Hummingbird feeder good or not,  feeder  microbes, nutrients in floral nectar, scientific facts and best practices to feed hummingbirds in our gardens

Microbial communities in hummingbird feeders are distinct from floral nectar and influenced by bird visitation

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2018.2295

Sweet Solutions: Nectar chemistry and quality

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2021.0163#:~:text=Most of the nutritional value,from phloem to nectary tissue.

Winter range expansion of a hummingbird is associated with urbanization and supplementary feeding

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2017.0256

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Episode # 4 : Where to find locally native plants.   Collecting plants/seeds from wild - legal or not, right or wrong. Learning about local natives and invasive species.

Plants and websites mentioned in this episode:

• Verbena (large genus with more than 100 species of  plants )
• Paper flower (Psilostrophe tagetina) 
• Jewel flower (Streptanthus carinatus)

• iNaturalist - App to identify plants
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower center  

 https://www.wildflower.org/

• Borderlands Restoration Network

https://www.borderlandsrestoration.org/shop.html

• Native American seeds 

https://seedsource.com/

• Invasive Plant Atlas of United States

https://www.invasiveplantatlas.org/index.cfm

• Also look at your nearby state parks’ and national parks’ websites for list of invasive plants 

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• Rainwater Harvesting 
• Active rainwater harvesting - setting up collection system.
• Passive harvesting - maximizing rainwater absorption in the ground.
• Rain barrels/containers/tanks - plastic, metal, ceramic, wood. 
• Rain gutters - various options; installing small sections of roof vs full roof
• Rain chain vs downspout
• Option for flat roof - how to collect water from scuppers/canale

Link
https://www.canalecatchers.com/ 

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What characteristic to look for when selecting fruit trees. 
Learn about chilling requirements
Growing conditions including soil pH
Importance of knowing about the wholesale nursery
Cold hardiness
USDA cold hardiness zones
What is the best time to plant fruit trees

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Date: September 6, 2023
Podcast name : Garden and Nature, Southwest
Episode titile : Inviting wild birds to the backyard
Podcast Host: Vani Shukla

How can we make our garden space friendly for wild birds to visit and nest. If a backyard garden promotes a healthy ecosystem, then birds that we never imagined could come in an urban neighborhood,  start to show up. 

This episode covers information on creating an inviting space for wild birds.

Birds mentioned in this episode: 

1. Lesser Goldfinch
2. House finch
3. Verdin
4. Rock Wren
5. Warblers
6. Mockingbird 
7. Curve-billed thrasher
8. Dark-eyed Junco
9. American Robin
10. Blue Grosbeak 
11. Hummingbirds
12. Owls
13. Night hawk
14. Cooper’s hawk
15. Shrike ( Loggerhead Shrike)
16. Oriole 
17. Chipping Sparrow
18. Ash-throated Flycatcher
19. Gambel’s Quail

Plants mentioned in this episode. Common names and Scientific names are listed.

1. Chocolate flower 0 Berlandiera larata
2. Blanket flower - Gallardia
3. Sunflowers - many varieties - Genus is “Helianthus”. Many different native species exist in 
4. Skeleton-leaf goldeneye - Viguiera stenoloba
5. Gaura/Beeblossom (many native varieties/species) - Genus is Oenothera
6. Black dale - Dale frutescens
7. Wooly butterfly bush - Buddleja marrubifolia
8. Wolfberry- Lycium berlandieri 
9. Aniscanthus /Flame acanthus - Anisacanthus quadrifidus
10. Desert Willow - Chilopsis linearis 
11. Mexican elderberry - Sambucus nigra 

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