Author Archives: Mary Anne Borge

Even Bald-faced Hornets Recycle

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During the winter, Bald-faced Hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) nests are more visible than they are during the growing season when the woods are dense with leaves.

Bald-faced Hornet Nest in winter

Bald-faced Hornet Nest in winter

This large nest looks like it is made of paper, and in fact it is. Initially the queen, and later the workers in the colony use their mandibles to scrape up and recycle bits of dead wood, then they mix the wood with their saliva to create the paper mache like substance from which they gradually construct their nest, adding new cells as the colony grows.

Bald-faced Hornet Nest in winter. The bottom has been removed, revealing the cells where larvae develop

Bald-faced Hornet Nest in winter. The bottom has been removed, revealing the cells where larvae develop

These nests are generally not active in winter, except occasionally in the southernmost part of the Bald-faced Hornet’s range. All the colony members die as winter sets in, with the exception of the fertilized queen. She finds a safe, warm place to spend the winter, usually in or under a fallen log, in a hollow tree, or sometimes underground.

In spring, birds take advantage of these abandoned structures and rip away bits of the paper to use as building material in their own nests. If you look at the lower right section of the nest below, it looks like there is some recycled ‘paper’ along with the plant materials that were used in this construction.

Bird's nest made from plant materials and wasp nest paper

Bird’s nest made from plant materials and wasp nest paper

Because paper is used in the construction of the nest, people often think this large football shaped shelter belongs to Paper Wasps. While Paper Wasps use the same materials for constructing their nests, the homes they build for their larvae are much smaller, and somewhat umbrella-shaped, like the one below.

Paper Wasp Nest

Paper Wasp Nest

Paper Wasp (Polistes carolinus)

Paper Wasp (Polistes carolinus)

Bald-faced Hornets are named for the white markings on their face, and are sometimes called White faced Hornets. They also have white markings on the lower part of their abdomens.

Bald-faced Hornet feeding on nectar. Note the white facial markings that give this species its name, and the pollen on its head.

Bald-faced Hornet feeding on nectar. Note the white facial markings that give this species its name, and the pollen on its head.

Does the word ‘hornet’ make you want to reach for a can of insecticide spray? Well, don’t!  That’s almost never a good idea.

It may help to know that Bald-faced Hornets are not really hornets! They are wasps, one of the wasp species known as Yellowjackets. Ok, I get that this might not make you feel any more comfortable with them. We’re used to Eastern Yellowjackets relentlessly competing for picnic food, and they can be quite aggressive.

Eastern Yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons) on Goldenrod

Eastern Yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons) on Goldenrod

It’s true that if Bald-faced Hornets think you are a threat to their nest, they may sting you, so it’s best to give an active nest a wide berth. As long as you do that, you are unlikely to have an unpleasant encounter with them.

Bald-faced Hornets are actually beneficial in several ways. Like many wasp species, they help to keep the insect population in balance. Bald-faced Hornets feed many types of insects to their developing offspring, and are especially fond of flies and even other Yellowjackets. They can be helpful by harvesting caterpillars for their offspring on a farm or near a vegetable garden – think unwanted Tomato Hornworns.

Bald-faced Hornet nectaring on asters

Bald-faced Hornet nectaring on asters

Adult Bald-faced Hornets feed primarily on nectar or other sweet treats like aphid honeydew. In the process, they provide pollination services to the flowers where they are drinking. And in spite of their size and stingers (in the case of females), Bald-faced Hornets may become a meal for a larger predator.

Bald-faced Hornets can make good neighbors, as long as you give them their space.

References:

Eaton, Eric R.; Kauffman, Ken.  Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America.  2007.

http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/baldfaced-hornet

https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/bald-faced-hornet

http://naturemappingfoundation.org/natmap/facts/bald-faced_hornet_712.html

http://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/baldfaced_hornet

http://eol.org/pages/239818/overview

http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/ejournal/bmc_05/84d_maculata.html

http://www.clemson.edu/cafls/departments/esps/factsheets/medvet/baldfaced_hornets_mv15.html

Backyard Birds, Snowstorm Number ??

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White-throated Sparrow in a snowstorm

White-throated Sparrow in a snowstorm

When I opened the shades yesterday, there was already about 7 inches of new snow on the ground and the air was thick with swirling, heavy wet flakes. I confess my first thought was, “How beautiful!” (Go ahead, call me crazy – you wouldn’t be the first!  But it may mitigate your assessment a bit to know I didn’t have to go out.)

The birds were already up and foraging for food. The area surrounding our feeder was a very popular spot, and remained so all day long throughout the storm.

Goldfinches and House Finches at the feeder

Goldfinches and House Finches at the feeder

Goldfinches and House Finches were the most constant visitors to the feeders, perching in the trees near by in between snacks.

Goldfinch

Goldfinch

Goldfinch, with male House Finch in the background

Goldfinch, with male House Finch in the background

Chickadees and Titmice darted to the feeder to get their share, with Chickadees tossing rejects on the ground for the grateful birds feeding there.

