Ask the Bird Lady: Where are all the hummingbirds?

Hummingbird and fuchsia
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Ask the Bird Lady: Where are all the hummingbirds? They used to be regularly at my feeder and I haven't seen any for a long time.

Bird Lady Christine Southwick responds:

Many females may be on nests right now -- I have just this week seen two newbies. The males are not engaging in mating displays, so they are not so obvious.

Plus, and this may be a big plus, more people put out hummingbird feeders in the spring and summer (they need the feeders more in the winter) so there are more food options, including flowers.

Anna's hummingbirds feed what is called "drip-line feeding" meaning that each hummingbird visits daily most-to-all of the local feeders in their territory, so they spend less time at each feeder.

The best way to ensure that hummingbirds are coming to your yard, plant shrubs and flowers that hummingbirds like, and have running water (fountain). And keep your feeders active in the cold months.

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Ask the Bird Lady: What's that bird?

What's that bird?
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Wayne Pridemore wanted to know the identity of the bird in his backyard, so he sent along a photo.

Easy one for Bird Lady Chris Southwick:

It's a female Dark-eyed Junco, most probably a female Oregon Junco subspecies.

Here's a column she wrote on them.

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Ask the Bird Lady: Another rare bird strays into Shoreline

Photo by Amy Duz

Amy Duz took this photo at NW 185th St. and 1st Ave NW in Richmond Highlands and correctly identified the bird as a Chukar.

Chris the Bird Lady says:

What in the world is it doing HERE???

Chukars are an introduced game bird that live in eastern Washington and other dry areas.

In all my birding, including three years of doing a Breeding Bird Survey in far eastern Washington, I have only seen ONE Chukar, even though I have gone to areas that I know Chukar have been seen.

So yes, it IS rare in Western Washington. Don't know how it got here. They are not distance flyers.

I wonder if someone saved it from a forest fire, and then released it on this side of the mountains.

Chukar range. From Seattle Audubon's birdweb.org

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Ask the Bird Lady: is that a crow dive-bombing the hawk?

Red-tailed hawk in tree, crow in air
Photo by Jan Hansen

A reader asks:

In this photo you previously identified the red-tailed hawk in the tree. My question: is that a crow dive-bombing the hawk to make it go elsewhere??"

Christine Southwick responds:

Crows will mob any raptor. If you hear a large loud group of crows, look to see where they are congregated.

Crows will form in "globs" and harass any raptor, usually hawks and owls. If you watch to see where they are dive-bombing the detected "enemy" (although crows are also nestling robbers) you may well find an owl that you would not otherwise see.

Most owls don't move, they just ignore the pests until the crows get tired and find something else to annoy.

Hawks will usually move to another tree, which you can tell by the crow chorus changing into a crescendo.

It is worth taking the time to check out the action, the next time you hear a crow mob.

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Ask the Bird Lady: is it ok for the baby owl to be on the ground?

Photo by Nikki Chau

Nikki Chau asks:

Today while walking around Boeing Creek Park we saw a baby owl on the ground and a momma owl on a tree nearby, watching (presumably) her baby very diligently.

The dog owners who walked by told us that word has spread that all dogs are advised to be on leash while walking through this area. It's near the Shoreview Park entrance and Forest Loop Trail.

I'm not sure what the story is behind why the baby owl is on the forest floor. Someone said it may have fallen and can't fly yet.

The watchful mother sits high in the tree
Photo by Nikki Chau

Chris, the Bird Lady, says:

Baby owls, called owlets, in general, will leave the nest before they can fly. This is called branching, because they are usually out on nearby branches.

Sometimes they end up on the ground. They then climb trees by grasping the bark with their bill and talons, flapping their wings, and walking their way up the trunk.

Hopefully this owlet will soon master the skills required to get back up the tree.

Once the owl gets back up in the tree, it will start flying short little hops from one branch to the next, ever expanding the distance until it can really fly and land.

Owl parents are very watchful, and this baby will be fed regularly.

I personally want to thank the dog community for watching out for this youngster.

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Ask the Bird Lady: is it normal for a hummingbird to perch?

Hummingbird at feeder
Photo by Jerry Pickard

A reader asks:

I recently relocated a hummingbird feeder (wasn't having much luck) to a spot under my front eave, and success! It's been found and they seem to like being out of the weather for a bit.

