• Bats & Butterflies,  Bird Accessories,  Butterfly Houses,  Uncategorized

    Do They Really Use Butterfly Houses?

    August 8, 2010 /

    hand made butterfly houseThey sure make some very pretty ones, whimsical and artsy types to use in the garden for accents or focal points. But do butterflies really use butterfly houses? I can’t answer that question, but never have I actually seen  it happen. Protection from the elements and from predators are the reasoning behind it, and it makes perfect sense, but…who really knows?

    I can say there are tons of butterflies in my yard now, hovering around the usual lantana and butterfly bush. The mature abelia with its tiny pink flowers seems to be a favorite as well. The big attraction for the flying jewels has got to be the leaf misters. There are two of them in the yard, one is simply staked in the ground with an old plant stake, and the other sits off the front porch attached to a deck bracket. Our butterflies absolutely love the gentle mist they produce. Flying through them all day in the extreme Georgia heat must be a relief for them. Lots of Swallowtails, we’re even seeing more Monarchs this year.

    And by the way, how did they get their name “butterflies”? Butter doesn’t fly – so what gives? I think someone messed up and should have called them flutterflies!monarch butterfy design

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  • Bat Houses,  Bats & Butterflies,  Bird Accessories,  Bird Feeders,  Bluebird Feeders,  Live Meal Worms,  Uncategorized

    Bluebirds and Bat Houses?

    August 7, 2010 /

    colony bat house holds many mature and baby batsToday the post was planned for bat houses, and this Colony bat house accommodates dozens of mature bats and their offspring. You can control mosquito populations around your yard  by inviting little brown bats to take up residence.

    And that’s all for bat houses, because I was more excited about my bluebird fledglings today! For the first time ever, I was lucky enough to witness all four babies inside the mealworm feeder at once. What a rewarding moment, to finally see them enter the feeder themselves and learn to retrieve the worms. We had 2 successful broods this season, with three fledglings and then four.

    First on the scene was a female baby, and since she was all by herself, it caught my attention. As I went to sit outside with the binoculars, she flew off, but I was able to spot her perching high above in the pine tree. Several minutes went by, and no signs of the family. First thought is always, I hope they’re okay?

    I went inside to feed the critters, but kept watching out the kitchen window. A juvenile male appeared (from the first brood) and sat on top of the feeder. Then they all came, numbers one, two three and four! The older brother entered the feeder, and a few seconds later a baby male went right in. The other three flew from the nearby shepherds’ hook and sat on top for a few seconds. One by one, they hopped on in! Now there’s five birds inside the feeder, and I’m thinking: “how are they going to get out?” It was very crowded in there! Next came daddy, the adult male landed on he shepherds’ hook as if to say “good job!” Then one by one, just as they had entered, they flew out.

    It was one of the best sightings this season, and I’m just so sorry that I couldn’t catch it on film, because it was all just so perfect!

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  • Bird Accessories,  Bird Feeders,  Squirrel Baffle

    A Squirrel Baffle Will Win the War Against Squirrels

    August 6, 2010 /

    squirrel foiled by squirrel bffleTired of squirrels raiding your bird feeders?

    It’s an age-old problem that’s been around since folks started feeding birds. At first it may be cute, but then you start to realize how much they can eat! Pesky squirrels can consume their weight in birdseed in just one week, times a few squirrels, and that’s a lot of seed. The cost starts to add up. Then besides that aspect, maaaan, they can be destructive! The little critters can gnaw down wooden bird feeders and render them useless. They’ll even chew and enlarge birdhouse entries to accommodate themselves. The whole scenario starts to become absolutely infuriating! And your peaceful, enjoyable bird feeding efforts have turned into a war with squirrels.

    A properly placed squirrel baffle is a most effective way to foil squirrels. Especially if you already have a favorite feeder, the one-time cost of this accessory will solve a big problem…for a long time. Hapole-mount squirrel bafflenging, post-mount, and even pole mount baffles are available to suit any need. In acrylic, metal and copper, you’ll find that some models are even quite decorative. The most important thing to remember is placement, as squirrels’ acrobatic agility is uncanny. The horizontal launch point – is any object they can jump horizontally from to access the feeder. Make sure the feeder is at least 8-10 feet from any such spot. For a pole or post mounted squirrel baffle, be sure the bottom of the baffle is at least 4-5 feet from the ground.

    Don’t give up bird feeding because of these pesky critters. Squirrel baffles are fairly inexpensive, and a very effective solution to this aggravating problem.

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