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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Ain't he cute? Proves my point.
We use to have one just hang on the limb of a tree at nap time. LOL. I loved that squirrel. That squirrel was here for a long time. This squirrel wasn't afraid of me at all. Squirrel would eat near me while I was gardening. Come to the window when food was down. I felt so bad when squirrel stopped showing up. I sure miss that one! :)
Last Christmas, my wife and I had a National Lampoon Christmas Vacation moment. One of the local little guys got in our house and went mildly beserk. We chased him all over the house. He went up into our Christmas tree a few times and came out of it just like the movie. A Kodak moment for sure. Anyway, he finally left the house and we still laugh about it. Made it a special Christmas, one we'll remember.
My Grosbeaks got testy with the Cardinals and were running them out of the feeders when they first started coming, then today, there were a couple of the male Cardinals who seemed to be tag teaming the Grosbeaks. It was funny because Cardinals arent' usually very aggressive except, occasionally, with each other.
Not so that you could really see it. My camera is a POC. Here's the ones I have. He is to the right of the tree on the ground. In the first one, he is facing to the right and in the second one, to the left. These were taken from quite a distance away (probably over 100 yards, so you can kinda get an idea how big he was.
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That's frustrating. Too many times I took a picture of a new bird sighting, only to upload it and it isn't clear. It think it's so neat that you may have seen the Ivory Billed.
Funny about your Grosbeak's. There was one here that was hanging with a Cardinal. :)
My Grosbeaks were the first to the feeder this morning. I think I figured out why I never see the females. This morning, one approached the feeder and the 3 males ran her off. She had to wait thill they were done and then eat. They make this funny little noise, almost like a hiss, when they are being assertive.
I think it's so funny. I've only seen Grosbeak for a short time so I really don't know the personality. He looks so sweet and timid. I think it's hysterical your stories indicate otherwise. Looks are deceiving. LOL!
LOL, well being known at the crazy bird lady or the crazy cat lady is better then just "crazy Lady" as I'm known in my neighborhood. I had some confrontations with a group of people here over a homeowners association they were trying to start. I didn't do anything but alert the rest of the neighborhood as to what was going on, and got ALL of them to come to one of the meetings. It was a rather heated thing, and since then people make a wide circle around me. I think the people pushing the association were just embarassed because they got caught trying to get some stuff going that they knew the majority didn't want. The wife of the president fo their littlat asso. called a neighbor that I ride horses with and told her she was worried about her going out in the woods with me, to be careful, you don't know what that "crazy lady" might do:) I swear I didn't do anything even remotely violent:). I just caught the organizers in some lies, and pointed them out at the meeting.
My husband thinks it is a good thing I have that reputation. Keeps them from bothering us with all that stuff.
Becky
Good Morning!
I had a neighbor, not even right by me, was a bit of a pest re: birds. The Jays are too loud, squirrels, there's a Mocker bothering them, Redbelly is pecking at chimney. I like being known as Crazy lady too. I finally said something with a bit of a sting to it. I'm usually the quiet meek one. I just ignore them now. Your husband is correct. It's better to let them think your a Crazy! LOL Sometimes, Good Fences make good neighbors. :)!
I had a great morning. I was up at 4:30. As the sun came up and I was filling feeders, cleaning bird baths. They all were singing as they were waking up. What a Joy, to start the day! :)
ping
People, huh:).
We have lived here for 25 years, we maintain our property very well, our house isn't fancy but it's not a dump by a long shot. The people trying to get the HOA going were new people to the neighborhood building big expensive houses. They were trying to get things passed like a limit to how many horses you could keep on your property, they types of building you build etc. My place is paid for, I'm not asking permission to do anything here. I don't care what others do on their property, I'm not worried about values, I never plan on selling.
Oh, sorry, I'm getting on my soap box:)
My little hummer is still here. I'm wondering when the females will show up???
Becky
Yes, that is frustrating and a bit bold of them. I wouldn't want anyone having any say in what I do with my own property either. I totally understand why you would be frustrated. I would say no way too! Good luck! :)
I thought I saw a Hummer yesterday. I think it was just a bee. I'm still hoping. I'm so happy you have a Hummer visitor!! I'm going out in a while to find some plants. It's nice out now but it's going to get cloudy. I'm going to enjoy the sun while I can.
Gorgeous! I love the plants too; I just don't have much time to mess with them. I have hopes that that will change at some point, but it isn't looking likely in the near future.
LOL! Not sure I'd want a turkey as a regular visitor in my yard. But ya take what ya get, I guess.
I've never seen a rose-breasted grossbeak before this year, but about 2 weeks ago we spotted a male on the big feeder in the back yard, and today I saw two of them together on one of the smaller feeders. I've also seen the females here, as well.
From what I've read, they don't breed in Alabama, but travel through here. I'm wondering if I'm just seeing different pairs, or if (I hope I hope) they are setting up housekeeping on our property.
I am also hoping the Grosbeaks stay around. I've never had them before either, and they are entertaining. I had 4 in my feeder at once this morning. They are very striking looking birds.
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