Final Tally for this year's Magnet Tree (and some workshops this week)

Pileated Woodpeckers visited regularly.

First, I wanted to remind you about a couple of workshops at the studio this week. We'll be painting a plein aire scene on Wednesday, and then on this coming Saturday, we will create a small painting of several baby wood ducks on a nesting box.  Both should be fun and informative. check the Shows and Workshops page on my website for more information.


In an earlier post, I wrote about a tree in the back yard near our studio.  It is a Mulberry Tree which stands alone over a section of the parking lot.  Every June, the tree fills with berries, and attracts birds like a magnet.  The berries have just about disappeared, and I wanted to post a final visitor's tally for this incredible tree.  This list is a compilation of species that were seen visiting this tree from June first to July first, 2013.  I think you'll agree that this Mulberry Tree is truly a special tree when it comes to it's ability to attract birds. (gray squirrels also frequented the tree)

---

This list includes species' common names, and does not reflect numbers of individual birds of any one species.

Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downey Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
Cedar Waxwings
Starling
Warbler sp. (not sure, but definitely a warbler)
Scarlet Tanager
Summer Tanager
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Northern Cardinal
Chipping Sparrow
Baltimore Oriole
Orchard Oriole
Blackbird sp. (Rusty?)
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Sparrow
American Goldfinch
House Finch

I think you will agree that a lot of birds were attracted to this tree over the month of June.  From my notes, at least forty species of birds used this one tree ove the course of thirty days.  The list would be more impressive if I could include numbers of individual species, but it was impossible to determine how many different individuals visited.  I know that there were at least six different Pileated Woodpeckers visiting the tree, because I saw that many at one time.  Likewise, four Scarlet Tanagers, Two Baltimore Orioles, and five Red-bellied Woodpeckers.

One of the most interesting observations I made involved both the Great Crested Flycatcher and Kingbirds.  I had always assumed that these birds were entirely insectivores.  What I saw this past month, however, is that both species of flycatchers eat a considerable amount of fruit.  The Great Crested Flycatcher, especially, gorged on berries frequently.

I plan to watch this tree again next year.  Perhaps we can add to the list.  If you have a magnet tree or shrub, or even a water feature in your garden that attracts varied species, think about keeping a list.  It could be fun.