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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Hey sweetie - good thread. thanks for posting....
No idea why there are so many, or if there are. Perhaps it is a variation in their migratory path. I am getting very frustrated with them, though. I got home this afternoon and there were hundreds of them in my yard. ALL the birds' food was gone from the platform feeder (and it holds a lot), the birdbath was drained (I just filled it early this morning) and full of bird s**t. There has got to be a way to deter these nasty things without running the others off. Many of the other birds seem to know though. Whenever I go out and make a ruckus and run the Grackles off, the other birds come back quickly, appreciative of having their food to themselves again, but I can't be here watching the feeders 24/7.
Thanks for joining us!
That would be weird. I didn't read the whole thing, but how did the turkey get in there to begin with?
I get hummingbirds every year. They love my hanging fuchsias. I have been thinking about planting a butterfly bush. I've heard they love those too.
That could easily have been my nickname as a kid. But I was thinking the same thing about her being Native American.
Hi Becky,
How's the gardening going?
This is the time of year to be here!
Night time temps in the high 40s, daytime is 70 to 80 degrees!
Perfect weather.
I think the Hawks have gone up North already. Even the Blue Jays are back.
All the birds are on the move.
After the ruby throat left, two male black-chins showed up, and the other morning there was a huge flock of Canadian geese passing by.
Ah, if only Spring could last all year!
Do you have scorpions there?
Goodness YES!
The house we bought a couple of years ago is an older home in the country, and hadn't been occupied for a few years.
We had to watch where we stepped (particularly at night) and one of my daughters and I have both been stung. (Thankfully, we used an old home remedy for stings, so it wasn't all that bad)
Here's some lovely drawings and a good website on Texas hummers from Texas Parks & Wildlife:
Ten Most Common Hummingbird Species
They are such fun to watch and listen to!
I think I heard a catbird the other day.. I could see where the sound (like the 'Yowl' sound a cat makes) was coming from, but all I saw there was a bird!
I just wish I had the binoculars handy so I could have gotten a better look at it!
It's a nice, sunny day here, but I've ended up working most of it. Still have more to do, too. Yeah, I took three days off this coming week. Don't know how much I will get done in the yard, but I'm going to try. I have a new neighbor two doors down and they have almost as many feeders as I do. I will have to meet them.
It's great:)
Today I planted all sorts of things, and my lillies and glads are coming up. And my red bud tree bloomed, but is already fading. They don't last long:(
I still don't have my camera fixed, but as soon as I do I will post pictures.
How are you?
I have my hummer feeder filled but so far no visitors. I can't remember when they that showing up here. I did see a bluebird the other day, while I was out riding.
Every afternoon for the last couple of weeks I have had a hawk, that circles over head making it's noise. It's funny there is always another kind of bird flying around with it. I can't figure if they are fighting or playing...I'm wondering if the hawk is robbing a nest??? I don't know much about them. But he's very pretty and sooo graceful flying around. My chickens all head for the barn tho:)
Becky
FROM my deck...
As a size reference, the cap rail that he has his talons around is a 2x6.
Wow! Awesome pics, Hair. Thanks for posting them.
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