Spring's Arrival
by Dianne Faucette, Master Naturalist
June 2011 Palmetto Perspective

As I recuperate from major surgery, I have a lot of time on my hands to reflect on life’s priorities. While others are worrying about who is going to save the Heritage or which conductor is going to lead our orchestra, I can think of some potential bigger worries. What if Hilton Head Island were subjected to an earthquake and tsunami, deadly flood, devastating tornado, terrorist attack, violent protests, Somali pirates…or a major hurricane? Aren’t we fortunate to call beautiful Hilton Head Island our home? Looking out on my back yard, I am thankful for every single Live Oak tree, the beautiful lagoon, a huge variety of birds flying over and eating from our feeders. Within our neighborhood are the best beach on the island, the only 11-mile continuous lagoon, our beautiful green golf courses, a rookery on the Fazio course where new birds come to life, and a diverse group of neighbors who bring a wealth of skills and talents of all kinds. We have a real luxury here if we stop and observe.

Upon my return home from the hospital, a pair of bluebirds were the first to greet me. They were displaying flirtatious wing motions on top of our new bluebird box. Then the female began flying toward our bay window repeatedly. This is a springtime territorial behavior of bluebirds, competing against the birds they see in the reflections. In the front yard, a bluebird started checking out another new birdhouse. 

Sounds   

Relaxing on our screened porch gave me a chance to enjoy the chorus of birds bouncing their songs across the lagoon. It almost sounded like a jungle. A nearby male House Finch was belting out a melodious tune. A crow was making the sounds of castanets. A pair of Mourning Doves flew away, sounding like they had little horns on their wings. A Brown-headed Nuthatch was perched nearby, sounding like a squeaky toy. Squirrels in the trees were whining. And a Carolina Wren has been perched on top of our deck feeder stand, belting out his loud melodious tune—something that inspired me to get up each morning and enjoy nature’s beauty. 

Sights   

I noticed the first Cloudless Sulphur butterfly of the season, while a deer slowly walked across a neighbor’s back yard. A huge Luna Moth landed on our glass door one night. This insect’s only purpose in its one-week life is to mate. Bees began their arrival—bad for humans, but good food for birds, lizards and frogs. The American Goldfinches were turning brighter yellow with every passing day. Too bad they migrate north as soon as they reach their full bright yellow plumage. I watched a Belted Kingfisher take a dive into the lagoon for a fish. Another Kingfisher was startled by a passing boat and sounded its continuous squawk as it flew down the lagoon. A Red-bellied Woodpecker made his daily stop for a peanut from our feeder, while a Tufted Titmouse selected a peanut too large for its mouth. A Brown-headed Nuthatch landed head down on the side of the feeder. This is the first spring I’ve noticed Chipping Sparrows on our feeder. One day we had a back yard full of Cedar Waxwings feeding on holly berries. Another day we had a visit from a male Yellow-shafted Flicker.

Courtship   

A pair of mourning doves quickly kissed each other, immediately followed by quick copulation. Another pair, or perhaps the same pair, were copulating the following day. I noticed a pair sitting on the same pine branch several days in a row. A pair of House Finches were standing on a tree branch, and the male repeatedly stepped close enough to the female to steal a kiss. Carolina Wrens were busy inspecting our hanging baskets for possible nest locations—or something to eat. A pair of Carolina Chickadees began going in and out of our decorated gourd birdhouse. They picked up clumps of dog hair I had placed on the deck, and dropped into the gourd nest. The gourd began swinging as they arranged the nesting materials inside. A Tufted Titmouse was collecting dead stems from our planters. Another one was gathering dog hair. Pet hair and dryer lint make nice soft liners for bird nests. A pair of Downy Woodpeckers were chasing each other up our tall pine tree. Another climbed up and down each branch looking for a meal. 

On top of the Palmetto Dunes water tank, a pair of ospreys were copulating on top of their nest platform. 

Then the Brown-headed Cowbirds arrived. These lazy, opportunistic birds lay as many as 40 eggs a season in the nests of other birds. A female Cowbird will usually knock out an existing egg to make room for one of her own. Then the original nesting bird becomes the foster parent of the abandoned Cowbird egg. Cowbirds are not particular about who is going to raise their chicks. Studies have documented 144 different species of foster bird parents. 

Wisteria   

Wisteria has been blooming all over the Lowcountry in beautiful displays. Even though Wisteria is an invasive species, it is adored by most everyone as a beautiful lavender blooming vine. It grows vertically and horizontally, is fast growing, and should be trimmed away from other trees or plants that could be strangled by its tough trunk. Over time, a trunk can destroy latticework, wooden posts or tree trunks that host the plant. All parts of Wisteria are toxic if consumed by humans. 

Wisteria bloom

Carolina Wren lifting up its head to sing


Luna Moth


Cedar Waxwing


House Finches kissing (or sharing food)


Carolina Chickadee with whiskers of dog hair