The Only Use for Mahonia

In recent years I executed a campaign to rid myself of Leatherleaf Mahonia in favor of useful native shrubs.  I got rid of all of them save one, which is doomed.  It seems to have one use and that is an attractant for Gray Catbirds, and others, that seem to enjoy the succulent fruits.  This feeding frenzy is amusing.  But on the flip side, the lousy berries are ultimately turned into plants that I will have to hunt down and eradicate.  Maybe this season the last beast will go and this could be the last time I'll watch Catbirds go ape for fruit, at least until the replacement plants get old enough!

In Between Fruiting Options

At last the Leatherleaf Mahonia berries have been cleaned out, with help from our friends the Gray Catbird (and the robins, cardinals, and a rogue Cedar Waxwing), and perhaps for the last time.  This inherited nasty plant has worn out its welcome with us and it is likely going to be taken out altogether this fall.  That's the plan.  In their place, we may introduce some friendlier fruiting vegetation.  That research is going on now.  One plant I can depend on is the Beautyberry.  My first is growing like gangbusters and it's even possible I will see some fruit this fall, when they would be expected.  My donor tells me it will spread.  That is music to my ears: it would be nice to see a native worm its way around the neighborhood and provide meaningful food value to the birds.  As for the mahonia--good riddance!

The Catbirds are Here!

April 17, 2012.  A big day at Cary BirdCam.  That would be the day our first Gray Catbird appeared for the usual short catbird season (ends in August.)  And I am virtually certain one of our past guests was the first I spotted, because that bird was puzzling over an empty suet basket.  Those rascally catbirds were major suet predators last year!  And they even arrived in time to sack some of the Leatherleaf Mahonia berries they also appear to love--while those last.  I may sack the nasty shrubs this year.  Whatever else, catbirds provide great entertainment value and make the summer go down just a little more easily.  Glad to see 'em!

The Catbirds Will Be Surprised

Each year, and not long after the Gray Catbirds arrive for the summer, our Leatherleaf Mahonia bushes are in full fruit.  And the Catbirds (and their allies) ravenously consume said fruit.  This year things promise to be a little different.  The fruit are already here and ripening fast.  In fact we started getting slowers in late January(!)  The warm(-ish) winter motivated many plants here to start early and the Mahonia have been spectacularly early.  We should be seeing fruit in May.  Oh well.  The robins, cardinals, and mockingbirds should be happy as they will get the fruit.  The catbirds will arrive to find...nothing.  Except suet, perhaps.  Such is the luck of the draw in a Carolina spring!