Archive for May, 2009

Would I need permission to put up a bird feeder?

Sunday, May 31st, 2009
BAnne asked:


I live in a 11 unit apartment complex. There is a huge tree outside my living room window. Would I need to ask premission before haning a bird feeder?

Bill
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The Perfect Gardening Gifts for the Bird Watcher

Friday, May 29th, 2009
Linda Cain asked:


Choosing gardening gifts that attract birds or gifts that can enhance your friend or loved one’s bird-themed garden and is a great way to show that you care. Gardening gifts come in an assortment of designs, materials, and colors so you can easily find useful items for your loved ones. They make great gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, “thank you” presents, co-worker gift exchanges, Chinese auctions, or the Christmas season.

Birds are attracted to flower gardens, especially those packed with all the plants, foods, and accessories they love. For your bird-watcher friend, look for gifts that will complement their garden decoration as well as provide an easy place for bird seeds and accessories that attract an assortment of birds. Here are some gardening gift ideas to get you started.

Hanging or Statue Bird Feeders

Bird feeders attract hummingbirds, cardinals, wrens, and many other types of amazing birds. Bird feeders can be decorative or practical, or both. You can choose a plain bird feeder, which is basically a plastic see-through tube filled with birdseed with a dispenser at the bottom. These are great for hanging in trees or on the patio. They are simple and effective. Or, for the bird watcher who also loves lawn decorations, you can choose from a variety of styles and themes of statue bird feeders such as the garden fairy bird feeder, cherub bird feeders, flower bird feeders, and animal-themed bird feeders.

One particular company that makes excellent bird feeders is Droll Yankees. They make quality bird feeders that last and also guarantee their products.

Stone Bird Baths

Your loved one can accent their yard with a stone bird bath and watch as beautiful birds play in the water on those steamy hot summer days. Birdbaths are decorative and great for attracting an assortment of birds throughout the year. Stone birdbaths are exceptionally durable and can last for years and years. They come in various designs such as prairie, koi pond, flower designs, and English. There are even animal-themed birdbaths and brass birdbaths to suit every gardener’s taste.

Cedar Bird Houses

Birdhouses also attract many types of birds. They enjoy playing in them and peeping through the holes. Cedar is an excellent choice because it will not warp or rot, it stays cool in the summer, and it gives off an alluring cedar wood aroma. The good news is that pesky insects and moths hate the smell of cedar! Birdhouses are lovely additions to any yard or garden, and bird watchers often love receiving them as gifts.

Other Complementing Gardening Gifts

Bird watchers who love decorating their yard or garden will also appreciate other gardening gifts such as an arbor or garden trellis, garden sculptures, garden fountains, patio furniture, or unique garden tools.

You can find these items and many other gardening gifts online, which enables you to shop from home any time of the year for holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions.



Eric
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I put up a humming bird feeder and I think I have an aggressive hummingbird that runs the others off?

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009
julliana asked:


This hummingbird has a black head and a white stripe around his throat. I call him Bully because when the other hummers come to the feeder he literally flies into them and bonks them. He ran off this really pretty hummer with a red throat that I liked alot too. He seems to think this is HIS feeder. Is this normal behavior? I would like to see the other birds too. Is “Bully” just a psycho hummingbird or are they naturally territorial?

Should I hang other feeders? Would that help?

Terri

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How often do you have to change the nector in a humming bird feeder?

Friday, May 22nd, 2009
denise g asked:


I just started my feeders & haven’t attracted any humming birds yet.

Alice
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Does anybody know what the name of orange and black bird is that drinks out of my humming bird feeder ?

Thursday, May 21st, 2009
memedeb asked:


The bird is yellow orange everywhere except the head and wings. It loves the humming bird feeder. It sings a beautiful sound. Humming birds don’t mind it drinking with them !

Glenda
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Sunflower Seed Bird Feeders Come in a Variety of Designs for a Variety of Wild Birds

Saturday, May 16th, 2009
Larry Jordan asked:


Bird watching and wild bird feeding has become a fascinating and enjoyable pastime for many people around the world. We love watching the variety of birds visiting our homes and yards. If you are interested in setting up bird feeding stations around your home there are some things you need to know about different species and their feeding habits as well as the different types of bird feeders available. Sunflower seed bird feeders come in many forms which serve different purposes.

The Caged Triple Tube Bird Feeder can not only be used for feeding sunflower seed but can be used for feeding three different types of seed at once. The tube parts of the feeder that hold the seed are fitted with metal ports (on the quality tube feeders) that will help stop house sparrows from raiding your feeder. Also the cage around the tubes keeps your feed safe from the larger birds like Jays and Grackles and keeps the squirrels out too. If you want to feed only sunflower or one type of seed Single Tube Caged Bird Feeders are also available.

