Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 2, 1992 TAG: 9201310366
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Patricia Held
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
READERS' WINTERTIME INQUIRIES ARE THE SUBJECT
Readers' wintertime inquiries are the subject of today's column.Just the other day I received a note from Betty Haynes of Boones Mill. "I have a bird that I can't find in my bird books," she wrote. "It looks just like a cardinal except it is yellow instead of red. The beak is the same, as is the size and actions."
Our reader has an evening grosbeak at her feeder.
This bird is fairly uncommon in Western Virginia, but it comes through each winter and visits local feeders. Primarily a Canadian resident, in winter and early spring large flocks move south to feed on winter berries and seeds.
The grosbeak's shape is similar to the cardinal. In fact, they belong to the same family. The bird is a brilliant yellow, and it is marked with black and white. Its most distinguishing feature is its large, creamy-white beak, which gives it a parrot-like appearance.
Grosbeak means big bill, and the evening grosbeak has an appetite to match: A flock of grosbeaks will descend upon a well-stocked feeder and clean it out in less than an hour.
Favorite winter foods include maples, dogwoods and choke cherries. At feeders grosbeaks especially like sunflower seeds. They prefer to feed in the open and especially like platform feeders.
Fresh water is as important as feed for birds during the cold months.\ Beatrice Stump of Roanoke wrote to ask for the best method to keep water in the bird bath from freezing.
There are small heaters available that keep water free from ice. "For the Birds" on Market Street in Roanoke carries both electric heaters and a solar unit.
If the water is kept in a shallow and light-weight container it is a simple chore to empty it each morning and refill it with lukewarm water.
Despite what you may have heard in the past, do not use glycerine to keep bird-bath water from freezing.
Jerry Via, a Virginia Tech ornithologist, says glycerine will cling to the bird's feathers, preventing water from evaporating. If this happens, the bird could die from overexposure.
Encouraging birds to come to your backyard feeders and watering areas may have its difficulties, but the opportunity to see such species as the evening grosbeak make this an enjoyable and satisfying winter hobby.
If you are interested in learning more about the wildlife in our area, the Roanoke Valley Bird Club might be for you.
From September through May, the group meets at the fifth floor of Roanoke's Center in the Square on the second Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m.
While some business is conducted at each meeting, most of the evening is devoted to a guest speaker. According to club president John Hudgins, some topics are of local interest. January's meeting featured Rupert Cutler of the Explore Project. He updated the group on the project and the Lewis and Clark Environmental Education Center.
At this month's meeting on Feb. 10, the group will tour Africa in search for birds with Dr. Richard Peake.
Field trips are scheduled monthly as well. This month's trip is scheduled for Feb. 15. A winter raptor count will be conducted throughout the Roanoke Valley area.
The meetings and field trips are open to everyone. For more information on the club and its activities, contact John Hudgins at 389-4056.
Patricia Held will respond to readers' questions on the plant and animal wildlife in the region. Mail inquiries to: Patricia Held, P.O. Box 65, Goode, Va. 24556.