Archive for the ‘birds’ Category

Birdwatching Tips: The Best Wild Bird Feeders for Your Backyard

Sunday, January 31st, 2010

Millions of wildlife lovers are lured by the beauty of birds, and many wonder how to choose the correct wild bird feeders and begin setting up their backyard aviaries. To maximize your birdwatching opportunities, the key to start is to envision what you really want to see and hear in your own backyard.

Develop an understanding of the types of birds you want to attract (and the ones you don’t want). If you’re a complete novice, you may want to ask neighbors and friends which types of birds they’ve managed to attract. Knowing you want to attract cardinals or finches, for example, will help you in choosing the right wild bird feeders, food and locations.

Wild bird feeders come in several structural types including tube, thistle, wood, platform, suet and ground varieties. Highly desirable species, such as the hummingbird, even have special types of feeders that have been crafted for them. Knowledge of the pros and cons of each type will bolster success and increase desired results.

Learn How to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Home.

Friday, June 5th, 2009

Numerous things can be done to attract hummingbirds to your garden. Some easy adjustments can be made to make your garden hummingbird friendly, so that you are rewarded with the presence of feeding and nesting hummingbirds alongwith their young ones.

As most of the birds, hummingbirds virtually have no sense of smell. Apparently, these birds depend on sites and are directed by the flowers to find their nectar source. Some of the plants which you can consider to plant in your garden to attract the birds are, cardinal flowers, bee balm, columbine, cypress vine, honeysuckles, petunias, geraniums, fuchsias, Indian paintbrush, salvia, mimosa, azalea, manzanite, butterfly bush, etc. If you are having any doubts regarding their growth in your area, check with the local nursery to find which of them will grow in your garden.

The hummingbirds are attracted to the red color, so any feeder having red on it will attract the birds. If your feeder doesn’t have the red color, an artificial red flower can be tied to the feeder and stay away from using the red food coloring in the sugar water which is harmful to them. You must also remember that the hummingbirds are very territorial. Male hummers may show their dominance by hovering or chasing away the other hummers from their feeders. So you can add other hummingbird feeders to your garden and thereby attract more of these birds.

Chicken Houses

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

Building a chicken coop is not only a great hobby but it is also an invaluable skill that will serve you for years to come. Learning to raise healthy chickens will provide you with fresh organic eggs on a daily basis and you can even use your newfound skills to make money by building coops for other people as well. One of the most important elements when getting started for the first time with a coop is to always have the proper building plans.

If you’re building your own coop from one of the various chicken coop designs out there, it may or may not already include nesting boxes. If it doesn’t, all you really need is some plywood, a hammer and nails, and possibly some sandpaper to smooth the edges out afterward. A nesting box is really just that – a box, usually about one foot on all sides. Typically if you are constructing your boxes from plywood, you integrate several nesting boxes together as a single unit. Once you’ve built them, fill them up with straw or wood shavings and your hens will be right at home.

Buying A Parrot Cage

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

Buying a cage for your Parrot is not something you do, just off the top of your head. Finding the right Parrot cage is a very important part of the happiness and health of your large bird. Choosing the right cage will have a big impact on how happy and healthy your Parrot will be. The Parrot cage you decide to buy will depend in part on the size and breed of your bird.

For instance, breeds that are larger will of course need a much larger cage then those Parrots that are smaller in size. Our recommendation to our customers is that you buy a cage that will at least be double the size of their wingspan. You can’t go wrong with buying the cage that is too large or bigger than what you need. Most people make the mistake of buying the cage that is too small because they think they will save themselves some money. In the long run they will spend more money. After realizing that the cage is too small and will end up buying them much larger cage.

Bring Nesting Birds to your Birdhouse

Monday, February 9th, 2009

Birds add activity and color to your garden and what better way to enjoy them then to provide them with birdhouses where they can nest and raise their young. This adds a unique dimension to your outdoor living as you can watch the adults bring back food and anxiously await for the day when the little ones will fly off on their own.

But hanging a birdhouse in your yard has more value than just to entertain you. In modern times man has encroached on the native habitat of many nesting birds and some of these birds have nowhere to build their nests. In fact, some species have declined significantly since the 1950s due to man’s zest to build strip malls and apartment buildings in the space where forests once stood.

