Ideas For Your Backyard

Now is a good time to lower your purple martin birdhouse.  This will make it easier to reach in and clean it out.  You may also need to do some repairs on it.  By doing this now,  it will be ready for new families in the spring and save you very much needed time when the weather breaks

 WOW!!   I’ve seen so many flocks of birds lately.  It is a sure sign that the weather is beginning to cool down and winter is around the corner.  The birds are heading south.

 I’ve placed some wooden birdhouses and feeders around, so that when they need to stop to eat or rest there’ll be plenty for them.  Are you prepared?

With the onset of the cooler temperatures, we have been “cleaning up” our yard and flower beds.  One of the things we do when pulling our sunflowers is to cut the dried head and place them in  hanging bird feeders.  When we have the giant sunflowers we often will leave the head on something high….perhaps the swing or picnic table.  The birds will have fun cleaning out the seeds.

 The Bufflehead, with its striking white sides and white patch on its head, is smaller than most cavity nesting ducks. They are dependent on nest boxes. There are many duck houses available online, check out the one you may need.

Breeds in Alaska east to western Quebec, and south in mountains to Washington and Montana. Winters in southern U.S., south to Mexico, Gulf Coast and northern Florida.

Whether you have  fancy birdhouses or the natural rustic birdhouse, it’s time to make sure that they are clean and in good repair.  The cold weather is coming and our little feathered friends will appreciate a clean dry place to rest or stay over as they begin the long trip to a warmer climate.

The birds are beginning to plan for winter.  Are you?  Birds have already begun to scout for food sources for the winter.  As they flit about, they’re watching for food, watch and shelter.  When the cold weather begins, they will know exactly where to go, so now is the time to make sure that you have bird feeders are ful.  And be sure to keep them filled, as they will come to depend on this source once they have begun to  use it. 

This is also a good time for you to prepare lodging (if you haven’t already done so) for them.

Summer is over and the days are growing shorter! The birds are looking for a place to live. If you want to encourage them to your backyard, you’ll need to start now. If you wait until the cold weather is here, they will probably never know what you have to offer.

Remember the bushes and trees you planted this spring? The ones that have all the berries on them. And those sunflowers (don’t cut them down and discard them), they are full of seeds! The birds will have a feast with all the seeds and berries and the well fed insects that they can find. 

 Black oil sunflower, white millet, niger, safflower, cracked corn, broken nuts and chopped up fruits. Offer suet in hanging baskets.  What do you have to offer?

 I am particularly fond of Blue Birds and Cardinals, so we have plenty of blue bird houses on our property.

Who doesn’t enjoy seeing a butterfly.  They are so beautiful and graceful.  They flit from flower to flower, to bushes and trees.  Sometimes they land on other things.  Yesterday while sitting on the front porch a butterfly appeared and landed on my husbands’ hand.  The moment was so surreal.  Was it trying to communicate?  I don’t know.  We know we just sat as still as could be so as not to scare it away, and we enjoyed the moment admiring one of God’s creatures.  What can you do to encourage butterflies to your yard?  Do you have colorful plants or a butterfly house?