Connecticut Audubon Society

Q: Last summer I noticed a hummingbird near the back porch. He only stayed a moment and then left. I would like to do something to attract them more often. Can you help?
A: Hummers are not hard to attract if you plan it out a little. If you have a garden or even a small flower patch or window box you can easily attract these little beauties simply by planting the tubular, red flowers they like. Plant as large a row as you can of flowers such as bee balm, fuchsia, cardinal flower, even red impatiens. Once the flowers are blooming, place a hummingbird feeder in amongst them. The hummers will quickly learn to come to the feeder and will often stay throughout the summer.

Q: When should I start feeding birds and what is the best seed?
A: Recent research has shown that since birds do not use feeders as their sole means of support, it is acceptable to feed birds whenever you like and as often as you like. For instance, we used to think that it was not a good idea to feed birds throughout the summer or to stop a feeding program in winter to go on vacation. We now know that both are perfectly fine. As far as the best seed is concerned, by using a high quality mix containing sunflower, white proso millet, safflower and peanut hearts, you may be spending a bit more, but will be wasting far less seed than with the discount mixes. Don’t neglect to hang a suet cake and provide some water as well. To purchase the best quality seed at great prices, look for information on the fall and winter bird seed sales taking place at many Connecticut Audubon facilities (check our enclosed program guide for specific dates.)

Q: Does it harm songbirds to feed them throughout the summer?
A: Recent studies have shown that as birds only use feeders as an alternative food source, year-round feeding has little effect on them. Therefore, if you enjoy seeing and feeding the birds, you can continue all year long with no harm.

Q: I found a baby bird in my yard. What should I do?
A: This is by far our most common summertime call, and the answer is almost always the same. Leave it alone or put it back near the nest, if you can find it. If not, and the young bird is exposed to possible danger, carefully move it into some sheltering shrubbery nearby.Contrary to poplar belief, birds have little or no ability to smell, and will never know if you pick up the youngster to place it into its nest or move it a few feet to a safer location. Adult birds are great parents and almost never abandon their young. They do, however, regularly leave them for short foraging periods that become more frequent as the young get larger. This is when most people encounter them and call us. Young birds often leave the nest long before they can fly. They hop around on the ground calling for their parents that return regularly to feed them.It is almost never a good idea to "adopt" a foundling. The result usually spells certain death for the bird due to improper diet, or imprinting and loss of natural instincts. Leaving the baby bird alone is the best solution for everybody.

Q: A pigeon has arrived in my yard that is very friendly and apparently can’t fly. It is banded. What should I do?
A: This bird is probably lost from a local (or sometimes very distant) pigeon club. Racing homing pigeons is a very popular pastime in the Northeast, and several clubs in our area get their birds together every weekend during the warm months, truck them out to Ohio, and release them for the race home, where the club members have gathered for the event. It is very well coordinated with sealed timers at the coop entrance, and in some cases, electronic scanners that monitor and identify birds as they enter the coop. The birds are well-bred for flying, are hand-reared and often quite tame. It is not unusual for a bird or two to run low on energy on the home flight, especially if they encounter poor weather. In such cases, the bird usually ends up on someone’s doorstep without enough energy to carry on, looking for some food. You can identify these birds right away, as they are usually banded on both legs and appear quite tame.Based on the letter code on the bands, we sometimes can identify the pigeon’s owner, but past experience has shown us that most owners want nothing further to do with birds that can’t make it. We now advise people to offer the bird food (cracked corn, bird seed, cracker crumbs, etc.) and water for a day or so, then release it somewhere where there are lots of other pigeons, as in a town park or near a highway overpass, in the hope that it will return to its own coop and not your backyard again. Therefore it is important not to keep it around for more than a day or so to prevent it imprinting on your yard as it’s new home coop.

Q: I will be visiting Connecticut this fall and would like to know where I can go to see birds and when is the peak of the fall migration.
A: Connecticut, with its diverse habitats of forests, streams, mountains, marshes and seashores is a great place for birding. We publish a "white sheet" with our ten best birding hotspots in Connecticut; where they are, how to get there, what to see and when. As far as the peak of the fall migration is concerned, generally speaking, shorebirds peak in early September, raptors in late September, songbirds in late September/early October, and waterfowl in November. Keep in mind that the migration is largely weather dependent, the largest waves coming on the heels of passing cold fronts. Also, Connecticut Audubon will hold bird banding sessions in the fall and this a great opportunity to study, up close, migrating birds as they head south. Connecticut Audubon’s Birdcraft Museum is the largest, federally-licensed, bird banding station in the state. Call Birdcraft Museum at 259-0416 for their fall bird banding schedule.

