Audubon Society plans three field trips next weekend

Now is the ideal time to take part in field trips. Migrating birds are at their peak, and you may not see them again until the fall or next spring. Also you might enjoy the excitement of seeing your first species of the season. What a great way to welcome spring!

Next week's field trips include excursions to the Trexler Nature Preserve on Saturday, May 2, and to Jacobsburg State Park on Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3. The visit to Jacobsburg is ideal for novice birdwatchers.

The events are sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

The trip to the Trexler Nature Preserve is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. Meet at the parking lot of the Lehigh Valley Zoo. Look for the main entrance and park farther down the road, toward the Jordan Creek ford. John Levin will lead the field trip. Watch for warblers!

Saturday's bird walk at Jacobsburg State Park is meant for novices. Children are encourage to attend, but those age 12 and younger must be accompanied by a parent. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Scott Burnet will lead the trip. 

Sunday's walk at Jacobsburg is for those more experienced. It will start at 7:30 a.m. and be led by Dave DeReamus.

Jacobsburg State Park is located at 426 Belfast Road, just off the Belfast exit of Route 33. Meet at the Henry's Woods parking lot in the park.

To sign up for any of the excursions, visit the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society's website and click on icon at the top right of the screen to access the "Events Calendar." 

Also, directions to the sites are available at "Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity," the must-have guidebook to birding throughout the area. Copies of the recently updated 192-page paperback book are available at The Bird House.

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week of April 24

Willet

Several bird species have arrived in the Lehigh Valley after having left their southern wintering grounds. 

The first reported sighting of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak occurred in the past week. Several different types of warblers were reported; some will stay the summer in this area, others are passing through. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird was seen.

Among those en route to breeding locations farther north are the White-winged Scoter, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-necked Grebe, Greater Yellowlegs, Bonaparte's Gull and Solitary Sandpiper. Visit your favorite lake or pond if you hope to see one of these species.

Several rarely seen birds were reported as well: the Least Bittern, Caspian Tern and Willet. 

Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, compiled the list of bird sightings for the week ended April 24. The Birdline is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Lake Minsi, Northampton County
Red-breasted Merganser, 3 on April 20 and 4 on April 21.

Jacobsburg State Park, Northampton County
Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 on April 19.

Williams Township, Northampton County
Harris's Sparrow, 1 to at least April 22 (near adult plumage).
Also seen: Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Bethlehem Boat Club area, Northampton County
Yellow-throated Warbler, 1 since April 12.

Louisiana Waterthrush

Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
Surf Scoter, 1 on April 21.
White-winged Scoter, 3 on April 21.
Long-tailed Duck, 2 on April 21.
Greater Scaup, 4 on April 21.
Common Goldeneye, 1 on April 21.
Red-breasted Merganser, 1 from April 17 to April 21 and 5 on April 22.
Red-necked Grebe, 2 from April 19 to at least April 22.
Bonaparte's Gull, 3 on April 21.
Caspian Tern, 2 on April 20.
Pine Siskin, 1 on April 19 and 2 on April 20.
Also seen: Black-and-white Warbler and Prairie Warbler.

Leaser Lake, Lehigh County
Long-tailed Duck, 1 on April 21.
Red-breasted Merganser, 1 on April 17 and April 18.
Bonaparte's Gull, 1 on April 21.

Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County
(Along Cetronia Road, near Air Products)
Greater Yellowlegs, 1 on April 21.
Solitary Sandpiper, 2 to at least April 21.

Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County
(at the Walt Road area)
White-winged Scoter, 1 on April 21.
Red-necked Grebe, 1 on April 20.
Bonaparte's Gull, 1 on April 19 and 2 on April 20.
(at the Deep Creek Lake area)
Least Bittern, 1 on April 17.
Yellow-throated Warbler, 1 from April 17 to at least April 22.

Lake Nockamixon, Bucks County
Red-necked Grebe, 1 on April 21.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
White-winged Scoter, 2 on April 21.
Red-breasted Merganser, 1 to at least April 18.
Red-necked Grebe, 2 on April 21 and April 22.
Double-crested Cormorant, 258 on April 17.
Willet, 1 on April 21.
Bonaparte's Gull, 1 to at least April 18.
Also seen: Great Egret, Purple Martin and Louisiana Waterthrush.

