Provide Winter Meals for Wild Birds

An American robin feasts on native holly berries in the Blomquist Garden. 
Photo by Cathi Bodine

by Katherine Hale

Winter is the hardest time of year for wild birds. Just when they need to eat the most to keep themselves warm, the cold drives the insects they depend on into hibernation. Even fruit and seed eaters aren’t safe, with unpredictable bouts of ice, snow and inclement weather cutting off access to their food sources.

Like support stations at a marathon, backyard feeders bearing sunflower seeds and suet offer birds a lifeline in stressful times, with quick and easy boosts of the calories and fat they need to survive. Feeding birds is a safe, easy and fun way to help local wildlife, and it also allows adults and children alike an up-close-and-personal opportunity to connect with nature.

Feeders aren’t the only way to help birds, of course. Native trees like dogwoods, hollies and wax myrtles provide welcome bursts of seasonal color—along with food and shelter for hungry fall migrants and overwintering residents alike. Withered seed heads of ornamental grasses and sunflowers can be left up after the frost for foraging juncos and sparrows. (You can cut them down in the spring to make room for new foliage or plantings.) Native plants also serve as hosts to caterpillars and grasshoppers, allowing insectivores like bluebirds and warblers to thrive. And of course brightly colored flowers are the best way to draw in nectar-drinking hummingbirds.

But the wonderful thing about bird feeders is that they are open to everyone—no land or garden required. For those who don’t have access to much outdoor space, or who are waiting for their plants to mature, bird feeders offer an effective and immediate alternative. As long as you follow a few simple rules—making sure there are bushes or other cover nearby for birds to shelter in; cleaning the feeders regularly to prevent disease; and keeping cats and other pets indoors—the only limits are your budget, imagination and time.

What birds frequent your feeders depends on the kind of offerings you set out. Woodpeckers appreciate suet. Chickadees and cardinals love black oil sunflower seeds. That said, part of the fun of setting up a bird feeder is that you never know who might drop by. Visitors to the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants frequently spy a pair of mallard ducks hanging out under the feeders, commuting from the pond nearby. Online resources like eBird, iNaturalist and Feeder Watch provide space for the scientifically inclined to share and document their findings.

Bird feeders in the Blomquist. Photo by K. Julian.

The beauty of bird feeders is that they allow you the opportunity to watch wild birds up close, with a house or windowsill serving as a blind. Beginning and seasoned naturalists don’t even have to step outside to see the resulting antics, which speed up as weather conditions worsen. The result is live-action drama worthy of a reality show, as the dominant chickadee scolds its flockmates away from the choicest morsels, or a red-shouldered hawk shows up to try and snag a feathered meal of its own.

If you’d like to try making simple bird-feeders of your own out of pine cones, lard and other natural materials (no nuts or nut products involved), join us for our annual Winter Wonderland Festival, on Sunday, December 8, from 2-4 p.m. at the Doris Duke Center. The family-friendly festival is free for Duke Gardens members, and $5 per child for non-members. (Please register in advance at http://duke.is/tZhVcV.) In addition to winter-themed crafts, there will also be storytelling, cookie decorating, festive music and our resident snowperson, Snowflake. Hope to see you there!

For more plant and nature stories about Duke Gardens, check out the Garden Talk column on our website. 

Create a Bird-Friendly Garden

By Sarah Leach Smith, Visitor Services Coordinator

Photos by Charles Twine

Joyful gardens are often more than just plants – insects, birds and other wildlife add color, energy, life and song. If you’re interested in learning more about how to attract birds to your garden, consider joining us for “I Need a Plan: Bird-Friendly Gardening." 

Lauri Lawson, a horticulturist with Niche Gardens in Chapel Hill, will teach this 2-session class, which will meet Feb. 2 and 9 from 6:30-9 p.m. Niche Gardens has been a pioneer for native plants and ideal plants for Southern gardens since 1986. Niche has a devoted local and regional following, as well as a thriving nationwide mail-order business.

Lawson has extensive experience teaching gardeners how best to grow a sustainable, low-maintenance landscape, and how to garden for birds, butterflies, pollinators and other beneficial wildlife.

“We all know about bird feeders and birdbaths, but there are many wonderful plants that are both beautiful to our eyes and attractive to a wide variety of birds,” Lawson says. “These plants can create habitat for adults and be a prime spot to raise their nestlings.”

The class will cover the basic needs of common backyard bird species and a roster of easy-to-grow plants to make them happy year round, she says. “I'm especially excited about giving bird-lovers in the class good personal attention to their specific questions and give them the knowledge needed to make their gardens an oasis for our feathered friends."

This class will happen around the same time as an excellent national event called the Great Backyard Bird Count, which encourages people to count birds in their back yards and submit the data online. The collected data will help scientists find out more about bird migration and how it is impacted by environmental changes.

We hope you will join us for “I Need a Plan: Bird-Friendly Gardening” (email or call 919-668-1707 to register), and perhaps participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count as well!

