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Attention Bird Gardening Enthusiasts
self | February 12, 2005 | sweetliberty

Posted on 02/12/2005 9:27:14 AM PST by sweetliberty

With Spring just around the corner, at least here in the southeast, it's time to think about spending more time outdoors and making our yards and porches more pleasant places to be. FReepers have such a wide variety of interests and talents, I thought it might be fun and educational to do a thread for bird and garden enthusiasts. I see a fair amount of discussion on some of the threads about gardening and landscaping, but not too much that is specific to gardening for the birds.

I've pretty much always had a bird feeder or two around, and that number has grown since I moved into a place last summer that has a big yard. I have a fair variety of birds and I have begun to think about developing it specifically to attract more species, not only for the enjoyment of watching the birds, but also to control natural pests that are prevalent in this part of the country, without resorting to pesticides. I know that the right combination of flora can discourage certain pests and also attract birds that will help keep the pest population down. I would love to hear from FReepers who are experienced at creating such a balance. I think it would also be fun to have a place to share our experiences as we develop them. I know there's lots of links out there with useful information and I make use of them from time to time, but it's just not the same as having discussions on a forum where we have experts on everything. And I don't know of any place else on the web so animated by wit, along with wisdom, on just about any topic.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Gardening; Hobbies; Outdoors; Pets/Animals; Reference
KEYWORDS: attractingbirds; backyardbirds; birdfeeding; birdgardens; birdwatching; gardening; insectcontrol; naturalpestcontrol
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To: sweetliberty

The Georgia state bird - the name escapes me right now - is yearly visitor here in Northern Virginia. We have one that just stops by for a couple days every summer and hangs out in the yard eating bugs. It took a couple years for me to figure out what he was. I think they are common in VA, just not in the city.


101 posted on 02/12/2005 6:05:48 PM PST by meowmeow (Gardeners for Global Warming)
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To: PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain

Very nice pictures.


102 posted on 02/12/2005 6:06:23 PM PST by sweetliberty (Blind stupidity or blind loyalty is still blind.)
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To: sweetliberty

I have alot of dead wood out in my pasture. The most interesting bird, that alot of people do not get the opprotunity to see, and in my experience have never heard of is a Pilated Woodpecker. They are very very large woodpeckers. The first time I saw one I was amazed how big they are and how pretty. I haven't been able to get a picture of one yet. They are an endangered species. I see it fly over the house often in the mornings.

Becky


103 posted on 02/12/2005 6:07:21 PM PST by PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain (aka: Horselifter, Mackdaddy:)
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To: meowmeow

Brown Thrasher? We had those when I was growing up in Virginia.


104 posted on 02/12/2005 6:08:38 PM PST by sweetliberty (Blind stupidity or blind loyalty is still blind.)
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To: sweetliberty
Thanks for the ping to #90. I'm glad to hear that you've seen the elegant Red-Headed WP; I haven't seen them since my youth in Ar and I understand that their numbers have been in decline for years now. I have one regular R-B WP and a pair of quite tame Downies that visit regularly, though. They fancy nuts and peanut butter.

I've had a wider diversity of birds this winter than in the previous 10 yrs here in Texas.
105 posted on 02/12/2005 6:10:59 PM PST by Dysart
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To: sweetliberty

I don't leave it out in summer - and it is cold enough this winter that I don't think it is bad. I check it when I fill the feeders to make sure there are no bugs.


106 posted on 02/12/2005 6:11:13 PM PST by meowmeow (Gardeners for Global Warming)
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To: sweetliberty

Thanks, that was only my second attempt at flowers:). We just put up the fence around the patio 2 years ago. I have horses and dogs that like to sample anything I plant, so I never got to plant much. Now I'm haveing alot of fun every year trying new things.

Becky


107 posted on 02/12/2005 6:11:39 PM PST by PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain (aka: Horselifter, Mackdaddy:)
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To: PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain
"The first time I saw one I was amazed how big they are and how pretty."