Tufted Titmouse

Tufted Titmouse

Carolina Chickadee

Carolina Chickadee

Carolina Chickadee, with lunch

Carolina Chickadee, with lunch

A few of the ground feeding birds, like this White-throated Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

grew impatient with having to wait for food to be tossed down to them and decided to go directly to the source themselves.

White-throated Sparrow eating at feeder

White-throated Sparrow eating at feeder

Even a few Dark-eyed Juncos also attempted to use the feeder.  A male Red-bellied Woodpecker watched for his opportunity,

Red-bellied Woodpecker, male

Red-bellied Woodpecker, male

then used his gymnastics skills to get to some food …

Male Red-bellied Woodpecker at feeder

Male Red-bellied Woodpecker at feeder

and bring it back to his mortar-and-pestle-like feeding spot on a near-by tree.

Male Red-bellied Woodpecker preparing a meal

Male Red-bellied Woodpecker preparing a meal

His female partner

Red-bellied Woodpecker, female

Red-bellied Woodpecker, female

elected to join the ground feeders.

Female Red-bellied Woodpecker foraging on the ground

Female Red-bellied Woodpecker foraging on the ground

Female Red-bellied Woodpecker successfully foraging on the ground

Female Red-bellied Woodpecker successfully foraging on the ground

She seemed tentative at first, staying only a few seconds with each trip, but eventually she became more comfortable both with the process and her ground feeding companions.

White-breasted Nuthatches and a Downy Woodpecker joined the party a bit later in the day.

White-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch on Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

White-breasted Nuthatch on Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

Downy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

A Blue Jay stopped by briefly, turning his face to escape the wind.

Blue Jay

Blue Jay

Dark-eyed Juncos and Goldfinches browsed for seed at our Purple Giant Hyssop (Agastache scrophulariifolia), one of the few additional seed sources not buried in snow.

Dark-eyed Junco feeding on Purple Giant Hyssop (Agastache scrophulariifolia) seeds

Dark-eyed Junco feeding on Purple Giant Hyssop (Agastache scrophulariifolia)seeds

When not actively feeding, many birds took refuge in the relative safety and shelter of neighboring Black-haw Viburnums (Viburnum prunifolium) and White Pines (Pinus strobus).

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco

White-throated Sparrow in White Pine with House Finch in the background

White-throated Sparrow in White Pine with House Finch in the background

The weather is pretty benign today, but clouds are starting to move in. Ready for the next round?

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal

A Snowy Owl and More at Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

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Like every other birder in North America, we decided that this winter was the best chance we would ever have to see a Snowy Owl.  So we went to Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge at the Jersey shore, the location near here likely to be the most reliable for finding them.  There were a number of other birders who had the same idea, and the way we spotted the owl was to look across the marsh from where about a dozen cars were parked, their occupants outside with binoculars, scopes and cameras ready.  We joined them.  Fortunately for the bird, she was quite a distance away, probably more than a hundred yards, with water and marsh grasses between her and her admirers. She seemed to be undisturbed by the attention she was getting.

Snowy Owl in the marsh at Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

Snowy Owl in the marsh at Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

Based on the amount of dark barring in her plumage, my best guess is that it was a first year female. (If you can correct me, please let me know!)

Snowy Owl, probably a first year female

Snowy Owl, probably a first year female

She spent much of her time alertly swiveling her head from side to side, often with her eyes partly or mostly closed; her hearing may have been a more important tool in monitoring  her surroundings.

Snowy Owl

Snowy Owl

Snowy Owl

Snowy Owl

She did take time to fluff out her feathers

Snowy Owl fluffing out her feathers

Snowy Owl fluffing out her feathers

and for some grooming.

Snowy Owl grooming (Checking for under-wing freshness?)

Snowy Owl grooming (Checking for under-wing freshness?)

At one point she looked ready for a nap.

Snowy Owl - yawning?

Snowy Owl – yawning?

Snowy Owl

Snowy Owl

Forsythe is always a productive birding spot. On this day, Northern Harriers hunted the marshes, and flocks of Dunlins fed together in the mud flats.

Dunlins

Dunlins

Great Blue Herons hunted in the channels along side the road.

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

So did a few Buffleheads.

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

Seeing this pair of Hooded Mergansers was a treat for me.

A pair of Hooded Mergansers, male on the left, female on the right

A pair of Hooded Mergansers, male on the left, female on the right

Hundreds of Snow Geese flocked together in the ponds and marshes.

Snow Geese at Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

Snow Geese at Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

Snow Geese

Snow Geese

Even a dark morph Snow Goose was present.

Snow Geese, with one dark morph bird

Snow Geese, with one dark morph bird

Flocks of American Black Ducks swam in the pools, dipping their beaks just below the water surface searching for food.

American Black Ducks

American Black Ducks

American Black Duck, feeding

American Black Duck, feeding

Northern Pintails fed together in the shallow streams.

Northern Pintail pair, female upper left, male lower right

Northern Pintail pair, female upper left, male lower right

Female Northern Pintail

Female Northern Pintail

Northern Pintail, male

Northern Pintail, male

Northern Pintails

Northern Pintails

Northern Pintails

Northern Pintails

Finally it was time to leave.

Northern Pintail

Northern Pintail

Not a bad day!