Other locations
Also seen during the past week at various sites: Green Heron, Bald Eagle, Broad-winged Hawk and Purple Finch.

To report bird sightings to Dave DeReamus, send an e-mail to becard@rcn.com with the word "Birdline" in the subject heading.

3-2 vote on controversial plan to build near Green Pond marsh.

Monday, April 20th, Bethlehem Township Commissioners voted 3-2 to approve requested waivers and deferrals for the 261-home development by Traditions of America near the Green Pond marsh. The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers has designated the area as wetlands and is one of the habitats used by migratory birds. There has also been a great deal of concern voiced about increased traffic and storm water runoff.

Commissioner Michael Hudak, who voted for the waivers was quoted as saying that because the birds are migratory and don't use the Green Pond wetlands for long, he doesn't think it's a worthy reason for turning down the housing plans.

While this is not the end of the road for the marsh, according to Commissioner Nolan, it does give Traditions of America approval to come in with a preliminary plan.

For more detailed information and explanations, please see the links below.
From the Easton Express Times: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2015/04/bethlehem_township_commissione_19.html
From Bernie O'Hare's blog: http://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2015/04/divided-board-grants-waivers-to-green.html

Watch for this season's newcomers in your backyard

Gray Catbird

Keep an eye out for the arrival of summertime birds in your backyards, forests and fields.

Listen for the mewing sound of the Gray Catbird. They should be here any day now. Of course, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds made their appearance on April 15 in the Easton area. They should be spreading out across the Lehigh Valley.

Chipping and Field sparrows are arriving, while American Tree Sparrows probably have left already. The newcomers readily visit feeders for seed. In another few weeks, White-throated and White-crowned sparrows will move onward.

Dark-eyed Juncos will fly north or to the high mountain ranges by the end of the month. You probably are still seeing few of them right now.

House Wren

The perky-tailed House Wren will join the Carolina Wren for the summer. Make sure your bird houses are ready; they'll be searching for mates and nesting sites.

Yellow-rumped Warblers, which may visit feeders during the winter, are preparing to head north, leaving probably in mid-May. They will be replaced by many different species of warbler, including the Blue-winged, Black-and-white, Hooded, Chestnut and Pine. The Nashville and Tennessee warblers will be passing by shortly. Pine Warblers may also visit feeders.

Red-breasted Grosbeaks are due to reach the Lehigh Valley later this month.These, too, stop off at feeders for seed, primarily striped or black oil sunflower seed.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Any time now, swifts and swallows will be darting on the wing around looking for insects. Watch for them near barns and overhanging structures. Tree Swallows especially take to bird houses.

Purple Martins are gregarious birds that prefer to nest in small colonies. They sheltering and nesting in multi-unit housing.

Of course, many species of backyard birds stay all year long. These include cardinals, Mourning Doves, House and Purple finches, House Sparrows and Blue Jays and mockingbirds. Male goldfinches have changed into their bright yellow-and-black colors. Robins and bluebirds are being seen more frequently.

Finally, you are bound to see greater numbers of Common Grackles and European Starlings at this time of year. Some of them had moved south for the winter but are now here in full force. Visit The Bird House for several suggestions to keep them out of your backyard.

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week of April 17

Yellow-throated Warbler

Spring migration brings several species that haven't been seen since the cold, snowy months of winer.

In week ended April 17, Yellow-throated Warblers, Bank Swallows and Broad-winged Hawks made their reappearance in the Lehigh Valley.

Meanwhile, several species are getting ready to depart for northern regions. Among them are the Pink Siskin and the Merlin, both of which probably will remain only until mid-May. 

Naturally, Snowy Geese, Snow Buntings, Snowy Owls and Snow Buntings  are long gone. So, too, are Cackling Geese. 

But there are plenty of migratory species that will be passing by the Lehigh Valley. They are a treat to see because of the short period that they are visible here. Species reported this week include Bonaparte's Gull, the Solitary Sandpiper, Dunlin, Northern Waterthrush and Red-throated Loon.