Q: A female mallard is nesting underneath a shrub right next to my front door. I’m afraid that neighborhood dogs, cats or kids will discover her and disturb or destroy the nest. There is much better secluded habitat behind our garage only a few feet away. Can I move her nest to this more appropriate location ?
A: Unfortunately, it is usually impossible to move any wild bird’s nest more than an inch or two. Apparently, birds recognize their nests almost solely on their location rather than their appearance. If the nest is moved even slightly, the returning bird will not recognize it as her own and will abandon. Take heart, however, although mallards sometimes choose some peculiar locations to nest, they are well-camouflaged and will remain hidden on the nest as long as they feel they have not been detected. If you can use another door whenever possible, restrain yourself and family from peeking at the nest or drawing the attention of others to it, the bird has a reasonable chance of hatching her clutch. Some biologists think that these birds deliberately choose nesting locations close to human traffic in order to avoid predation by other wild animals.

Q: I have had a bluebird house up in my yard for the past two years, but thus far have only attracted house wrens. I see bluebirds in my area each spring, why won’t they use the box?
A: Since you didn’t tell me the details of your box, such as its location, height, etc., I can only guess at the problem based on what I know about house wrens. Wrens seem to prefer boxes that are near the habitat they prefer to feed and hide in, that is, low shrubs, bushes and brush. If your box is close to this type of habitat, the wrens will quickly take it over. Since they often build several nests but use only one, they may not even be laying eggs there. If you are most interested in the bluebirds, be sure your box is erected at about eye level on a pole with a raccoon baffle. Place the box at least 20 feet away from bushes, shrubs and thickly wooded areas. Preferably, place the box out in a grassy area with a good clearing all around it. Bluebirds are fond of insects in the low grasses and will use the box as a perch to look for them in the open areas as well as a nesting cavity. Don’t nail your bluebird houses to trees, as this is sure to attract squirrels and raccoons. Also, don’t try to provide boxes for both bluebirds and wrens in the same area! Wrens will drive off the bluebirds, peck holes in their eggs, and even kill the young.

Q: I live near a wooded area and have a small field nearby. My neighbors and I have seen what we think is a coyote several times in our backyards. As we both have small children and dogs, should we take steps to protect ourselves, and who can we call on to help?
A: You may be correct. The eastern coyote is on the increase all across the northeast, and is well established in Connecticut. It has been widely reported that coyotes attack dogs and cats as well as domestic livestock. Although this has undoubtedly occurred, it is certainly not common and it is unfair to label these animals as the "big bad wolf". Eastern coyotes eat a diverse number of plants, animals and insects. From grasshoppers to fallen fruit, winter killed deer, mice, squirrels, and woodchucks, coyotes are opportunists willing to take advantage of nearly any available food source. They are also highly intelligent canines that habituate fairly quickly to people where they are not persecuted. Thus, these animals are not afraid to expose themselves to view and sometimes even seem curious about human affairs.Like all wild animals, it is unwise to approach, feed or try to touch coyotes. You should be aware that coyotes are in your area, but do not be alarmed. Small pets should not be left alone unprotected or unsupervised anyway, coyotes or no. If you are having persistent coyote or other wildlife problems of one sort or another, you can call the DEP Wildlife Unit in Hartford for assistance.

Q: Skunks and/or Crows are digging up my lawn and peeling back the turf causing widespread damage that I have to repair every day. Help! Why are they doing this?
A: These diggers are undoubtedly mining for insects, in this case, specifically, Japanese beetle larvae and other grubs that live in the root systems of lawn grasses.These tasty grubs are particularly favored by skunks and crows who will quickly convert your lawn into an open strip mine in their lust for these juicy snacks.If you can eliminate the grubs, you will solve the problem. However, before you call "NukeLawn", ask your friendly Cooperative Extension Service what non-chemical, biologically-friendly agents will help combat these subterranean insects.

