Nature notes

By Allen Batt

Ken Nelson of Clarks Grove wondered when Baltimore orioles leave after nesting and how many broods they have. They have one brood. In July, most young orioles leave the nest and become independent. The parents molt their body and flight feathers in anticipation of their migration south. By September, it’s rare to see any orioles hanging around. Their durable sock-like nests continue to hang, thanks to a tightly woven construction, strong knots and superior building materials.

“Do robins find worms by sight or sound?” Robins hop around our yards, with heads cocked, searching for worms. Research published in the journal Animal Behavior concluded robins could use either visual or auditory cues to find worms, but probably use both.

“Why do squirrels insist on stopping in a street and then running in front of my car?” Why do squirrels run into the path of an oncoming car? Are they panicking or just goofy? Squirrels spend their lives trying not to be killed and then they do this? Instinct drives this behavior while you’re driving your car. Squirrels run in a serpentine or zig-zag pattern to throw hunting hawks off their swooping game. This method helps squirrels dodge raptors and other predators, but not Dodges. I must add that this is a commonly held theory, which squirrels have refused to confirm or deny.

“What do hummingbirds feed on when they return in a cold, late spring?” Sap and insects. Yellow-bellied sapsuckers, which winter in the southeastern U.S. and Central America, migrate north in early spring when the sap is running. They use their strong bills to notch rows of sapwells in trees. They drink the sap and feed on the insects attracted to it. Hummingbirds rely on the bounty of sap provided by sapsuckers and visit the wells to drink the sweet liquid and feed on the insects attracted to it. For hummingbirds, this is an important food source that helps them survive until the flowers bloom.

Allen Edward Batt, American writer, speaker, storyteller, tour leader. He and his wife have one adult son.