The sightings were compiled by Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Lake Minsi, Northampton County
Long-tailed Duck, 1 at least to April 10 and 2 on April 14.
Black Scoter, 10 on April 17.
Red-breasted Merganser, 6 on April 10.
Red-throated Loon, 1 on April 17.
Red-necked Grebe, 1 on April 17.
Dunlin, 1 on April 10.
Bonaparte's Gull, 12 on April 9 and 2 on April 14.
Common Tern, 1 on April 10.

Bear Swamp, Northampton County
Northern Waterthrush, 1 on April 15.

Martins Creek PPL Power Plant area, Northampton County
Bonaparte's Gull, 8 on April 10
Also seen: Bank Swallow.

Nazareth Quarry, Northampton County
Red-throated Loon, 1 from April 9 to at least April 14.
Bonaparte's Gull, 4 on April 14.

Lower Nazareth Township, Northampton County
(at the Gremar retention ponds)
Long-tailed Duck, 5 to at least to April 10.
Bonaparte's Gull, 1 on April 10.
Also seen: Hooded Merganser and Wilson's Snipe.

Bethlehem Boat Club area, Northampton County
Yellow-throated Warbler, 1 returning on April 12.

Green Pond, Northampton County
Bonaparte's Gull, 2 on April 10.
Also seen: Blue-winged Teal.

Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
Red-breasted Merganser, 2 on April 14.
Red-throated Loon, 1 from April 10 to at least April 12.
Also seen: Cliff Swallow.

Bake Oven Knob, Lehigh County
Bald Eagle, 2 on April 15.
Broad-winged Hawk, 77 on April 15.
Merlin, 1 on April 15.

Leaser Lake, Lehigh County
Red-breasted Merganser, 1 on April 14.
Caspian Tern, 1 on April 12.

Bonaparte's Gull

Haafsville, Lehigh County
Sandhill Crane, 1 on April 14.
Also seen: Wilson's Snipe.

Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County
(along Cetronia Road, near Air Products)
Solitary Sandpiper, 1 to at least April 12.

Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County
(at the Walt Road area)
Red-breasted Merganser, 9 on April 10.
Red-throated Loon, 2 to at least April 12.
Dunlin, 1 on April 11.
Bonaparte's Gull, 1 on April 10; 1 on April 11; 18 on April 14; and 1 on April 16.
(at the Church Road area)
Green Heron, 1 on April 10.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Common Goldeneye, 1 to at least April 10.
Red-necked Grebe, 1 on April 11.
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on April 11.
Also seen: Green Heron, Broad-winged Hawk and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

Several locations
Double-breasted Cormorant, Osprey, Bald Eagle and Pine Siskin were among the species reported at several sites this past week.

To report bird sightings to Dave DeReamus, send an e-mail to becard@rcn.com with the word "Birdline" in the subject heading.

Audubon Society offers several programs next weekend

This is a great time to go birdwatching. The Lehigh Valley Audubon Society has arranged several field trips for next weekend so you can catch up on migrating birds and new arrivals.

SATURDAY, APRIL 25. A beginner's bird walk is scheduled for the Monocacy Nature Center in Bethlehem. Meet at the parking lot at Illicks Mill Road at 8 a.m. Trip leaders will be Sue Mahan and Stephen Kloiber. Illicks Mill Road is located just off Center Street, south of Route 22.

SATURDAY, APRIL 25. A field trip is planned for the Lehigh Parkway in Allentown. Meet at the the Tilghman Square parking lot, near (where else!) the Red Robin restaurant, just west of Route 309, at 7:30 a.m. The trip leader will be Barbara Malt.

SUNDAY, APRIL 26. A third field trip next week is to be conducted at the Bethlehem Boat Club area along the Lehigh Canal in Bethlehem Township. Meet at the Park & Ride lot at the William Penn Highway exit of Route 33, just south of Route 22, at 7:30 a.m. The trip leader will be Adam Smith.

They're here! Hummingbirds have arrived in the Lehigh Valley

The rule of thumb is that Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrive in the Lehigh Valley around income tax day. This year, their arrival was precise: The first Ruby-throat reported here was on April 15.