The birds hardest hit by this are cavity nesting birds – birds which build their nests inside hollows or cavities. These are the birds that you can most help by hanging a birdhouse in your yard and include the Downey Woodpecker, the Chickadee, the Plain Titmouse, the House Wren, and the Red Breasted Nuthatch.

How To Buy The Perfect Parrot Cage

Sunday, January 18th, 2009

Knowing what kind of Parrot Cage to buy for your Parrot or large bird is not something you do, just off the top of your head. Finding the right Parrot cage is a very important part of the health and happiness of your large bird. Choosing the right cage will have a big impact on how happy and healthy your Parrot will be. The Parrot cage you decide to buy will depend in part on the size and breed of your bird.

Breeds that are larger will need a much larger cage bird cage then those Parrots that are smaller in size. Our recommendation is that you buy a bird cage that will at least be double the size of the bird’s wingspan. You won’t go wrong with buying a bird cage that is large and bigger than what you think you need. Most bird lovers make the mistake of buying the Parrot cage that is too small because they think they will save themselves some money. In the long run, they will spend more money because they will eventually realize that the size of the cage they bought is too small and will need to buy a new one.

Decorative Birdhouses are In Style

Tuesday, January 13th, 2009

Decorative bird houses are for those who want more than just an A-frame wood structure with a hole in it. They are made with more than just run-of-the-mill in mind. Decorative bird houses are often painted bright colors using a variety of different designs, hence their name. As pretty as they are, remember that some birds avoid those bright colors because it makes them a target to predators. Decorative bird houses come in many different styles, shapes, and colors. Heck, if you make your own you can design and paint it any way you want.

Feeders are necessary, too. Hanging or free standing bird feeders ensure a steady source of food for birds, which makes your backyard bird house prime real estate for little birds flying about. Of course, it is possible for feeders to spread parasites and disease so you will want to occasionally remove nests after rearing and clean and spray nest boxes and feeders with a mix of 90% water and 10% chlorine bleach.

How to Make Your Own Birdhouse

Friday, January 9th, 2009

Bird house making is really easy as long as you love what you are doing. It is also an effective way to make your house – as well as you – feel chirpy and bright in the morning. Believe it or not, nothing beats having birds outside your homes. The following are tips and advice to make the dream bird house that you always imagined you would have. Also included are the ways and methods of appropriately setting up the bird houses.

First things first, the point of bird houses is to bring in birds. Attracting them however is just half of the story, it is making them return as much as they possibly could, that is the challenge. Hopefully, the following guidelines will work.

Have a roof that is hinged

Providing a roof that is hinged on the sides is an effective way for you to make house cleaning a lot easier especially during the spring. Spring cleaning during the early weeks of March is a good idea. As much as possible, use hinges that are rust proof. Remember that animals such as raccoons are able to open an eye and a hook.

Bird House Kits can Result in Great Birdhouses

Tuesday, January 6th, 2009

One great way to attract birds to your garden is by providing them with a comfortable nest in which they would definitely continue returning. Believe it or not, there are bird houses that are already made and there are bird house kits which could be easily assembled on your own. However, if you are adept to working on crafts, you could easily create one simply from any materials that are available around your house.

If you are in any way planning to use a bird house kit, the primary thing to consider is just how you are to use a bird house kit. Do you think the bird house is to be used as a fixture in your own yard? Or do you prefer the bird house to be portable? Do you have a good idea on the specific bird types that you plan to attract? If so, you should therefore have an advanced plan as to what types of bird seeds or feeds to use.

Tips to Build the Birdhouse you Desire

Monday, January 5th, 2009

Woodworking involves projects of all kinds. One of the most common projects that many hobby woodworkers get started with is the creation of a birdhouse or bird feeder. Even the most inexperienced person can make a birdhouse that will draw many feathered friends to your yard. There are a few things that you should keep in mind though before you start cutting and hammering. Some planning is required to execute the best birdhouse on the block.

The first thing that you need to consider is what kind of bird you wish to attract to your birdhouse. It’s a good idea to dig up some information on that species of bird in order to research their nesting habits. It might play an important role in the proper construction to know certain points regarding different types of birds. Things like nesting and whether or not they are seasonal are good things to look at.

Knowing what kind of bird you want to design your house for makes it easier to know which measurements you need. Having a door that is too small will pose a problem. A door that is much too big can also be a problem because it allows other birds to fit inside. Some birds are very territorial and do not want to share their dwellings with others. Determine this type of thing before you go ahead with your building.