Dear Birdsquatch: Is hummingbirdicide a crime? I adore eight of my hummingbirds, but Number 9, a male, is making life difficult for all the others. I want to kill him. Not really, but he must be stopped! Can I trap him and relocate him? Any advice?
—Fern B.,
Rolla, Missouri
My neighbor puts popped popcorn in her bird feeder! I've seen orioles and jays fly off with it, which surprised me. It seems wrong, but what do I know? Is it all right to feed birds popcorn?
—Beth W.,
Parker, Colorado
Some yards seem to be magnets for birds. Providing a variety of delectable bird food in various feeder types at numerous locations, plus a fresh water source are key features in such locations, but the setting of those features is every bit as important. Providing a landscape that is safe and alluring to birds is an essential element in attracting diverse species.
How can I wean my hummingbirds from my nectar feeders? I will be moving in August.
—Lynne S.,
Los Angeles, California
I could be forgiven, being a lifelong Baltimorian and a serious baseball fan, for having a special affection for orioles, but I am not alone. For many bird watchers, the return of orioles in the spring is a special moment. It is not just that orioles are beautiful, the males a palette of rich oranges, yellows, and blacks, or that their song, familiar and resonant, rings across the landscape. It is that no matter where you live in North America, you have a chance of seeing one.
My girlfriend and I have been saving our cats' fur from their brush so we can put it out for birds who are building nests. What's the best way to attract birds to our balcony so that they can find and use it? What's the best receptacle for the fur?
—David F.,
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The common burdock (Arctium minus) is considered a weed by most people, in part because it is not a native plant, but was brought here from Europe, and now grows wild from coast to coast. Those familiar with the plant, which can grow to six feet, know it mostly because of the tenacious burrs it produces. It can be a death trap to hummingbirds!
Dear Birdsquatch: I get it that songbirds feed their nestlings grubs and caterpillars and other insects, and so using insecticides can harm baby birds. But I'm an avid gardener. I don't want hornworms to destroy my tomato plants, or worms on my cabbage. How can I grow beautiful vegetables without using insecticides?
—Peggy S.,
Rolla, Missouri
Dear Birdsquatch: My daughter is trying to convince me that grape jelly is bad for orioles. They love it, and I've had 11 Baltimore orioles and 2 orchard orioles at one time in my yard—thanks to grape jelly. Is it really so bad? Should I switch to fresh fruit instead? I'd prefer to stick with what works.
—Carolyn C.,
Ann Arbor, Michigan
To clean or not to clean last year's nest from a bluebird box in preparation for nesting this spring—that is the question. Research shows that bluebirds, when given the choice, overwhelmingly select boxes with an old nest in it. This goes against a popular thought that bluebirds avoid old nests due to parasitic blowfly larvae. Blowflies lay their eggs in old nests, and the larvae attack the young birds.