The first sighting occurred in the Easton area. The source of the information,   Hummingbirds.net, does not identify the precise location.

Some Ruby-throats have made it as far north as Vermont and New Hampshire; birds that migrate along the Atlantic coast tend to hug the shore and then dash inland to their customary breeding territories.

Are your hummingbird feeders clean and placed in your backyard? The hummingbirds will be hungry from their flight and eager to refuel. Many of these birds are migrants that eventually will travel farther north. But if you put out the welcome mat in the form of several feeders, you might entice these dazzling little creatures to remain in your neighborhood all summer long.

For tips on attracting and feeding hummingbirds, please click here to see our previous posting from last week.

The map shows locations where Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been sighted and the date when the report was submitted.

Source: Hummingbirds.net

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week of April 10

Long-tailed Duck

Here are the Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week ended April 10. The list was compiled by Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Lake Minsi, Northampton County
Long-tailed Duck, 1 on April 8.
Bonaparte's Gull, 11 on April 9.

Martins Creek PPL Power Plant area, Northampton County
Redhead, 5 on April 8 and 6 on April 9.
Red-breasted Merganser, 1 on April 8.
Bank Swallow, 2 on April 7 and 1 on April 9.

Lower Nazareth Township, Northampton County
(at the Gremar Road retention ponds)
Long-tailed Duck, 2 on April 8 and 5 on April 9.

Williams Township, Northampton County
Harris's Sparrow, 1 through April 3.

Green Pond area, Northampton County
Redhead, 5 on April 1 to April 3; 6 on April 4.
Also seen: Blue-winged Teal.

Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
Red-breasted Merganser, 1 on April 6 and 2 on April 7.

Leaser Lake, Lehigh County
Red-breasted Merganser, 1 on April 4.

Trexler Park, Lehigh County
Rough-legged Hawk (light morph), 1 on April 4.

Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County
(Along Cetronia Road, near Air Products)
Solitary Sandpiper, 1 from April 5 through April 8.

Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County
(at the Church Road area)
Ross's Goose, 1 on April 4.
Redhead, 13 on April 2; 8 on April 5; 2 on April 6; and 1 on April 8.
Long-tailed Duck, 2 on April 3; 6 on April 4; and 1 on April 6.
Red-breasted Merganser, 6 on April 8
Bonaparte's Gull, 10 on April 8.
Caspian Tern, 2 on April 5.
(at the Wall Road area)
Red-throated Loon, 2 from April 8 through April 10.
Bonaparte's Gull, 12 on April 9.
Common Tern, 3 on April 10.
White-eyed Vireo, 1 on April 7.
(at Knight Road)
Common Merganser, 316 on April 3.

Unami Creek Valley, Montgomery County
Brown Thrasher, 1 on April 7.

Gilbertsville, Montgomery County
Bullock's Oriole, 1 through April 6 along Oberholtzer Road)

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Canvasback, 3 on April 3.
White-winged Scoter, 1 on April 4.
Common Merganser, more than 1,000 on April 3.
Red-breasted Merganser, 13 on April 3
Common Goldeneye, 1 on April 7 through April 9.
Red-necked Grebe, 1 on April 7.
Bonaparte's Gull, 2 on April 4.
Glaucous Gull, 1 on April 4.
Also seen: Winter Wren and Eastern Towhee.

Kintnersville, Bucks County
Louisiana Waterthrush, 1 on April 6.

Several Locations
Double-crested Cormorant, Bald Eagle and Pine Siskins.

To report bird sightings to Dave DeReamus, send an e-mail to becard@rcn.com with the word "Birdline" in the subject heading.

Our wintertime warblers will migrate north shortly

Yellow-rumped Warbler

All winter long, you may have seen the flash of a yellow songbird pecking for seed at your bird feeder. No, it wasn't a male goldfinch. 

The American Goldfinch's bright yellow color is seen only in warmer months. As winter arrives, the male takes on a dull, olive plumage similar to that of the female, which wears that color all year long. Also, you might notice a black wing bar amid the olive. That's sure sign that the bird you've seen is a male goldfinch. The male will soon return to its vivid yellow; the striking display is meant to attract a mate.