These tube feeders are loved by Chickadees, Evening Grosbeaks, Titmice, Nuthatches, Jays, House Finches, Purple Finches, Redpolls, Woodpeckers and Cardinals. If you want to restrict their use to smaller birds use a tube feeder without a tray. Take away the perches and you will restrict the feeder use to only species that can cling like finches, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice and small woodpeckers.

There are also wire mesh constructed sunflower seed bird feeders. These sturdy feeders are squirrel resistant because they are made entirely of metal. No plastic and no wood. Some of them hold as much as 6 pounds of sunflower seed! Wire mesh feeders come in several designs, some with perch rings and trays and some without.

So the first thing you need to do when deciding on which types of feeders to use for your bird feeding station is to decide which species you want to attract to your yard. If you don’t know what birds live near you, check with your local Audubon Society. They should have a list of birds for your specific area.

Read up on the wild birds that live in your neck of the woods, or grasslands, or desert, or even in your city, and decide which species you want to watch, close up. Many songbirds prefer sunflower seed because of its high fat content. Sunflower seed bird feeders take advantage of this, offering you the biggest bang for your buck considering the number of different wild birds that will be attracted to these feeders.

In conclusion, having the right bird feeders and mounting them in the proper locations is essential for attracting the species you want to observe to your backyard. Sunflower seed bird feeders will attract a large variety of birds and should be one of your first choices for your feeding station. You will probably want to add other types of feeders to your yard also because the greater the variety, the more different species of birds you will attract.



Jackie
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Attracting Birds to Your Backyard

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
Daniel Lazaj asked:


Birdhouses:

Birdhouses are basically made in many sizes and with a variety of different wood materials. The birds enjoy a safe haven subject to the outside temperatures and predators and it allows them to nest. Birds always need somewhere to nest, so why not build a variety of wooden birdhouses in different sizes for the birds in your area. A basic wooden birdhouse can be very easy to build, and can also be a fun weekend project.

Here are a some important things for you to consider when building your own wooden birdhouse:

Do research the environment and the different variety of birds commonly known to migrate in your region.

Do understand the needs of your feeder birds, such as the size of birdhouse, and location of birdhouse.

Don’t paint, stain, varnish, or treat the inside or around the hole entrance of the birdhouse, this will keep away the birds. There are many different woods that you can use to make your birdhouse, but most commonly used is Cedar. Cedar wood is a good material which does not need to be pained, stained, or treated.

Avoid using a perch on the birdhouse. By putting a perch on the birdhouse, the bird may become trapped inside the birdhouse because of fear. A perch will allow a predator bird to wait on the perch until the smaller birds comes out.

Drill the proper entrance hole, for the bird you are trying to attract. Again, the importance of size. You will need to research the birds in your area and which ones you would like to invite to your backyard.

Location:

The importance of a great location to properly install your birdhouse is a big part of your awaited new guests. Once you are done building your birdhouse, you will need to find a good location, that is away from any danger, such as cats, and weather. A good location would be somewhere in your property that doesn’t have to much human activity, but will allow you to view the birds without interference. The birdhouse can be hung on a tree, or mounted to a pole or tree limb, and should be at least 3 to 10 feet high.

Bird feeder:

Adding bird feeders to your property is another great way to attract birds. As stated above, you must research the different variety of birds commonly known to migrate in your region, that will give you some insight as to what kind of birdfeed and treats to fill your birdfeeders. Once birds discover your newly built bird feeder and the great treats you are providing them, you can expect to start seeing the birds flock into your backyard.

Building a basic wooden bird feeder is not difficult at all, you can get many ideas by searching for bird feeder plans on the internet, or visiting a bookstore or library.

Water:

Birds are also attracted by water. Birds need a water area for drinking and for bathing. This to is a project that you can make on your own, or if you do not have time buy at a store. It is suggested that you research different bird bath plans and see if this is a project you would like to do. You can also use any shallow container to hold water. You can place them on the ground or above the ground, near the feeders would be a good location. If you do have cats in the area it would be suggested that you make it closer and accessible to the birds so that they do not become victim to such animals.



Kristin
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How can I keep the honey bee’s from robbing my humming bird feeder?

Saturday, May 9th, 2009
cde44lae asked:


Honey bee’s are draining my humming bird feeder at a rate of about 1 cup an hour. I don’t want to stop feeding the birds, but I don’t want to feed the bee’s.

Louis
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how do you stop a chimpmunk from getting into your bird feeder?

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009
jb8ker41 asked:


any body have any idea how to stop a chimpmunk from getting into your bird feeder? he’s scaring the birds away and eating all the food.

Philip
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