BIRD PING! If I pinged you to this thread, it is because you posted on the original, or you asked to be on the list. If anyone wants on or off the bird ping list, please let me know.
I have a few seed feeders hanging near a muscadine bush, a couple of hummingbird feeders I put out in late spring, a couple of nest boxes. etc...
My next project is some bat boxes to hopefully attract some fruit bats, which eat mosquitos.
I'm thinking about talking to my neighbor about putting up a martin house in his field. I would put one up in my yard but I have too many trees and Ive read that purple martins don't like to be hemmed in by too many trees.
BIRD PING! If I pinged you to this thread, it is because you posted on the original, or you asked to be on the list. If anyone wants on or off the bird ping list, please let me know.
They're the only ones that are fun to watch! Who cares about the stooopid birds? Seriously, if I'm leaving food out as bait, I'll feed whatever comes around. I don't like people who bait wildlife, and then shoot the kind they don't like.
I feed my rowdy band of squirrels a mix of black sunflower seeds and peanuts.
My red squirrels are the easiest to photograph, they let me get closer, the big grey ones run away.
ping for later
I started using hulled sunflower seed when I lived in an apartment and fed with feeders on my balcony. I couldn't have the mess so many of the regular seed products leave behind so I decided to try the shelled sunflower seed. To my surprise, the hulled seeds attracted not only the usually sunflower eaters but a bunch of different smaller birds that normally would not be able to crack the seed shells.
Our winter guests here in the Dallas area seem to be the same every year - they arrive at about the same time and stay here all winter. Most are still here - they include: Oregon Juncos, Golden Crown Sparrows and the sweet little Winter Wren.
I have a lot of berry baring trees and shrubs so I also get large flocks of robins and cedar waxwings that stay for weeks on end.
My resident Carolina Wrens are just now starting their courting and their songs are simply glorious!
I am watching close to see if I can spot where they decide to set up house keeping this year - a few years ago they actually nested in the flora wreath on my front door!
Thanks for the ping. I have a problem. Our bird feeders are VERY popular with the local avian population. Unfortunately the seeds, etc are spilled all over the ground and attract rats.
The sparrow seems comfortable with feeding underneath a chair since it's a protective covering. It comes down every day to see if I've put anything out.
I've seen a few Goldfinches on the new feeder. I hope there will be more as time goes by.
Another tidbit on my favorite birds- Hummingbirds drink nectar, but also eat an amazing amount of insects.
For a special hummingbird treat, split a banana lengthwise, leaving the peel on.
Place it on a table, windowsill, etc., somewhere close to your hummingbird feeder, but not on the ground.
After a short time, the banana will start to attract a tiny black fruit-fly.... the hummingbirds most favored 'snack'!
About 12 years ago I disowned a 30 foot square in my back yard and allowed it to go native.
I have about 10 species of trees including Red Oak. Eastern Hemlock, and Hickory that were preexisting on the lot line/fence row. I added a Paw Paw that came up volenteer in my indoor Schafelera and an All American American Chestnut tree to pollinate another elsewhere in the yard. I have Southern Magnolia, American Holly, Dogwood, RedBud and Spice Bush That found their way on their own. I have hundreds of maples and Wild Cherry that I as forrester cull out.
This winter I have 18 species of birds visiting the feeder and water in the yard and patio adjacent to the "woods". I have too many squirrels and a group of 3 or 4 chipmunks. The woods was developed as habitat and study area. The Red Breasted Woodpecker has been around for a year or so, but this year is dominant and unshy. When he wants the feeder, the others let him have it.
An avid amatuer botanist, I'm disappointed in the understory growth. I have a good growth of Virginia Creeper and pestiferous grapes, but no flowering plants. I've transpalnted a few native wild flowers but the heavy leaf cover apparently stiffles them out. They grow well however in the adjacent shade garden tended by my wife.
The woods is a cat free zone. Cats are severly punished for entering and stalking chipmunks and birds. I also allow all the spiders and don't discriminate against insects. I don't distinguish between good and bad insects. Like weeds, "bad" insects are considered mostly a human mental condition. The woods also contains my catipiller cage where I keep Wooly Worm larve to be hatched into breeding moths.
I have birdhouses sometimes occupied by Carolina Wrens and chickadees, but not always. My office has extensive glass doors and they are open in Summer mornings, allowing the wrensns to enter. Attracted by the jungle of house plants, they love to come in and poke around everywhere.
I have written before of the Hummingbird from hell, a summer diversion, and fun species to watch.