The yellow flash that is seen locally in the winter is a Yellow-rumped Warbler, the only species of warbler that makes its home here in the winter. Soon the Yellow-rumped Warbler will depart, heading north to breed. Taking its place among warblers will many different species, each with their coloration and their own melodious warbling song.

The trill of a Yellow-rumped Warbler is a song of four to seven syllables (tyew-tyew-tyew-tyew-tyew-tyew-tyew) and an occasional call note (check or chip).

Yellow-rumped Warblers are one of the few warblers that come to feeders to eat. They consume sunflower seeds, suet, peanut butter and raisins. 

In nature, they eat waxy fruits—bayberries and was myrtles in particular—that most other songbirds usually ignore. The trick is the warbler's digestive system, which is able to to transform the waxy fruits into essential nutrients. They'll also eat juniper berries and the fruits of poison ivy, Virginia creeper and dogwood.

Their digestive abilities is one reason they winter so much farther north than other warbler species.

You'll see them foraging in shrubs or trees, often in parks, along woodland streams and in open pine and mixed pine-oak forests. They'll even visit cow pastures where they pick goodies from piles of manure. If you happen to be at the seashore, you may see them there, in the dunes. The easiest time to see them is during migration.

In the depths of winter, the birds are mostly a streaky brown and yellow, with the brightest yellow appearing on the top of the rump, and to a lesser extent on the throat and beneath the wings. Right now, the birds are beginning to transform into a brighter color: a dazzling yellow and gray. The males display flashes of white on their wings. The females are more subdued and a bit more brownish.

The birds will be their most numerous in mid-April, as their comrades who wintered a bit farther south begin to enter the Lehigh Valley. By mid-May they are gone, having headed north in flocks to Canada, Alaska or the Rocky Mountains to breed. They'll being returning in large numbers in late September, according to Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity.

Yellow-rumped Warblers lay four or five eggs in nests 50 feet above the ground, usually in a horizontal branch away from the trunk. The female has two broods.

During breeding season, the warblers change their diet a bit. They primarily eat insects, which they catch in midair. They also forage in leaf litter for spiders and caterpillars, in addition to insects find there. Early ripening berries remain a treat.

Fortunately the species is abundant and widespread, according to the National Audubon Society.

So be on the lookout. You may find a Yellow-rumped Warbler nearby, if not around your feeder than perhaps along the tree line at your favorite park or stream.

Hummingbirds are knocking at our door

Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Much to our surprise (given the erratic behavior of our weather), Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have reached well into New Jersey. One has even been seen in lower Bucks County, probably near Levittown.

At that rate of flight, we should see Ruby-throats in the Lehigh Valley within three or four days. The usual pattern is for the hummingbirds to hug the Atlantic Coast as they migrate north, then to spill inland into area such as ours.

Are your hummingbird feeders clean and placed in the yard to receive the buzzing little migrants? The hummingbirds will be hungry from their flight and will need to refuel. If you place several hummingbird feeders in your yard, you are more likely to persuade them to stay all summer long.

That's no guarantee, of course. Some hummingbirds that you see in April will visit only briefly en route to favorite breeding grounds north of us. But you'll still do them a favor by offering them a nutritious meal and overnight shelter. Maybe you'll enjoy seeing hummingbirds in action from your window or deck.


Locations of the sightings

The first sightings of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in Pennsylvania were reported on the online service Hummingbirds.net within the past three days. A separate service, eBird.com (which accumulates reports of all bird species) has not confirmed the sightings of hummingbirds this far north.

The Pennsylvania sighting appears to have occurred in the Levittown area of lower Bucks County. Four sightings have been reported in New Jersey. The locations seem to be in Cape May, Gloucester, Ocean and Monmouth counties.

A sixth sighting was reported just south of the Pennsylvania border near Havre de Grace at the source of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.

(A map showing the sightings appears below.)


Hummingbird feeding is essential

Sugary nectar is a high-energy food source that helps maintain hummingbird's wings beating at 53 beats per second. But it's a myth that hummingbirds consume only nectar. They also need protein, in the form of tiny springtime insects and spiders, to provide strength. The birds catch springtime insects on the fly. When the temperature reaches the 60s, you may see swarms of March flies, mayflies, midges, gnats and fruit flies flying above lawns. 

