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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I haven't seen our Nuthatches in a while. Yours are sticking around that's great!
It was beautiful Saturday, but today is cloudy.
Are hummers like some of the other birds in that a few show up initially and the others follow?
Yes. Before the mass hummer migration, hummers have *scouts* to find good feeding sites. The more scouts that stop, the more hummers will follow.
I've always wondered how scouts communicate with the other hummers, and I many have figured it out!
The only hummers we have at the moment are 2 male black chins. I've been hearing something that sounds VERY similar to the mating flight of the ruby-throat, but that's NOT what it is. It's too early, I've seen no females, and (with a couple of exceptions) hummers pass through this part of Texas on their way to Mexico where they nest.
They have got to be using a flight pattern to signal the other hummers that there is a food supply down here!
Guess it just never occurred to me that that is how they did it! (Duh! :)
Nope! :)
MamaTexan's hubby, PapaTexan, hasn't heard a peep from his brother, StupidTexan since the end of last week!
The squirrels have renewed their efforts to get at the feeders. I've run 2 out of the platform feeder. I don't know how they got up there, but I suspect I have the shepherd's crook too close to it and they're climbing that one and jumping over. I saw one actually sitting ON the baffle under the platform feeder. Looks like I'm gonna have to either baffle the other pole, or move it. Moving anything like that in my front yard is a real pain though, because of the hard, rocky dirt. I had to mangle that one pretty bad to get it in to stay. Not sure it would withstand another move. For some reason, I didn't have that problem with the one I put out back for the hummingbird feeders.
Becky
I have made a few stops at garden centers though. I dutifully produced another Hummingbird feeder for the spot that was "suggested" this morning. I also picked up a book. I couldn't resist.
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My outdoor patio has a fan with a bowl light kit below.
I have another light, but can't use that one because some red birds have nested in there and are growing their family.
I think nature finds a way.
Nully, I've come to the conclusion that you're going about attracting squirrels all wrong. If you want to attract squirrels, you have to be TRYING to attract birds and DETER squirrels.
From the introduction:
"Who are we, the people who feed wild birds and scream and flail our arms at squirrels? Where do we fit in the range of what "normal" Americans do? You'll be pleased to know that birdfeeding and squirrel yelling are common practices. We bird feeders participate in the second most popular hobby in America, after gardening: there are eighty million Americans who dish out meals to birds. We spend over $500 million a year on birdseed, $54 million on birdfeeders, $25 million on birdbaths, and $17 million a year on bird books (and that's at 1988 rates). There's a tremendous amount of interest and money inolved with feeding birds, And wherever there are birdfeeders, there are squirrels."
"So, while Outwitting Squirrels: 101 Cunning Strategems to Reduce Dramtically the Egregious Misappropriation of Seed from your Birdfeeder by Squirrels gives concrete, useful information that birders can use to stop squirrels from poaching, it's also a funny and philosophical book. Funny, because every time a human constructs another barrier, squirrels break through. Funny also, because bird feeders spend hundreds of hours and dollars trying to keep these small animals away - and the squirrels have nothing better to do all day long than break into feeders. Philosophical because there must be some overall significance to this human-bird-squirrel triangle. Right?"
I had a friend in Colorado who had parrots take up residence in her alleyway. No doubt pet birds that got loose somehow.
I saw a Parakeet this winter at my platform feeder for a couple of days. No doubt flew to freedom from his cage but I doubt it could have survived alone for long, alone.
"Enough! It has to be possible for a human to outwit a squirrel! Feeding birds was important, certainly; being surrounded by cardinals and titmice all day long is rather pleasant. No squirrel is going to stand in my way, I shouted silently. This was becoming more than a matter of being close to birds. Pride and intelligence were involved and I wasn't about to let a mere rodent get the better of me."
"It's at this point in the story about my war with the squirrels that I'd like to digress. My squirrel war was causing personal problems as well. Frequently while talking on the telephone, I would shout in the squirrel's direction, "Get out of here!" followed by certain epithets. My friends, of course, thought it rather rude that I would hurl insults at them without provocation. When I told them about the squirrel, that increased their concern for my mental health. So be it - I was not going to succumb to the squirrel's strategy."
Very nice! Should be interesting to look back at these photos a few months from now, after the plants have really taken off. They are going to fill in quite a bit!
Looks like you've put together a nice arrangement of plants for your garden this year.
I especially like the arrangements you have made around and between the rocks (stones).
It should be fun to watch your garden grow and fill-in over the coming months.
My garden-space is just now coming to life. My Redbud just bloomed today.
I'll try and get some pictures in a few days and get them posted.
Enjoy ...
That's a great cartoon of the squirrels being called to dinner. Now, can you find one portraying a Grackle doing the same deed? Also fitting around my place.
Thanks:)
I went to town today to pick up some miracle grow and found a Japanese Red Maple. I couldn't resist as I had the perfect place to put it. Mack and I went out on the motorcycle this weekend to the old established way upper class homes in Tulsa where the azeleas were in full bloom. It was so beautiful. I noticed lots of these Red Maples and dogwoods too and really like the way they looked together. I want (sooooo much:) 2 dogwoods, but they will have to wait till next year:(, I've about blowed all my mad money, and I've got horse shoeing and a competition entry fee coming up so I've got to stop with the garden stuff.
Quester: would love to see your pictures.
Malakhi, question. I've been thinking about and looking on the internet at "indoor" gardens in the winter. I was wondering do you plan on transplanting your stuff outside ever?
Becky
Some of them I will. The rest are my 'science experiment' to see how well I can get them to grow indoors.
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