Bee~ Journal of then...

[punkin]

We do purposefully create bird habitats for pest control and for the joy of watching them. I have never heard about their song growning crops quicker, but it makes sense.

We have 4 bluebird boxes (all occupied) and are planning to put up 3 more, maybe in time for a 2nd hatching. It's always a delight to watch the bluebirds follow me when I mow.

We have berry trees such as Nandina and of course, dogwoods. I have lots of coneflowers and would like to plant more. I have feeders and try to keep the birdbaths full.

The goldfinches are moving in. We have a river birch tree that produces something they love. Lots of times you can look and see dozens and dozens flitting about. In the fall, I also leave my sunflowers in the garden for them.

 

[justusnak]

I can't waite to see pics of your cow. How exciteing!! I am sure once you get her there, she will thrive! Taking before and after pics is a great idea. I am wanting to build bluebird houses as well. I was thinking to hang them on the sheep fence....I just love bluebirds. I am an avid birdwatcher. Yup, got the binoculars, book and all. I love to be able to just sit quietly and watch them in thier world. We have the redwing blackbirds here as well...WOW they are loud, and comical. To me, a redwing blackbird brings back childhood memories of fishing in the little creek on a hot summer day. I have to say tho, the tree swallow is by FAR my favorite. Last summer, DH and I sat on the porch, watching a mother swallow teach her babies to catch in mid air. She would grab a chicken feather....and fly way up...dropping it and the babies would take turns trying to catch it in the air. It was pretty fascinateing to watch.

 

[Tallman]

Do any of you purposefully create bird habitat for this reason? For pest control, for crop growth or for the sheer delight of watching them?

Bluebirds are tops with me too. I have several houses for them, but they have to be about 100 yards apart due to their territorial demands.
When bluebirds hatch a clutch of eggs, both sets of parents are busy hauling bugs to the young. Very fun to watch.

For 30 years I have wanted to hear what the old timers around here call a rain crow. With the help of the Internet I found and listened to the throaty call, and then heard one live in my yard last year. These are very shy birds, but I got to see one several times.

We have orioles that show up every spring. We are currently waiting their arrival.

 

[Beekissed]

I wondered if there were others who are silly over birds like me! I can't always afford to feed them but I try, in the hardest parts of the year, to give them added nutrition. I've even found the brands they like or dislike!

I grow the sunflowers for the finches as well! The chickens don't get too thrilled over stripey seeds...they tend to like the black oil seeds, so the birds get all the sunflower seeds I grow. I love watching the birds go crazy over those seeds and I plan to grow much more this year.

I would like to plant some bush cherries, blackberries and raspberries for my own and for the wildlife's consumption.

They have developed a technique called Sonic Bloom in which they play music at the decibel and nature of birdsong and it has proven to increase crop yield greatly.....I'll have to hunt down that CS mag and tell you the exact findings. I found that fascinating!!!

I will remember what you said, Tallman, and make sure I put up the other house farther away than I had intended.

 

[Farmfresh]

Sounds like you have got the cow thing down. I was going to suggest a TB test as well - you might even consider a fecal matter test, which consists of a taking a fresh stool sample to the vet for microscope work. That can tell you a lot about her nutrition level and parasite load and costs very little.

You might even be surprised by a color change! My starved mare came to me a honey brown color - after feeding and a lot of love - she was a bright RED sorrel! People did not even believe she was the same horse.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Congrats on the cow, Bee!

I love bluebirds, and we usually have plenty of them around here. We had a small feeder out last year, and we've put out several bird boxes. I just love when the bluebirds come back!

 

[freemotion]

I feed in the winter and early spring, then I take the feeders down. I put them back up when I see migrating flocks.

I make a lot of suet cakes in the fall. I grind and render suet, then add lots of cheap cayenne to discourage squirrels, and premium seed (the kind with shelled sunflower seeds). I mold it in loaf and roasting pans and store it in the freezer in warmer weather and in a bag in one of my grain barrels in the winter. It goes on a shepherd's hook right outside my livingroom window, where it entertains us and the cats all winter.

The ones you buy ready-made smell like a chemical plant to me, can't be too good for the birds!

I put up hods and gourds in the trees. We do have a lot of bird habitat here.

I also am sure to put out water for them, too. Under the protection of the trees works best. I like to use decorative ceramic dishes and bowls that I got on clearance at Homegoods. Adds interest in my shade garden, too.

The birds love it!

 

[lorihadams]

We have bluebirds in the birdhouse right outside the front door in the front garden. I love to watch them go back and forth between the feeders and the house and the weeping cherry tree in the front yard. We always have a few pairs every year that fight over the birdhouse. I have pics of it on my journal. I also want to do a "tea cup garden" with the kids. You salvage old tea cups with a saucer and epoxy the cup to the saucer and then the saucer to a stake that goes in the ground and fill the cups with bird feed or water. I want to do that with the kids and use some really pretty tea cups. It should be fun!

 

[Beekissed]

Lori, that sounds so cute! How do you keep the rain from collecting in the cups? I have some antique cups and saucers that would look great for that!

You know, I tried to establish some bird baths but my cats won't allow anything to use them! :/

I do feed the hummingbirds and hope to get more feeders up to encourage more of them. I am going to put in several perennials this year and hope to start a bulb garden of flowers they like. This place is currently devoid of flowers except a few daffodils. I didn't want to start putting money into flowers if I wasn't going to stay here but here I am, so this year is the year of the flower!

 

[miss_thenorth]

Bee, I'm sure you know this, but I gotta say it anyways... If the cow hasn't been wormed and could possibly have alot of worms, and esp b/c she's pregnant, be careful with how you worm her.

Like I said, I;m sure you know this, and congrats of the cow!! That is absolutely great! I know you don't drink milk, but do you eat cheese? any plans making some?