Creating A Bird Sanctuary In Your Yard

March 5, 2005 | sweetliberty

[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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Link to previous thread: Attention Bird Gardening Enthusiasts

[MamaTexan]

Can someone advise me how best to deal with the ever growing problem I'm having with cocoons(silkworms?) in one of my trees?

Are they individual cocoons, or a mass of webbing?

Webworms (or tentworms) are common around here, and we usually remove the nest with the branch attached and burn it.

You can spray them, but you have to make sure the chemical gets under the web to the larvae, otherwise it's not effective.

[MamaTexan]

and his beak is always covered with clumps of suet.

ROFL!

Like the kid with his face covered in crumbs..."Cookie Jar??? What cookie jar?"

:)

[sweetliberty]

"Like the kid with his face covered in crumbs..."Cookie Jar??? What cookie jar?"

Yep. You've got the image.

[Dysart]

Here they are caught on digital! Invasive little varmits these are. So I could use something like BugBeGone(thanks GodBlessUSA) or torch them? Does this look like a case of Webworms o you? Thanks!

[MamaTexan]

Does this look like a case of Webworms o you?

Yep, those are what we call 'webworms', alright.

You can spray them, but the problem I've had with poisons is you have to make sure and get them all. If any escape or only get a little sick, they'll be back.

We haven't had a major infestation, but I've burned the few nests I've found.

Hubby also discovered spraying a nest with carburetor cleaner totally destroys the little buggers, too.

(Not something I'd recommend on a normal basis....frankly, I think he was just curious to see what would happen :)

[Dysart]

Thanks to both of you for the tree care advice. I'll have a nice little project for myself this wkend.

[Gardener]

Another thing you can do, especially if there are a lot of birds in your yard and you can see the worms in the web is to take a stick and tear the web open. Birds LOVE them!!

Sweetliberty, I've been able to see Scissor-tailed Flycatchers in South Carolina both of the last two years. It seems they are spreading out all over the place! They're gorgeous birds.

[Dysart]

Another thing you can do, especially if there are a lot of birds in your yard and you can see the worms in the web is to take a stick and tear the web open. Birds LOVE them!!

Why didn't I think of that?! That's genius, thanks for the tip!

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi Sweetliberty!
I still say those are incredible pictures. :) I love the color combination and flowers with the bird in the top pictures. They sure have some beautiful Tail feathers! That must have been a treat to see them! :)

[GodBlessUSA]

I'm pleased to report the yard is back in action. Yippee!

Many juveniles are visiting. Mostly the Downey's and Red belly right now. I think Mr. & Mrs. Cardinal are preparing for another nest.

Tonight, I was planting around the arbor the Mockers had made a nest in. I thought it was deserted but nope. I heard something, looked up and there was a Mocker feeding little ones in there right above my head. I slowly got up. Of course, I feared they would start dive bombing me, LOL. I slowly walked away. Now I have plants laying at the base of the arbor and scared to go back to plant or get them. Divebombaphobia. I'll have my brave 17 year old get me the plants tomorrow. LOL. The adult bird had no fear of me. I guess, like you said, Dysart, they recognized me as the food source. They must have been happy seeing me plant, a large getting to berry, blueberry bush too.

HouseWrens are in and out of that house. I'm waiting for some baby bird action there still.

[sweetliberty]

"They're gorgeous birds."

They really are.

[sweetliberty]

" Now I have plants laying at the base of the arbor and scared to go back to plant or get them."

LOL! They do live up to their reputation, don't they?

[Dysart]

Ah, my favorite thread. I saw a juvenile Downy for the first time yesterday too. Little mighty-mites they are-- almost robotic in their movement. LOL I think you'll find they will become loyal visitors if you put out suet cakes or peanut butter. And Red Bellies favor nuts and apples, surprisingly.

The Mockers will appreciate the blueberry bush, I'm sure. I have 4 juveniles(two from each clutch) who are fighting over this territory, and behaving quite as mature Mockers. Soon, they will all be forced out by the parents.

