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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He raves. I think my husband could eat a side if he could. LOL. I'm sure he'd appreciate my sharing. LOL! How hot is it there in July, Aug, and Sept? I'd love to go with him one of these days and bring the kids.
Are you getting nice weather and getting outside?
These guys have personality that's for sure! They were waiting on peanuts
Well, it wasn't exactly intentional as a bird sanctuary, but between the small pond and the raspberry bush, I get my fair share of birds and chipmunks cavorting in my little townhouse back yard...
It gets pretty hot, usually around 100 degrees in the dead of summer.
Are you getting nice weather and getting outside?
Finally today the sun came out. Its rained for most of last week and all weekend. :(
I swear, they have at least half a dozen different shades of blue on them!
That's too hot to sight see. At 100 degrees, we should definitely consider a better time of year. :)
Wasps don't like cedar.
That sounds so awesome. That is a truly unique backyard birding experience.
I just love the Bluejays...and that is a great picture. I haven't gotten one of my Bluejays yet. I always know when they're about though. They always announce themselves.
That is useful information. And for what it's worth, cats don't either, nor do certain other critters, skunks being one, if I remember correctly. I remember reading that and using a mulch of cedar shavings when one of my cats insisted on pooping in the flowers. We also had a resident skunk, but he wasn't too much of a bother.
I live in a cedar log house. The only insect pests I get are carpenter bees that like to bore nest holes.
The reason I know wasps don't like to nest in cedar is, I like to find wasp nests for bream bait. Wasp larvae is great for big shellcrackers. Big shellcrackers are good for me.
Oh, well aren't you just full of good cheer today? Did you shoot that groundhog yet? And the Juncos have been around for a few weeks now. Maybe they came with a spell of bad weather and decided to stay.
LOL...THEY'RE CALLING FOR SNOW FLURRIES HERE TONIGHT.
Well, keep the snow flurries up there! It's gotten colder here, too. Seems we get just enough warm weather to get you used to it. I hate these changes. I still don't have much of a voice and am still coughing. I've been on antibiotics since Friday and it isn't working very fast.
SAME HERE. I'VE SINUS INFECTION AND SORE THROAT. YOU THINK THE WEATHER IS TO BLAME? MAYBE WE'RE JUST SPEADING VIRUSES TALKING TO EACH OTHER VIA COMPUTER. MAYBE WE SHOULD SPRAY OUR MODEMS WITH DISINFECTENT UNTIL SPRING. LOL
Computer mutated super strains??? LOL! Nah; I think more likely a combination of moody weather and handling a lot of sick kids. I think 2/3 of the population of this town is sick.
I didn't know that - I think the bat house I bought was made of pine. Thanks! Will have to try this again, then.
What a beautiful day it is here in Utah...sunny, not very cool, and there are lots of birds in my backyard this morning...mostly pine siskins and black capped chickadees.
Yesterday, I saw a hummingbird for the first time of the season.
My forsythia is starting to bloom, my violets are blooming and pretty soon the tulips will be too...
Even though they are predicting another cold front with daytime highs in the 40s and nighttime lows in the 20s, it's still spring. I have lots of flower seedlings started, and working up the garden beds and adding two new ones.
I love the spring.
I'm thinking about going horseback riding today to relax a little. It's been a long and intense week, and I expect more of the same beginning midday tomorrow, plus I'm on call next week, so I really want to take advantage of the nice day!
What have you got planned for the weekend?
Does anybody know if Daffodils can be thinned out and transplanted while they're blooming?
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