Naturally

"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."

I enjoy watching butterflies flutter past me on their meandering routes. I watched cabbage white butterflies, which aren’t uncommon in my yard, flying here and there. They are native to Europe and Asia, and are an introduced species in the U.S. Cabbage white caterpillars feed on members of the cabbage or mustard family.

I watched a flicker feed on ants. I wondered if the woodpecker ate enough ants, it might need an antacid.

I watched American white pelicans hunt for food. They are fish herders. They hunt by herding fish into shallow water and taking part in a feeding frenzy, rather than diving like brown pelicans. White pelicans often fish together in groups, coordinating their movements by forming lines and driving fish toward the shore or other pelicans. They dip their bills into the water to catch the fish in their throat pouches. Contrary to cartoon portrayals and common misconceptions, pelicans do not carry food in their bill pouches. They use their bills to scoop up food but swallow their catch before flying off. Pelicans feed their chicks by regurgitating partially digested fish from their gular pouches into the chicks' mouths or onto the ground. As the chicks grow older, they learn to reach directly into the parents' throat pouches to retrieve a meal. American white pelicans and double-crested cormorants are frequently found swimming together and sometimes forage together. They do hunt at different depths—pelicans are surface-feeders and cormorants are divers and deep-feeders. Two pelican species are native to the United States: the American white pelican is commonly found inland and in freshwater habitats, and the brown pelican is primarily found along coastal areas, including beaches, lagoons and islands.

The first red sumac fruiting clusters (drupes) in Minnesota typically appear in late summer to early fall (August-September).

Q&A

“I saw shorebirds that weren’t killdeer in southern Minnesota in July. Are those birds migrating already?” Yes, the southward migration of shorebirds through Minnesota begins in July. The earliest migrants are generally those that had unsuccessful breeding attempts in the Arctic and boreal regions. By mid-July, the successful breeders begin their southward journey.

“What is heat lightning?” On warm, humid nights, the phenomenon known as “heat lightning” is commonly observed. The sky flickers with light, even on a clear night with stars visible in the sky. No sound goes with the flash, although if you’re listening to an AM radio, you will hear crackles of static when you see a flash. What we see is the light from a distant thunderstorm at a distance too far for the sound of the thunder to be heard. Thunder’s sound rarely travels over 10 miles. The term “heat lightning” comes from the fact that it’s most often seen on warm, humid nights during July and August, causing an association with sultry temperatures. The light from an intense thunderstorm can be seen as far away as 100 miles.

“Does the bill of a bird keep growing?” Bird beaks or bills (they are the same thing) are much like human fingernails and grow at a constant rate. This outer layer of the bill is rich in keratin, which is the same material found in our hair and nails. The inner bones of the bill don’t grow as the bird ages.

“How can I keep squirrels off my bird feeders?“ Place the feeder atop a pole or post, 20 feet from a branch or roof, and attach a metal squirrel guard (a cone-shaped baffle or a stovepipe-like tube) slightly below the feeder. Good luck. Squirrels are amazing acrobats and excel in their pursuit of food.

“Is peanut butter harmful to birds?” Peanut butter is a good high-fat, high-protein food that is safe to feed to the wild birds. You could smear it on tree bark, but it can stain that bark. If you use a feeder, keep the feeder clean and free from mold. In hot weather, put the peanut butter out in small quantities to keep it from turning rancid. Some people dilute it with birdseed or cornmeal to reduce its stickiness, but it’s not necessary.

“Are birds smart?” Yes.

“When do goldfinches nest in Minnesota?” American goldfinches are vegetarians and delay nesting until milkweed, thistle and other plants produce seeds enough to ensure there would be plentiful food sources to feed their young. In Minnesota, this means nesting begins in late June, July and into August. They line their nests with thistle down, milkweed silk and cattail fluff.

Thanks for stopping by

“I declare this world is so beautiful, that I can hardly believe it exists!”—Ralph Waldo Emerson.

“Listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”—John Lubbock.

Do good.

The northern house wren weighs about as much as two quarters, which means its name is bigger than it is. The tiny birds fill the day with bubbling songs and are willing to nest in any natural or artificial cavity they can find for rent or wrent. Dad called it a Jenny wren, and its Chippewa name translates to “making a big noise for its size.” Photo by Al Batt.