Great Blue Heron: Three Photographic Approaches

By Sarah Reuning

As I was walking in Duke Gardens last spring, I saw a great blue heron perched in a tree. I took my first shot of him (right).

It's easy to get caught up snapping photos and forget to look at the camera's display. I try to always check the display to see what I have captured and what I'd like to change.

Looking at the photo, I decided it was OK. The lighting was good, but I didn't like the branches in front of the heron's face. I decided to move to the other side of the tree and shoot from there.

Moving around has really improved my photos. I try to shoot from different angles, different sides, even lying on the ground. When I move, the light on the subject changes and the changing light alters the mood of the image.  

When I moved the to the opposite side of the tree, I took the second shot (left).
 
Checking the camera's display, I decided  I liked the warm feeling of the sunlight filtering throughout the tree limbs and I liked the shape of the heron, but I found the green of the leaves a little distracting. I wondered, what would this shot look like as a monochrome image?

 I knew if the photograph were a traditional black and white, I would lose the warmth of the sunlight. Light gray is not a warm color. I decided instead to make the image an antique black and white, or cream tone since cream is a warmer color than gray. Experimenting with the tone gave me the next image (below).

As I had predicted, the cream tone did retain a sense of warmth while eliminating the green shades I had found distracting.

However, the change of image tone also pleasantly surprised me. Suddenly, my photograph resembled a Japanese silk painting. I found it beautiful and vastly different and more interesting that the first heron shot I took.

Had I not looked at the camera display, moved around, and experimented with tone, I would not I have captured the last image.

Blogger Sarah Reuning is a Duke Gardens volunteer photographer. Click here to learn more about volunteering at Duke Gardens. Click here to see nature photography and other classes offered at Duke Gardens.

Species Spotlight: Black-Necked Swan

By Erika Zambello

Walk into Duke Gardens any given day and you might hear an unfamiliar bugling reverberating around the hills and trees in the Culberson Asiatic Arboretum pond. That unique call belongs to one of the Gardens' most notable residents, the black-necked swan (Cygnus melanocorypha).

Native black-necked swans hail from southern South America. Habitat-wise, the swans prefer swamps, freshwater marshes, lagoons, coastal areas and shallow lakes and ponds. Though they look big, the swans rarely grow to be larger than 14 pounds. Don't let their weight fool you, though; like other swans, the black-necked have large wings and tough bills and are not afraid to use them to defend themselves.

One of the most distinctive features of black-necked swans is a red, bulbous knob where their bills meet their heads. Both male and female swans have this knob, which enlarges in males during the breeding seasons. Their other distinctive feature, of course, is their long black head and neck; they are the only swans in the world with black heads.

While swans will eat a variety of different organisms in the wild, including pond plants, weeds, algae, insects, and even small minnows, Duke Gardens' swan subsists mostly on the healthy diet our staff feeds the waterfowl on a daily basis. If you want to feed our swan, feel free to purchase the healthy pellets from the Gardens' Terrace Shop!

For more information on Black-Necked Swans check out this great fact-sheet from the Sacramento Zoological Society.

Blogger and photographer Erika Zambello recently graduated from Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment with a degree in Ecosystem Science and Conservation.

Duke Gardens: October classes and events

We’ve got lots of great activities in store for October. To register or for information, e-mail or call 668-5309 for adult programs, or e-mail or call 668-1708 for children’s programs.

Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, 10 a.m.-noon.

NATURE RANGER CART

Look for the colorful cart near the foot of the Terrace Gardens; it's full of simple and fun activities for children. Play flower bingo or make pressed flower bookmarks, paper butterflies, pond life pictures and bark, insect or leaf rubbings. Or get some nutritious food for the Gardens' ducks. Free. No registration required.

Oct. 2, 8-11 a.m.

BIRD WALK

Enjoy an early morning stroll in the Gardens with fellow bird enthusiasts and Cynthia Fox, of Chapel Hill's Wild Bird Center. Cynthia will help you to spot, identify and learn more about the birds that call this region home, even temporarily. Don't miss this opportunity to experience that one remarkable bird sighting. Children are welcome if they are age 8 or older. Please bring binoculars. Free, but registration required.

Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

SUNDAY SCIENCE

Join us in the Gardens for simple drop-in science or craft projects for children and families, which include something to make and take home. Location noted each week at our information desk. Free. No registration required.

Oct. 5 & 12, 6-9 p.m. and Oct. 9, 8 a.m.-noon

INTRODUCTION TO NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

In nature photography you may capture and communicate your delight in a season, an object, or a moment in time. Photographer Jennifer Weinberg will teach equipment basics, field strategies and techniques, exposure, lighting and compositional skills. The class includes hands-on practice sessions and classroom reviews. $150; $120 for members; 668-5309.

Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27, 6:30-9 p.m.
THE ECOLOGY OF CHANGE: Human Impact on the Environment

We have always influenced our environment, from Native Americans directing the prairie fires to Europeans slowly selecting grain for larger seeds and, as a result, creating modern wheat. Today the change we are creating is moving very rapidly, perhaps outpacing our understanding. Join Dan Richter, professor at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment, to review the environmental influence of humans across time and debate the future. $150; $120 for members.

