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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Sounds like a great bird sanctuary.
That's amazing. Birds are such fragile creatures... it's wonderful that the little guy recovered from his experience. :)
We did see this little white crowned sparrow at the visitor center. We don't normally see them where I live. He was banded.
I'm jealous. We have our regulars...a few cardinals, mockingbirds, titmice and a ruby throated hummer, but that's it.
The DEER that roam the creek-bottoms around where we live are another story.
I have to keep a sharp eye out on the way to work in the morning. There was a 6 point buck today that came across the road and did a beautiful leap over the fence, and there was a herd of about 8 does yesterday standing by the road.
New Mexico has some great wildlife.
When I lived there, I couldn't believe the pronghorn antelope grazing by the road.
Great photo of the hummingbird! Re: stopping the wing action -- sometimes a flash helps to get the detail of the wings if you want to do that -- although I think the fact that the body of the bird is captured so perfectly while the wings are not illustrates how fast those little wings are moving!
We had such a dry spell recently -- it hadn't rained since August and Katrina, until, oh, I guess around the first of November. And then one day a really strong shower popped up -- and out in the wisteria arbor that is right outside my dining room window the birds were weaving in and out of the leaves, getting their feathers wet and just enjoying themselves. Made me feel so guilty for not keeping the bird bath full. I take care of my granddaughter most days, though, and haven't done much of anything outside this year.
When my grandson was little and was with me most of the time, I took advantage of that opportunity to give him an appreciation of the outdoors. We spent a lot of time in the yard. I put in a flower garden and some strawberries, which he really enjoyed. I didn't really do anything with the birds at that time. In Colorado there wasn't nearly the variety we have here. When he was here last Christmas and this past summer, he really enjoyed all the birds.
I hope that I can do that next summer with my granddaughter -- she will be almost 2 next year. I did that with my grandsons -- the oldest one who is five is very inquisitive, and wants to know all about spiders, fish, birds, dinosaurs and volcanoes. The other one is into trucks and tractors. :-)
My 8 year old grandson this past summer enjoyed learning the names of the flowers in my garden and the few wildflowers that I knew the name of, and enjoyed watching the hummers.
He was here the other day, and I was nameing some of the birds that were at the feeders. My daughter told me the other day that when they see birds now he tells her the name and that he learned about them at my house:)
I'm thinking of getting him a shepherds pole and feeder for Christmas to put out side his bedroom window, and then I could get him a hummer feeder next summer.
Becky
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I suppose it is. We also have herds of deer that come through, coyotes and at least one fisher cat. It's now the time of year when we start putting out suet for the woodpeckers.
I just saw another kind of bird that I've never noticed before. a purple finch:)
Becky
WalMart may have had them all the time, and I just noticed them this year, but I got this oblong green cage thing that comes with a seed brick that fits inside. I have had lots of woodpeckers coming to it.
Becky
Yes, we have a couple of those. They work great.
They are handsome birds. I only saw one once. I knew it wasn't a house sparrow, no mistaking him, his coloring is so brilliant. :)
Sounds like a good idea, although you'd better make sure that someone will see to it that the feeder is cleaned and changed regularly. Lots of work for a little boy.
My grandson is also 8.
He is an immature one, and was 13 inches long.
Becky
Awww....that is so sad. I've been pretty fortunate so far, although I did have a Bluejay hit my bedroom window last spring. He was okay after a bit though. The stained glass things are a good idea.
I also sent my dad and stepmom a Yankee Flipper for Christmas. They're avid backyard birdwatchers, too.
What's a flipper?
Becky
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