Georgia Backyard Nature

Wayward Woodpeckers

It’s cold on this holiday, but the birds and animals still have to find food. I was feeling charitable before Christmas and bought a food cake for the squirrels. I noticed that something had been nibbling on it but I never saw a squirrel there. And squirrels aren’t nibblers; those voracious pests would destroy the feeder and devour the cake at one sitting. It was a Red-bellied Woodpecker and a Downy Woodpecker that had been enjoying a new treat. I love the irony—squirrels usually steal the bird’s food now wayward woodpeckers are stealing their food. Don’t you just love nature? Happy New Year from the birds and creatures of Georgia Backyard Nature!

 

Springtime Saucer Magnolia

Georgia Backyard Nature

Georgia Backyard Nature

More signs of Spring! The Saucer Magnolia is in bloom. This is one of my favorites because I love the big two toned blossoms--delicate purple on the outer side of the petals and a creamy white inside. We had one of these trees by our front porch when I was little, but we always called it a Tulip Tree; some call it a Japanese Magnolia. No matter the name, it's stunning when in bloom!

 

 

 

Christmas Berries

Since the Beaver decimated most of my big Hollies, there aren't many berries this year. However, this Holly near the front yard escaped the furry lumberjack's mayhem and is loaded with festive berries!

Welcome Winter!

Overnight freezing fog left a light glaze of ice on plants and trees for the first morning of Winter. It's pretty but treacherous. The slippery patio steps thwarted distribution of mealworms. Sorry, birds, but I have to stay undamaged so you can have mealworms every day!

Brazen Beaver!

 

When I looked out of my screened porch to the side yard, I though it seemed unnaturally sunny. Then I realized that the beaver had climbed halfway to the front yard over at least a dozen terraces to decimate the native Sweet Shrub, a Weigelia, and the Annabell Hydrangea. Lower down he got my heirloom Oakleaf Hydrangea with its fading rosy blooms. He knocked over several pots dragging his prizes away.

The Beaver's mayhem has been confined to the back yard, so this is a new tactic. The area around the lake is brimming with tasty trees but I guess he might be looking for some variety. It's still pretty bold, though. I'm really sad to lose these beautiful shrubs, but everhything he's mauled before grew back really well. The hollies he stole in the spring have already sprouted new growth. I guess nature's landscaper decided my pruning wasn't up to speed!

 

Stellar Stargazer Lily

My favorite Lily is the elegant Stargazer. Its bold color and sweet fragrance make it a perfect cut flower. Alas, I have to enjoy mine in the yard because Stargazers are extremely toxic to cats. They cause acute kidney failure which could be fatal.

Speedy Spiny Softshell Turtle

I'm used to seeing turtles in the yard laying their eggs, but never one like this. This turtle is a Spiny Softshell Turtle and even though it's not obvious from the picture, she's big--at least a foot across. We usually stereotype turtles as slow, but when she saw me, this one covered the 20 or 25 feet to the lake in just a few seconds. I've seen her in the yard twice so I guess she's laying her eggs. If her babies are as fast as the Mother, then they won't have any trouble outrunning predators when they hatch!!

Feasting Finches

Do you deadhead your flowers to encourage blooming and make them tidy? I used to, but when I realized that birds love to mine the seed heads, I quit. Even though it's early summer, some plants already have seed heads that attract colorful birds especially Goldfinches. They swarm the Black-eyed Susans and Catnip. This is the reason Goldfinches nest later than most birds--availability of seeds makes feeding their young a lot easier.

Goldfinches aren't the only birds that flock to seed heads. I didn't realize until yesterday that their cousins, Purple Finches, do the same. The one below  landed on the Catnip and stayed for a while ferreting out tasty seeds.

Now that I have quit deadheading, my flowers look a little unkempt, but who cares when they're decorated with colorful birds?

Baby Bluebirds!!

Yesterday was the first day the Bluebird dad brought his fledglings to enjoy meal worms on the deck. It looks like the nesting produced at least three big healthy babies. Obviously mom and dad did a great job feeding them because these babies look bigger than dad!! They still have to be fed, but I noticed this morning a couple of them were eating meal worms on their own, but still asking dad to feed them!!

I haven't seen the female for several days. Bluebirds can have two or three nestings in a season. These babies fledged several weeks ago so I'm hoping that she's on the nest again!

Burglar Beavers

Did I say I liked having a beaver colony in my backyard? I still do like the industrious creatures but there are a few drawbacks. I didn't know that they loved hollies, but they have a seemingly insatiable appetite for the lovely shrubs. I had some big beautiful Nellie Stevens and Savannah hollies but the Beaver has decimated them. I found two more gone last week. Now nature's lumberjack is at it again! Last night the Beaver burgled another big Savannah Holly.

He didn't take it with him but look how clever he was to submerge the end of the trunk in water so his prize will stay fresh and tasty until his return .

I'd hate this creature if he wasn't so interesting!! I'm getting out the chicken wire to save the rest of my hollies!!

 

There are dozens of wild willows he could snack on but obviously he prefers cultivated trees.