My question is : Is it normal for a hummer to perch on a feeder for a lengthy time? (5 min +) I'm just amazed one would come to a stop like this.

Chris the Bird Lady responds:

It is not unusual for a hummer to do so, especially if the feeder is under cover, and it is wet out.

I have hummers that will stay for a while, then have to leave when another more dominate male chases it off.

I have one feeder with a weather cover where a hummer sat for long times repeatedly when it was snowing.

Chris the Bird Lady

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Ask the Bird Lady: do hawks chirp?

Osprey in Hamlin Park
Photo by Steve Schneider

A reader Asks the Bird Lady:

Two birds were too high for me to see what they were. but one was calling / chirping - do hawks make noise when flying??

Chris Southwick, the Bird Lady responds:

During mating season they do -- which is now. Also, the Osprey, at least at Shorecrest, has returned, and they are being very vocal.

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Ask the Bird Lady: where are the small birds?

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Audubon subspecies.
Depending on your yard, this one could be leaving,
with most coming in this next month.

A reader asks:

I have a question for our bird lady Chris Southwick. Last week I refilled the bird feeder and have seen only one small bird since(!) Usually it gets quite a bit of action. Crows and jays are still present, but I haven't even seen a small bird anywhere around my house.

What is going on? Is there something I'm not aware of with this time of year, etc? I don't recall this phenomenon in previous years.

Hope you can clear up the mystery for me.

Vicki Westberg

Dark-eyed Junco, male may have left
not to return until September

The Bird Lady answers:

Several people have noticed this happening at their feeders.

Do not worry. It is the seasonal changing of the birds.

What most people are seeing is the winter birds that have been using their feeders are starting to migrate north or to higher elevations to their breeding grounds, and the summer birds are not here yet.

I had one friend who had a Yellow-rumped Warbler that was gorging itself on high protein meal worms.  I told her it would probably leave soon -- and it hasn't been seen since last Saturday.

White-crowned Sparrow. Just starting to
be heard in the area -- breeds here

Depending on your habitat, Dark-eyed Juncos may have left, or be leaving.  I have breeding juncos in this yard, but my house just 28 blocks to the south used to only have juncos from September to March-April.

Resident birds that stay here to breed are eating more bugs and less seed (now that bugs are available again after the frosts), and many local breeders are feeding bugs to the females creating bonding for the season.

My hummingbird feeders are going down quite rapidly, so I know that I have extra hummers, maybe even a Rufus passing through, even if I am not home during the day.

Townsend's Warbler should be showing up soon

Soon, you will start seeing and hearing birds that you haven't had for six months--the passing through migrants, and the local summer birds.  Already the American Robins are serenading the mornings and the early evenings.

Soon will come the warblers--Townsend's, Wilson's, Yellow-rumped, Yellow.  Passing through will be Western Tanagers, flycatchers, vireos, etc. Sparrows that breed in this area are starting to appear:  White-crowned, Golden-crowned, Savannah, Lincoln.


Look upward, and listen too -- the season is a changing....

Chris Southwick

All photos by Christine Southwick

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Ask the Bird Lady: Northern Flickers have taken up residence in my attic

Northern Flicker eating
suet from a feeder
Photo by Christine Southwick

Reader Melissa asks:

I have a problem and I could use some advice. The Northern Flickers have drilled holes in two of the eaves at the back of the house and they are living in the attic. They actually appear to be neat tenants and they seem to be keeping the other riff raff out, but they make a bit of noise and I'm not sure how much mess baby woodpecker's will make.

Would you just call a pest removal company?

I thought about buying two woodpecker houses and hanging them over the holes but I need a two story ladder.

Not sure what to do - I want to be humane so I think I need to do something before egg laying season....  Any thoughts?

Bird Lady Chris Southwick replies:

Thanks, Melissa for asking me. I do have a couple of suggestions.

First off, these flickers should not be eliminated. They are considered an indicator species by the National Forest Management Act, meaning that they are a bird that other species depend upon and can be watched to determine the health of a forest, and forest edges.

They are a primary cavity nester that other wildlife depend upon for their habitat needs.