Q: We have recently moved to Connecticut from Los Angeles and our neighbor says he killed a poisonous snake (a copperhead) in his yard. We have young children and a small dog and we are concerned about their safety; can you give us some information?
A: Almost invariably when someone says they killed or found a copperhead, it is instead a harmless milk snake. Eastern milk snakes are much more common and routinely seen throughout Connecticut. Copperheads may be seen in parts of the state, particularly trap rock ridges of central Connecticut. But, even there, they are very secretive. Generally active at night, they are rarely seen. The copperhead can told apart from other snakes by the solid, unmarked, coppery-colored head, a temperature-sensitive pit between each eye and nostril, a red or pink tongue, and raised or keeled scales on the body. Copperheads also have thick, reddish-brown bodies with darker, reddish-brown hourglass shaped saddles along their body. Eastern milk snakes have no pits. They have smooth and shiny scales, a black tongue, and a silvery-colored background with dark to medium squared blotches along their body. They also have a brown-striped pattern on their head. If you’re unsure of the identification of a snake, it is best to observe it from a safe distance and leave it alone. It is a shame that so many snakes are maligned and killed senselessly. All are a necessary part of our biodiversity and play an important role in keeping down numbers of rodents and potential garden pests. If left alone, they seldom present a threat.

Q: There is a bird in my yard that is singing even though it is winter and it is driving me crazy because I can't find it! The song sounds like "pa-tweeta-pa-tweeta-pa-tweeta-pa-tweet" or sometimes like "cheeva-cheeva-cheeva" and is very loud. What kind of bird is this, why can't I find it and why is it singing at the wrong time of year?
A: The bird you are hearing is the Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus). This large wren is distinguished by having a white line over its eye, reddish brown upper parts and a short, vertically held tail. As you mentioned, the male Carolina wren is a mighty singer, and more often heard than seen. At the slightest disturbance, this wary bird seeks concealment and can disappear into a tangle with amazing speed. Even though shy, it is quite territorial toward others of its own kind, which explains the fact that males sing through the winter. Spending most of its time on or near the ground foraging in brush piles and thickets, the Carolina wren also climbs up or around tree trunks prying for insects. Although animal matter makes up the majority of its diet, it will come to the feeder for sunflower kernels. The Carolina wren is found north to Nebraska and Massachusetts, west to Texas and south to the Gulf coast and northern Mexico. At the northern part of its range, such as here in Connecticut, populations can be cut back severely because of heavy snows. The blanket of snow keeps the birds from getting their normal source of insect food on the ground. Such was the case in the winter of 1993. I hope we will hear the mighty singer more often in the future.

Q: I know that squirrels are a problem everywhere with people who feed birds, but mine are ruining my suet feeders and keeping the woodpeckers, nuthatches and other birds away. I thought squirrels were vegetarians, have you any suggestions ?
A: Although squirrels are mainly vegetarians, they sometimes eat insects and other invertebrates, and even bird’s eggs. Try using pure beef suet without added seeds or peanut butter. This will help, but may not totally eliminate your problem. Place your suet in a heavy, vinyl-coated wire basket that the birds can peck through, but the squirrels can’t bite into or through, and, like your other bird feeders, place it in a location that is as difficult for squirrels to reach as possible.

Q: In the last week, two or three very large turtles suddenly appeared at different times on my lawn and began digging holes. The lawn is quite a distance from any water and I’m wondering what were they doing here and why?
A: The turtles you observed were probably female snapping turtles seeking a good location to lay their eggs. Turtles, being reptiles, must lay their eggs on dry land, so even the most aquatic of these animals must come ashore to successfully reproduce. Snapping turtles prefer a sandy to loamy area where the soil is moist and receives sufficient sunlight to incubate their clutch. Lawn areas are often perfect for this and the turtles will travel long distances over land to reach them. Once the site has been selected, the female will lay up to 30 eggs that will hatch in about 90 days, if the skunks don’t smell them and dig them up first. For obvious reasons you should not attempt to handle or disturb an adult female snapping turtle laying her eggs! Even snapping turtles have an important role in nature. It is best to let nature take its course. You probably will never see the young turtles when they hatch and quickly depart for the nearest water under the cover of darkness, and the small disturbance to your lawn will quickly grow in.