Creating A Bird Sanctuary In Your Yard

March 5, 2005 | sweetliberty

[Dysart]

"Do you use fresh cranberries, or Craisins? If I put out golden raisins and craisins, they completely ignore the craisins."


I feed them Craisins from Sams club. They love them, I think, because they're softer/easier to digest than raisins. But they will eat dark raisins. Apples are always appreciated it seems. I can only conclude that Texas Mockingbirds are different from other states' Mockers.

[sweetliberty]

I put out jelly, peanut butter and some banana pieces yesterday. The ants got so bad, I had to move them off the feeder to the ground. Do most of the birds consider the ants as a nice topping, or do some birds not like them?

[sweetliberty]

I also put out some mealworms yesterday. I was surprised to discover that the bird that favors that delicacy (so far anyway) is the Nuthatch, although I did see one of the Red-wing Blackbirds sample one, too.

[bert]

I'll slip in here to report an interesting event. My son and DIL live in Durham and have been honored by a pair of Red Shouldered Hawks who chose their yard for nesting. yard.

They live in a pretty typical residential neighborhood and the hawks apparently tolerate the neighborhood and the people who are keeping a close eye on their progress.

[sweetliberty]

That's neat. The birds of prey are truly magnificent, although I doubt your son and DIL are visited by many other kinds of birds with the hawks being a fixture.

We have a lot of hawks and eagles in this area. I've seen a bald eagle within a mile of my home. I guess they like all the water here. We're surrounded by lakes and rivers. Some sort of predator bird made a pass through my yard a couple of weeks back. I couldn't make out what it was because I only saw it from the rear....as it flew off clutching some furry critter, probably a squirrel, in its claws.

[GodBlessUSA]

It's good to hear I can use the Craisins. Cranberries are expensive. I'll buy them anyway though, if it's for the Mockers. :) Do you soak your raisins before you serve them?

[GodBlessUSA]

That's a bummer. I don't know about the ants and birds. I know Flicker loves ants but that won't help with the fruit. We usually don't have ant troubles until after June. I have to figure out what to do with my Hummer feeder because that's where I usually have the trouble with ants.

Yellow Jackets in Aug are a real problem and I have to figure out a solution before then. Anyone know how to discourage yellow jackets?

[GodBlessUSA]

Speaking of them brought me good luck! Look who showed up for Raisins and Jelly a few minutes ago! I have to get those Cranberries today. I really spoil big time in the beginning so they come all the time. :)

[Dysart]

Nice shot of the Mockingbird. That appears to be a female judging by the narrow white wing-bars on the outer edge of the wing.

[Dysart]

Jelly, huh? I never thought of that. I'll have to buy some cheap stuff and try it. I'm not sure I can share my private stock of Blackberry preserves. Of course, jelly would go naturally with the peanut butter they eat daily, wouldn't it... hey, a couple of slices of bread...and I can make them a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!

[csvset]

Unfortunately the seeds, etc are spilled all over the ground and attract rats.

That's when our cat, Peachfuzz, goes into action. We speculate that she sits atop of our neighbor's shed, which would allow a birdseye view of the feeder. She must pounce on them from above.

[sweetliberty]

There are these ant repellent things you can get to hang above the nectar feeders, called "Ant Guard." One is supposed to be good for a whole season. This will be the first time I've used them.

I don't know about Yellow Jackets. If you come up with something, let me know. We already have bees.

[sweetliberty]

I love it. They are so cute.

This Nuthatch definately has developed a taste for mealworms. When I got home from riding, he was out there in the mealworm feeder, slinging sawdust all over trying to find more. I guess I'll have to go get some more Monday. I don't think the place is open tomorrow where I got them.

[sweetliberty]

"hey, a couple of slices of bread...and I can make them a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!"

Now there's a thought. Hollow out a loaf of bread, crumble up the innards and mix with peanut butter and jelly and stuff it back in the crust, then stuff the whole thing into one of those cage type, wire feeders.

[andyandval]

Great picture!

[sweetliberty]

Mini-item in our local paper this morning:

Hummingbirds are back

Guess I'll get the first hummingbird feeder out this morning.

[sweetliberty]

Anybody got any suggestions for something that will kill weeds without harming the birds?

[HairOfTheDog]

only your muscles!

Roundup or some spray like that at least doesn't leave granules that look like food, and works fast and degrades fast. If you put it on during a 24 hour dry period, you can hose it in as soon as the weed withers.... sometimes within 24 hours.

[SE Mom]

I use white vinegar to kill weeds- spray it directly on the weed- works on every weed I've used it on.

[sweetliberty]

Does is kill the grass?