First, the reason that the flickers have used the eaves is that the trees they need, their habitat, keeps shrinking.

Northern Flicker in bird bath
Photo by Christine Southwick

Every time a large tree is cut down, there are fewer places for the woodpeckers to roost and nest, and also for the smaller birds (like chickadees, wrens, bluebirds, swallows, kestrels, owls, even squirrels) that use the last years' holes for their nesting and getting out of the cold/wet winter weather.

Snags can be made out of any tree that seems dangerous, and by creating snags you can create/save nesting holes, storage areas for food, feeding perches, communication centers for birds, and many other uses that we as humans overlook.

Besides, it is easy to see fun birds, like brown creepers, nuthatches, several different woodpeckers, and other birds, on the trunk of a snag.  It is also easy to see the chickadees, wrens and other cavity nesters that take advantage of the woodpecker cavities.

So, that being said, putting up nest boxes for the flickers is a great idea. They would not be using your house if there were good alternatives. Ideally, I would put one up in the eave, blocking the hole they use the most, and fill the other hole with crumpled newspaper  (Don't ask me why, but crumpled newspaper deters all birds -- starlings, house sparrows, etc. -- I know it works).

If you can afford it, I would also put another nest box, facing the same direction as the holes in your eaves, on another close by LARGE tree.

If the tree is large enough, you could actually block both holes, and have them move into the nest box. Buy at either Wild Birds Unlimited in Lake Forest Park, or the Seattle Audubon Nature Store, or build your own (WDFW has plans).

Follow the directions, and remember to put some wood chips in the nest box (if you almost fill it up, starlings are less apt to use the box.

Here's some more info:

• Woodpeckers
• Snags

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Ask the Bird Lady: the bird bath is frozen

One of the many kinds of bird bath
heaters at Wild Birds Unlimited

A reader asks:

My bird bath is frozen. How can I provide water for the birds to drink in the cold weather are we having?

Bird Lady Christine Southwick responds:

Liquid water is at a premium for all wildlife during times of freezing temperatures.

Any container about 1-3" deep, like a flowerpot guard, can be put out with water, and it will take a little while before it freezes. If you can put it on a porch or covered area with an incandescent light near it, the water will stay liquid longer.

Wild Birds sells half a dozen
varieties of suet

Wild Birds Unlimited in Lake Forest Park Town Center (next to Mod Pizza on the south end), or the Seattle Audubon Society office and Nature Shop in Wedgwood at 8050 35th Ave, sell bird bath heaters.

That is the best way since those heaters only come on when the temperature drops and stays on while needed. But if all the heaters are sold out, the pan of water trick will help. Birds need to bath even in cold weather in order to keep their feather in great insulating order.

Also, now is an excellent time to put out a cake(s) of suet. You can buy a $4.00 holder (with the smaller holes), and for a couple more dollars a cake of suet (not dough -- suet has more instant calories which equals warmth). You can hang it anywhere. If you have lots of squirrels, hang is securely. Squirrels will eat some, but the birds will get most of the benefit.

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Ask the Bird Lady: What's in my tree?

Photo by Jan Hansen

Reader's question: What's in my tree?

Bird lady Christine Southwick replies: The wind blowing the feathers makes it a little hard to tell but it looks like a Red-tailed Hawk. 

 

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Ask the Bird Lady: Is it ok to feed hummingbirds red dyed nectar

Question from a reader:

Is it a bad thing to use hummingbird nectar with red dye in it?

Christine Southwick responds:

Perky Pets bird feeder
with red nectar

Red dye is a hotly debated issue.

Some studies SEEM to indicate that the red dye increases cancer in hummers. But the data / jury is still out.

Perky Pets (brand name), a major maker of hummingbird feeders, still sells ready-made red nectar.

The majority of birders, myself included, ask, "Why take a chance with the red food dye?"  So instead we use feeders that have red parts, usually the feeder ports.

Most of us make our own nectar (1/4 cup of cane sugar to 1 cup of water. NOTE: do not use beet sugar -- the hummers can taste the difference).

Keep the feeders clean -- without soap.

During the cold times, I have at least two going (right now I have three), so that there is always food, even when I am cleaning one of them.

