Creating A Bird Sanctuary In Your Yard

March 5, 2005 | sweetliberty

[MamaTexan]

I know I'd have to bust out laughing.

The *deer in the headlights* look would probably get to me!

[Ciexyz]

I get blamed for moles

I get blamed for chippies. I know they're destructive, but I never wanted to put out mole nuts by my patio for fear the busybody's dog would eat it by mistake -- the mutt's leash extended into my side of the lawn -- and from fear the birds would get it.

I haven't seen any chipmunks this year. I know there was one that would pop up from under my patio last year.

[sweetliberty]

I wouldn't leave a camera in the car in the heat. Any camera.

[sweetliberty]

"Have you seen or heard the Pileated lately? How about the Bluebird, still around?"

The Bluebird still comes to bathe regularly, and now I have at least 4 Rose-breasted Grossbeak males. I'm not sure where the females are, unless they, like the Red-winged Blackbirds, send the males ahead. I haven't seen the Pileated Woodpecker again. I still wonder if it was an Ivory-Bill. The beak appeared light from where I was at, but I couldn't tell for sure. There were other reports in the area of sightings of the Ivory Bill, and now, it turns out, that at least one has been confirmed in Arkansas. And where did I learn of this you ask? Why, right here on FR of course.

Long thought extinct, ivory-billed woodpecker rediscovered in Big Woods of Arkansas

[sweetliberty]

Guess I should have read all my posts before responding. See my post #764.

[sweetliberty]

My Mockingbirds have yet to pay attention to the cranberries, even after soaking them overnight. They don't seem to care about the apple pieces I've cut up for them either, although perhaps they sneak some when I'm not looking. The only thing I've seen the Mockers touch from the feeder is the golden raisin, soaked or not, makes no difference.

[sweetliberty]

"I claimed that I'd never become the stereotypical birder, and all that that entails"

I have visions of coming to be known as the "crazy bird lady." I live on a corner and my feeders are very visible to anybody driving or walking by. On top of that, by the time I get home from work, I'm pretty sick of dealing with kids...or anybody else, for that matter, so I don't have much tolerance for the little hoolignas darlings that are so fond of hanging out at the corner of my yard, or with the autistic neighbor kid who howls like something possessed by demons, and scares the birds away. The neighbors all see me out there all the time tending to the feeders, and no doubt hear me, too, when I'm out there cussing at squirrels and banging pans to run the Grackles off.

[sweetliberty]

"I should have asked them who parked on the killdeer nest."

ROTFL! Well, it's something to keep in mind for future use.

[sweetliberty]

"Or find some rare endangered bird, get some corresponding feathers from a hobby store, make in into a bird shape (using clay would work) and fling it under their car."

LOL! You have a devious streak.

[GodBlessUSA]

Your right. It is fun hearing about others from different areas have different regulars! My sister and I always kid that her birds are coming from the south to my yard. :)

I thought I had seen a Hummer today. Now I'm thinking it was a maybe a large bee and it was wishful thinking.

Tonight I sat outside at sunset and just watched and listened to them all settling down for the night. It was a nice evening!:)

[GodBlessUSA]

LOL! My Mocker's in on the dating service. I think this is the female that I had taken a picture of. She's still on her own from what I can tell. We can post her picture online. ;)

Thanks Dysart! I don't know why I didn't think of getting them at Sam's. I have to get them like that. The supermarket is out of control with those prices. How do you put the peanutbutter out. Do you mix it with anything? :)

[Vicki]

One thing I learned this week is that if you have hummingbirds around make sure to get a feeder with a perch for them to stand on.

My neighbor came over and was amazed at all the hummingbirds at my feeder. Her feeder just had a tube to dispense the nectar and no perch. I find they come most often at dusk.

[GodBlessUSA]

Wow, that is incredible. Did you get a picture of the Pileated? Or Ivory Billed? Maybe you could send it in? You never know. How interesting. Thanks for posting the link! I have to send this to a friend of mine who will find this fascinating!

I haven't seen the Grosbeaks today. I wonder if they left. I looked at a map and they do nest here. I would love it if they stuck around.

[MamaTexan]

LOL! You have a devious streak.

LOL!

*Getting even* isn't yet prohibited, nor have they managed to make it illegal to be a giant pain in the buttocks!

(evil grin)

[MamaTexan]

Tonight I sat outside at sunset and just watched and listened to them all settling down for the night. It was a nice evening!:)

It's just now getting decent outside. The birds are pretty active, even though it was 92 today!

ACK!

[Dysart]

How do you put the peanutbutter out. Do you mix it with anything? :)

Nah, I just spread it on a low hanging tree branch(a crate Myrtle or whatever it's called). The woodpeckers were the first to ever visit the peanut butter laden branch. I think the Mockingbird pair just caught on from observing them. And it is only the one pair that take advantage of it. Them, and those dang Starlings now. It might take a while for your Mockers to catch on. Sweetliberty says her Mockers don't care for the cranberries or apples--maybe it's just a phenomenon here in Tx. They prefer them over raisins, though, in my experience.

[NCC-1701]

SQUIRRELS RULE!!!!!

[Dysart]

I have visions of coming to be known as the "crazy bird lady."

Now why would they think that? :) Besides, it's far better than being known as a "crazy cat lady". They're the worst! I have no doubt that my neighbors find my bird feeding ways a little odd-- and I know for a fact that they aren't thrilled about the peanut shells that the Blue Jays drop on their manicured lawns hehe.

[GodBlessUSA]

Those Starlings are making me nuts lately!
That's easy enough. I'll do it on a tree located by Mocker's area. She has her own area. LOL! I'm hoping it will prevent her from chasing the other.

Carolina Wrens will probably like that too. I see a pair of them around all the time. I'm putting a ledge house out up on the side of a garden shed I have against the house. Nothing can climb up the vinyl siding or shed. I hope. Maybe they will take it for a nest.

[GodBlessUSA]

It's good to be the crazy bird lady. I have a friend who calls me the Crazy Right Wing Bird Lady. ;) I was considering CRWBL for a personalized license plate. LOL!