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

[Dysart]

I wanted to ask you, did you have a problem with your Mockingbirds becoming territorial?

Yes, they will drive off any bird that infringes on their turf, whether it's a Crow or a Robin. I've gotten a little perturbed when I've witnessed them driving away innocent regulars around here. I should have a talk with them, I think. I've never seen them actually attack another bird, however. This is especially true when they have newly hatched chicks, who, btw, leave the nest before they actually fledge. They just hop around for a few days as their parents care for them; it's a risky strategy it seems to me.

[GodBlessUSA]

Mockingbird has been chasing a lot of birds away. I had a word with him or her too. I hope Mocker listens up. :) I just hope they don't have a nest too close by. I've already been dive-bombed by Robins last year. I didn't like it. Mockingbirds would give me a scare dive-bombing. LOL! Does the Female Mockingbird sing as much as the male?

[Dysart]

No, the female doesn't sing as much but that she does at all is noteworthy. The female Cardinal does too and just a handful of others.

[GodBlessUSA]

I'm wondering. You saw my picture and said Female. Neat, you can figure that out. :) There are two here. I'm wondering if it is male and female. They are fighting over territory, perhaps. Or could what appears to be fighting be love:)?

[Dysart]

Hard to say. But if I had to guess I'd say it's a territorial dispute between to males. Certainly, if you don't know the pair well it can be difficult to determine what's going on right away. Alternatively, the courtship process can be pretty frisky. :)

The way I can distinguish between the male vs female by appearance is that the white outer edge of the male is more prominent than the female. The male is also bolder(gets closer to me and approaches me first when I'm feeding them peanut butter). I've been observing "my pair" for several years so it's easy now.

[Dysart]

to=two

[sweetliberty]

Has everyone been out in the yard today? Is y'all's weather as nice as ours was? It got well into the 70's.

My hummingbird feeders have been busy today. Are hummers like some of the other birds in that a few show up initially and the others follow?

[ken21]

i hate doves.

[Dysart]

I can't answer your question about the behavior of Hummers, specifically, because I have no experience with them.

Today was I work day for me. Still moving new offices. Only time for that is on weekends it seems. It was very nice here in Tx-- it's been really a dry spring so far. I will be out mowing and watering tomorrow, definitely. Something odd has occurred with my Brown Thrasher nest site: the nest is complete now for a couple of days and the pair has vanished! I'm unsure what to make of it. Maybe they found it not suitable, maybe they were building a practice nest such as Blue Jays will, maybe they built it well in advance, I dunno. Have any thoughts about this?

Oh, and I love Doves, particularly Mourning Doves.

[sweetliberty]

Why? I think they're sweet...and funny. And I love theri sounds.

[HitmanLV]

Once again, here is a pic of what my bird sanctuary attracted! I'll never build one of those things again!!! ;-)

[ken21]

there are too many of them in southern california, even more in arizona, and texas.

just outside tucson, while hiking, i saw a rattlesnake eating a dove.

the rattlesnakes in tucson could eat thousands of doves a day and it wouldn't put a dent in the population.

in san diego i lived near a mating pair of red-tail hawks. never saw a dove. red-tails love to eat doves.

in huntington beach a dove flew into my patio window while being pursued by a red-tail.

[sweetliberty]

No idea about the nest.

[Dysart]

Once again, here is a pic of what my bird sanctuary attracted! I'll never build one of those things again!!! ;-)

Wow. That's the elusive Garckleosaurus, long thought to be extinct!

[HitmanLV]

Though some in Japan simply call the creature...."The Rodan!"

[sweetliberty]

"in huntington beach a dove flew into my patio window while being pursued by a red-tail"

Well, that had to be more exciting than the evening news.

Yes, I could see how, if the numbers were overwhelming, they could be a problem, but that's true of most birds...or most anything, for that matter. I have a few doves around and I really enjoy them, but I wouldn't want them taking over the yard and forcing other birds out.

[ken21]

they are over-whelming in all 3 states where i've lived.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I haven't seen any hummers yet:(

Becky

[GodBlessUSA]

Good Morning Everyone. A beautiful Sunday!

SweetLiberty, that's great! Sounds like you have a lot of Hummers visiting! The Hummers will have, scouters come up first. The rest to follow. I read that, but what do they do call the others to tell them where they are? LOL! I have to change my feeder for, no visitors, yet. :)

Everyone having great weather? Well, It's finally warmer today. Yippee! I'm going to try to spend some of this week working in the yard. Well, at least a couple of days! I'm looking for Nandina, Becky. Haven't found it yet! But I will! Did you get your camera fixed yet? :)

I can't believe it. Two Mockingbirds came this morning and one landed right near me and proceeded to eat. Wow, that bird has no fear. :) The two of them are disputing over the food. :) I suspect they are Females, Dysart. Going by what you said, by appearance and the singing is limited. I'm sure a male will be here soon to nest with whomever wins the territory dispute. :)

I wonder, how MamaTexan is making out changing those diapers and feeding the baby? I wonder is MamaTexan getting up at night or rEaLLy early? LOL! :)

[sweetliberty]

One of the hummers this morning kept flying over in front of the kitchen window between the finch feeders where, apparently, he thinks there needs to be a Hummingbird feeder. Of course, I will do as I'm told and go get another one for that location.

Took these this morning. I've come to the conclusion that my camera is a PO_ and will have to be replaced if I plan to get any decent bird pictures. You can also get an idea what I mean about the crappy view. I have a huge yard in front and plenty of space on both sides, but in back, the property line is only about 2 feet from the back porch, where the feeders are hung.

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