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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Sometimes I think the courting season makes them bold as well as frisky. They DO have to make an impression, you know. If I remember correctly, this pair were both males, but there were at least a couple of females nearby.
Same here, although they are often around throughout the day as well. Sometimes I see them out there, even after dark, for a little bit.
I love that they stick around late. In the summer when I'm sitting outside, I'm glad they are still here, as the others have long gone for the day.
About 12 years ago I disowned a 30 foot square in my back yard and allowed it to go native.
I have about 10 species of trees including Red Oak. Eastern Hemlock, and Hickory that were preexisting on the lot line/fence row. I added a Paw Paw that came up volenteer in my indoor Schafelera and an All American American Chestnut tree to pollinate another elsewhere in the yard. I have Southern Magnolia, American Holly, Dogwood, RedBud and Spice Bush That found their way on their own. I have hundreds of maples and Wild Cherry that I as forrester cull out.
This winter I have 18 species of birds visiting the feeder and water in the yard and patio adjacent to the "woods". I have too many squirrels and a group of 3 or 4 chipmunks. The woods was developed as habitat and study area. The Red Breasted Woodpecker has been around for a year or so, but this year is dominant and unshy. When he wants the feeder, the others let him have it.
An avid amatuer botanist, I'm disappointed in the understory growth. I have a good growth of Virginia Creeper and pestiferous grapes, but no flowering plants. I've transpalnted a few native wild flowers but the heavy leaf cover apparently stiffles them out. They grow well however in the adjacent shade garden tended by my wife.
The woods is a cat free zone. Cats are severly punished for entering and stalking chipmunks and birds. I also allow all the spiders and don't discriminate against insects. I don't distinguish between good and bad insects. Like weeds, "bad" insects are considered mostly a human mental condition. The woods also contains my catipiller cage where I keep Wooly Worm larve to be hatched into breeding moths.
I have birdhouses sometimes occupied by Carolina Wrens and chickadees, but not always. My office has extensive glass doors and they are open in Summer mornings, allowing the wrensns to enter. Attracted by the jungle of house plants, they love to come in and poke around everywhere.
I have written before of the Hummingbird from hell, a summer diversion, and fun species to watch.
Cue the cats...
Do I admit guilt.. or do I just hide somewhere and deny involvement...
Deny involvement and run.
*chuckle*
Cedar waxwings are a beautiful sight. We get some (very few) here in the Adirondacks of NYS. Great pictures!
Thanks!
i saw whole gob of birds eating the flowers on a tree by my window the other morning.
didn't know what they were, so i looked on the internet.
pretty sure they were carolina wrens. had a golden throat.
That's a gorgeous picture of one of my favorite birds. My challenge is to get an excellent shot of a Flicker in flight with the gold under the wing. Such a beautiful sight seeing them in flight and the gold!
Get those at our suet feeder.
Your place sounds wonderful. Wish I had an office like that (and that it was actually in my home). I'm lucky to have room to move at work.
I've often thought about getting one those flippers but I'm afraid my dog would view it as some kind of a squirrel 'skit shoot' contraption!!! .. lol
I recently bought one, but it isn't really in a location where I can watch it all the time. Also, the squirrels, for the time being, don't seem to be bothering the feeders in front too much. I do, however, plan to get a deck mount and arm and hang it off the back porch, where I expect it will be quite amusing. I have to say that I'm very impressed with the quality of the feeder itself though, and I expect I will buy more Droll Yankee products.
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looks like a junco to me
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