| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| oceanfarmgirl |
Posted - Feb 09 2007 : 7:09:21 PM
I've been a bird watcher since my mother instilled a love for them as a little girl... When we moved here to the Oregon coast, I noticed kiving in town, that there aren't a lot of "bird friendly" yards. Not because there are no birds, they live all over here! Just not so much in town. So I have planted my yard and designed the shrubs to be attractive to the little guys, and had much luck attracting them to my little slice of heaven. This year will be the first FULL spring I have spent in our new home, and I plan to further my bird friendliness. One thing that I am doing, is placing nesting materials out for them. I asked a local hair dresser if she would save her haircut hair for my to put out for them to nest with. any other good, weavable materials that you use? I used to use Dryer lint, but have since learned that this is not an optimal nesting material.
rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
| 24 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| oceanfarmgirl |
Posted - Feb 28 2007 : 11:46:43 AM
I'm so excited! I've attracted FOUR new bird species to my yard this year so far! I'm just beside myself! I put up a picture on the newest, and the one I've been trying the HARDEST to attract! Check it out on my Farmgirl blog!
~rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
| bramble |
Posted - Feb 18 2007 : 8:30:48 PM
Our very odd neighbor flung raffia out of her back door and the birds went WILD!!! She actually called animal control because so many birds were interested in this "freecycle". Her thought was she just wanted that messy stuff out of the house, but so many birds came she was afraid to go outside! I will look for the source about the hair...
with a happy heart |
| oceanfarmgirl |
Posted - Feb 18 2007 : 6:40:56 PM
Shirley,
I had a good chuckle there! Picturing the gaudy bird with an all wool nest! LOL That would be so cool to see, but yes. I think that moderation is the KEY! 
I've been thinking also, that I might put out some sea grass with my nesting goodies. I know they can get those things on their own, but it would be fun just to see what they pick.
rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
| Shirley |
Posted - Feb 18 2007 : 12:41:31 PM
rachel,
That is good to know, cause I have lots of wool yarn, about the only yarn I have actually. Yes your right, I have seen wool in nest from our sheep and llamas.
Guess I was thinking about the whole nest made from wool hehe.
thanks for the heads up
shirley |
| oceanfarmgirl |
Posted - Feb 17 2007 : 08:30:30 AM
Good to know, Patsy! Thanks! I think I'll try it! I'm assuming that birds CAN see color. They have it in their markings a lot to "show off" for the girlies... maybe cats are like dogs, and don't see color well. Snakes see heat, not color. and I think that Brids of prey might not see color. If I remember a show that I saw once on falcons, they showed what the bird "sees" and it was not colorful.
Shirley,
I think that wool is fine for nests. I've seen quite a few nests in the wild when my grandma lived in the country, that had wool from sheep nearby. The birds had taken the wool off of fences and the like. I don't think that the damp from wool is the same as the damp from lint. I read that lint will lose it's shape when it gets wet, and that was a problem, but wool did not do that in the nests that I saw.
rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
| Local Chick |
Posted - Feb 17 2007 : 08:29:33 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Patsy
Put out lots of different colors of yarn.
How cool is your idea!!! I have always put out some yarn clippings but I have neutral color, kind of a tan color, but bright colors, now that is a great idea, the thought never occured to me b/c I always look for the yarn in thier nest but cant really see it to good...your way is a sure hit!! Well you ROCK with that idea, thanks!
Life is Good! |
| Patsy |
Posted - Feb 17 2007 : 06:45:06 AM
rachel,
Put out all different sizes of yarn. I drape the pieces (anywhere from 1 inch to probaby 6 inches) over my hedges in the front so they are easy to find. I don't know if birds or other animals see color, so I don't think the colors would make any difference as far as predators are concerned. I haven't had any problems and I have cats in this area.
Blessed are those who love the soil,
Patsy
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| Nance in France |
Posted - Feb 17 2007 : 02:53:47 AM
Greetings, ladies. Bramble, I think birdfeeding is somewhat popular here, if the display of various feeders and sacks of food and sunflower seeds I see at the big garden centers are a reliable indication. However I think it may be more common in the US. I am going to move the feeder I hung two weeks ago to a little more distant area from the house....in the huge weeping willow. We seem to have birds happy enough to perch in the tree and hang out during the day, but ya'll may be right.....there are definitely naturalized areas nearby where they can feed without human help.