They are huge. The one I saw was high in a tree in my front yard. I was watching him out my kitchen window. He was there for the longest time. I haven't seen him since, but I don't expect he's gone far, and I'm sure where there's one, there are others. There are a lot of big trees around here. Kind of a comical looking bird, in my opinion.

108 posted on 02/12/2005 6:13:03 PM PST by sweetliberty (Blind stupidity or blind loyalty is still blind.)
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To: sweetliberty

Brown Thrasher - that's it. I've only ever seen the one that visits and he's always alone. Not sure if they are field birds or forest.


109 posted on 02/12/2005 6:13:21 PM PST by meowmeow (Gardeners for Global Warming)
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To: EagleMamaMT
Back in the mid/late 70's I lived in San Antonio. A good friend moved there and stayed at a trailer park in his camper while his wife finished her work in California.

His camper was parked under a large mesquite tree that had the largest flock(?) of hummingbirds living in it.

I have never seen anything like that before or since, and not once did either of us think to take to take pictures of the hundreds of little birds! Both of us were into photography too.

110 posted on 02/12/2005 6:14:06 PM PST by Budge (<>< Sit Nomen Domini benedictum. <><)
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To: sweetliberty

For those who want to be amused. We have one of these and it is hilarious. The squirrels do back flips:

http://www.yankeeflipper.com/droll/index.cfm


111 posted on 02/12/2005 6:14:19 PM PST by groanup (http://www.fairtax.org)
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To: Dysart

We have lots of downys, and red breasted woodpeckers. But on very rare occasions see the pilated. I've seen one more often this past year because I just recently started "looking" for birds:). I had no clue that we had such a varity here. Oklahoma. I put feeders out in the winter for the birds.

Becky


112 posted on 02/12/2005 6:14:29 PM PST by PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain (aka: Horselifter, Mackdaddy:)
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To: sweetliberty

They fly funny too. Kind of like a swimmer doing the breast stroke:)

I always recogonize it when it flies over because of the way it flaps.

Becky


113 posted on 02/12/2005 6:16:08 PM PST by PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain (aka: Horselifter, Mackdaddy:)
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To: Dysart
We had a lot of Red-headed woodpeckers when I was growing up. I seem to remember them as being a bit smaller though, and of course, the species that inspired the Woody Woodpecker cartoon show....one of my favorites when I was a kid.

This one showed up a few days ago and I've seen him every day since. I hope he brings in the family.

114 posted on 02/12/2005 6:18:04 PM PST by sweetliberty (Blind stupidity or blind loyalty is still blind.)
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To: meowmeow

Brown Thrashers are pretty solitary birds and they have one heck of a song too. You can usually find them foraging in undergrowth and thrashing about amongst leaves, hence, the name.


115 posted on 02/12/2005 6:18:06 PM PST by Dysart
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To: sweetliberty

I might have missed it,,,did you say, do you put something out to attract them, or did he just show up?

Becky


116 posted on 02/12/2005 6:20:54 PM PST by PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain (aka: Horselifter, Mackdaddy:)
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To: Quester; malakhi

Thought you would enjoy this thread.

Becky


117 posted on 02/12/2005 6:21:40 PM PST by PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain (aka: Horselifter, Mackdaddy:)
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To: groanup

Yeah, that's one I was looking at the last time I was at the Wild Bird Store. The lady said they're very effective, and it would be harmless entertainment seeing the little buggers flung to the ground. I watched that video on that link before. It is hysterical.


118 posted on 02/12/2005 6:21:58 PM PST by sweetliberty (Blind stupidity or blind loyalty is still blind.)
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To: PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain
They fly funny too. Kind of like a swimmer doing the breast stroke

That flight pattern is known as undulating.
119 posted on 02/12/2005 6:24:08 PM PST by Dysart
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To: PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain

He just showed up. This does seem to be a woodpecker paradise though. There are several varieties around here and most are abundant.


120 posted on 02/12/2005 6:24:15 PM PST by sweetliberty (Blind stupidity or blind loyalty is still blind.)
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