Another thing we loved to do was to catch June bugs and tie them to a string. – Dolly Parton, singer, songwriter, actress, philanthropist (1946- )
Birds chirping around you is a beautiful realization that life is incredibly good. – Hiral Nagda, author, mindset coach based in Mumbai, India
Well, my three frogs have disappeared. They’ve left the tree frog hotel that Sam made for them and I can’t say that I blame them for leaving. The tree frogs stayed near the outdoor night light ready to catch their supper of flying insects. Then the June bugs showed up in droves. The odd thing about that is June bugs don’t eat insects. June bugs come to the light so as to navigate their journey; the light also creates a small amount of warmth. They use the light to find food sources and a mate. I loved the little frogs where the June bugs are a big nuisance. The only good thing about June bugs is they will not invade your home, and they will not bite. Though they might cling to your finger or clothing or even your hair. Another bad thing about June bugs is they are vegetarians. At the larval stage they live underground and feed on the roots of plants, grasses, lawns, gardens, tree leaves, shrubs, and other plants. There are a few predators that will feed on the June bugs. Raccoons, skunks, some birds, and the barred owl will all eat the June bugs. Here in the Prairie, we have all of those creatures. However, attracting these predators to the night light on the porch next to the front door is not a good option.
Wilhelmina and I slipped out the morning after all the June bugs had vacated. She sits in one chair, and I sit in another. While we’re enjoying the morning, the birds start singing, we spot cardinals in the magnolia tree, crows in the fields, and other songbirds here and there. I spotted an amazing bird I didn’t recognize. I jotted down the colors and pulled the bird’s picture on my phone. There were three colors on the bird, each color was striking and unique. Up on my phone came the Rose-breasted grosbeak. “All About Birds” described the adult male as stocky, medium sized songbird with a very large triangular bill. Their head is black down to the neck, black wings, a bit of white on the wings, a white belly, and a distinctive red breast in the shape of a chevron. This was the bird seen at the bird feeder. Our Rose-breasted grosbeak is on his way north. Each spring they migrate from Central America to their breeding grounds primarily in north Eastern America. They usually fly across the Gulf of Mexico in a single night. Fortunately, the birds will stop during migration season to visit bird feeders in Mississippi offering seeds, especially sunflower seeds. If the feeder is near trees, they will feel a little more comfortable visiting the feeder. Oh, so much better, birds than bugs.
Shannon Bardwell is a writer living quietly in the Prairie. Email reaches her at [email protected].
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