Oct. 7, 9-11 a.m.

HISTORIC GARDENS COLOR WALK

There is an astounding range of plants displayed across our gardens, including perennial plants, annual flowers and foliage, and tropical plants. Join our expert staff to review the wonderful plant combinations and learn what is currently in bloom and which plants you may like to introduce in your own garden. $5; free for members. 668-5309.

Oct. 7, 11 a.m.-noon

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

Explore wild North Carolina in these walks through our Blomquist Garden of Native Plants. Join curator Stefan Bloodworth on the first Thursday of every month to discover native flowers and design strategies, and discuss ecology and your role in protecting the health of our planet. $5; free for members.

Oct. 8, 15, 22 & 29, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
NATURE FOR SPROUTS

Join us for a month of Friday morning programs for explorers aged 3 to 5. Programs will incorporate stories, movement, music, outdoor explorations and creative projects to introduce young learners to garden ecology and plant science. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please make other arrangements for younger siblings. $6 per child, per class. 668-1708.

Oct. 9, 10:45-noon
TRADITIONAL JAPANESE TEA

As a guest to Tea, you will experience the patterns and poetry of Chado, or the Japanese “way of tea,” while enjoying an enticing bowl of whisked tea and a seasonal treat. The practice of Tea is characterized by the phrase ichigo ichie, or “one moment – one meeting.” The small class group will meet at the Doris Duke Center to be escorted by instructor Nancy Hamilton to the Durham-Toyama Sister Cities Pavilion in Duke Gardens for this intimate gathering. $25; $20 for members; $25 for one adult and one child age 6 or older. All fall teas are fully booked. Please keep an eye out for our spring schedule.

Oct. 9, 10-11 a.m.
NATURE STORY TIME

Gather for nature stories and a take-home creative project with your 3- to 8-year-old child. Adults must accompany their children. Please make other arrangements for younger siblings. $3 per child. Registration required.

Oct. 9, 7-11 a.m.
BIRDING BONANZA

CANCELED - Birds are flying through our neighborhoods on their way south during this season of migration. Join Cynthia Fox, of Chapel Hill’s Wild Bird Center, for an exciting morning of spotting birds as they pass us on their migratory path. $45; $35 for members.

Oct. 11, 7-9 p.m.
TRIANGLE ORCHID SOCIETY

The Triangle Orchid Society conducts its monthly meetings at the Doris Duke Center. The public is invited. Free admission. For information: triangleorchidsociety.org.

Oct. 14 & 18, 7-9 p.m., and Oct. 16 & 30, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (4-class series)
FIELD STUDIES: Local Flora Autumn

North Carolina has one of the richest palettes of native plants anywhere in the world. Ken Moore, former assistant director of the N.C. Botanical Garden, will teach you to recognize plants in their autumn display and forecast their winter phase. Field trips include observations of a variety of habitats, use of a key to identify plants and identification of undesirable invasive plant species. Required text available in Terrace Shop: “Tree Finder: A Manual for Identification of Trees by their Leaves,” by May Theilgaard Watts. $85; $70 for members.

Oct. 19, 6:30-8 p.m.
DURHAM GARDEN FORUM

The Durham Garden Forum is an informal group that meets once a month to enrich the members’ gardening knowledge and skill. Local experts speak about topics of interest to the group. October topic: ornamental grasses. $10; free for forum members. Durhamgardenforum@gmail.com.

Oct. 22, 10 a.m.-noon
AUTUMN IN THE ARBORETUM

The Culberson Asiatic Arboretum holds many fascinating plants, displayed in beautiful and ever-changing combinations. Curator Paul Jones and horticulturist Michelle Stay Rawlins will guide you to little-known garden spaces and unique plants. Meet at the Doris Duke Center. $5; free for members.

Oct. 23 & 24, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
CURATOR BASICS

Discover the elements of a well-presented portfolio and work on building your portfolio for showing. Photographer Bruce Dickson will assist you with captioning, labeling, organizing, and filing your photography. We will also identify potential markets and discuss how to submit work for publication. $120; $95 for members.

Oct. 30, 11 a.m.
OPERA CAROLINA: THE BILLY GOATS GRUFF

Arts in the Garden presents Opera Express, Opera Carolina's educational touring company, with an operatic version of the classic tale, incorporating scenes from operas by Mozart, Donizetti and Rossini. The show uses the goats’ plight with the mean troll to explore how to contend with bullies. Opera Express engages children and families throughout the Carolinas with professional performances of opera for young people. These delightful productions help students understand and appreciate opera as an art form that integrates all of the fine arts and humanities. Performances are tailored to children in kindergarten through fifth grade. The show will be inside the Doris Duke Center. $10; $6 for children under age 16. Discount available for 4-show 2010-2011 series. 684-4444, http://tickets.duke.edu . See video previews.