The weather has been so unpredictable lately that we never know whether the insects will be aloft. So at the very least, a source of nectar will give hummingbirds nutrition to continue their migration. Hummingbirds also will drink from sap wells drilled in trees by larger birds such as Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers.

Having hummingbird feeders available helps during nighttime cold snaps in springtime. For instance, the temperature fell into the 30s by dawn this morning. When it's cold, hummingbirds have the ability to slow their metabolism, entering a deep-sleep state known as torpor. Their body temperature falls to freezing levels and their heart and breathing rates slow. Overnight they may lose 10 percent of their body weight. When the sun comes out, they revive and immediately seek food.

Offering nectar at several locations in the yard will enable them to reach the food quickly and easily. 

Attracting hummingbirds

It's a good idea to place several hummingbird feeders at widely spaced distances within your yard. These birds (both male and female) are very territorial. They'll display aggressive behavior, and sometimes the "alpha male" will drive away all other males from the feeder. They'll even chase away bumblebees.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are among the most inquisitive birds in the backyard. They sometimes become acquainted with human behavior, especially if the human is wearing a red shirt or jacket.

Hummingbirds don't seem to mind feeders that are located on or near windows. The Bird House has window hangers that are attached to the glass by suction cups. The hangers easily accommodate the light-weight hummingbird feeders.

The Bird House carries nectar powder. Unlike homemade sugar-based nectar, the powder does not need to be boiled. Just add tap water. Also, never use red food coloring to dye the nectar. Virtually all hummingbird feeders are red, so that suffices. Moreover, scientific studies have shown that red dye may actually harm the hummingbirds.

It's not to early to head to garden centers to choose plants that hummingbirds will enjoy this summer. Among the favorites (for hummingbirds and humans as well) are columbine, liatris, monarda, native honeysuckle (not the Japanese varieties), trumpet creeper, red morning glory and red buckeye. Many of the plants are perennials, so they will bloom in your yard year after year without care.

Source: Hummingbirds.net

Help adult Monarch butterflies thrive

Yesterday we looked at the troubles facing the caterpillars of Monarch butterflies because of the scarcity of milkweed, their only source of food and the only plant onto which eggs are laid. Today we look at the needs of adult Monarchs.

You can expand your garden to include many nectar plants which are needed as food for adult Monarchs. These plants can attract pollinating bees as well as provide other food for a variety of butterflies.

Some top nectar plants are 

• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
• Joe-Pye Weed which grows tall with multiple flower bunches
• Liatris which has multiple pink flowers opening on a tall stem
• Coreopsis which grows to medium height usually with many flowers
• Pentas, grown in our area as an annual
• Aster, a perennial which blooms late in the summer
• Butterfly weed which is drought tolerant
• Lantana, another plant grown as an annual in our area.

Bee balm and coneflower also are beneficial. An added benefit to coneflower is that later in the season, it offers seeds for goldfinches.

Many of these flowers will also offer nectar to hummingbirds.

The goal of a butterfly garden is to offer food and shelter for the entire life cycle of these butterflies. To best attract them, group same plants together and they will be more enticing to butterflies. From the butterflies' point of view, we cannot have too many flowering plants. Besides being beneficial, we can enjoy the view, too!

Black-eyed Susans

Joe-Pye Weed

Liatris

Coreposis

Penta

Aster

Butterfly Weed

Lantana

Bee Balm

Coneflower

Monarch butterflies are struggling

Most of us are looking forward to spring. But this year we may find a colorful addition to our backyards—Monarch butterflies—strangely absent.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, counts of these familiar orange and black insects are trending down so sharply that their migration is under threat. By some estimates, the Monarch butterfly population has declined by 90 percent over the past two decades, from about 1 billion butterflies in the mid-1990s to just 35 million this past year.

The Center for Biological Diversity and other advocacy groups filed a petition in August 2014 asking the federal government to step in. The Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the petition was worth considering and has launched a year-long review of the status of Monarch butterflies. This means that the butterfly, once common across the United States, could end up on the endangered species list.

