Posted on 03/05/2005 8:07:37 AM PST by sweetliberty
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As it turned out, the previous thread on this topic generated a lot of interest and several people recommended doing it as a regular thread, so here is the second installment.
How you go about creating a bird sanctuary in your yard, or outdoor space, will depend on a number of givens, some which can modified, and others over which you have no control. One of these is geographical location or climate zone. If you live in the Colorado Rockies, you are not going to attract Cardinals, no matter how many black oil sunflower seeds you put out, and if you're on a beach in Florida, it's a pretty safe bet that there will be no snow buntings visiting your yard, the cornucopia of insects notwithstanding. Of course, if global warming keeps encroaching on us, we may soon find Alaska overrun with Parrots and Flamingos, but, I digress.
Within any given area, there are a variety of habitats, so no matter what your specific location, it is possible to vastly increase the types and numbers of birds in your immediate environment by modifying your habitat to make it more bird friendly to a wider array of birds native to your region.
Another "given" is your available space. If you live in a cottage in the woods by a stream, you will obviously have a lot more options available to you than if you live in an urban apartment with nothing more than a small porch or balcony. Of course, I think the majority of us live somewhere between those extremes. The point is, even if you have nothing more than a porch, you can still make it bird friendly, thereby increasing your enjoyment of these highly entertaining creatures. If you don't even have so much as a porch, I would suggest moving!
The purpose of this thread is to share ideas for maximizing our outdoor spaces to make them appealing to birds and butterflies, to share our experiences and knowledge or expertise, photos and resources. The discussion is pretty free-flowing and may expand to include gardening, landscaping and related topics. The direction the thread takes will really be up to the FReepers who post on it. We can focus on a different topic every week or two, or just keep it open and casual, updating the thread periodically. The main thing is that we learn and have fun.
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LOL. We have a pair of nesting barred owls in the neighborhood most years. They have a distinct call: who cooks for you, who cooks for youuuuuu. The last note descending. About three years ago they decided to make our backyard their tryst location. We like to sleep with the windows open in the spring but that year it was almost impossible. It sounded like cats fighting all night long.
Heh... My little red squirrels are half the size of the big grey bushy tailed ones... I get those too. They're more timid and don't let me get close enough for good pictures.
I'd appreciate any advice on the mold. :~D
Go go Godzilla!
OK you win.
Hey there!
I give up..
what type of birds are those in post #14?
Good Afternoon!
They are Flickers. I mentioned earlier they have the best courtship. They flirt and show affection. Besides being beautiful their behavior is a joy to watch.
Information
Cooking FOR the Birds - Recipe Collection
Attracting Birds Using Trees and Shrubs
Backyard Wildlife Planting for Habitat
Cams and Video Links
Yankee Flipper ... link to the video (hilarious)
Resources
Droll Yankee - The World's Best Birdfeeders
The last one is where I shop when I can get to Little Rock, but they apparently have them all over. This is an amazing store, but be warned, wandering into one can relieve you of more money than you ever planned on spending. Enjoy, and be sure and add more as you run across them.
Thanks! Great List!
Saving for future use!
:)
Yes they are. In fact, one just flew off with a peanut as I was in fixing my lunch a couple of minutes ago. They always make me laugh. It just seems so odd to me that such a little bird could fly off with a whole peanut.
I saw something funny the other day when I got home from work, too. I keep a big pan on the back porch full of sunflower seeds and peanuts. It is actually there for the squirrels. The birds, however, don't see it that way, and several of the birds eat from it too. The other day, there was a pair of Cardinals that kept divebombing this squirrel, trying to run him off. It was funny, because normally the Cardinals don't mess with the squirrels, or even the bigger birds, at all.
LOL!
You might try calling a wild bird resource that is familiar with the problems in your climate area and asking them about the mold. If they're anything like the ones here, they can be quite knowledgeable. If you don't know of one, I'm sure one of the resource links in my previous post would show where there was one in your general area.
Darks, did one of your pets escape?
I have sheddin horses in spring.... Mine have more than enough material :~D
Sounds like a democrat politician.
Wow, that must have been funny. I have never seen a bird do that to a squirrel. Brave Cardinal. LOL!
That's great for nests! My daughter is so into horse back riding. She started with Pony rides and is taking lessons when it's warmer weather. Her words, when we win the lottery can we buy a house with a coral and horse. My answer, most certainly. LOL!
They are so cool, but then I might be a bit biased. I grew up having one for a pet. Actually, it was one of two babies that some men rescued because the mother was killed. I don't know what happened to the other one, but Pete was my childhood buddy for a lot of years. I guess after being raised by humans, my greatgrandma figured he might not be able to make it on his own in the wild. He lived in a large enclosure in the backyard.
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