--Chris the Bird Lady

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Ask the Bird Lady - how do I keep rats away from my bird feeder

Rat and squirrel eating birdseed
on ground under bird feeder
Photo by Tom D. Bewley

A reader has a rodent question for Christine Southwick - The Bird Lady:

Christine - is it possible to feed birds without attracting rats? I'm happy to feed birds but haven't yet figured out how to not get RATS!!!

Chris replies:

Rats can be a problem. Sometimes bird seed may draw rats. More often rats were already there, but become visible because they stay out under the bird feeder(s).

I live adjacent to a sixteen-acre park. There are wood rats that live in the park, and undoubtedly one or two travel through my yard regularly. I never see one unless it is cold, and then I may see one under a feeder. So, I believe I would have a wood rat or two even without bird feeders.

When I put out extra seed on the ground, I only put a little seed on the ground in the morning when the birds and squirrels will eat it before evening.

If I keep seeing a rat, I mix peanut butter with vitamin D, and put that out along the rat's route. This will not hurt cats or raptors. (Do not use rat poison as it will kill whatever eats those rats.)

Large wharf rats, and Norwegian rats are another problem. You may have to stop feeding birds until the rat problem is eliminated.

Feeders on poles with a squirrel baffle and good quality food can be resumed at that time.

Hope that helps.
Chris the Bird Lady

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Ask the Bird Lady: Where to hang gourds for Purple Martins

Purple Martins nesting in gourds
Photo by Kim Stark

In response to Christine Southwick's Memorial Day Purple Martin story about volunteers hanging gourds for nests along the waterway, a reader posted this question:

What waterways might support them? When should the gourds be hung?

Christine took the option to 'phone a friend' and contacted Kim Stark, who is one of the volunteers referenced in the story as providing gourd nests for local Purple Martins.

Here is the response sent by Kim Stark:

Just about any waterbody has the potential to attract martins, both marine and freshwater, that have a few features that martins like. They prefer to nest over water, or very close to it, which is why a lot of folks place housing on pilings that are in the water or on poles on docks. Another reason for this is less predation from raptors and owls and they're aerial insectivores so they need a clear flight path. However, even if housing is put near water they won't nest if gourds or houses are placed in an area with tall trees or shrubs nearby--they need a lot of clear space.

For the other part, the best time to put up housing is between late March to mid-April. The adult 'scouts' arrive first and typically choose nest areas where they successfully nested the prior year and then the subadults start arriving a few weeks after the adults have arrived. If there isn't enough housing available at established colonies, it's these subadults that look for new housing so if people didn't get houses/gourds up in April, it's still possible to attract martins in May or early June.

Here is an informational poster we did for the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference a couple years ago in case anyone in this area is interested in more info: Purple Martins Along the King County Marine Shoreline: Citizen Conservation Efforts. Anyone who is interested in more information can email me.

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Ask the Bird Lady: Why are the hummingbirds dive-bombing us?

Hummingbird at feeder
Photo by Jerry Pickard

Question for the Bird Lady:

Jeanne says: I was watering plant containers. We were standing by the red hot pokers, and there was a hummingbird feeding off of it, then another, and then more buzzing around. They really make a noise when they’re flapping their wings. We think there were at least 5 of them. They were all but dive bombing us! I’ve never had that experience before. Wow!

The Bird Lady (Christine Southwick) replies:

Most hummingbirds, are by nature, drawn to red tones. Consider the red to red-orange gorgets (throat coloring) of the male Anna's and Rufus hummingbirds. Lots of hummingbird feeders have parts of the feeder decked out in red (NOTE: red food coloring is NOT required, and there is some research that seems to point to the food coloring having detrimental effects -- in addition, people can't see when to clean the feeder).

Hummingbirds have evolved to be able to remove nectar from tubular flowers, to the point that some flowers totally depend on the long curved bills of some South American hummingbirds. Did you know that only the Western Hemisphere has hummingbirds?

At any rate, the hummingbirds that visit Washington State are more generalists. They prefer tubular flowers like Fuchsias and "Red-hot Pokers" (kniphofia, aka red hot poker, poker plant, torch lily) and phygelius, but will visit dahlias, fruit blossoms and even pansies.

On hot days, they will be drawn to sprinklers, and if you stand really still, with your garden hose on a soft shower, or mist, they will even fly through the water droplets.

