DEAR JOAN: My mom has had a Meyer lemon tree in her yard for 50 years. Nice fruit, vicious thorns.
Often, the one avian guests are hummingbirds. These days, on three events, a few dozen birds have swarmed the tree. There have been as much as 5 completely different species, from hummers to dove-sized birds.
I used to be puzzled, till I noticed a pair of hawks circling above. Is that this “Lemon Fortress” habits regular, or have these outdated birds discovered a brand new trick?
The smaller hawk had a white breast and variegated brown feathers. The bigger had all darkish feathers. Are these a pair, or strangers looking collectively?
Maria, Harmony
DEAR MARIA: You realize what they are saying, any port in a storm, even one with viscous thorns.
Every time birds sense hazard, from above or at floor degree, their instincts inform them to take cowl. Shrubs are the extra frequent locations birds go to flee a risk, however any plant that provides them leafy safety will work.
As for the hawks, even mated pairs don’t hunt collectively, which is to say cooperatively. You may see a few hawks looking in the identical space on the similar time, however they’re nonetheless out for themselves. The exception is the Harris’ hawk, which is the one identified raptor to hunt in packs.
The pair you noticed may need been looking individually, otherwise you may need seen an grownup and a juvenile, who's simply studying the ins and outs of discovering meals.
DEAR JOAN: My child hummers fledged so I took down the nest. Contained in the nest is a really comfortable materials, like fur. It nearly seems artifical. Have you learnt what plant supply is used for this? It’s so very comfortable.
Yvonne Moss, Harmony
DEAR YVONNE: Hummers make use of various “fluffy” crops to line their nests.
Catkin-bearing timber and shrubs with comfortable plant fibers, flowers which have fuzzy foliage or fluff-filled seed pods, and even weeds all provide the products.
If you wish to help the hummers of their nest constructing objectives, attempt rising clematis, honeysuckle, pasque flower, blanket flower, lamb’s ears, and milkweed. Hummers additionally accumulate fluffy fibers from dandelions and cattails.
DEAR JOAN: My pal lives in Morro Bay, and he or she and her neighbors are having horrible issues with pigeons of their yards.
I stay in Alamo and have the crow downside. I did purchase two plastic “lifeless” crows however haven't hung them but. I'll take your phrase for it that my crows could have a pleasant large funeral after I put them up.
Any concepts on eliminating pigeons can be useful.
Peggy, Alamo
DEAR PEGGY: Most likely the simplest approach to discourage pigeons in your yard is to take away fowl feeders and baths.
Placing up pinwheels or hanging shiny ribbons in areas the birds congregate additionally will assist to scare them away. Owl or hawk effigies and rubber snakes can also deter pigeons, however it’s greatest to maneuver these round every single day or so to maintain the pigeons from determining they're innocent. Some fashions are geared up with motion-activated sounds and actions.
As on your crow downside, I don’t know if plastic pretend crows are practical sufficient to work. You may need to go together with one thing feathered.
Contact Joan Morris at jmorris@bayareanewsgroup.com.
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