Author Archives: beveritt

Nuthatches Need Your Help

5 Replies
Brown-headed Nuthatch

Brown-headed Nuthatch

Brown-headed Nuthatch populations are declining in many areas.  In fact, the brown-headed nuthatch is considered by some experts to be the least common nuthatch in North America.  Brown-headed nuthatches prefer mature pine forests, and loss of this habitat has played a major role in their decline. [1]

They are small industrious birds and are fun to watch.  It’s easy to tell when they are around because their call sounds like a small squeaky toy.

Brown-headed Nuthatch

Brown-headed Nuthatches nesting in a snag

The good news is that, so far, they seem to be doing well in Peachtree Park.  We’ve noticed them nesting here in birdhouses and snags for the last several years.

But that’s not to say that they don’t still need your help.  It’s nesting season, and you can do a lot for this little bird by putting up a birdhouse.  Atlanta Audubon’s Nest Boxes for Nuthatches page has information on how you can buy or build your own nest box along with other information about the Brown-headed nuthatch.

Below is a short video of a pair nesting in a birdhouse mounted on a snag just down the street from us (thanks for leaving the snag!)  The video was recorded yesterday and today.  We think they are still building the nest because you can see nesting material in one Nuthatch’s mouth at the beginning of the clip.

These photos were taken in Peachtree Park and there are two additional Brown-headed Nuthatch videos on our Bird Videos page.

Brown-headed Nuthatch
Brown-headed
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Brown-headed Nuthatch

[1]  Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Goodness Snakes

Leave a reply
Eastern Garter Snake

Eastern Garter Snake – non-venomous

Or, in the spirit of Eats, Shoots, and Leaves, Goodness! Snakes.  We call this little guy ‘Skimmer’ and he lives in and around our pond.  He’s an Eastern Garter snake and harmless to humans.

We’re well into spring and with warmer weather more snakes will be visible.  We think snakes are terrific and always feel lucky to see one in our yard or neighborhood.

Pantherophis alleghaniensis

Eastern Ratsnake – non-venomous

“Terrific? ” you say.  We say “yes”, because:

  • They are beautiful
  • Biologically they are fascinating since they move without limbs
  • They benefit our gardens by eating pests such as slugs, crickets, voles and rats
  • Snakes are food for others: hawks, owls, raccoons and other snakes

But some snakes can be dangerous so we consulted our friend and local snake expert, Robert Hill.  He gave us great information and permission to use some of his beautiful photos.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

    • There are approximately 30 species of snakes in and around Atlanta, only 4 of which are venomous and the rest are non-venomous.
    • The two harmless snakes most commonly misidentified as venomous in Peachtree Park are Dekay’s Brown Snake and Northern Watersnake.
Dekay’s Brown Snake – non-venomous
Northern Water Snake – non-venomous
  • In Peachtree Park , the only venomous snake we are likely to find is the Copperhead so it’s a good idea to learn to identify them.
Copperhead – venomous
Copperhead – venomous
  • Most bites result from attempts to catch, handle, kill or otherwise harass snakes.
  • Fewer than a dozen people in the entire United States die from snake bites each year.

Screen Shot 2016-03-25 at 8.49.11 AMThis quote is credited to Clifford H. Pope, a noted American herpetologist and native son of Georgia.

See our Snakes page, which has more photos and information on snakes.  There are also additional references and a wonderful poster on venomous snakebites.

If you see a snake, be kind, and give him some room.