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]

Thanks. I'll figure something out, or at least reach a happy medium.

[GodBlessUSA]

LOL! They sure can eat! Wait until your BlueBirds see the meal worms. I have read that is the food source people provide for them if they have BB Houses. If they are not expensive, get a lot. :)

[sweetliberty]

They are expensive, but, according to this link, they are easy to raise.

They say as a supplemental food, 100 once or twice a day should suffice for a nesting pair. At .75 a dozen, I'd have to get a second job. LOL!

[GodBlessUSA]

LOL!, that sure is too many meal worms daily. BB was there today and there were no meal worms available. So they get a lucky treat now and then. Or are you considering raising them? I read that link and it sounds like a bit of work. Beetles and larva just isn't something I could do. I'm too much of a baby when it comes to that. :)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Weedeater. Where weeds grow in my pasture, (horses don't eat weeds) I keep them knocked down as short as I can with the weed eater. Eventually the grass will choke out the weeds.

Becky

[GodBlessUSA]

Interesting list! Thanks!

[GodBlessUSA]

Oh yes, you are right! I forgot about that. I do that when Birdseed grows in some garden areas. The weed-eater is great. After a while they stop growing. There's now way I could pull them all by hand! I just have to be careful that I don't weed-eat other plants. :)

[sweetliberty]

"Beetles and larva just isn't something I could do."

I COULD do it, and have plenty of room in the shed that it wouldn't have to be in the house, but I'm not inclined to take on such a project. Besides, I expect the ground here is rich with them. I saw many similar looking critters when digging around out there planting Daffodils today. I can't imagine why the things are so expensive to buy, especially in an area where insects are so abundant.

[GodBlessUSA]

Yes, I agree. .75 for a dozen is a hefty price for some meal worms. They know birders feed them and that's why I think it's expensive. Especially, when they eat them in minutes. It's not like they are a delicacy. Where you live sounds like they have plenty of insects to eat. From all the birds you see, they sure are thriving where you are. :)

Even if I would do it, I have no place other than the house and no way! I imagine my luck would be going through all the trouble and having a group of Starlings down them in seconds. LOL.

[sweetliberty]

We used to have a good-sized Iguana years ago. I used to buy meal worms for him. I don't remember them being nearly so expensive then, and he could put away a lot of them. Around here, I don't think it occurs to most people to feed them to birds. The only places I've found them are aquarium supply and bait shops, and the bait shops are actually a little higher.

[Vicki]

Guess what I have attracted with my bird feeder? Ducks! A male and a female duck. They have come the last 3 days and they are eating the seed that has fallen onto the ground.

Everyone is getting along ... the ducks, the other birds and the squirrels. All hanging out under the bird feeder.

[sweetliberty]

LOL! Now that's funny. Just goes to show that we each have our unique experiences.

[MamaTexan]

How many Hummers are you seeing? Just the 2 black chins so far, but it's not unusual for us to have a hard freeze at the middle or end of April, so maybe they're all waiting.

Glad you're hubby likes Texas. I can't really say that Dallas is representative of the WHOLE state, but it's a start! LOL!

I would love to see a bluebird! About the closest I've seen here are the Purple Martins.

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi MamaTexan,
Hubby was somewhere outside of Dallas. ? I forget the name. He was having some really bad hail last week. I called him because I was afraid when I read tornado warning. :) He loved it. People by you are kinder than up here! He also drove to a friend outside of where he was. He would move there but I'm afraid of scorpions, tornado's. My daughter told him she wouldn't because of the tornado's. :)LOL

2 Black chins, must be incredible. From what you say you must see a lot of them. That's so wonderful!! I have to check the Hummer map. It's gotten cold here again too.

I would love to see BB here too. I keep looking, keeping my fingers crossed!

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi Sweetliberty. You probably have already done so, but have you checked the internet? I knew someone who use to order meal worms from Internet.

I saw two Mockers this morning. I'm not sure if they were fighting over the jelly/raisins or if they were friends. LOL

[sweetliberty]

I saw on that link I posted that you can order mealworms through that NABS at a discount if you are a member. Doesn't say what the cost is though. It's a bit late to put up a bluebird box for this year.

One of my Mockers stood his ground aginst 3 Red-wing Blackbirds yesterday. They are bullies and most of the birds leave when they show up. Not this guy. He just sat there perched on the top of the feeder and defied them. They are not easily intimidated.

It's been raining here this morning. We're supposed to have storms all day and through the evening, and again tomorrow. Grrrr..... I was planning to do my outside windows today. It is my last day off and I still have a lot to do. I guess I could do housework and laundry. Exciting, huh?

[GodBlessUSA]

Look! There were two here today. This bird is so friendly. Mockingbird sat on top of my trees unafraid of me while I took the dog out and even posed for the picture. I guess I made a new friend putting out the raisins and jelly! LOL.

[GodBlessUSA]

I have those exciting jobs today too! It's not rainy here but it's gotten very cold today. I had planned to work outside but I can't do it when it's so chilly.

If I find the meal worm place, I'll let you know. I'll check it out with my friend. I know she isn't crazy enough to spend all her money on Meal worms. I think. :)

Mockingbirds are very brave. I love the way they hold their own ground. The only problem I have is the Catbirds are very intimidated by them. I love Catbirds. I will have to have two stations of Jelly and raisins this year on opposite sides of the yard.

I meant to say before, That's neat you fed an iguana!

[MamaTexan]

That is a GREAT pic!

Birds seem to have the ability to know where their 'goodies' come from.

I can walk all the way to the feeder and not have any leave until I get really close.

Anyone else steps out the front door, and they all take off!

Don't spoil your birds TOO much, BTW. They may migrate to Texas one day!

(Having visions of birds knocking, asking for jelly, and saying "GodBlessUSA sent me!")

LOL!

[GodBlessUSA]

We went to a nature preserve Sat. In front they have animals who were injured and can't be released back to the wild. They are very well cared for. Another time I'll post the Male and Female Redtails. There is also a beautiful American Eagle.