Snowy Owl

Snowy Owl

Wild Yam

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A few days ago the weather was chilly but dry, so we went for a walk at Spring Lake in the Abbott Marshlands.  The holidays are over, but woodland shrubs there are still decorated with garlands of Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa).

Wild Yam fruit capsules in Winter

Wild Yam fruit capsules in Winter

This vine isn’t much of an attention-getter during the growing season, although it has lovely glossy, deeply veined heart-shaped leaves.  It has male and female flowers on separate plants, but both are pretty inconspicuous.  I always notice this plant in winter, much less often in summer.

Wild Yam with male flowers

Wild Yam with male flowers

Almost luminous in the sunlight, hanging clusters of Wild Yam’s dried three-sided fruit capsules are eye-catching in winter.  These fruits are opening now to release their winged seeds, a design well adapted for wind dispersal.

Although it is related to the yams and sweet potatoes we eat, Wild Yam is not really edible.  In fact, when consumed fresh, the underground rhizomes might make you nauseous or result in other unpleasant side effects.  But prepared properly it does have medicinal uses.  This unassuming looking plant is worth noting, because it has played an important role in modern drug development.  The roots of Wild Yam contain chemicals called diosgenins, from which many steroid hormones, including contraceptives, were derived.  These chemicals are components in medications used to treat ailments from asthma, arthritis and eczema to reproductive system problems and high blood pressure.

Wild Yam is generally thought to help relieve pain, and to be an effective anti-spasmodic.  Alternate common names are Colic-root or Rheumatism Root, after a few of its uses.  Native Americans used tea made of Wild Yam root to relieve the pain of childbirth.

Wild Yam is insect pollinated, and provides cover and nesting habitat for birds.  It is native in much of the eastern two-thirds of North America, from Ontario to Minnesota, Nebraska and Vermont, south to Texas in the west, Florida and even Puerto Rico in the east.  Look for it in woodlands and thickets, climbing in the shrub layer.

Wild Yam fruit capsules in winter

Wild Yam fruit capsules in winter

References

Foster, Stephen; Duke, James A.  A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition.  2000.

Cech, Richo. American Wild Yam. From Planting the Future, Saving Our Medicinal Herbs, edited by Gladstar, Rosemary and Hirsch, Pamela. 2000.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Plants Database

Illinois Wildflowers

Native American Ethnobotany (University of Michigan – Dearborn)

A Holiday Display, Courtesy of Nature

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December Snow

December Snow

In a weather pattern that is pretty unusual for New Jersey in December, four snowstorms in a ten day period each brought a few inches of snow, sometimes with a mix of freezing rain or sleet.  The result?  A holiday display visible right outside our windows!

Anyone remember flocked Christmas trees?  This snow covered White Pine (Pinus strobus) could be the inspiration for them, although nothing we manufacture could provide such a lovely shelter from the elements and predators for birds in winter.

Snow covered White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Snow covered White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Other decorations include the aptly named Wreath Goldenrod (Solidago caesia) arching gracefully under its weight of snow.

Wreath Goldenrod (Solidago caesia)

Wreath Goldenrod (Solidago caesia)

In place of a candelabra, a Purple Giant Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) fruit cluster brightens its surroundings, while offering food for Goldfinches, Chickadees and even Dark-eyed Juncos.

Purple Giant Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

Purple Giant Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

No need to string cranberries or make other garlands when the red fruits of Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata) blaze on snowy branches.

Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata)

Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata)

Like using tinsel or other ‘icicles’ to decorate your tree?  One storm provided the real thing.  A little ice doesn’t deter this Tufted Titmouse from its pursuit of a meal.

Tufted Titmouse and White-throated Sparrow on ice

Tufted Titmouse and White-throated Sparrow on ice

I like bird ornaments on a Christmas tree, but even better are the live models posing outside in the trees

Northern Cardinal, male

Northern Cardinal, male

Blue Jay

Blue Jay

White-throated Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Chickadee

Chickadee

House Finch, female

House Finch, female

and on the ground below.

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco

White-throated Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Northern Cardinal, female

Northern Cardinal, female

Northern Cardinal, male

Northern Cardinal, male

Just across the Delaware River from us, Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve was also blanketed with the fluffy white stuff.

Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, Pidcock Creek from the bridge

Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, Pidcock Creek from the bridge

Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, the Violet Trail

Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, the Violet Trail

Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moschuetos) on the Gentian Trail

Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moschuetos) on the Gentian Trail

Snow-covered fruits and leaves decorated the woods exactly like holiday ornaments dangling from the trees.

Ironwood, also called American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)

Ironwood, also called American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)

Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)

Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)

Possum-haw Viburnum (Viburnum nudum)

Possum-haw Viburnum (Viburnum nudum)

BlackJack Oak (Quercus marilandica)

BlackJack Oak (Quercus marilandica)

Snow tends to be ephemeral around here, and this weekend with temperatures in the 50s and 60s it has almost disappeared.  (65°F at 7 o’clock this morning!)  But even without the cover of snow, beautiful natural decorations are visible in some form every day of the year.  So get out and enjoy them whenever you can!

Happy Holidays!

December Snow

December Snow