Hard to see, but there are 4 down each side of the sidewalk.
Becky
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.
What is hovering?
:)
Becky
Close, but not quite :)
There's a total of 4 answers, but I don't want to post them until everybody gets done with the 'pesky stuff' of life...like work.
If it turns into one of those things that drives you crazy 'till you know the answers, just ping me for a FReepmail & I'll sent them to you!
(but no 'helping' anyone else)
;-P
I thought about googling but that wouldn't be playing fair:)
I wont' bug you for the answer,,Not yet anyhow.
I'm thinking of running to walmart to get the nandina bushes I want. It's raining some here, so there isn't much else to do.
I'm getting very anxious to start planting:)
Becky
Speaking of hummers.
Would this be too early to start feeding them? I've never been sure of when to start and when to stop. On days here when the weather is nice, I really hear alot of birds singing, and it made me wonder if the hummers are back too.
Becky
I asked about that at the bird store yesterday. She said in late April here, and to start with just just putting a little in the feeders.
The major spring migration of hummingbirds usually happens in March & April, but before THAT comes the 'scouts'. You definitely want to catch these guys, so no, I don't think it's too early.
If you can hang the feeder in a spot that is either always shaded or at least shaded from the afternoon sun, it should last a couple of weeks before you have to change it.
Ok thanks. I'll start putting a little out and see what happens. Add that to the list of things to get a walmart.
Becky
I cheated and read a bit.
The only thing I found, so far, is the Hummer will lay the eggs and nest without any help from the male. They eat Nectar. These are the only two, with exception to the flight difference, I've found reading, so far.
I'm really glad I read that bit about the Red-wing Blackbirds, or I wouldn't have known what to look for. The girls showed up today. There aren't as many as there are of the boys, at least not yet, so this should get interesting. The boys aren't very gentlemanly either. They hog the feeders that they like and make the girls eat off the ground.
OK, 'hover' is close enough, so I'll not be picky & give you and Becky that one...
One of the things a hummer CAN do that other birds CAN'T is
fly backwards
One more 'can't' and 2 'cans'.
If no one else replies in a bit, I'll go ahead and post the answers.
:)
I have no clue what the others are.
Becky
ANSWERS
1. They can fly backward
2. Hummingbirds can see into the ultraviolet range
3. Hummingbirds have practically no sense of smell
4. They have no leg muscles, so they can’t walk
Thanks for playing!
;)
They can't walk....huh. That's interesting. I wondered why they would hover alot to feed rather then land on the rest. Maybe that is why.
Becky
They're amazing little things built for flight. (I guess that's why I have so much useless trivia about them.)
Muscles weigh a lot, and hummers consume between 6 and 12 THOUSAND calories a day as it is.
It would be like one of us having to eat a whole cow every day!
Drat, I was going to guess, they cannot walk. That was fun. It got me on line reading about them too.
Hard to see, but there are 4 down each side of the sidewalk.
Becky
LOL...I just realized I've been making a mistake pinging you. Some one named GodBlessAmerica has been getting them, eeekkkk. But I've gotten no complaints so far.
Becky
It'll be interesting to see how much they grow by the end of summer. You'll have to do a before/after picture!
I did get them at Walmart. They had two sizes, this was the smaller one. $5.44 each.
They are pgymy nandinas, I don't think they get real big. At least I hope not:). And I hope I haven't planted too early:). I'm really anxious to get started on the garden this year. The one other new thing I'm going to try this year is hosta. I'm trying to get some perinnals in, so I don't have so much space, but I really like the annuals too. They can change to look of your garden from one year to the next.
Oh, and I got some moonflower vine seeds to mix in with the morning glories on the arbor.
Becky
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