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Others partaking in squirrel feeders and more!
Now somewhere in the black mountain hills of Dakota… no, actually in any suburban yard you’ll find other furry guests searching for good eats!Placing squirrel feeders or any wildlife feeder for that matter does have it’s ups & downs. There’s also quite a bit of controversy over attracting and feeding wildlife in residential areas. But you wouldn’t think feeding a few squirrels would be any big deal, right? Right… it’s not, except when larger critters start invading those feeders-and your other ones too.
Even the long-lasting corn logs used on the bungee squirrel feeder are disappearing! Now these are compressed corn, and equal to about twelve ears of regular corn cobs. They usually last at least a few weeks… but whole logs are disappearing. You can bet that’s not the work of hungry squirrels!
Since it’s a busy time for hummingbirds with their migration south, extra hanging feeders have been placed on the deck to accommodate the crowds – we’re up to seven of them now! Still being warm in GA, the nectar needs changing every few days, but we don’t mind in the least because the tiny sprites are so mesmerizing to watch. What we do mind however, is having to take those feeders in at night!
In all the years of offering nectar, nobody’s ever bothered the feeders, except maybe a few ants or bees from time to time. Well, somebody’s being a real pain in the butt this year, as broken feeders and sticky nectar all over the deck have been discovered twice last week. We’ve heard of folks having to bring in seed feeders at night due to bears, but we’ve never encountered a problem with nectar feeders before. Taking them all inside at night, then getting them back out early in the morning as hummingbirds are screaming for their food is a real pain! Just add it to the list of what we crazy folks are known to do for our birds!
- Bird Houses, Decorative Bird Houses, Recycled Birdhouses, Uncategorized, Unique Birdhouses, Wood Birdhouse
What Makes them Unique Birdhouses?
Up-cycling seems to be a popular word these days, in fact it’s even a trend. The art of re-purposing, recycling and reusing materials and things to make new and useful things. From the artsy perspective, most of it centers around vintage finds, so it’s no wonder new stuff is made to look old and worn. Even designer jeans with their acid washes and holes can fetch a few hundred bucks!It’s part of what makes these unique birdhouses appealing. But why? First and foremost, you won’t find them stacked on shelves in a huge fulfillment center awaiting mass purchase and shipping! Because they’re handcrafted from scraps and vintage materials, no two are ever even the same. That’s makes them pretty unique right there.
A primitive or folk art design is usually timeless, not a phase that’s here and gone. In fact these houses are actually designed with birds in mind (yes, many designs don’t even take birds into consideration).
Some of the bird-friendly features are:
A screen set above the floor. This makes it easier for mom to construct her nest with less material, it allows circulation and inhibits insect infestations which can be fatal to new hatchlings and nestlings.Locking door on back for easy clean-out. If nests are not removed after babies have fledged, many birdhouses are deemed useless. Very few birds will re-use an existing nest. Also, removing the nest provides another spot to raise young for those birds who have two or three clutches per year. In fall when nesting is through, the house provides a roosting spot for cold nights, and protection from predators.
Proper ventilation and drainage are important things in the nest box world, and many designs don’t even address the issue. Placement of entrance is a big deal too. The hole should never be at the very bottom where predators have easy access. And the size of the entrance matters as well. When you see little tiny houses with large entries, or huge birdhouses with little tiny entries, well… this makes no sense, and it’s not good for the birds 🙁
This artist is local, which to me is a positive aspect on many levels. These reclaimed materials have been outdoors withstanding elements for a long time, which means they’ll continue to do so over the years. Now that’s good for the environment, good for the local economy, and above all… good for the birds!
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don’t dead-head those finch feeders!
The only good thing about standing at the sink is catching the bird action on the deck! At present there’s five hummingbird feeders, two bird baths, and an open tray feeder… which squirrels usually hog. And flowers-gotta have plants and color to complete the scenery.Hearing a rustling noise, and seeing movement in those flowers from the corner of my eye, it deserved a closer look. There were two goldfinches feeding and flitting amongst the zinnias. It was pretty cool and well worth a photo, so out on the deck I went with camera in hand. Well, the electric yellow birds didn’t make the shot… but my blue toes did 🙁
In fall, spent flowers like zinnia, coneflower, sunflower… and lots of others with seed heads provide a bounty of food for wild birds. They’re actually nature’s finch feeders. So next time you have the urge to dead-head those spent blooms… don’t! Leave them a while longer so they can do what nature intended… feed the birds.
I never did get close enough for the intended photo… but at least a better shot sans the fee
t!
Birding Tips, Information & News
