Potter Wasp

It may seem strange to be writing about wasps when there is still snow and ice on the ground but what prompted me is a friend who last week gave me three very curious-looking wasp nests to pass along to a local outdoor education teacher. These are little round mud pots, smaller than a marble with an opening on one end and a sort of round flat lid on the other end.  

Potter Wasp Nests in glass jar.

My friend told me that her neighbor found these on the underside of an outdoor geranium leaf and gave them to her. I think the neighbor was afraid these were going to harm the plant. My friend put them in a jar where they hatched, each one hatching out a little wasp, a few hours apart. She released the wasps outside and kept the empty nest knowing it would be an interesting addition to the outdoor education centre.

In researching these pretty little mud pots, I found out they are the nests of the Potter Wasp (or Mason Wasp), from the family Eumenidae.  The name Potter wasp is derived from the shape of the mud nests they build. They are solitary wasps, considered to be beneficial garden insects.  After building the mud nest, they collect caterpillars or beetle larvae and paralyze them with their sting and place these in the nest to serve as food. They then lay a single egg. Later the developed adult will emerge by chewing its way out of the little nest pot. The adult feeds on flower nectar. There is a belief that Native Americans based their pottery designs on the forms of local potter wasp nests.  To read more about this wasp please check this site:

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-30_potter_wasp_eumenes.htm

If you find these in your garden, please leave them undisturbed until the wasps hatch out. How magical is this, another secret life in the garden, under our very noses!

I made another discovery in my own garden last summer. A giant flying insect with a long tail landed on a deck post next to me as I was hanging the laundry. It looked like a cross between a dragonfly and a wasp. Laundry immediately forgotten, I quickly grabbed my camera and managed a couple of shots before it flew off.

It turned out to be the Giant Ichneumon parasitic wasp, species Megarhyssa atrata. The female wasp body is about 1.5” long and with a very long ovipositor (longer than 3” in my photo) at the end of the abdomen.

Ichneumons are another beneficial insect that prey on wood borers but they do not sting.  The females use their antennae to “feel” vibrations made by Horntail  Wasp larvae inside the wood, usually a tree.  When she locates a larva, she drills into the wood with her ovipositor.  When she senses the tip is in contact with the host larva, she ejects an egg and deposits it on the larva.  After the egg hatches, the young wasp larva feeds on the Horntail larva and pupates in the wood.  When mature, it chews its way out and begins life as an adult wasp.  Males are attracted to the “wood chewing” vibrations and many can be gathered around waiting to mate with an emerging female. How cool is that!

Wasp unknown species looking in the window. So pretty!

I always marvel at how little miracles of nature occur all around us while we remain unaware. In clearing out that messy area or dead wood in your garden you may also be destroying or removing very helpful garden friends and their habitat.  

Everywhere I look in my garden, forest or meadows, I see a seemingly endless variety of beautiful beetles, spiders, butterflies and weird looking insects of every shape, size and colour. The insect world is fascinating and our yard hosts many beneficial insects, as we garden organically, so I will post more about this when the weather warms. If you find a strange insect and want to identify it check out this site: http://bugguide.net/node/view/6324

If you take the time to observe nature please remember that while it is tempting to remove things found in nature, it’s always best to look and enjoy without trampling or disturbing, leave nothing and also take nothing but memories or photos.

A few flies and ladybugs are out of their slumber and basking on the sun-warmed cedar shakes on the west side of the house, soon we will see wasps and bees at the first emerging spring flowers!

Louise

Rescued Barred Owl Update

I thought that those of you who read my entry on the injured Barred Owl that we transported to a Rehabilitation Centre might be interested in the outcome so far.
The young male owl was examined by an opthalmologist who discovered some serious damage. It appears that his right eye is blind and will not recover. The left eye also shows residual issues from trauma, including cataracts. So for now he will continue on eye meds and stay indoors. Sadly it appears unlikely that he will return to the wild.
On a positive note he has gained weight from 502gms to 750gms so he is eating well and has settled in.
Louise

Signs of spring

Today a tiny head poked up above the snow, the first chipmunk of the year! A sure sign that spring is on its way. Soon the Red-winged blackbirds will arrive with their raucous song, the males arriving first, flashing their red epaulets at other males, making their territorial claims.

The chipmunk purveyed the area, keeping an eye out for predators. He appeared very reluctant to leave the safety of the burrow. He first ventured up a nearby tree, then after an hour he scooted across the snowy yard to an abandoned groundhog burrow under a rock.

