Bird Advice
This summer I learned the importance of cleaning and maintenance of
birdhouses. The bluebirds built a nest this spring, but I never saw them
coming and going to feed the nestlings. I wondered how the clutch had
turned out. Would I have bluebirds in the house again next spring?
Have you considered building an owl house? Of the 18 species of owls
found in North America, Barred Owls, Barn Owls, Northern Saw-whet Owls,
and Eastern and Western Screech Owls are the ones most likely to take up
residence in a birdhouse or nesting box.
The Bluebird Book by Donald and Lillian Stokes arrived in my
mailbox today. Oh, the excitement to add birdwatching books to my home
library! Over the years I have searched out and purchased bird books for
my collection, so that now I have a small collection of birding
references books to guide me in my hobby.
The bird flew from the curtain rod to the back of my rocking chair. As I
approached, he flew right into the closed window pane. What do you do if
a bird gets inside the house? What if a hummingbird gets into your
glassed-in porch or your garage?
Orioles are bright colored songbirds that feed on nectar. You might
try attracting this bright bird to your backyard.
Scarecrows are for the birds—literally. No birds I have ever met are
scared of scarecrows! So, a scarecrow can be a way to attract birds to
your yard where you can enjoy watching them.
Fall is here and it is time for the hummingbirds to head south on
their yearly winter migration. They will fly hundreds of miles. How they
make it is more than one can imagine. Some believe the tiny almost
weightless birds are swept along by the air currents of the upper
atmosphere.
Your lawn is like a home-town café for birds, with dandelions, worms,
grubs and bugs on the menu. Even without bird feeders installed, if you
maintain a mown lawn with shrubs and trees close by for safety’s sake,
birds will come to your lawn to harvest their favorite tidbits.
Birds
are the only creatures that sports feathers. This fact alone intrigues
us. There is a fascination man has with the flight of birds that makes
us admire the power and beauty of the wing and, in turn, the wonder of
feathers.
My first set of birding binoculars were a gift from my husband. They came in a
bright pink bag with a card that read “Happy Bird-day to you!” I was amazed at
how much binoculars have added to the fun of bird watching.
The American Goldfinch, Spinus tristis,
is one of the common birds that has had a name change in recent years.
The little fellow was once called the common goldfinch, although there
is not much common about its coloring or feeding habits.
Binoculars are a great aid to the art of bird watching, but only if you know how
to adjust and focus them correctly for a clear view. Every birdwatcher should
know how to care for and efficiently use his birding binoculars.
“Yes, the sparrow has found a house and the swallow a nest for
herself, where she may lay her young…” Psalm 84:3
Why would birds want to nest in your yard? How can you draw them in
and entice them to stay where you can observe them to your heart’s
content? Of course, putting out feeders and keeping . . .
Bird feeders aren’t the only way to bring birds close enough to watch
from your kitchen windows. Set out the right flowers, flowering shrubs
and bulbs and you will have plenty of feathered visitors—some for the
blossoms, some for the foliage, some for seeds and some for the insects
the plants attract.
Suet is one of best food choices for attracting woodpeckers to your backyard.
Suet cakes with seeds and berries can be purchased. They need only be unwrapped
and inserted into wire suet baskets or some receptacle to keep large birds from
swiping the whole cake and hung in a tree.
England
hasn’t got any hummingbirds. You couldn’t sell hummingbird feeders
there, nor in Africa, France, Italy, or Germany. Hummers are purely
found in North, Central and South America.
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