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

[sweetliberty]

Beautiful pictures. The weather is turning yucky again here. Been chilly and drizzly all day, although when I was coming home from work awhile ago, the thermometer on the bank said 60. Feels colder. Weather reported it is supposed to get really nasty tonight, with possible tornado activity. I really hope not. I hate tornado season. There is literally nowhere here to take cover.

[sweetliberty]

No, never did figure out the mystery bird. I notice all kinds of new sounds, it seems, whenever I go outdoors.. There is another one that "talks" in single, sharp, shrill whistles.

I haven't seen the Pileated Woodpecker for several days, but he did that before. There are lots of trees around. Perhaps he is off courting. I don't imagine he's gone too far. I hope not.

[sweetliberty]

The Cardinals have been so funny lately. There are so many of them, and they are generally pretty mellow and peaceful, but lately, the males have really been showing themselves, trying to impress the ladies, I guess, although it appears they have been paired all along. The other day there was one eating from the pan on the porch and another came along and was sitting on the porch railing. The one on the pan just fluffed himself all up and just kept it up for probably a full minute. Bird looked like he swallowed a vibrator.

[Dysart]

So I'm laid up a few days after a car accident and I decide to make the best of it. I cleaned and filled the feeders today. I also broke some twigs, cut up thick twine and yarn and placed it in a pile near the birdbath. A couple of hours later, I noticed a Robin making repeated visits to the bath, scooping up water and flying off. I thought at first that he/she must really be thirsty...but eventually it picked up several strands of yarn and dunked it in the water before flying off purposefully. I may have been a bit zonked from the painkillers but I ascertained immediately that she was building a nest somewhere nearby.(They construct their perfect nests from mud and grass I've read)

I've had a large flock of Robins here since Fall and they're such an aggressive bunch-- always chasing each other and chirping vigorously. They enjoyed the peanut butter I put out quite a bit this winter when their regular food was scarce. Looks like at least one pair has decided to hang around to raise a family.

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi!
It's officially spring. I'm happy I have gone out and started doing a little work. It's still really chilly but I don't care they say it's officially spring. :) It should warm up more this week.

I found Texas Bluebonnet seeds! I'm planting them tomorrow. I loved seeing the pictures of them. I want them in my garden too, they are so pretty! I hope they grow for me.

I have a few Cardinals visiting. I love seeing them with their mates. They start feeding the female. So sweet! They sure do put on a show for the ladies. :)

[sweetliberty]

I'm sorry to hear about your accident. How serious was it? I hope you are feeling any better? If you have to be laid up, though, there are worse ways to pass the time than watching the birds.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Good morning everyone:)

My camera is still not working and I have wanted to show you pictures of the flocks and flocks of blackbirds we have had this spring. We have always had some, but this year is seems there has been and exceptionally large amount of them. I mean a lot! Anyone else notice that where they are? Anyone know a reason for such a phenomena? Kind of scary:), like the movie "The Birds". The trees will just be black with them, and they are making noise like they are all so angry.

Becky

[sweetliberty]

My yard stays quite busy too, and all a-chatter much of the time. I'm overrun with Goldfinches and their color is brighter every day. They squabble over the feeders constantly. I also need to find a more economical way of purchasing peanuts. Good grief! Between the squirrels and all the birds that like them, I can't put them out as fast as they disappear!

We've been having so much cold and rain that it didn't seem like spring at all for awhile, but it was beautiful and sunny yesterday, and is supposed to remain so for at least a couple more days.

I haven't been around too much, because between work and the Terri threads, I've been pretty busy. Next week, I am going to take 3 days off and try to get a little done around here..

[sweetliberty]

The Grackles are just awful. I am constantly running them off. I am surrounded by trees and sometimes the noise from them gets so loud that it's annoying even with all the doors and windows closed! Last year I didn't even have any, that I noticed.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Are Grackles the same as a blackbird? I've wondered if these that I'm seeing are Grackles after reading some of the posts here.

Just as I posted a huge flock landed in the trees outside. I've just never seen sooooooo many flocks of them in the past, and it's been going on for several weeks. Is it an invasion:)?

Becky

[sweetliberty]

Sounds like Grackles. I call them "devil birds."

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[Dysart]

The Grackles are just awful. I am constantly running them off. I am surrounded by trees and sometimes the noise from them gets so loud that it's annoying even with all the doors and windows closed!

Not only that but they are responsible for the massive amounts of droppings in/on the feeders which is a hazard for the other birds. I'm this close {} to withholding seed until that flock breaks up and moves on. Probably stick to peanuts in the shell and fruit for a bit.

BTW, the car accident was minor. I was hit from the rear at low speed but my head impacted the roof and put quite a stain on my neck, resulting in awful neck/back spasms later. I'm fine now, thanks.

[sweetliberty]

Glad to hear you're on the mend and that it wasn't too serious. The way some of these lunatics drive nowadays, we all take our lives in our hands when we get behind the wheel.

[GodBlessUSA]

Yes, I was so down last week, I didn't go on threads much. Unbelievable and it's just heart wrenching. Just reading threads for the most part.

I'm trying to get outside. Rainy yesterday and this morning. I worked in the rain yesterday for a short time anyway. It's suppose to clear up today. I hope you get those days off to enjoy that time outside!

There's a squirrel that built a nest in a tree in front of my house. It's their baby time here now. There's a convention of them in the morning. I counted 11 the other day. I seem to always have a larger population this time of year. There's probably more than 11 though. Like you, I can't keep up with the food.

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi Becky

Yep, The Grackles were gathering this past weekend here too. I saw them down the road and I'm hoping they miss my house. They can be a nuisance. There's hundreds of them.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

My question tho is why are they so much more numerous this year??? I've neve noticed sooo many other years.

Becky

[GodBlessUSA]

I notice, they seem to group up in Spring and late fall for traveling. I think, they should break up again, once they establish where they are going to stay. I only usually get a few at a time during the season.

[Dysart]

Strain. I don't have a "stain" on my neck. LOL.Good grief, I shouldn't attempt typing so early in the am.

[MamaTexan]

They sure do put on a show for the ladies. :)

LOL! Between them and the doves, the hormones are unreal!

Good luck with the bluebonnets! There lovely flowers, easy to care for, and reseed themselves every year, so you only have to plant them once.

Typical spring here...lovely, warm days alternating with hot, cold, windy, or rainy ones. Just about time to plant vegetables, too!

[Dysart]

Looks like this Turkey was intent on creating his own sanctuary. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1373344/posts