Simply For The Birds

There’s nothing quite as exciting for bird watchers as witnessing firsthand the caring for and development of baby birds. From the egg to the nest to that first tentative flight, this can be an exciting and truly amazing process to witness. And if you want to be a part of it, make sure that you put up your bird houses now. This will give the birds a few solid months to acclimate to and trust your bird houses.

Once the birds are confident that your houses are safe and secure, they are all the more likely to build their nests inside the bird houses in your back yard. So if you want to make sure that you can enjoy the baby wrens next spring and summer, make sure to put out your wren houses now. Birds are migratory creatures. If you provide them with a desirable place to eat, rest, and roost, they’ll return to you. But it’s best to start now to reap the benefits next year!

Now is the time to start planning what you want to put in your summer garden and or planters.  If you are a hummingbird lover like I am, you might consider adding some plants that will attract hummingbirds to your containers.  Here is a list of some flowers you might want to consider in your planning~

Superbells, bright red cuphea, weigela, verbena, fushia, supertunia, honeysuckle, columbine and jasmine. This list is a suggestion and by no means exhaustive of the flowers you can use to attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden.

Be creative with the colors you choose so the planter is pleasing to your eye as well.  Keep in mind that hummers like colorful flowers, especially reds and deep pinks.

Don’t forget to set out a feeder or two as well!

A beautiful and rich purple color, one of the most common birds that people love to spot and track is the Purple Martin. A member of the swallow family, they are renowned for being the largest in this group. To that end, they are around 20 cm long. You can differentiate an adult for a youth by the size and the presence of a forked tail, which the adults possess.

They utilize this tail to help them perform their very acrobat aerial moves. As such, the Purple Martin is often noted for his agility and speed. This is partly why so many people seek out Purple Martin bird houses. They want to attract these fun and beautiful birds to their home. Devoted bird watchers should be aware that the Purple Martin is most abundant on the East Coast of America with a few scatterings of sightings on the West Coast.

If ants are causing a nuisance with your hummingbird feeder, there are several things you can try.  There is a gooey product that can be applied around the hook on your feeder called Tree Tanglefoot Pest Barrier.  The ants can’t go through it.  Another thought is using an ant moat to protect the nectar.  A clear ant moat works well so that you can see when it is full of ants and time to change the water.  A red one will help attract hummingbirds to the feeder.  Affordable way to keep ants from taking over your feeders.

Here are a couple of recipes for bird treats that were in Birds & Blooms that make great treats for your backyard birds.

Recipe for the Flock

2 C. cornmeal                           ½ C. molasses

6C. water                                 ½ tsp baking powder

½ C. bacon drippings               1 tsp. red pepper

1 C. flour                                  Nuts and raisins, optional

1 rounded Tbsp.sand

Mix cornmeal with water, boil and cool.  Add remaining ingredients.  Mix in enough additional water to bind mixture together and pour into small foil pie pans.  Bake at 400° until brown.  Hang the pans in a tree and watch the birds flock to the treat.  Can be frozen.

Recipe for Success

1 C. lard                                   2 C. whole wheat flour

1 C. crunchy peanut butter        1 C. oats

½ C. honey                              2 eggs

Mix all ingredients and pour into a greased 9 inch square pan.  Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Can hang treats from trees or bird feeders in mesh bags.

Go here for more bird treat recipes.

Squirrels can be a real challenge once they discover your birdfeeders.  Someone suggested to take some old containers and fill them with sunflower seeds and then place them on the ground near where your other feeders are.  The squirrels will go the feeders on the ground rather than having to work for the seeds in the feeders.  Another suggestion is spreading acorns underneath the feeders.

You can also try squirrel baffles of squirrel proof feeders.  It can take some patience to find which method works best for your situation.  Perseverance will pay off, however.

If you’re a dedicated bird lover, it’s likely that you’ve either purchased or been given any number of bird baths. And these certainly make lovely accents to any backyard. Not only can you enjoy the birds that will splash, play, and bathe in these products, but many of them are pieces of art in and of themselves. To that end, you’re sure to want to keep every bird bath looking its best by regularly cleaning it.

But you have to make sure that you clean these bird baths in such a way that it will still remain safe for the birds. Clean out the water frequently, as stagnant water might promote mold growth. This, in turn, could be harmful for the birds. Also make sure that you don’t use any harsh chemicals, as this too could be harmful or even lethal to some of your feathered friends. With that in mind, consider accompanying every bird bath gift with a scrub brush and some cleaning solution designed specifically for bird baths.

Since wildlife and plant life evolved together, it makes sense that the native plants in your area will make the best food souce and habitat for the birds in your backyard.  If you provide birds with these plants and water, you are sure to see increased activity in your yard. Unsure what native plants to plant in your backyard? Try doing a Google search ~ i.e. native plants backyard birds(state you are in), more than likely there will be many listings that will supply the information you seek.  The advantage of planting native plants, is that they will be readily available at local nurseries.

Pacific Northwest native plants that will attract finches, nuthatches, kinglets, Pine Siskins, Bushtits, chicadees, juncos woodpeckers and more, would be vine maples, shore pines and paper birches.  To attract Hummingbirds, try elderberries, mock orange, oceanspray, Nootka rose, columbine and penstemon.

You can always supplement their diets with bird feeders.

Bird lovers are usually enamored with all winged creatures, and that includes household pets and the migratory birds that temporarily make your backyard their home. If this sounds like you, your number one concern is most likely bird safety. To that end, there are several things to keep in mind in order to keep your pet birds (permanent and temporary) as safe as possible.

For your permanent pets, make sure that all the products in their cage are completely safe. Teflon, for example, shouldn’t be used in any bird cage. The self cleaning feature of the oven also shouldn’t be utilized, as the intense heat can burn off dangerous chemicals that can be harmful for your birds. And for the birds that are temporarily taking up residence in your backyard, make sure that you provide them a spacious and safe bird house. Also, put out a fresh supply of bird seed and water for them to enjoy until they are ready to move on.

If you live in a climate where the temperature dips below freezing more often than not, it can be frustrating trying to watch the birds in your backyard. After all, even if you fill a birdbath with water, subzero temperatures are going to prevent your birdie friends from enjoying that bird bath. If you want to transform your backyard into a bird watering hole all year round, consider purchasing a heated bird bath. These unique bird baths keep your water in its liquid form and your birds happy.

And don’t worry if you live in a particularly cold climate. Depending on the brand you look into, these heated bird baths have been shown to be effective down to twenty degrees below zero (in Fahrenheit). They are also proven safe for your feathered friends. Controlled by a thermostat, the bird bath doesn’t ever get too hot for comfort. In fact, it will be like a little outdoor spa for all those thirsty robins and blue jays coming around your backyard!