The states in the southern U.S. are in the Mississippi, Central, or Atlantic flyway of migrating birds, providing great opportunities to view migratory and nonmigratory birds throughout the year. Read through the list below to see what annual festivals are held in your state and maybe you'll get to see some birds on your life list, meet other birders, or just brush up on your bird identification skills. SELECT A STATE TO VIEW FESTIVALS Select from the list of states below to see the birding festivals in that state Alabama | Arkansas | Florida | Georgia | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maryland | Mississippi | North … [Read more...] about List of Birding Festivals in the South
hummingbirds
Native Buttonbush Provides Food for Wildlife – Native Plant of the Month
One of the more unusual flowering shrubs in our native plants garden (located between Tara Lodge and the Herbert Bryant Conference Center) is buttonbush, also known as button willow. Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is usually found in wet soils, such as swamps or the soil adjacent to the edge of a pond or stream. It grows well in wet soils overhanging water and its branches provide shade for spawning crappie and ducks. It can also grow well on moderately dry soils, as long as it gets enough water when it is becoming established. Starting in June and continuing through September, you can find 1-inch diameter round, spiky-looking … [Read more...] about Native Buttonbush Provides Food for Wildlife – Native Plant of the Month
Bird Checklist for 2013-2017 at Tara
We've been keeping a checklist of the bird species seen at Tara in the spring and summer seasons over the last couple of years. If you are looking for a specific bird, this will help you plan your trip to Tara. To view even more data, visit the ebird checklist at: http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L343333 Birding Checklist for Those Spotted Spring and Summer BIRD SPECIESSummer 2013Spring 2014Spring 2015Spring 2016Spring 2017GEESE, SWANS, & DUCKSBlack-bellied Whistling DuckXXXXBlue-winged TealXXCanada GooseXXWood DuckXXXXXTURKEYSWild TurkeyXXXGREBESPied-billed GrebeXXXSTORKSWood StorkXCORMORANTSDouble-crested … [Read more...] about Bird Checklist for 2013-2017 at Tara
The Spring Migration of Birds
The spring migration of birds has begun! This is the time of year that birds that have been overwintering in Central and South America begin to return to our area. In the Mississippi Flyway Tara is fortunate to be right along a principal route of the Mississippi Flyway, which is a migratory route for neotropical birds and waterfowl that follows along the Mississippi River. We get a front and center seat to watch spring migration. Around 326 bird species use the Mississippi Flyway each year. Forty percent of all migrating waterfowl in North American use the Mississippi Flyway. That’s a lot of birds flying north! Birds at … [Read more...] about The Spring Migration of Birds
Fall Migration of Hummingbirds
The fall migration of hummingbirds means winter will be here sooner than we know it. Hummingbirds started migrating hummingbirds in the last several weeks and will continue to arrive in our neck of the woods for a while. There are two major migrations of ruby-throated hummingbirds – one in spring heading to northern states and one in fall heading south to warmer climates. The male hummingbirds are the first to arrive and are followed by females and juvenile males. There is a neat map online where you can track the migration of these birds each year. You can even report the birds that you see so that they show up on this … [Read more...] about Fall Migration of Hummingbirds
Red Buckeye: Native Plant of the Month
If you want to attract hummingbirds to your yard, the early spring-blooming red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) is a great way to do it. Not only do these native shrubs produce beautiful flowers during a time when not much else is blooming, but they seem to be particularly attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. We have red buckeye planted in our native plant garden at Tara. Here are some photos of the hummingbirds visiting them. Red buckeye shrubs can grow to be up to 20 feet tall. It's native to the southeastern U.S. and can tolerate a wide variety of soil types and moisture levels. It grows best in part shade but it can grow in full … [Read more...] about Red Buckeye: Native Plant of the Month