From there he watched the activity at the bird feeder, then maybe deciding it was still too cold, he retreated back to the comfort of his winter den. Even the peanuts I scattered on the ground could not entice him to come under the feeders. When you’re at the bottom of the food chain, you’re very cautious.

Several Dark-eyed juncos, another visitor from the northern woods, have spent the winter feeding in our yard and this morning I heard their trilling song, another sign of spring.

Dark-eyed Juncos

The Blue Jays have also started what is called “courtship feeding” where the male will bring food to a potential mate and delicately place it in her beak. It is so endearing to watch a pair sitting on a branch with the female coyly waiting for the offering. It’s comical to see how helpless the female can make herself appear.



Sumac

 

There is still plenty of winter food around the yard and species such as the Common Crows and Enropean Starlings have been eating this bounty in order to survive.

rosehips

High-bush cranberries

Soon vernal pools will appear when the snow melts. These are the ephemeral pools of water that dry up by summer but where many of our insects and amphibians start their lives. More on this later.

The snow has been slowly melting, warmer days and cool nights will soon have the maple sap running. My mouth is watering thinking about this truly Canadian sugary treat.  Nothing beats the taste of precious maple syrup on freshly made crepes. Mmmm…bring on spring!

Louise

Scented orchids

Recently, I attended a large orchid show put on by the Southern Ontario Orchid Society. I thought it would be so nice to be surrounded by beautiful blooms on a cold blustery February day. I was not disappointed. The show boasted 6,000sq. ft. of orchids, one section for vendors and another for orchid displays. There was a stunning array of orchids of every size, shape and colour as well as mosses and small ferns used in the displays. Some orchids were hanging from branches and tree limbs, others nestled in moss or on weathered wood. Lovely scents wafted.

The crowds were incredibly thick from the beginning and it was hard to walk around but I had to check the sales tables. I was hoping to find a fragrant orchid that was easy to look after. One vendor in particular had a lovely display and was very helpful. I ended up buying two miniature scented phalaenopsis, 1 for my daughter and one for me. It has a soft baby powder-like fragrance.

I was going to leave when I spotted a very beautiful fragrant oncidium and well...I could not leave without it. It had a tall spike covered in small red and white orchids and a delightful fragrance.

This is a large mature orchid with 4 long flower spikes over 3 ft tall. It now sits in a south facing window where I can control the light level with a blind. Since only 1 spike is in bloom with the others in bud, it should bloom for a long time. The soft scent reminiscent of white chocolate fills the room with a gentle, not overpowering fragrance. Another way to cheer up a winter day.

We've had some balmy days this week and with the days getting longer and the sun hotter, I can feel spring in the air. Soon the first spring migrants will arrive and from then on my binoculars will get quite a workout.

Louise

Barred Owl Rescue

Today was a day of mixed emotions. Somewhat happy because we were doing something good by delivering an injured owl to a rehabilitation centre and very sad because the owl got injured in the first place and it will likely never fly free again, if it survives.

Injured Barred Owl Strix varia

Back to the beginning of this story, around 1 week ago an injured Barred Owl was found on the ground in a snowy field. It was brought to a local naturalist and friend, Audrey, who has nursed various injured birds over the years.  With her care, the owl survived until it could be taken to a rehab centre. Arrangements were made to bring the owl to the Owl Foundation Rehabilitation Centre in Vineland Ontario, a unique facility that focuses in helping injured or orphaned wild Canadian owls. It is a registered charity that operates on donations. We volunteered to deliver the owl, accompanied by Audrey and friend. 

And so today, the owl’s new journey began, not on wings but in a cardboard box.

2 ½ hours later we arrived in Vineland and we were welcomed warmly by Kay McKeever, who with her husband Larry, founded the Owl Foundation in the 1970’s. The property is spread out on the bank of a river, comprised of a house, several out buildings and enclosures, some very large (600+sq.ft.) to allow large raptors to practice flying before release into the wild.

Some owls, permanently disabled and unable to survive in the wild live out their lives in peace at Kay’s. We were greeted by one of Kay’s owls “Big Bird”, a very beautiful and gentle Great Gray Owl with a permanent vision impairment. Great Grays live and breed in the far north where they don't normally meet up with cars, but sometimes they come further south in winter in search of food and sadly get acquainted with cars by getting hit... 