I used to get chickadees and nuthatches until these darned overgrown pigeons kept showing up on my porch
I took this pic about a week ago. We get lots of squirrels (red & grey), turkeys, deer, opossum, and my favorites, the rosebreasted grossbeak and ruby crowned kinglet
Thanks for the ping. We just got back from a vacation to Florida. My in-laws have a pair of sandhill cranes that frequent their yard. Now those are some backyard birds! The male was almost as tall as me!
Well, it wasn't exactly intentional as a bird sanctuary, but between the small pond and the raspberry bush, I get my fair share of birds and chipmunks cavorting in my little townhouse back yard...
What a beautiful day it is here in Utah...sunny, not very cool, and there are lots of birds in my backyard this morning...mostly pine siskins and black capped chickadees.
Yesterday, I saw a hummingbird for the first time of the season.
My forsythia is starting to bloom, my violets are blooming and pretty soon the tulips will be too...
Even though they are predicting another cold front with daytime highs in the 40s and nighttime lows in the 20s, it's still spring. I have lots of flower seedlings started, and working up the garden beds and adding two new ones.
I love the spring.
http://sjr.state.fl.us/welcome/screensavers/screensavers.html
Wildlife screensavers
Hey sweetie - good thread. thanks for posting....
I get hummingbirds every year. They love my hanging fuchsias. I have been thinking about planting a butterfly bush. I've heard they love those too.
This was in our local paper today:
April garden checklist
Mark Keaton
Here are some things gardeners need to consider during April:
Those who are interested in growing things edible yet ornamental may want to incorporate some showy vegetables in flowerbeds, such as ornamental peppers, eggplant and leaf lettuces.
Prune spring-flowering shrubs such as spirea, flowering quince, forsythia and azaleas once they have finished blooming. This is a good time to fertilize these shrubs, too.
Watch for cutworms which girdle newly planted vegetables during the first few weeks of establishment. Foil wraps will provide necessary protection; and for larger plantings, you can use the appropriate insecticide for protection. Speaking of worms, watch for cabbage looper and cabbageworm insects. These guys can be controlled by using Bt.
Onions are rapid growers and heavy feeders. To grow monster-sized onions, fertilize weekly with a water-soluble fertilizer and mix at half rate.
Most warm-season vegetables should be planted the middle of April unless you are prepared to do some frost protection if needed. However, hold back on planting okra and peppers until early next month. Soil temperatures are still too cold for these two warm-season vegetables.
Try growing cucumbers up on a trellis this year. This not only reduces space,but cuts down on disease and insect problems.
This is last call to divide and replant overcrowded summer- and fall-blooming perennials.
The older leaves of Southern Magnolia often look diseased this time of year. Winter brings out (makes visible) damage done by insects and possibly some disease organisms from the last growing season. Fortunately, old leaves are about to fall with new growth which is starting to push out.
Hummingbirds will arrive sometime later this month. Get feeders out, clean them up and hang them out in a week or two. Make a sugar mixture by using one part sugar to three or four parts water.
After Easter lilies fade, plant the bulbs in a sunny part of the perennial garden. Foliage may die back but will green up this fall and take off next spring. Don't expect blooms until late spring to early summer. Easter lilies are pretty reliable perennials if planted in a well-drained spot.
Summer bulbs such as cannas, caladiums, dahlias, gladioli and tuberoses can be set out now. Plant gladioli several times at two-week intervals for blooms throughout the summer.
When buying transplants, select ones with the most vigor. Rootbound transplants never will catch up with others, and chances are they may never produce. Example, a cucurbit that has developed beyond its first set of true leaves will not produce well if at all.
Encourage production of runners on newly planted strawberries by removing all flowers the first season. Also fertilize strawberry beds this August or September to encourage good bloom set.
Transplant and divide spring-flowering bulbs after foliage begins to die down. Spring bulbs need to be left undisturbed, including mowing, for at least six weeks after blooming.
During the next few weeks, gardeners may begin to notice strange-looking, often colorful, growth on leaves and new twigs of hardwood trees and shrubs. These growths are galls caused by either mites, aphids, midges, small wasps or pspyllids (jumping plant lice). Galls differ in size and shape depending on the type of insect responsible for them. However, the same gall insect will produce a very similar gall on different species of plants. Gall insects seldom cause serious damage, and therefore, control measures are not necessary.
Houseplants benefit tre-mendously from a summer vacation outdoors. Be cautious though — a change of environment is always a shock for any plant. Sunburn and windburn are the two most common problems, but rapid moisture loss, extreme temperature fluctuations and insects can be just as damaging. A shaded deck or patio is a good choice. Do not place plants in direct sunlight. Bright, filtered light is best.
For information on April garden checklist items, call the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service at 425-2335.