I have a nest at home in Norfolk that a friend gave me, constructed of pine needles and mud primarily, but even shreds of plastic used to seal windows and a stray shoestring woven in! Talk about farmgirl self sufficiency and creativity!! I bet the colored yarn will go over big. Thanks for the advice everybody! Nance |
| Shirley |
Posted - Feb 17 2007 : 12:21:36 AM
Wool obsorbs moisture from the air, it might not be to good for nests, making thier nest wet. |
| oceanfarmgirl |
Posted - Feb 16 2007 : 4:38:54 PM
I just had a thought that it might be fun to find an old wool sweater at the thrift store, and to take it apart, and put it out. I might try that too. I'm having fun trying to think of natural things to put out for the little guys!
rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
| Woodswoman |
Posted - Feb 16 2007 : 2:50:16 PM
I also love this thread-I love watching the birds near my house. I have out several different types of feeders. It's fun!
If I have any little threads or pieces left over from knitting, I put them out for the birds.
A good way to attract birds is to have an open source of water for them. I have a heated birdbath on my deck that they love to come to.
Jennifer |
| oceanfarmgirl |
Posted - Feb 15 2007 : 10:11:34 PM
Bramble,
Good thoughts on the hair... I figure that birds find things similar to human hair in barns and fields with horses and that, so I hadn't given it much thought as to it being bad. Give us an update when you find your source? I'd like to hear more...
Nance,
I've had feeders sit out for more than a month before birds started to feed. Be sure to put small amounts of seed, and to change the seed every week so that your seed doesn't spoil. The birds will come. It just takes time. Be sure too, that the seed you are using and the type of feeder you put it in, match. Also, find feed that matches the native birds in your area. Different feed will attract different birds. You might be offering a less than favorite food for the birds that live near your home.
rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
| bramble |
Posted - Feb 15 2007 : 8:47:39 PM
Gold flame honeysuckle is an excellent plant to attact hummingbirds.
We have it planted on an arbor and every June and lt. August the thing looks alive from all the hummingbird movement. It's also one of the few arbor vines that continues to bloom off and on all growing season so it attracts other birds and the bees. It releases a very nice scent around dusk into the evening which is the added bonus for the human species which inhabits this habitat!
Nance- Is feeding the birds not commonly done in France? Maybe your birds are just used to fending for themselves! What if our feeders have become the fast food equivalent for the avian community! We have some very bossy catbirds that will peck on the kitchen window if "their " feeder is empty!
Rachel- I used to put our hair out for the birds too and even have a small nest that has both blonde and red hair woven into it that I can only assume is mine and my sons. I stopped putting it out because I read somewhere that it is bad for certain birds. Can't remember what it was exactly but I think it had something to do with the ingestion of human hair is bad for certain birds because they can't digest it. I will have to see if I can find anything on the Audubon site.
Do any of you bird lovers have your Peterson's guides out when you watch?
with a happy heart |
| Tracey |
Posted - Feb 15 2007 : 8:02:44 PM
Can't say we've done much in the way of encouraging birds with feeders and such, but that hasn't seemed to stop them from coming. Okay, so perhaps the wild berries, creek and plentiful trees have something to do with it...
I've got a honeysuckle in front that the hummers love. I used to put up feeders, but figured there was enough natural food to not sweat it too much. The thought of colored yarn (or perhaps wool, in my case) is interesting and I may give it a try.
Visit Quiet Storm, our adopted Mustang! http://wildaboutquietstorm.com
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| oceanfarmgirl |
Posted - Feb 15 2007 : 7:23:26 PM
Oh My! I didn't realize I wasn't subscribed to this topic, and I haven't been on for a while! Sorry!
Tammy,
thanks for the encouragement! LOL
Erin, I don't know if they will be aproblem or not, but I think I can protect some of my vegis if things get unfriendly between me and the birds! LOL Hopefully, I'll have enough for all of us.
Katie Ell,
We do have lots of hummingbirds here. I hear them zinging around all the time! In fact, I need to get my feeder out, because I heard them last sunny day I was out in the garden getting ready. I have lots of shrubs and flowers that they like too. No owls here, although I would love that!
