woodpeckers and other birds to probe and poke. Under the wooden debris the earth often remains somewhat warmer and soft, longer into the cold season, making great places to shelter many kinds of invertebrates, salamanders, snakes, and other cold blooded creatures that will ultimately retreat deeper into the ground.

During winter the snow cover helps insulate the pile.

Help Mother Nature

We can assist the efforts by creating brush piles in areas where the autumn abundance has left us plenty of material. Believe it or not there is an art to making a good and longer-lasting brush pile that will welcome and shelter all manner of wildlife through the winter. The CT DEEP has a webpage dedicated to this. Their big projects often require BIG brush piles, but it doesn’t take heavy machinery to make a great protective place for wildlife. In my own woods I know the piles I make are not perfect, but they are always the places the sparrows and wrens seem to find first when the temperature drops.

Instead of loosely piled branches just left on the side of the trail, a beneficial brush pile is more solidly structured for durability. Heavier pieces are placed lowest down to provide support and structure as well as good sized gaps close to the ground. Mid-sized branches are criss–crossed in several layers on top next, and the whole pile is covered with smaller pieces, especially evergreen boughs, to add that final layer of insulation and protection. Think of the pile covered deep in snow in the dead of winter. The smaller spaces within are protected from biting winds and even retain some warmth from the ground in the face of sub-freezing temperatures. Small mammals can stash food nuts, seeds, and grasses eliminating the need to venture out. Birds also will find protection within. Larger predators cannot squeeze into the small spaces of sanctuary in the pile.

When you get out for a hike over these next months of cold, notice places where stewards have left piles along the trails. Some are simply piles which work fine for shelter, but some are more purposefully constructed to give our wildlife an extra hand.

Brush does not need to go to a landfill, but consolidated into useful piles.

To make a good brush pile, put bigger pieces on the bottom, making nice holes.

Then pile on brush for shelter

Watch that pile

If you still have the time and energy to do a bit more yard work, and you are lucky enough to have access to some woody debris left over from November storms, try out a deliberately created brush pile. If you can make it in in a place where you can observe it from a window, you will be rewarded with a new form of winter wildlife watching. Keep your eyes out for birds and check for mammal tracks. One friend had a young opossum find safety in her brush pile for the length of a long cold winter. I like to scatter bird seed, dried fruits and crumbled suet in and around my brush pile. It becomes a glorified bird feeder. Your can report your observations to Project Feeder Watch here. I often get a few unique birds at my brush pile feeder.

You don't need big equipment to make a brush pile but it helps.

Photographs by Beth Sullivan.

Under the snow

By Beth Sullivan

Before the blizzard, while most of local humanity was at the grocery store stocking up, the birds flocked to the bird feeders, scratched the leaves, and pecked under bark looking for every morsel they could find before they took cover. A few species of birds are known to stash food-Blue Jays do it-but most birds just rely on having food available when they need it, bulking up and adding extra fat to see them though. Then they hunker down in a protected site and try to expend as little energy as possible during the bad weather.

In the Fall, hunting is easier but foxes are quite successful despite deep snow. (Photo by Rick Newton.)

Life under the snow

Small mammals will actually thrive under the snow pack. Voles and mice have stored seeds and grains in their burrows since the fall. While most mammals will slow down a bit during the winter, many will remain active, tunneling shallowly under leaves and loose soil. It is not uncommon to see shrews or voles disturbing the soil under birdfeeders, like small earthquakes, as they search for seed remnants or insects. However, even such small movements are very noticeable to predators. But once the snow blankets the ground, they can actually tunnel more freely. They can move between protective hiding places and food sources and usually avoid detection. There are wonderful images of foxes triangulating their senses on an underground burrow, then leaping high and diving head first into the deep snow to catch their prey. I have witnessed it once, and it is truly a wonder to watch. Owls have hearing abilities that allow them to do the same, and while they do not hurl themselves head first into the snow, they can land with spread wings and thrust their talons deeply to latch their target.