"Big Bird" Great Gray Owl Strix bebulosa

Some of the permanent residents live in comfort in outdoor enclosures, create pair bonds and mate. Others become foster parents to orphaned owls who will later be released. It’s a magical place, full of sadness but also very much full of hope. 

Tiny Northern Pigmy Owl Glaucidium gnoma peeks down at us

  Some photos are a bit blurry due to low light conditions and no use of flash.


Kay,  is a walking encyclopedia on all things “owl” and we could have listened to her all day as she showed us owl skeletons and the bank of close-circuit TV screens where she monitors activity in the enclosures.

Newly arrive Hawk Owl

Our Barred Owl was examined upon arrival and we were told that he was a young male from 2010, that he had been hit by a vehicle, with serious injuries to his eyes, ears, a broken talon and scrapes. He was also emaciated. Sad news, with damage to ears and eyes, he is an unlikely candidate for future release.  Owls rely on both sight and hearing to hunt.

We left the sad-looking little owl in good hands, not knowing where his journey will take him, but they promised to update us on his status.

Each year across Canada and elsewhere, owls and hawks are hit by cars while hunting by the roadside. Why are they hunting in such a dangerous place you might wonder? Mice are drawn there by the garbage people toss out of vehicle windows. Whether it’s an apple core or fast food remnants, mice and other rodents are attracted to it. Other animals such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, bears etc are also killed when attracted to this roadside buffet. So please spread the word, DON’T LITTER there are very good reasons not to litter.

For more information about owl rehab, what to do if you find an injured raptor or to donate to the Owl Foundation, please visit this wonderful website:

http://www.theowlfoundation.ca/

Louise

Winter blooms!

 On a dull February day in 2009, on the spur of the moment, I bought a Phalaenopsis  orchid in full bloom and reveled at its delicate beauty; it reminded me of the Belizean rain forest that we visited that winter. Even though we visited in the dry season, it rained every night and in the forest the orchids were laden with drooping stalks covered in dozens of blooms.

After buying that first orchid I was hooked, I wanted more. I went back to the store and found a bunch of leftover dying orchids. All that remained were some shriveled leaves in nice pots priced at $10 each. No idea what colour they were. I offered them $5 each and ended up getting 4 at that price. After some repotting and fertilizing, these orchids are all thriving and have bloomed repeatedly.   

27 blooms and more coming

All these photos are of my “rescues” currently in bloom. Two more have buds almost ready to open. In the dead of winter the blooms bring joy, a splash of colour against the backdrop of white.



 





Northern Visitors

All the birds at the feeders except the Mourning Doves and the Blue Jays took flight so I knew we had a visitor, one who preys on smaller birds. Sure enough a Northern Shrike was in a Crabapple tree just outside the kitchen window. I usually have a camera and binoculars at the ready so I snapped this photo.

Northern Shrike in crabapple tree

Northern Shrikes in Ontario usually nest in the northern taiga and migrate to southern Ontario for the winter months. We usually see these Shrikes each winter, as they are attracted to the bird activity around our feeders. They prey on small birds and rodents while here, but in summer they may prey on insects, frogs and snakes which they may impale on thorns or barbs to feed on later. They are a robin-sized bird with a hooked beak which helps dispatch prey. I love this rare visitor from the north and admire its ability to survive in harsh conditions.

Shrike with dead vole

Another northern visitor that has come around a few times this winter is the Bohemian Waxwing, a splendid bird that thrills with it’s unpredictable appearances.

Bohemian Waxwing

A flock will magically descend upon the yard, gorge themselves with high-bush cranberries or juniper berries then leave just as suddenly as they appeared. Recently a flock of 200 birds arrived to feed on juniper berries. I love to hear their faint trills. At winter’s end they retreat to the Hudson Bay lowlands to breed.  

Juniper Berries

 Other northern species have visited our feeders. American Tree Sparrows are pretty much a daily visitor in significant numbers. They nest on far northern coasts and the subarctic treeline.



Two tiny northern visitors: American Tree Sparrows

Rarely a few Common Redpolls have stopped by at the finch feeder. They are transient visitors, breeding in the coastal tundra.  I have yet to take a photo of these rare visitors. Since it’s unlikely I will ever visit these northern areas, I am always thrilled to catch these rare glimpses of our hardy northern species.

Those who know me will be surprised this is my first post about birds since they are my passion. Every day, my binoculars are with me on my walks or at hand on the kitchen counter. You will surely hear more about birds again and again...

Enjoy what the winter days bring,

Louise