A BIT OF TRIVIA

Did you know bluebirds like baked apples?

LIGHT IN THE ATTIC

Maybe I'll get a new bird bath for Memorial Day?
As mentioned earlier, my husband blew a hole in mine. I happened to be looking for anything that would imitate a bird bath. Shallow serving tray or a large pail, anything that might work. Then I came across this.

A couple times a year he likes to go panning gold for a hobby.
What a great idea!( "I have my moments") I cleaned out one of his gold pans, put about 2 inches of water in it, then some stones on the bottom for birds to set on and drink comfortably.

This is now my new bird bath. Think He'll notice. I can't wait for his comments!!!

WE HAVE SUNSHINE

Well we have sunshine and the temperature is predicted to be in the 70's for a few days.
I moved my garden plants from the house to the patio. My husband worked up an area for a rock garden
last summer. Even though summer was a bit short, this first time garden turned out pretty well.
Next my husband is going to till the garden area.

One of my favorite feeders.

We planted a few thing but didn't have as much success as we would like to have seen. Last year it was cold until the 2nd week of June.

This year we are planting now!
The bird feeders have been up for a couple of months with great success attracting yellow finch, raspberry finch, pine siskin and chickadees.
http://www.birdsnestinginn.com/

GOOD GRIEF!

Three Summers ago, my husband and I decided to start landscaping our backyard into a Bird Habitat. We started this project not only because we enjoy watching wild birds but to help preserve wild life.
We are new at this so we plant and build as we learn.
I know to attract and keep birds visiting year after year there are four major elements to have. Water supply like a pond or bird bath food supply, nesting areas and adequate cover.
In June 2008 we purchased four blossom trees. Two Prairie Fire crab trees and two Pink Spring Crab.
once we marked off where we would plant each one, the digging began.
My husband dug a three foot wide and two foot deep area. Before putting the tree in we mixed natural ground and a small amount of horse manure that we had in a pile for five years.

He placed the tree in the spot as I held it straight and he filled in the area. Then he set the hose by it to trickle water for a while. As we planted the other trees, every thing went well until we looked up and the first tree was floating away. Told you we were new at this. So a word of advice, "look up more often".

Here are a couple of photos of what our yard looked like in summer 2008.

Back of house

(Pretty cool how the names of each tree just floats next to it.)

                  

KABOOM!!!

Has anyone ever noticed that as adults their husband, boyfriend or brother still have that hidden child
syndrome that comes to life every so often? Well, every so often found its way out of my husband.

There are a few essentials needed around the yard that assures birds keep coming back.

One important item is water. This could be a pond, fountain or a bird bath.

I had this perfect starter bird bath that attached to the patio rail. It was close by so I could clean and fill it. I put a few rocks on the bottom so smaller birds could balance themselves for drinking. There was also an attached but hidden electric heating cord which worked great for the winter birds. This was just the perfect  little bath and watering item. One day my husband was on the patio filling cans with water and throwing waterproof fire crackers in them. Apparently he ran out of cans, because the next thing I hear was," honey, I owe you a new bird bath. (gotta love em). Pictured to left is the one I had

last year and I'm still waiting for it's replacement. Let's see, Christmas is over, Valentine's Day long past, birthday gone and forgotten. Mother's Day? I'm not his mother. All these things shall come to pass. I'll be sure to post a photo when he replaces the bird bath.
Find a similar bird bath at  http://www.birdsnestinginn.com/

THUMP

The other day I heard a thump come from our patio window. I walked over to look out and sure enough there lay a young pine siskin. I went outside and picked him up. He was still breathing. I noticed a couple of areas on his body where he had swelling. One swelled area was affecting his eye. And another was next to it

but not on the eye.
                                                      

                                  He was doing well when I took these photos.

I went to my basement and brought up an old bird cage I had kept.
After lining the bottom of the cage with newspaper I put a small flat container of water on the bottom of cage.

I gently laid him inside on the newspaper. I couldn’t believe how small he was. Since it was cold outside, I thought the warmth of the house would help.
Using my finger, I trickled a drop of water on to his beak and he anxiously drank it. After repeating this a few more times with success, I let him rest.

About an hour later I slowly reached into the cage to pick him up. He responded by hopping up and clinging to the side of the cage. I reached forward to put him in my hand again.
The bumps were just about gone but there was something still in his eye. I gently removed the obstruction with a q-tip. I didn’t know if was either frightened or trusted me. He didn’t try to peck at my hand or wiggle.

When opening my hand to free him he flew and landed on a rock on our fireplace. I got the camera and took a couple of photos. Then reaching up for him, I cupped my hand to pick him up.

He was looking much better. The bumps were gone, so I put him on the patio where he sat for a moment, before flying away.

Love That Red

Well this morning I heard a familiar sound coming from my patio where I have black-oiled sunflower seed spread about. One of my favorites, the male Cardinal.  I barely made a move and he took off. Those male cardinals are so cautious.
 It doesn't matter how many times I see these birds, I still have the urge to take a photo. My camera is always close buy and loaded. Last week he stayed long enough for this photo. I had to crawl to my camera and hide behind a plant so he didn't hear or see me.
Interested in attracting these colorful birds. Go to http://www.birdsnestinginn.com/