One can imagine small creatures hiding in crevasses under the snow.

Dirty snow around the hole indicates the fox is active.

Light snow still allows birds to scratch for food.

When the snow melts in the spring, it is also easy to see trails etched into the grasses and dirt that point out the well-worn paths these creatures have used all winter.

When the snow melts, tell-tale signs of winter tunnels remain.

Winter hotel

This is the time of season when brush piles and tangled hedgerows are their most valuable as refuge for many creatures. The heavy snow catches on upper branches and preserves open areas beneath for hiding. Dense shrubs still living provide an extra bonus. Small mammals will seek living bark and gnaw it for valuable sustenance. However, the longer the snow is on the ground, the longer they have to gnaw, and when spring arrives, stems have been girdled, and the branch will die. Under the bark of trees, insects remain, some in a suspended state, some as larva, and some as eggs, but available as food for birds, if above the snow line, and for shews under the snow.

Brush piles, natural or man made provide vial cover for mammals and birds.

Stonewalls offer cover for small animals and hunting places for predators.

The deeper snow cover also offers insulation. Hard to believe but the snow pack remains warmer, closer to thirty two degrees, freezing, while the air above may have temperatures plummeting to zero. Plants survive bitter winters much better when there is a constant snow cover.

This stem was buried under snow for an extended period, and shows the teeth marks of a gnawing mammal.

Whether you observe from a window or strap on snowshoes and get out into the snow, take some time to think about what is happening below the drifts. Think of all the wonderful adaptations wildlife has to survive in the places we preserve for them.

Photographs by Beth Sullivan unless indicated.

Worried about the birds?

By Beth Sullivan

As the new year gets off to a really cold start, I have already backed away from my resolution and done no big trail walks. I am mostly observing out my window right now.

When we got out to do the AudubonChristmas Bird Count, it got me thinking, again, about birds in the cold. They amazed me as I trundled, bundled in layers, complaining about the cold, and these little mighty ones flitted and hopped as I tried to identify and count them. I realized their entire mission, on a cold day, was to find food.

Bluebirds will flock to suet.

Brown Creepers head up the tree.

A lot has been written recently about the pros and cons of feeding birds: who does it benefit really? Do we artificially create a dependency that could be detrimental to the birds over all?

Winter feeding improves survival

While there are a few, small studies that suggest feeding the birds can cause some problems, overall, all studies seem to agree that in this severe weather, the birds have a far greater chance of survival if we supplement their diet and make it easier for them to find food.

One of the complaints about artificial feeding is that the diets we offer are not varied enough. I think if we take time to observe the birds in the wild, we may be better able to offer the variety they need, in our own yards where we can observe them and help them at the same time.

Cedar trees offer food and evergreen shelter to several species.

Cedar Waxwings will come to the Cedar fruits.

Out in the wooded preserves, several species of woodpeckers, Chickadees, Titmice, and Nuthatches seem to travel together and work the trees looking for hidden insects, larvae, or eggs. A Downy circles around and under and cruises all over the tree. The Nuthatches always seem to face down and head down and around. Brown Creepers, a more uncommon tree trunk gleaner, always head up and around. Chickadees and Titmice act like clowns and hang upside down, going out to ends of branches to cover all angles- all this activity to search for food. I have taken my suet blocks- plus extra peanut butter mixed with other seeds and grains-and smeared it on the trunks and branches of trees in my view. The birds will find it, each in their own manner, and get a variety.

The Bluebirds we have been watching out at Knox Preserve have been landing on the Staghorn Sumac seed heads. We watched them pick and choose their seeds until a flock of Starlings came in and chased them away.

Chickadees hang onto branches and poke under bark.

Downy Woodpeckers can hang upside down to look for food.

