This Cedar Waxwing was surprised to see me.

This young Cedar Waxwing has been eating enough honeysuckle berries to provide the bird with an orange tail tip.

Cedar Waxwing with orange instead of yellow tail tip.

A Japanese Beetle works during its lunch hour.

Naturally
I said hello to an HOLA. HOLA is the alpha code for bird banding identifying a horned lark. An Australian study found there are about six wild birds for every human on the planet. I hope that number is low. Chickens outnumber humans by almost 3-to-1.
After working at fairs, I’ve been driving nights from here and there and my windshield found enough insects that it looks like a supermarket for flycatchers.
Stable flies look like houseflies, but they bite. They are ankle biters that make victims want to exact revenge.
I watched an opossum meander. What’s a nervous tick? It’s one that sees an opossum headed its way. How many ticks do they eat? Who knows, but Rick Ostfeld, Senior Scientist, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies said, “Opossums are extraordinarily good groomers it turns out – we never would have thought that ahead of time – but they kill the vast majority – more than 95% percent of the ticks that try to feed on them. So these opossums are walking around the forest floor, hoovering up ticks right and left, killing over 90% of these things, and so they are really protecting our health.”
I watched circling turkey vultures. Their populations increase where sugar cane grows because vultures feed on animals killed by the annual burning. Numbers increased in the 19th century with bison slaughters and livestock epidemics. Increased availability of road-killed animals caused by escalated vehicular use of roads may contribute to range expansion. The vultures may follow the pavement to Minnesota.
Q&A
“Why is a group of crows called a murder?” The Egerton Manuscript and The Book of St. Albans, both dating from the mid-1400s, list collective nouns terms still in use today such as a charm of goldfinches, a pride of lions and a murder of crows. Crows are scavengers and feed on carrion. Folklore says crows form tribunals to judge and punish the bad behavior of another. If the crow was found guilty, the bird was murdered by the flock. No doubt a crow has killed another crow, but no trial was involved.
Kathy Paulsen of Geneva wrote, “We think squirrels in our part of town have been nibbling or chewing off the base of the small groups of leaves from our maple trees. Do you think that it would be the squirrels?” Squirrels eat maple seeds. They build dreys (nests) in summer and early fall from chewed-off branches bearing green leaves they weave together. They might find sustenance in the twigs or chew to maintain their teeth. The trees should be able to withstand the pruning.
Bruce Haugsdal of Albert Lea asked if hummingbirds nest in that fair city. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are statewide residents and could be found breeding in all regions. They’re most abundant in northern Minnesota, gradually becoming less common in the south, southwest and south-central regions. Breeding surveys have shown the hummingbird is common throughout the eastern half of Minnesota, with its distribution lessening as you head westward.
Eric Steinmetz of Mankato asked if the seedpods of catalpa trees were edible. The tree is famous for its dense clusters of white flowers and long seedpods, which resemble beans or grotesque cigars. Despite the common name of "bean tree," the catalpa has no known edible uses. Catalpa roots are poisonous.
Lou Jean Ingham of Hayward asked if she could feed wild rice to the birds. Rice is perfectly safe for birds to eat. I’m not sure how much they will enjoy it.
“Are butterflies good pollinators?” I’ve been enjoying fireflies each evening. They are a light show and are pollinators. Butterflies are pollinators but have limited contact with pollen. They aren’t as effective at it as bees, beetles and flies.
“How long can I leave my hummingbird feeder out before changing the water?” The National Audubon Society says, “In hot weather, the feeder should be emptied and cleaned twice per week. In cooler weather, once per week is enough.” Perky-Pet says, “During hot weather, change it every two days. In milder weather, once a week is fine.” Smithsonian says, “Change feeders every other day and thoroughly clean them each time to prevent harmful mold growth.” And the Cornell Lab of Ornithology says, “Change sugar water every 3–5 days to prevent mold and deadly fermentation, and more frequently when it’s over 90 degrees outside. Clean feeders at least once a week with hot water and a bottle brush. Don’t use soap or a detergent.“
Thanks for stopping by
“One mornin' when I was ridin' in my old pickup truck. A beautiful bluebird
came flyin' down. My eyes caught the color as it led me down the road.”—Neil Young
“To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.” Often attributed to songwriter Reba McEntire, it was first said by Dr. Kavanagh during his talk on “Moral Anatomy” in 1908.

©Al Batt 2021