Ted talks bees & birds

Hey y’all it's your friendly neighborhood Ted talking again about wildlife, and how we can help in our own backyard.

Have you noticed big carpenter bees (Xylocopa virginica) hovering, seeming lost and then zipping off as if they just realized they forgot to turn the stove off? Take pride in the fact they are staking out your yard as suitable habitat.

This time of year is very important for early pollinators like these furry guys.  Hold off mowing your yard to give early-season pollinators a critical head start. Many native bees, including mining bees and bumblebee queens, emerge in early spring. They depend on the first blooms of plants often dismissed as “weeds,” such as dandelions, violets, and henbit. These flowers provide nectar and pollen when few other food sources are available. 

By delaying mowing, you allow these plants to bloom and support pollinators when they need it most, boosting their populations at the start of the growing season.

Speaking of staking out territory, it’s important to monitor your bird houses throughout the nesting season. If house sparrows (Passer domesticus) take up residence in your boxes, you should remove their nests. They are non-native, aggressive birds that outcompete and sometimes kill native species such as bluebirds, purple martins, and tree swallows. Learn how to ID them.

I’m so excited for spring! Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.