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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: EagleMamaMT

Shoot Your own tree rats, Ma'am!
Don't go to whining on Us! You want to work Your Man to death?


61 posted on 02/12/2005 2:41:08 PM PST by SWAMPSNIPER
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To: sweetliberty

It was interesting watching them fly. There would be hundreds of them flying in the air. I would stand at the window at 6:10 pm and watch them come back. Our daughter was here visiting March 5 and she watched them. She had never seen anything like it.


62 posted on 02/12/2005 2:41:28 PM PST by Conservativegreatgrandma
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To: MEG33

Your so lucky! I keep trying to attract Hummingbirds to the yard. This year I will have another area totally away from the other feeders. I hope to get some or one! It's frustrating changing that sugar water for no visitors. I only saw one once at the feeder. That Hummer was just passing through.


63 posted on 02/12/2005 2:58:18 PM PST by GodBlessUSA (Support, Prayers and Thanks to our Troops!)
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To: SWAMPSNIPER

LOL! Why, darlin', he shouldn't of married me if he wasn't going to let me work him to death! :)

Hon, I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn painted fire engine red, to my utter disgrace. He, on the other hand, is a crack shot.

Besides, I guess I'm more of a traditional woman. He shoots it and I cook it. :)


64 posted on 02/12/2005 3:06:52 PM PST by EagleMamaMT
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To: GodBlessUSA

I've had good luck and bad luck..I was so busy boiling sugar and water for my daughters feeders one year that I could not believe it..During migration she could have dozens of hummingbirds at one time. She has had lots of home construction going on in the woods around her house..Don't know how that will affect it this year.

I have been discouraged by having to change almost full feeders ,too.


65 posted on 02/12/2005 3:15:58 PM PST by MEG33 (GOD BLESS OUR ARMED FORCES)
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To: sweetliberty; Professional Engineer

Click the "Tufted Titmouse" for "The Sam and Snippy Store"

Thanks for the ping PE

66 posted on 02/12/2005 3:52:59 PM PST by SAMWolf (Dime: a dollar with all the taxes taken out.)
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To: sweetliberty

Hey! We sell those magnet sets! :-)


67 posted on 02/12/2005 3:54:15 PM PST by SAMWolf (Dime: a dollar with all the taxes taken out.)
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To: SAMWolf

I have lots of Tufted Titmice too. They are rather bold little birds, and so cute.


68 posted on 02/12/2005 3:58:41 PM PST by sweetliberty (Blind stupidity or blind loyalty is still blind.)
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To: GodBlessUSA; MEG33

http://community-2.webtv.net/hotmail.com/verle33/HummingBirdNest/

Cool site. Click the Next buttons to watch the hummers grow.


69 posted on 02/12/2005 4:00:27 PM PST by Samwise ("Mr. Kerry, you are a jerk.")
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To: SAMWolf
"We sell those magnet sets!"

I haven't seen those. I saw a t-shirt in the Wild Bird Store in Little Rock that had a similar picture with a sign that said "Feed the Birds." And this one looks like a good one too, although I can't get the print large enough to read it.

.


70 posted on 02/12/2005 4:03:01 PM PST by sweetliberty (Blind stupidity or blind loyalty is still blind.)
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To: Samwise

I have seen the site..but readily returned..Amazing pictures...Thanks!


71 posted on 02/12/2005 4:05:13 PM PST by MEG33 (GOD BLESS OUR ARMED FORCES)
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To: sweetliberty

http://birding.about.com/library/weekly/bld-c022198.htm
I was looking for a bird picture to help me identify it and happened on this.

I know that my daughter has many of these natives in her yard..I have had great luck with a Youpon holly tree and a nandina hedge attracting birds.


72 posted on 02/12/2005 4:19:27 PM PST by MEG33 (GOD BLESS OUR ARMED FORCES)
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To: sweetliberty

We don't see any in my neck of the woods. :-(


73 posted on 02/12/2005 4:30:35 PM PST by SAMWolf (Dime: a dollar with all the taxes taken out.)
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To: sweetliberty
We have the T-shirts and mugs too. My favorite is "Hand over the seed and no one gets hurt"


74 posted on 02/12/2005 4:34:46 PM PST by SAMWolf (Dime: a dollar with all the taxes taken out.)
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To: sweetliberty

does anyone like grackles?


75 posted on 02/12/2005 4:46:59 PM PST by ken21 (most news today is either stupid or evil.)
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To: sweetliberty
I've never had so many Cardinals in one yard

That is surprising. If there is more than one male cardinal in my yard, it usually means there's going to be a battle. Cardinals are very territorial. It's always a hoot to see two bright red boy cardinals beating the crap out of each other while their women sit on the feeder, munching away, talking about the weather or whatever cardinals talk about :)

76 posted on 02/12/2005 4:55:54 PM PST by meowmeow (Gardeners for Global Warming)
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To: Samwise
That was excellent to see! Thank you! I can't imagine the size of those little ones. I wonder what happened to the other two? Looks like once the one grew there wasn't much room.
77 posted on 02/12/2005 4:58:54 PM PST by GodBlessUSA (Support, Prayers and Thanks to our Troops!)
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To: sweetliberty
I used to have a pair of downy and a pair of red bellied woodpeckers but I have not seen them since Hurricane Isabel a couple years ago. We lost a lot of trees in that storm. We do have a red tailed hawk who makes appearances. He's a beauty in the winter.

I just love watching the backyard birds!

78 posted on 02/12/2005 5:02:44 PM PST by meowmeow (Gardeners for Global Warming)
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To: ken21

Only if there is one or two ;)
They make me nuts when they come early spring or late fall by the hundreds.


79 posted on 02/12/2005 5:03:32 PM PST by GodBlessUSA (Support, Prayers and Thanks to our Troops!)
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To: SAMWolf

LOL!


80 posted on 02/12/2005 5:06:08 PM PST by sweetliberty (Blind stupidity or blind loyalty is still blind.)
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