Q&A & Naturally

By Al Batt

“Are all mergansers cavity nesters?” Not quite. Common mergansers nest in natural tree cavities or holes carved out by large woodpeckers. Sometimes in nest boxes, provided the entrance hole is large enough. They might use rock crevices, holes in the ground, hollow logs, old buildings and chimneys. Hooded mergansers readily nest in boxes. Red-breasted mergansers nest on the ground along forested riverbanks, marsh edges, lakeshores, coastal islands and sandy shores.

“What percentage of turtle eggs hatch?” In northern New York, raccoons destroyed 94 percent of all snapping turtle nests identified in one turtle nesting study. During a six-year study on the reproductive and nesting ecology of snapping turtles in southeastern Michigan, predation rates averaged 70 percent. The majority of nests were devoured by raccoons within 24 hours of egg deposition. In Ontario, raccoons and coyotes were observed following the tracks of early-emerging hatchlings back to their nests and consuming eggs and young remaining in the nest cavity. Predators may smell their way to nests, guided by the scent of embryonic fluid or a rotten egg.

“When do red foxes have pups?” Red foxes mate in February and 52 days later, 5 to 10 pups or kits are born. They nurse for 10 weeks and are independent at 7 months of age.

“What do fireflies eat?” Firefly larvae are carnivorous and eat snails, slugs, worms and other larvae. Depending on the species, adults eat other fireflies, nectar and pollen, or eat nothing at all. In their larval stage, fireflies are carnivorous. They eat soft-bodied insects that live on or in the ground, like snails, slugs, worms and other larvae.

“Can I destroy house sparrow and starling nests?” You can because house sparrows and European starlings aren’t protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Under the MBTA, it’s illegal to destroy a nest that has eggs or chicks in it or if there are young birds that depend on the nest for survival. There are a few other exceptions. It’s also illegal for anyone to keep a nest without a permit to do so issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“What do house sparrows eat?” Once commonly called English sparrows, they order from an expanded menu, eating mostly grains and seeds, livestock feed and discarded food. They happily visit birdfeeders and chow down on millet and sunflower seeds. During the breeding season, house sparrows eat insects and feed them to their young. They catch insects in the air and on the ground, stalk lawnmowers and visit lights at dusk. I watch them feeding on insects cooked on grilles and radiators of automobiles.

Naturally

Goldfinches are more vibrant than lemon drops. I spotted a crow on a low-hanging branch. It was a young crow with lovely blue eyes. Each crow in the murder had a cow, and they let me know what they thought about me messing with their beloved fledgling.

Our Audubon group’s purple martin houses and gourds have 147 eggs. We have great eggspectations.

As I walked, I found joy in the company of an American redstart. Warblers are the butterflies of the bird world and the American redstart exemplifies that nickname. The redstart flits about in the trees, holding its wings and tail partly spread. The adult male has a glossy black plumage set off by vivid reddish-orange patches on its sides, wings and tail. Females and young birds, often called "yellowstarts," are grayish, with yellow patches on the sides, wings and tail. The word "start" comes from an Old English word for "tail.” An American redstart constantly flicks its tail open and closed like a fan, flashing patches of bright orange or yellow. This is thought to startle insect prey and allow the birds to nab them. In Latin America, the bird is often called candelita, or "little candle."

Others accompanying me on my walk were dragonflies. The handsome insects collect nicknames: devil’s darning needles, mosquito hawks, snake doctors, horse stinger and ear cutter. Each spring and fall, large dragonflies called green darners fly across North America, traveling as far as 900 miles on two-inch wings. These dragonflies leave Minnesota in July through October to head south, flying as far as 87 miles per day. Kestrels eat them, as their migrations coincide in both time and location. At migration’s finish line, the dragonflies lay eggs and die. A new generation makes its way north in the spring. Some green darners don’t migrate and overwinter in Minnesota as naiads in ponds and emerge as adults in the spring.