Creating A Bird Sanctuary In Your Yard

March 5, 2005 | sweetliberty

[cripplecreek]

I live on a lake so I already see all kinds of swifts and swallows so martins will feel right at home.

[sweetliberty]

I feed the little devils, too. I have a big pan of sunflower seeds and peanuts on the back porch and a couple of squirrel feeders out front. One I fill with sunflower seeds, peanuts or pecans or sometimes a dried corn mixture. The other one I either use ear corn or those specially formulated compressed corn thingies, but they don't seem to like that too much. Plus, I have Oak trees.

I don't mind the squirrels. I enjoy them when they're not eating twice their weight in high priced bird seed daily. It's finding a peaceful coexistence between the birds and the squirrels that has been a problem. I'm getting a handle on it. It has been an investment getting good quality squirrel-proof feeders and baffles and such, and it is a work in progress, but it is worth it. That way, I can enjoy all the critters. And then there's the Grackles. Argggh! One or two wouldn't be so bad, but they travel in flocks and they're looking for someplace to set up housekeeping. I don't want it to be my yard!

[sweetliberty]

The Chickadees are the ones that will sit in the tree just above my head and fuss at me if they think I'm taking too long messing with the feeders.

[TruthConquers]

ping for later

[sweetliberty]

Awwww....how cute.

I'm seeing a lot of courting behavior around here, too. The Cardinals are getting testier with each other, and the Goldfinches are a hoot. They are SO territorial. I replaced the old finch feeders this morning, and they couldn't wait to stake their claims on the new ones. There were a couple of them trying to claim an entire feeder, even though there are 6 feeder ports on each. I am tempted to get one of the 20 port finch feeders and one of the upside down ones, just for fun.

[Zacs Mom]

I feed hulled sunflower seed chips year round and our yard looks like a major bird sanctuary!

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!

[groanup]

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.

[HairOfTheDog]

I feed for the squirrels, out on open platforms, and I feed a lot of quantity, about a coffee can full a day.

I get the squirrels, a big flock of doves, some jays, and the assortment of small birds I don't know the name of.

What I'd like to know is how to keep the seed that falls on the ground from molding... when it's warm enough, it sprouts, which is fine, but right now I am just getting a lot of mold, and I'm sure that's not good for the birds that are picking through it in the ground.

[sweetliberty]

I really want Cedar Waxwings. They are so pretty and unique.

[sweetliberty]

"a few years ago they actually nested in the flora wreath on my front door!"

How did you get in and out without disturbing them, or did you use a different door until the little ones were out of the nest?

[Zacs Mom]

lolol...........we roped off the front porch and put up a small sign that directed everyone to the back!

[GodBlessUSA]

Last year, I watched him court her. Flickers are really special in how they flirt and show affection.

[GodBlessUSA]

I love watching all their courting behavior too. Such fun! I love when the finches get testier too. They are hysterical. We call them the Bickersons.

[sweetliberty]

Yikes! That's a different sort of a problem. Have you tried using feeder trays to catch what falls on the ground?

[GodBlessUSA]

LOL! I love those little acrobats!

[GodBlessUSA]

Beautiful shots! I'm dying to see a CedarWaxwing.

I adore Carolina Wrens!

[Zacs Mom]

That is another reason I like the hulled sunflower seeds so much - what falls to the ground is immediately eaten by the mourning doves and other birds that prefer feeding from the ground.

Take heart though.....even if you have attracted rats, you might soon also attract their predators -

They're neat to watch, too!

[sweetliberty]

"What I'd like to know is how to keep the seed that falls on the ground from molding..."

If they're not picking through it sufficiently to eliminate the excess (a lot of what ends up staying on the ground is the hulls), you might try hosing down the area every week or so.

[Vigilantcitizen]

Saw something really cool at work the other day.....

I was on top of a three story house. A hawk came flying by, about 100 yards away but right at the same height I was. He had a snake in his claws. He flew up to the top of an old pine tree and screched a couple of times. Then another hawk flew to the same tree, took the snake, and flew away.

[Zacs Mom]

When the Cedar waxwings arrive here they arrive in the hundreds!! It is wonderful to behold!!! They seem to flock with the robins - they always arrive here together in numbers that astound me! I look forward to their arrival every winter! They also love using the bird bathes which is also really cool to watch.