tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post4396712707669714383..comments2024-03-17T23:39:47.479-06:00Comments on Montana Wildlife Gardener: Mixed feelings for bird feedersDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02389771525430735743noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-84809697036050974962011-04-04T21:28:11.943-06:002011-04-04T21:28:11.943-06:00Hi KJGregor!
Thanks so much for commenting and I&#...Hi KJGregor!<br />Thanks so much for commenting and I'm so glad you enjoy my blog!<br />Placing the house at 5' on a shed should not be a problem. The main thing for blue birds is open access to a field, meadow or prairie. <br />Thanks again,<br />DavidDavidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02389771525430735743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-72156033017014810072011-04-04T14:18:34.226-06:002011-04-04T14:18:34.226-06:00Great post, however I confess I have 19 feeders in...Great post, however I confess I have 19 feeders in my yard five suet feeders and 14 seed feeders, from hanging to platform... I do get the sparrows and the wrens, but I like them, I also get Goldfinches, downey woodpeckers, tanagers, sterlings, cowbirds, yellow headed blackbirds and red winged blackbirds, last year I got a white crowned sparrow. I love birds the more the merrier.. However I do plant many flowers, trees and vines in my yard to attract birds as well... Along with a five by five two feet deep pond and cattails.. We have a Ash tree, Lindon tree, spruce tree, pear trees, and aspen trees in our small yard, a small sour cherry tree, virginia creeper, and hops vines, along with clematis vines and bee balm, pink daisies, irises, daylilies, and yes bird houses, my boys made blue bird houses but we never did get any.. Maybe its because we placed them on the shed instead of on a pole? about five feet at suggested... anyways love the post, love the site...KJGregornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-20203108863760140682009-04-02T20:48:00.000-06:002009-04-02T20:48:00.000-06:00Another hot topic, David. I actually doubt that fe...Another hot topic, David. I actually doubt that feeders are such a good idea in most of California gardens. There was even some speculation for a while that West Nile might be transmitted by the close proximity at the feeder. I was quite baffled when I saw an Audobon Society application for bird friendly garden certification and it required a set number of feeders. <BR/>I try instead to have plants that have nectar and plants that have seeds available year round. I don't drive myself crazy tidying everything. And I offer water in bird baths of different heights and a hanging bath. I've also hung some nesting material and leave some spiderwebs, which the hummers like. Sure, if we had snow it would be a great excuse to start feeding and enjoy the show, but I remain unconvinced that it's such a good idea.Town Mousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09777461911856383480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-75416191828400343102009-04-01T09:23:00.000-06:002009-04-01T09:23:00.000-06:00Feeders have a place in any garden that you want t...Feeders have a place in any garden that you want to attract birds, but they are not without work. They must be properly maintained and cleaned, so as not to cause harm to the birds. <BR/>If feeders are not for you, then you can still attract the various birds by planting th right type of flowers in your garden. <BR/><BR/>Hummingbirds are my favorite species of bird to attract. Here are some tips on how to attract them. Hope you and your readers will find the information helpful.<BR/><BR/>You should plant a garden with a long season of overlapping bloom, including plants such as the petunia, annual red salvia, autumn sage and shrimp plants, or the firebush.<BR/><BR/>You should plant flowers and plants which are native to your area of the country. You can find out information concerning the specific plants that grown in your area and attract hummingbirds by talking with someone from a plant nursery that is located where you live.<BR/><BR/>Your flower garden should have areas of sun, partial sun, and shade. If the area of your yard where you want to create the hummingbird habitat is sunny most of the day, then you need to plant trees and shrubs. If the area is entirely in the shade, you will want to open up the area to let large patches of sunlight in. Having areas that allow both sun and shade is necessary to grow a wide variety of plants.<BR/><BR/>You want your flower garden to consist of many levels of vegetation. The area should have some tall trees, some medium-height trees, some flowers, some grassy areas, as well as some shrubs. These different levels will provide the hummingbirds a variety of choices of where to feed or where to perch to rest or roost.<BR/><BR/>You want to plant lots of flowers including those that are known to attract hummingbirds as well as others. You should select a variety of flowers that will bloom at different times, because there will always be something flowering. The flowers will serve two very important purposes: they will provide a source of nectar for the hummingbirds, and they will also attract insects on which the birds will feed.<BR/><BR/>It is also important for your flower garden to have a source of water available for the hummingbirds. One way to do this is by having a birdbath available. The birdbath should have a very shallow water depth to allow the birds to stand in the water if they choose to do so. Adding some small flat rocks to the birdbath will create different water depths within the birdbath.<BR/><BR/>Having a wide variety of plants will provide the female hummingbird a wide variety of nesting materials from which to choose. <BR/><BR/>Your hummingbird garden should also contain some perches so the hummingbirds can survey the territory. You might want to create some perches that give the birds a good view over the flowers. <BR/><BR/>Pesticides should never be used in a hummingbird garden! The hummingbird can ingest the pesticide while feeding on insects and spiders.Zoe Ann Hindshttp://www.hummingbirdsformom.cmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-73529845791470114732009-03-31T07:07:00.000-06:002009-03-31T07:07:00.000-06:00Hi Susan, Good to hear from you. As always, I am ...Hi Susan, <BR/>Good to hear from you. As always, I am enjoying your posts at the Bicycle Garden. <BR/>I agree about water, and we do have 2 bird baths out all year. Yes, 18 feeders is kind of creepy. That is really not what I am going for.<BR/>I am curious about others experiences with weaning birds (and the gardeners) off feeders. It seems almost blasphemous to suggest wildlife gardeners and birders should not use bird feeders.<BR/>I trust your snow is gone there now? It looked like to forcast called for the 70's the last time I visited your site.<BR/>Thanks again,<BR/>DavidDavidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02389771525430735743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-21204122470640285722009-03-31T07:01:00.000-06:002009-03-31T07:01:00.000-06:00Janina, Thanks for your comments. Good point abou...Janina, <BR/>Thanks for your comments. Good point about the cost- that is an importatnt consideration, and the resource intensiveness of bird foods is another thing to consider.<BR/>I do take requests, and I'll think about the brushpiles- we do always keep some around and the birds really do like them. Look for a post in the near future.<BR/>Thanks again,<BR/>DavidDavidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02389771525430735743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-77027036697260260612009-03-31T05:41:00.000-06:002009-03-31T05:41:00.000-06:00A thought-provoking post. I'm like you--I keep two...A thought-provoking post. I'm like you--I keep two or three in winter and take them down in summer. I try to keep water around all year, though, since it is harder for the birds to come by.<BR/><BR/>18 feeders. Boggles the mind.Susan Tomlinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01532464326705599296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5086285745310021732.post-52965469428524619132009-03-31T04:26:00.000-06:002009-03-31T04:26:00.000-06:00Another wonderful post. It's interesting that I t...Another wonderful post. It's interesting that I too have made few feeders my goal. But this is just because they are so expensive and time consuming to maintain. <BR/><BR/>I don't know if you do any requests, but do you have any information on brush piles? Thanks to an ice storm, I have a lot of fallen branches.Janina Wnoreply@blogger.com