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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Thank you, sweetliberty.
Excellent shot of Hummer rustbucket!
I went outside and the female Hummer returned. All of a sudden a male darted at the female. It was kind of funny watching these two. She kept coming back and drinking fast and looking around and sure enough he would be back trying to push her out of his feeding territory. What amazing birds to watch. I'm assuming this male, must be the original bird at the feeder. :)
I tried watermelon earlier in the year and didn't have any takers except a couple of mockers. Perhaps I should try it again. What I have the most of right now are Cardinals, Bluejays, Chickadees and Hummers. I expect that will change again before long. Different species come and go.
So glad you got to experience a taste of the hummer humor. They carry on so, but it is all very good-natured, like a game. Perhaps next year they will tell their friends about your yard and you will have a larger population. They are such fun to watch. They always make me smile.
Here's a broadbilled male and a blackchinned male at the same feeder. I have a shot of three females of different species sitting at this feeder at the same time.
They are funny. I can't believe how tiny the female is. Maybe she isn't too much smaller but thinner. I'm so glad that I didn't bring the feeder in, when I didn't see the male for a week. I hope they talk and I have more next year. I will be happy to buy more feeders for them. :)
Excellent photos Rustbucket! If you ever get a chance, post the photo of the three.:)
Glad to hear the hummers are back!
I've got a pot of nectar cooling on the stove right now.... the little buggers have already drained the front feeder.
Cool hummer fact:
Humming birds don't actually sleep.... they lightly hibernate.
If they didn't, their high-speed metabolisms would literally cause them to starve to death before morning.
LOL! You have to admire the squirrels for their resourcefulness.
I suspect now that the two birds on the right are female broadbilleds. The one on the left appears to be a female blackchinned, but I'm not sure. The beak on the left bird appears to be thinner, blacker, and less curved than those on the other two birds. Blackchinned females also have white tips on the underside of their tail feathers, but so do broadbilled females. I only know what I read in the bird books, so I can't say for sure.
Unfortunately, I was not able to get a good shot of one of the male birds in the full sun showing their dazzling colors. The only shot that picked up some of that sparkle was this one, but the feeder got in the way:
While we were waiting most of an hour for it to pop its head out of this nest, a tour bus from a nature center 50 miles away arrived and offloaded a bunch of tourists. Most came over and stood by the tree looking up, but they left after 10 minutes and before the bird stuck its head out.
I only saw the one Hummer leaving this morning. I know it won't be long until they start migrating. I hope I get a couple of more weeks of them visiting. I'm still trying to get a picture. It's difficult.
Give me some time to try to ID that bird in the nest, I'll give it a shot by looking in my field guide. A good challenge. ;) How lovely.
You really get awesome shots! I use to like my camera but I think it's not focusing properly any longer. I'll have to look into getting another eventually.
I keep trying to get a picture of those little Hummers but it's almost futile. :) They are camera shy. I hope they stick around for another week or two.
That is a cool Hummer fact. ;)
I went out and put up another feeder for the Gold Finches. I have three up. There weren't as many tonight. Isn't that always the way. I see some Gold Finches, I'm not sure if they are juveniles or already changed plumage for fall.
I love the fall. I hope to see birds migrating through again.
I hope you have a great Labor Day Weekend. :)
Large bird here in Fairbanks. Not as big as a raven. About 50% black and 50% white, no other colors. Kind of a swallow tail. What is it? Never saw one of those here before.
Possibly Australian magpie, but there was more white.
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