The same day we watched Cedar Waxwings land in the evergreen grove and consume the blue colored fruits of the Red Cedar/Juniper trees and then move to the Bayberry bushes nearby. It is the female trees that bear the fruit, so if you want to provide food and shelter in your yard in a more natural way, plant the females of the Cedars and Bayberries. Robins are attracted to the same foods, as well as crab apples and Viburnums.

Native plantings - nature's supermarket

As we think ahead to spring, we can plan some native plantings that will give the birds the varied diet they will appreciate, that mimics what we find out on the preserves as we explore. If you have already planted native shrubs and they have retained berries, you will already be enjoying a greater variety of winter birds than seed alone will attract. I am sure they will not complain about sunflower seeds and suet during these really cold days, and you may get rewarded by some beautiful Blue on a bitter winter day.

You can help, too

The Audubon Society sponsors  this February's Great Backyard Bird Count. The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology sponsors the winter long,  Feeder Watch program.  These are great ways for citizen scientists to increase our understanding of the birds nearest to us.

Robins will look for berries when worms are not available.

Photographs by Beth Sullivan.

Should we migrate this winter??

By Beth Sullivan

Isn't it just mind boggling to think that creatures as fragile and beautiful as birds, can survive such winter weather as we have been experiencing?

They not only survive, but many seem to relish the cold and snow. Nature has endowed them with numerous adaptations, physical and behavioral, that ensure that most will indeed make it through the winter.

You don’t have to go far to make observations. As lovely as a walk might be, out and about on a beautiful trail, you can learn plenty about birds from the comfort of your warm home.

Simply: if a bird can find food, it will remain here and survive the winter. With super high metabolisms, birds need constant fuel. They will search out the highest caloric foods. Nuts and seeds are high in fat and protein but often the effort to find and crack seeds seems to be greater than the value of the food. Watch a Chickadee fly back and forth to your feeder. Each time it grabs a seed, it must fly away to a hard surface, grab the seed between its feet and chip away at it until it opens. They seem to be in nonstop motion throughout the day.

Chickadee working to open a seed.

You may notice that there are still berries on a number of species of shrubs. The cold temperatures preserve them, even ferment them, making them quite warming to those birds who seek them out, like Robins, Bluebirds and Cedar Waxwings.

Most insect eaters will have flown south, but some Woodpeckers and Nuthatches know how to find insects, eggs and larvae hidden under bits of bark on tree trunks and branches.

Downy Woodpecker rests on the lee side of a branch.

Suet provides high fat, protein, seeds and even berries and will be visited by many birds in winter, even those usually not associated with suet feeding. With good food sources, birds will pack on the grams of extra fat to keep them warm and get them through the long nights.

Bluebirds enjoying a suet snack.

Grackle eating suet

Feathers: hard to believe those delicate feathers can provide enough protection to keep those little bodies warm. Birds actually will add a layer of down during the winter months. It doesn’t change their appearance. Watch a bird sitting on a branch and you might notice him fluff up a bit. By doing this, he can trap more warm air around himself. Think of us using several light layers instead of one heavy one, for most warmth.

White Throated Sparrow fluffs up to insulate himself.

Observe a bird on a tree trunk. In the wind and cold they will find the lee side or the sunny side to just rest and save energy. Birds do shiver. They contact their muscles, alternating groups, and create warmth from the action. That is really hard to see under all those feathers!

Brown Creeper looks for food under bark and lichen.

Cold Feet? Ever wonder how water birds, as ducks and geese and gulls can stand on ice and not suffer the consequences? The circulation in their feet and legs is quite unique, preventing truly cold blood from returning to the core, but warming it on the way! Watch as small birds in the snow or gulls and others on the ice, will stand on one leg and curl the other up into their breast feathers for warmth. That helps too.

Ring Billed Gull with one leg warming

So take a walk and search out the birds enjoying the winter. Or better still, find a window, get out your binoculars, learn your feeder birds and notice the small things that help them survive. It will help you with our challenge next week!

Photographed by Beth Sullivan.