A reader worries that hummingbirds and song birds have deserted his neighborhood. Is it an omen or just nature at work?
Where have all the birds gone this spring? I have not seen my two hummingbirds for six weeks, despite changing out the food every week, and we have not seen any songbirds. We do have some crows but not that many to account for the scarcity of our bird life.I’ve been writing this column for more than a decade, and I get at least one of these questions every spring. You’d think I’d have a better answer, but “because nature” is the best I’ve got.
While it’s unsettling for your yard to be suddenly devoid of bird song, the birds are out there — just not in your neighborhood. It might seem like a dire warning that something’s wrong with the environment, but it’s more likely that it’s just nature at work. Our unusually wet winter and spring have created an abundance of wild flowers and insects, and birds are taking advantage of that.
Other factors could be in play. If you or your neighbors have let landscapes die in the drought, paved over backyards or replaced lawns with rocks or artificial turf, the neighborhood might not be as welcoming as it once was. The use of pesticides can also make a difference, as can heavy construction or a colony of cats living nearby.
Take a look in your yard, as well as your general neighborhood, to see what might be attracting or not attracting birds. My guess is that it’s just a glitch in the matrix, and the birds will return of their own accord. In the meantime, you can add some drought-resistant flowering plants , create some shady areas for the birds to hang out, put up some new feeders and, to attract hummingbirds, add some splashes of red flowers or decor.
You might also consider where you have the hummingbird feeders. Plants grow and dynamics change, and the old spots might not be as attractive any more. Birds like to dine in protected areas, but away from places predators might hide and launch a surprise attack.For the last few years most of my tomato plants have grown fairly large and blossomed but many of the blossoms will fall off and I get no or little fruit.
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
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