Managed to get one of this guy, too, but he was more interested in foofing himself in the morning sun than coming down out of the oak so I could get a better pic!
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.
You just took that today?
Oh, it is beautiful here today too (68 and sunny)! I'm loving it.
Yessum. They had just landed when I was walking back from the bus stop, & I managed to sneak in & out of the house for the camera without scaring them off!
Nice work!
Managed to get one of this guy, too, but he was more interested in foofing himself in the morning sun than coming down out of the oak so I could get a better pic!
ROFLMAO!
Our computer crashed a few months back, and after a couple of days, my husband kept asking; 'Honey, are you OK?'.
He's a workaholic, not a politically minded at all, so I get to keep FR to myself. ;)
You are having an excellent day today with birds! That's a hummingbird, right?
From now on when we go away, we are going to have to bring the laptop.
Robins were here before. I ran and got some grapes and when I went to throw them out, they all left :(
I hope they come back.
Hello friends,
I am late to the thread, but I love gardening. I do have a question to ask: this past Saturday, I planted seeds for wildflowers. I live in Zone 9. Have you any idea how long before bloom? I did read that germination is in 10-14 days. THanks for your thoughts!
Yes that's our resident ruby-throat. This is his second nonmigratory winter. I've even had to thaw the ice in his feeder during cold snaps, but it doesn't seem to bother him at all!
You treat your Hummer so well, that he never leaves! :) Do Hummingbirds bring juveniles to the feeders?
I don't really know. I've seen juveniles at the feeder, of course, but never one waiting on a branch until a parent brought it food.
Then again, they don't really eat like other birds or have the ability to open their beaks very much either.
I have a barn swallow nest in the eaves over my front door. Not really convinient, but I won't let my husband knock it down:) Barn swallows have come to it now for 3 or 4 years and raised a family in it.
It's so much fun to watch. One year I just happen to catch the babies first flying lesson.
There were about 5 of them in the nest, very crowded. Mom and dad were sitting on an electric line that goes across our front yard, calling to the babies. The babies all had their heads hangin out the nest hollering back,,,"Come, come come"...."No, no, no" I noticed what was going on and sat down to watch.
Finally one took the leap. Just flung himself out, swooped down, and then went up and landed on the roof of the house. He sat there awhile, before making it out to the wire where mom was.
They all made it out that day, I worried about them:)
That night they all came back, but only 3 managed to get back in the nest. The others sat on the edge of the roof all night.
It was a very cool thing to watch. I always wonder if it's the kids coming back each year, or the parents having another family.
I'll get pictures of the nest. I don't know it I'll be able to get a picture where the birds show. But I've noticed the last few days, there is activity in the nest. I'm not sure if it's the swallows. Sometimes sparrows take it over.
Becky
To bloom? 4-6 weeks. Dunno for sure. Previous reply was for germination, not bloom. Read the packet copy.
How cute. What is he? Kinda hard to tell by that "pose."
Never mind my last question. I thought it was, but I wasn't sure if that was his beak or a part of the tree. Fat little thing, ain't he? Reminds me of some of my finches.
It would be so neat if we had some "feeder cams," wouldn't it? I expect it's expensive to set up though.
And....If you get pictures of the nest, please post them!
I guess, it would have to be a camera that was wireless to computer? I love going to those websites that have the feeder and nesting cams.
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