Nance,
Small fencing around your feeders is another good way to keep the birds inyour yard safe. Cat's can't pounce as easily as they can without them, because they have to jump over them, and this gives the winged guys a chance to scat before they get eaten!
Patsy,
I love the colored yarn idea! Can you tell me how long your pieces average? Do you know if the color make their nests easier for predators to spot?
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
| Patsy |
Posted - Feb 14 2007 : 10:05:26 AM
Rachel,
Put out lots of different colors of yarn. The bird love it to weave in their nests. And you can see the bright colors up in the trees. It is fun.
Blessed are those who love the soil,
Patsy
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| Nance in France |
Posted - Feb 14 2007 : 09:27:35 AM
Oh, I love this thread! I have been a bird watcher/enthusiast for 30 years! Here in France, unfortunately, I am having a heck of a time enticing them into the yard.....course we DO have three cats..We have a huge weeping willow in the backyard with loads of branches that cats could not use to get at the birds, so I am going to try a little sunflower seed feeder and see what happens. I bought a feeder with a standard mix of seeds a week ago and not ONE customer so far. They come and sit, as always, in the tree, but the feeder hasn't caught on. I will look forward to reading everybody's hints and success stories. Nance |
| westernhorse51 |
Posted - Feb 14 2007 : 04:32:50 AM
birds are the best. I can sit & watch them forever. I always have plants, feeders, whatever I can find to keep my birds, butterflies & ladybugs in my garden.
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
| Love-in-a-Mist |
Posted - Feb 13 2007 : 8:03:23 PM
Every year when the weather starts warming up we shave our dog and leave her fur out in the yard. She's a golden retriever-collie mix and has this horribly hot under coat.
Within a few weeks all the barn swallow and starling nests are full of golden colored dog hair.
I also hear the owls all night long. I didn't know it was their mating season, that explains it. I also just learned that if you hoot at them they will hoot back at you. I didn't believe my father-in-law until he demonstrated. Sure enough he got an answer back.
Farmgirl and mother of 2 |
| katie-ell |
Posted - Feb 11 2007 : 06:52:57 AM
Rachel -- Do you see hummingbirds in your yard? My sis in Oregon has lots of hummers -- the hardy fuchsias there really attract them. Here, I plant nicotiana and fuchsias for the butterflies and the hummingbirds . . .
We have two Great horned owls in our trees this winter. They call back and forth to each other every evening . . . long, slow "hoo-hoooo hoooooo hooooo hoooo" Did a little reading; this is the mating season and they may nest nearby (or here), and they do return to a favorite nesting spot year after year. We are so excited! Such beauty of sound. |
| Garden_artist |
Posted - Feb 10 2007 : 5:30:29 PM
Hi Rachel,
I am happy to see you are jumping right in...and on a subject I am so excited about. I love birds too. I really enjoy watching them and identifying them. We have several feeders in my yard, we have a few standing dead trees (I won't let my husband cut down), we have a brush pile and a natural meadow and brush area. I hope to maintain at least a half acre of natural shrubs and meadow area for the birds. I have plans to plant a humming bird garden between my house and the greenhouse this year. I love sitting on my deck and watching the birds fly around.
I was worried this year that I would have to take down our feeders because we became the proud parents of 4 kittens (a stray had them in our attic). But I went out and bought bells for each of our cats and it’s really working great. We haven’t lost a bird since we put the new collars on them.
When I feel spring coming I have to plant or I’ll go crazy! |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Feb 10 2007 : 3:05:33 PM
Don't the birds eat all your fruit and garden veggies?
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| oceanfarmgirl |
Posted - Feb 09 2007 : 9:39:01 PM
I agree! They help out with the bugs alot! We don't have a ton of them here, (bugs) but I like that the birds keep what we do have away! Plus, there's nothing like sitting on your frontporch, and watching the birds enjoy the areas that you create for them. I'm also planting with the butterflies in mind this year.
rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com
OR check out my gardening activities at http://oceanfarmgirlsgarden.blogspot.com |
| Marybeth |
Posted - Feb 09 2007 : 8:09:29 PM
Good for you Rachel. I like having the birds around too. We have 4 houses on the barn that are always full and i have feeders around plus we have a pond and all bird friendly things. We also so have very few mosquitos in the summer and fall. We help them they help us. MB
www.strawberryhillsfarm.blogspot.com
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"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