Scientists say that the butterfly's decline is linked to a rise in genetically engineered crops which are altered to be resistant to milkweed, the Monarch butterfly caterpillar's only source of food. Monsanto's Roundup herbicide is so successful that milkweed plants have virtually disappeared in Midwestern corn and soybean fields. This is the equivalent of the loss of butterfly habitat the size of Texas.

Monarch caterpillars feast on milkweed leaf

How can we help?

Milkweed is the host plant for Monarch butterflies. Eggs are laid in the spring; milkweed is the only source of food for the larvae. We can collect and sow milkweed seeds. Ideally fall is the best time to harvest seeds when the pods are brown, dry and starting to crack open.

Don't have seeds now? No problem. Check the Live Monarch website for ordering seeds. There has been such a demand for the seeds that Live Monarch is behind in its orders. Place your order now but you may not receive your seeds until the end of April. A contribution of $3.50 for 150 seeds is requested for processing and shipping.

Every little bit helps. It doesn't take huge number of plants in any one stop to help Monarchs, especially during migration.

(Tomorrow: Plants that benefit adult butterflies)

April is the month of greatest transition

An April tableau: a robin tugging at a meal

Changes in bird life accelerate dramatically in April. Each day brings new surprises. April is the peak month of migration for songbirds and waterfowl alike.

Say good-bye to the Dark-eyed Junco, the "snowbird" that has been foraging beneath our backyard feeders all winter. The juncos are heading to Canada. The American Tree Sparrow has left. White-throated and white-crowned sparrows are getting ready for their flights north.

On the lakes, Snow Geese are congregating, preparing to fly in flocks of tens of thousands to the Arctic tundra.

Other birds will take their place. Great Blue Herons will return to the area—and your koi pond if you let them. The herons can wipe out an entire koi population in less than an hour. Place a net over the pond unless your pond has deep niches underwater where the fish can hide.

Belted Kingfishers and Wood Ducks are back.

Expect House Wrens, Purple Martins and Tree Swallows very soon.

Robins are here, busy searching for earthworms on your lawn. Invertebrates are their primary food source at this time of year, fruits and berries having yet to emerge. Many robins actually stay here all winter. (Being omnivores, you may also see robins eating millet or peanut pieces or hulled sunflower seeds.) You may not have noticed them because they locate in woods where berry-producing trees and shrubs were relatively plentiful.

Another year-round bird that seems more numerous in backyards at this season is the Common Grackle. Loud and gregarious, grackles strut around the backyard as if they were kings and queens. They're known to push aside smaller birds at the feeder.

And of course the voracious starlings are here. Some stayed the entire winter, others returned here after spending the season farther south. 

Deal with these pesky birds by switching your seed exclusively to safflower. Grackles and starlings don't eat safflower seed but cardinals, Mourning Doves, House Finches, chickadees, Tufted titmice eat safflower.

By mid-April, the champ migrator, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, will arrive. Beating its wings 53 times per second, the hummingbirds already have crossed the Gulf of Mexico from Central America. They are now in the Carolinas; once they cross the Potomac, it's an easy flight to the Lehigh Valley.

At around the same time, you may begin noticing that the male goldfinch is changing from winter's drab, olive-brown color to summer's bright yellow. The female will continue to carry the olive-brown upper parts, with a touch of dull yellow underneath.


Seed and Suet

A good seed mix welcomes more birds. Continue using 60 percent black oil sunflower seed and 30 percent white millet. The remainder should consist of sunflower chips, safflower seed or shelled peanuts. This is a good general mix that should appeal to most backyard species.

Nyjer is the goldfinches' favorite seed

To attract goldfinches, offer Nyjer (the thin black seed sometimes called "thistle") in a special feeder. The narrow ports of these feeders enable the goldfinch to pick out a single seed without the rest of the seed spilling out. Goldfinches also enjoy a special finch blend consisting of Nyjer and crushed sunflower chips.


Other foods

April is the time to start offering mealworms to bluebirds, robins, orioles, wrens, thrashers and wrens. These birds are searching for protein at a time when little is available. Insects, grubs and larvae are hard to find in the cool springtime weather.

