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We’ve had an unusally warm spring. Beautiful as a matter of fact! That being said the last few days have been cooler and rainy. We need the rain so I’m not complaining. This morning while I was sitting on the porch looking out over the farm and watching the birds. I was surprised by a tiny little visitor. We have our first hummingbird of the year. This was one of the ruby throated. I can’t say that we’ve ever seen a ruby here until now. They are absolutely exquiste.
Nesting FAQs By Bill Thompson, III Editor | Bird Watcher’s Digest
Whether you’ve purposely set up a series of nest boxes or just discovered an unexpected bird nest in the bushes in your backyard, you’re likely to have a few questions. Nesting birds are exciting but also inherently vulnerable, and it’s only natural to want to make sure you’re doing the right things to facilitate the birds’ success. Below are answers to a few of the common questions and concerns that come up in spring when nesting birds are busiest!
Q: If you touch a baby bird that has fallen from its nest, will the parents detect your scent and abandon it?
A: No, most birds do not have a very well-developed sense of smell. However, most mammalian predators (skunks, foxes, raccoons, weasels, etc.) do have a good sense of smell and may follow your scent trail to a bird’s nest. If you are going to handle a baby bird be sure to place it out of harm’s way, back in the nest, or in an open-topped cardboard box propped in a tree. However, many bird species are equipped to survive outside the nest at a very young age. These species include many shorebirds, gamebirds, and birds such as robins and wrens.
I have surely missed hearing the birds sing. At last the last few days with the warmer temperatures the birds are coming back! I sit on the porch and listen to them call and sing to each other as they flit about looking for materials to build their nests. I love the decorative birdhouses and have several. Are you a fan of backyard birding?
Spring is here and it time to start getting your backyard in shape again. You can start by cleaning up all your flower beds and cleaning out your bird houses so the new inhabitants have a place to stay as they start coming back to your yard.
According to Horticulture Magazine, there are good reasons why some plants bloom before others. Early blooming trees and shrubs bloom so early that their blossoms are sometimes damaged by late freezes. The reason this happens is that pollinators pay them special attention by blooming in advance of the spring rush. On any day or night when the temperature is above freezing, insect and birds are out and about and spreading seeds and pollinating while they enjoy a bat free existence because the bats are still in hibernation.
Spring is coming, whether your local ground hog saw his shadow or not spring will soon be upon us. Are you ready for the return of all your favorite species of song birds to your backyard. If you are thinking of doing your spring cleaning and want to change your indoor decor, how about a theme based line of decorative birdhouses.
A lot of people collect lighthouses and there are several decorative birdhouses with a lighthouse theme.
Whether or not you choose a decorate birdhouse or a hanging wren bird house really doesn’t matter. I don’t think the birds really care. They’re more concerned about getting in out of the weather. The bird houses offer them a place to rest, build a nest, or shelter them from the wind, rain, heat or cold.
Having bird houses also offer you the opportunity to learn more about the bird. Their habits, nesting routines and rituals, mating practices, their singing etc. This is a good pastime/hobby for you, your children and/or grandchildren.
As a young child, I was fascinated with birds. They were small, many were really pretty, they sang beautifully, but most of all they could fly!! How? I couldn’t understand how they were able to stay up in the air. (I guess for that matter, it will always be a mystery to me).
I was given a gift of an Audobon membership. Each month I received a book relating to birds and a workbook that I could paste stamps that came with the book in the appropriate place. I learned so much. Another way to learn is to add a blue bird house or a birdfeeder to your garden decor. Your children and grandchilden will absolutely love it!
I love the look and feel of the rustic birdhouses that are available on the market today. They just blend into the natural setting of any woodland backyard. It offers plenty of room for it’s occupants. What bird family wouldn’t want to move right in?
Birds are hungry. We all know by now that birds can survive without our help, but feeding them does help us both. Some ornithologists have even suggested that bird feeding is more beneficial to humans than it is to the birds. Studies have shown that birds with access to bird feeders in winter survive at a higher rate than birds without access to feeders. Feeding birds in winter is a good thing for the birds. If you live where there is winter weather , a blast of wind and snowy weather will mean making an extra effort to keep the feeders going for the birds.
Here are some ideas to help you prepare your feeding station for the worst of weather. Be prepared to have plenty of seed, suet and peanut butter on hand. You might place some dried grass or wood shavings in the bottom of your wood birdhouses. You could even cover the vent holes with some weather stripping (the birds won’t need this source of air in the winter). Some birds are ground feeders, so you’ll want to be sure there is an area that is clear of snow so you can sprinkle seeds on the ground.
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