April 12, 2018
It is absolutely lovely to be sitting, drinking coffee in the morning and hear the birds singing. A sure sign of spring and the beautiful summer to come. The swallows are doing their annual dance of finding spouses and homes and in doing so create some beautifully bird filled mornings. I have two bird boxes on my back porch and these become attractive to the swallows and sparrows in the spring. First come, first served is the rule but sometimes this can become quite the battleground for “the renters” as I call them. Once they have paired up they occupy the bird houses for a month or two at a time and some years we have multiple nestings.
I know that I have shared before to keep an eye on the website www.allaboutbirds.org. You can find all sorts of useful information on this site about feeding, housing and identifying birds. Also, with the Bird Cameras they have, right now you can see quite a few different birds sitting on eggs, waiting for the their little ones to hatch.
Even if you don’t catch them doing something interesting, their antics can often be found off to the right of the website – in the commentary of others watching the site. Click HERE for some insights into making your yard or back porch more bird friendly.
My main focus this time of year is keeping the hummingbird feeders filled (not too strenuous if you make a big batch and keep it refrigerated). Making your own feed is easy. One part sugar to three parts boiling water. No dye is necessary but a good feeder is useful.
Another interesting website to check into is the US Fish and Wildlife. Click HERE to do directly to their website for more information on attracting and feeding birds. Here is a little excerpt about Chickadees and others:
Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Titmice
Chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches share the same food, feeders, and habitats. If you put a properly designed nest box in a wooded yard, at least one pair is sure to check it out.
Put chickadee houses at eye level. Hang them from limbs or secure them to tree trunks. The entrance hole should be 1-1/8″ to attract chickadees yet exclude house sparrows.
Anchor houses for hatches on tree trunks five to six feet off the ground.
You can encourage these birds to stay in your yard by continuing to fill your suet and peanut feeders through the summer.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best. – Henry Van Dyke
WEATHER
Rain is in the forecast for the near future. Normal spring weather. The temperatures are getting warmer though so there is hope that the sun will visit us all soon!