Suet is another important food for April. Continue to use fatty high-energy suet. Larger birds such as flickers may scare away smaller suet-lovers such as Downy Woodpeckers. One solution is to feed suet in multiple locations in the yard.

Fruits and berries are important for orioles, robins, cardinals, mockingbirds and grosbeaks. By April fruits and berries in nature are scarce. Attract these species by offering them a seed blend that contains dried cherries or cranberries. Try placing raisins in water overnight to plump them up. Offer these treats on a tray or small bowl. Grape jelly is another favorite, especially for Baltimore Orioles; catbirds like it too. You also can attract orioles if you slice an orange and spear the slices onto a specially designed fruit feeder. Mockingbirds and grosbeaks favor apple slices.


Nesting

This month, all male birds are singing to find a mate. Searching for a nesting location is a priority. 

Not all birds nest in houses. Many build open nests in shrubs, trees or porch overhangs—even hanging flower baskets. Bluebirds, chickadees, wrens, Purple Martins, House Finches, Barn Swallows and House Sparrows are among those that use houses. Robins use open nesting platforms. 

By now, debris should be emptied from bird house that were used last year so new occupants can build their own nests. If you'd like to add bird houses, now is the time to do it. Keep some distance between bird houses. Birds of the same species usually need some "elbow room." Nesting pairs also want some distance from feeders. The busy activity at feeders may discourage nesting.

When installing a bird house, make sure to orient the openings away from northwesterly  winds and rain. The house will stay drier and nestlings will enjoy a healthier environment.


Bird Baths

Birds need water for drinking and bathing. Nighttime temperatures are moderating, so April is a fine time to set out a bird bath. Use a bubbler or Water Wiggler to entice birds to the bath. Birds are attracted by moving water.

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week of April 3

American Bittern

Here are the Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week ended April 3. The list was compiled by Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Riverton, Northampton County
Redhead, 4 on March 29.

Martins Creek PPL Power Plant area, Northampton County
Canvasback, 2 on March 28; 3 on March 29.
Redhead, 3 on March 28; 9 on March 29; and 9 on March 31.
Rough-legged Hawk, 1 on March 29.
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on March 29.

Lower Nazareth Township, Northampton County
Sandhill Crane, 1 fly-by on April 1.

Forks Township, Northampton County
(at Braden Airpark)
Iceland Gull, 2 on March 27.

Williams Township, Northampton County
Mississippi Kite, 1 fly-by on March 31.
Harris's Sparrow, 1 through at least March 29.

Bethlehem, Lehigh County
American Bittern, 1 on March 30 in a private backyard.

Leaser Lake, Lehigh County
Redhead, 4 from March 29 to at least March 31.
Double-crested Cormorant, 3 on April 2.

Haafsville, Lehigh County
Greater Yellowlegs, 2 on March 31.

Blue-winged Teal

Allentown, Lehigh County
(at the Dorney Park pond)
Greater White-fronted Goose, 1 on March 27.
Canvasback, 2 on March 27.

Walking Purchase Park, Lehigh County
Red-breasted Merganser, 3 on March 28.

Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County
(at the Church Road area)
Ross's Goose, 1 on March 27 and March 28.
Cackling Goose, 1 on March 28 and March 29.
Canvasback, 8 on March 30.
Redhead, 8 on March 27; 5 on March 28; 5 on March 29; 3 on March 30; and 13 on April 1.
Double-crested Cormorant, 1 on March 29.
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on March 27.
(at Deep Creek Lake)
Cackling Goose, 1 on March 27 and March 28.
Also seen: Common Raven.

Gilbertsville, Montgomery County
Bullock's Oriole, 1 through April 2 along Oberholtzer Road.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Iceland Gull, 2 on March 28.
Also seen: Blue-winged Teal.

Several Locations
Osprey, Bald Eagle, Eastern Phoebe, Pine Siskin, Northern Rough-winged and Barn swallows and a displaying American Woodcock.

To report bird sightings to Dave DeReamus, send an e-mail to becard@rcn.com with the word "Birdline" in the subject heading.