Despite the activity, my sanctuary has seen better days. We are in the middle of a drought here, I've got serious infestation of webworms(already well chronicled), and I just looked outside and saw three young Cardinals feeding on the ground along side about NINE rats. The rats are really becoming a problem and health concern. I've raked and raked the seeds and husks, but I just can't seem to get them all up. I'm dreaming of an outdoor vacuum cleaner. Yep, that's it. :)

[GodBlessUSA]

That is such a bummer, Dysart! Rats would put me in a panic!
There's an empty house behind us. The owner never mows that lawn. It's beyond knee deep. We are next to a Greenbelt. I fear that we will soon become over run with mice. I thought I heard a mouse in the shed when getting things out tonight. Aahh. I pray I never see a rat! That's a problem. Good luck. I hope you can run them off somehow. Good Luck with those gross webworms too.

I read on a garden forum, someone uses a shop vac for their seed. I was thinking to get them with the Lawn mower with bag attached. I'll try tomorrow and see if it does the job at all. I'll let you know.

I put up three suet cakes. It is so special to have Woodpeckers visiting. I'm hoping Flicker comes with his Juveniles this year. Dad Flicker fed them here last year.;)

That picture you had of the juvenile Mocker is priceless. If you have anymore shots, please post them. They are hysterical. I can't wait to see them all feeding at the fruit.

[GodBlessUSA]

I was almost done planting too. If only I had a few more minutes. That will stay unfinished until they are gone. LOL! My son will do the job of getting the plants that are left there. My son is so good to me, LOL! He helped me last year when the Robins did the Dive bombing. :)

[Dysart]

Cheery chickadee chirps carry complex info -study: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=585&e=1&u=/nm/20050623/sc_nm/chickadees_dc


Very interesting little article on Chickadees. And I have plenty of Juv Mocker pics I'll post sometime.

[GodBlessUSA]

Thanks for that link. Very interesting information indeed. I enjoy watching the bird's behavior and how they communicate to each other.

We get Hawks here mainly in the fall/winter months. Mostly, Sharp-shinned and Cooper's. They move out of my area to nest. I'm pleased the Hawks leave this time of year. I don't have to see juveniles come to feeders with Hawks around. I watch the birds when the Hawks come in the yard. It's fascinating. I can tell by the sound a Titmouse makes when there is a Hawk around and I cannot see it.

Another time, I was sitting out on the deck and I saw a large hawk being chased by a Crow. All the Gold Finches seemed to be chatting hysterically after they went through the yard.

I'm fascinating while watching groups of Crows and BlueJays chase out a Hawk from their territory. They communicate to each other on location of Hawk from tree to tree. Truly amazing to see.

[GodBlessUSA]

Just popping in to say hello. Seems everyone is out enjoying their yards lately.

Mocking birds have finally left the nest. The babies are big furry balls with a tail. Too cute! They got quiet a buffet of fruit today. Noisy little ones. :) Amazing how unafraid, Dad and Mom are of me. They let me in that area but wouldn't let anyone else in my family over there for much time before getting aggravated. I finally got my plants planted that I started before they took the nest. The plants sat there until the birds left, as I didn't want to tick off Mockers and have them dive bomb me. LOL! If I have an opportunity to take pics, I will.

I was sad to see the HouseWrens left. They were fun. The house was in the garden so I always felt like there was always company with me while I worked. They were fine having me right near their house:)

I hope you are all enjoying your birds and gardens!

[sweetliberty]

I was out of town for over a week and when I came back, the neighbors that were supposed to be looking out for things obviously hadn't been. To top it off, a cat has taken up residence under my house and every morning and evening I find it laying out at the base of the platform feeder. It infuriates me. I guess I'm gonna have to try and trap it. I was very upset about the state of things when I got home.

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi Sweetliberty,
Great help weren't the neighbors. It would have been nice if they said they were too busy or something. Instead, they let it all go. Not nice. Not great to come home to at all. I would be infuriated also!

The cat is a bummer. I send my best wishes getting rid of the cat. I had a similar problem a while back. It nearly drove me insane. :) Most cats come and go but I had one who was a major problem. The people who owned the poor cat nextdoor never let the cat in day or night. The cat turned feral. You are right, trapping the cat is probably the only way. Then we can hope, maybe it can get picked up by someone who will find it at the shelter.

I hope, regardless of this situation, you got to enjoy your trip away. :)