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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The activity at the front feeders has been entertaining this morning too. The one hummingbird feeder I hung between the finch feeders has been a flurry of activity, but not all from the hummers. The finch feeders are nuts in the morning, there are so many finches. This one hummer, not to be intimidated, seems to have made a game of "dodge the finches." He will hover near the feeder, skillfully maneuvering between the scrapping finches, then, when he sees his opening, he will perch at the feeder and grab a few sips. Then repeat. To add to the fun, there is a t least one finch that seems to be trying to make like a hummer. He has even tried the hover movement...not very effectively, I might add, for soon he is scrambling for the wire. I think he gets caught up in the moment. LOL! A couple of the finches even try to eat from the hummer feeder, again, not too successfully, but it's quite funny. The hummer will just look on like "you idiot."
ROFL! Hummers are such little clowns (Wonder if that's why they are so brightly colored?) :)
Has your hummer chased any of the other birds? They do that here on occasion, and it's hilarious to watch a bigger bird try to outmaneuver such a small flying machine that can literally turn on a dime!
During the dry spells, I have to make sure the birdbath stays full of clean drinking water for the other birds. Otherwise, they start trying to drink out of the hummer feeders, too.
Make a rotating squirrel feeder that feeds, exercises and sometimes has the bonus of annoying the little buggers, too!
I am home for lunch, and this hummer, I'm presuming the vigilent sentinel, has now moved over to a spot near the window and is continuously scoping out the eaves above. You can tell he's just waiting on a challenger...well, looking for an opportunity is more like it. What's funny is that his back's to the feeders. At one point he turned around and saw another hummer who'd been happily feeding away, having esxaped notice. Of course, this guy would have none of that and swiftly dispatched the intruder.
Too funny. I had to laugh this morning when I went to pull out of the driveway and noticed that my new neighbor, the one with all the bird feeders, had squirrels all over the feeders. Not that I'm one to laugh at anybody else's misfortune; I was just glad it wasn't me. I suppose I should order an extra copy of the squirrel book to share with the neighbors.
LOL! Good books make good neighbors!
Besides, if the neighbor keeps feeding them, they'll soon start breeding...
guess where the persistent little buggers will look for the next available food supply? :)
The behavior of this hummer makes me wonder if he's guarding a nearby nest. It seems odd behavior for a hummer. He will leave his post only occasionally to recharge himself, but never for very long. He is almost never out of view. He is sticking his tongue out a lot too, like a snake, while looking up. Is he getting somthing out of the air maybe, or do they smell with their tongues?
No, they have practically no sense of smell. He could be 'tasting' the air for vibrations, perhaps?
He does the *scanning* motion, too, BTW.
How far apart are your feeders? I've seen a minimum of 25 feet recommended because hummingbirds ARE so territorial. Ours are about 35 feet apart on opposite sides of the house, but this ruby throat just sits high enough in the trees to see over the peak of the roof.
I can't come up with a better place for the feeder where they are further apart but still visible from the house and in the afternoon shade.
Still haven't had any more arrivals, though. Once we do, they manage to feed just because he can't chase them ALL away!
Should be;
Our ruby-throat does the *scanning* motion, too, BTW.
(had a proofreading duh moment!)
That is funny. It must be fun to watch them. Have you seen them on it yet? My squirrels are weird. I brought them that corn and they don't eat it.
No, it's actually close enough to the tree they can reach out and grab it.
When two of them are there at the same time, one will grab and pull it to him while pulling it away from the other squirrel.
Then, the ensuing squabble and tug-of-war is just hilarious to watch!
(Hubby's working on a longer, heaver duty version they DO actually have to get on and *ride* to reach the corn, BTW :)
I brought them that corn and they don't eat it.
Huh, that is odd. Can they get the birdseed out of your feeders?
Our squirrels can't get to any other food. Both feeders have been squirrel-free since I Vaselined the poles.
(That was funny, too. They not only jumped on the poles just to slide right back down, they kept looking at their little paws and wiping them all over the trees trying to get the slimy goo off.)
The two in the front yard are quite a ways apart, but the 3 in the back are sorta grouped together. It would be hard to put the ones in the back farther apart and still be able to see them, although I suppose I could stick a pole in the yard behind me. There is no one living in that place right now.
There was one point at lunch time that I looked out the window and I'd bet there were over 30-40 Goldfinches in the front yard. They were swarming ALL the feeders AND the birdbath. Amazing. I couldn't believe the other day when my neighbor was talking about seeing a "yellow bird" and wondering what it was because she hadn't seen them around here before. Perhaps it's because they all live here. LOL! I've had them ever since I moved here last summer. Of course, they're not really yellow in the winter.
Hi
Remember the Morning Dove I told you about sitting on her egg on my mother's deck, inside a bowl in a bar she has out there. Well, a cat came and killed Morning Dove. I'm so sad. I don't like seeing nests. For the past two years, I've seen them destroyed and not make it. It makes me sad seeing all they go through and gone in an instant!
On a lighter note; did you know that hummingbirds can't walk? I just read that to even move two inches, they have to fly. I guess that is why their wings flutter even when they do that little side step on a perch.
My finch numbers are still growing. Yesterday I said 30-40. Today, I tried to count the ones that were clearly visible. I gave up at 40! They are everywhere!
Although, I don't have 40 finches. That must be an incredible sight! :)
Sad news about your Morning Dove. They are gentle, beautiful birds. Their cooing is so soothing. There's two that come down as a pair to feed on my patio. I put out enough just to feed the two sparrows that nest nearby, but occasionally it attracts the Morning Doves. They're very skittish; if you disturb them, they won't come back that day.
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