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Do They Really Use Butterfly Houses?
They 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!
- Bat Houses, Bats & Butterflies, Bird Accessories, Bird Feeders, Bluebird Feeders, Live Meal Worms, Uncategorized
Bluebirds and Bat Houses?
Today 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 Cams are Nature’s Spies
The birds around here are fed daily; the meal worms, the woodpecker mix, the bark butter, the cardinal seed, hummingbird nectar, sunflower hearts, finch mix and thistle seed, drippers and misters, and oh yeah, the squirrels too. This is part of my morning ritual, checking feeders and cleaning bird baths if necessary. Some folks think I’m crazy, but it’s so worth seeing an adult bluebird feeding fledlings mealworms from the bluebird feeder. Mornings seem to be so rushed too, I barely catch a glance here and there of the fabulous activity right outside the kitchen window.So, I’ve devised a new plan, that when I get home and grab some coffee, it’s straight outside to the back deck. Time to sit down and watch the birds who I so routinely feed every single day. Just tonight, it was amazing to see all the species and the cutest babies just learning to use the feeders. Bluebirds, Cardinals, Goldfinches, Titmice, Nuthatches, butterflies, both Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, Purple Finches, and Hummingbirds buzzing my head as I was too close to their feeder. It was like a show.
My next plan is a bird cam to catch all this action while I’m gone most of the day. Bird Cams are like nature’s spies, and I want one! Recording much more than the birds, they should call it a Wildlife Cam. They don’t have to be installed in a birdhouse, just set near some busy feeders and they’ll record tons of activity for later viewing. A great show like this shouldn’t be missed!
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