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Ask the Bird Lady: Best feeder for woodpeckers

Photos by Christine Southwick

Do you have a question for The Bird Lady, Christine Southwick? Send it to us.

Question from reader Vicky Turner:

What is the best type of feeder for woodpeckers including the Pileated woodpeckers currently at our suet feeder? The less squirrel friendly the better.

Answer from The Bird Lady:

Greetings Vicky,

The best suet feeders for Woodpeckers are the ones with a wooden extension. Both Wild Birds Unlimited, and Seattle Audubon Nature Shop sell these. Get one that has the standard size holes like the regular suet holders.

These make squirrels work so hard for the suet that they don't usually go after them.The bigger holes in the cross-wires some suet feeders have make it too easy for these furry beasties, and result in your suet disappearing within a day.

Since woodpeckers are bug eaters, suet is their preferred feeder food, but they will eat shelled seeds.

The best deterrent for squirrels depends on positioning feeders wisely.  Squirrels can jump five feet, and are adapt and weighing down a branch and then jumping from that closer position.

Tall poles with squirrel baffles on the main pole, plus baffles above the feeders have worked the best for me. Remember to keep branches away for the pole set-up, or the squirrels will out-smart you, a much too common occurrence.

Pictures are all mine in my yard.

Regards,
The Bird Lady

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Ask The Bird Lady: What birds are in Paramount Park?

Pileated woodpecker
Photo by Craig Kerns

Do you have a question for Christine Southwick, The Bird Lady? Send it to us.

Reader Chuck Dolan asks:

Could you give me a sense of diversity of birds found in and around Paramount Park. Heard rumors of barred owls, I would guess pileated woodpeckers but can you confirm and mention any others of note.

Christine Southwick's answer:

Greetings Chuck,

First there are two Paramount Park areas: Paramount School Park, and Paramount Open Space.

The school park is a large, open, heavily-used park that gets robins, starlings and gulls plus other fly-overs. It is a park built upon school property, so at some time in Shoreline's growing future, it could revert back to a school structure.

The second park area is an open space with trails; a reasonably large natural pond which is part of the Thornton Creek watershed; lots of trees and bushes, and one or two benches. It is a place where people can feel like they are surrounded by nature, and able to see wildlife, less than a block from NE 145th Street. (located at 946 NE 147th Street (drive on 10th from NE 155 and turn left on 147th)

There are a variety of local birds that use this area: both Black-capped and Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Spotted Towhees, Song Sparrows, Bewick's Wrens, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Steller's Jays (and probably a crow or two), American Robins.

Pileated Woodpeckers use this area, judging by the elongated holes, therefore I would assume Downy and Hairy also use it at times. Mallards have been seen on the pond, and at least one Barred Owl hunts here (maybe it will take the Eastern Gray Squirrels). I would think that at certain seasons other ducks would also stop here. This looks like a good pond for turtles, but I haven't looked for them.

Since river otters have been seen at nearby Twin Ponds, I wouldn't be surprised if one occasionally checks out this pond. Any wooded wet area in Shoreline should have salamanders, probably frogs (hopefully chorus), and  of course traveling raccoons, and an occasional opossum.

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Ask the Bird Lady - will pruning displace hummingbird nests?

A new feature for the new year: Christine Southwick will answer your wild bird questions. Send your questions or photos to us and Chris will respond. Here's the first question:

Anna's hummingbird feeding her baby
Photo by Dennis Paulson

Dear Bird Lady:
I need to prune some overly large laurel and rhodies - but fear I might displace a hummingbird nest without realizing - what to do? is there a time of year that if I took out their nest they would be able to rebuild and survive?

The Bird Lady responds:
Some Anna's Hummingbirds may already be starting to breed, but most will wait a little longer. Many that are breeding now will make their nests in coniferous trees under an overhanging branch because of the added protection.

I don't know about laurels, but rhodys are best pruned during and right after blooming. Since no more than a third of a rhody should be pruned at a time, if you want blooms the following year, it shouldn't be too hard to look for a nest as you prune. Laurels will be harder, so if it were me, I would wait until about April--no guarantees, since some hummers will do a second brood.

--Christine Southwick

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