Birds Nesting & Activities in The Garden 2011 vol. #5

Congratulations, Mrs Ed, on the success of the nest box.

Congratulations Mrs Ed!
So glad you had the bird cam.

me too. It's a fun thing. now it's back on a hummingbird feeder, monitoring that activity. last night I forgot to turn it off, and it picked up a bunch of hummingbird moths in the background. Too funny.

Apparently the garden 'never' sleeps huh Marna?

nope! I keep hoping to catch a bat or something cool at night

Hah, maybe I leave mine on for the Racoon. Bahumbug!

Mama Redbellied wp brought this youngin' to the feeder. She called, and called, but the little one didn't get near the feeder ... yet.

Same juvie;

hey, granny grunt is trying to catch herself a bear on the camera!

Now, that's a REAL excitement!!!

So, sitting on the patio tonight, visiting with my Mom, when she saw a female cardinal fly into the Sweet Autumn Clematis vine on the fence. I've seen one at this vine before, but only to steal nesting materials. Turns out this little gal has a nest in there! Yay. I saw two eggs so far. I'll have to keep an eye on things so I know when to seal off the area~

Congratulations! Those Cardinals are really busy, I tell you. Busy making babies. lol. I've seen flocks of them and many, many juvies.

thanks. The only problem will be the neighbor's yard guy when he comes to mow. I will have to make sure he doesn't get too close to prematurely fledge.

I wish we had cardinals here. But, they just don't seem to like it this far west and north. The only one I've ever seen in this area even, was at my G"ma's house, about 80 miles away, south and east from here. They have a much warmer temp zone than we do, even if it's not that far away. They can grow all kinds of things that just don't do well here, if at all.

skellogg, cardinals are interesting birds. Sounds as if it's all the more reason to visit G'ma's. ^_^

Likes an old friend's making a surprise visit. I woke up to this pleasant sight. The Mallard drake was out by the pier preening. I've not seen them since shortly after the eggs hatches and the ducklings left with Momma the day after.

The duck was chased off by the Great Blue Heron arrival shortly after ....

An hour later, though, the drake Mallard was back with his gal. I am so glad I was wondering whatever happened to them.

So glad they returned to see how you were doing, Kim ;o)

;0) They must have known, I've missed them. Kim.
Kim2

Autumn is here in earnest. On some beautiful, sunny days I'd see my little birds checking out potential roosting sites in the garden. Today, I saw the Nuthatches once again exploring the nest box to the side yard. (as one can see on the thread I posted below).

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=8870248

Eastern Blue Birds also have shown interest in the nest box for potential roosting site over the winter. Both male and female BB have been seen checking this nestbox out intermittently.

Usually Blue Birds prefer a meal rich in protein such as insects. But, the dietary regimen in the cooler months of autumn is modified somewhat. They are seen picking off berries, and occasionally visit the grains feeder as seen here.

Gardener's offering of treats for Blue Birds;

Well, the shift in the weather. After the rain and storm temp. drops and still very windy outdoor. So I used this glass "basket" to keep the live mealworms treat for the birds. Hope some will discover them soon.

Temp. has dropped to mid 30F. last night. I'm pretty sure the bird was roosting inside the nestbox over night.

Blue Bird too found the nest box an ideal place to roost...

Both Nuthatch and BBs staking out their own nest box;

Just like in early spring, occasionally the BBs birds will check out the WBNH's domain.

But at day ends, everybody is in their own 'house'. I've seen the two species-- the Eastern Blues and the White-breasted Nuthatches will have some dispute and areal collision. But no serious malice. I'm so thankful neither is a thread to the other.

Occasionally, the sweet Carolina Chickadee will be seen checking out the Blue Bird's roosting site. Soon, though the BBs will return and chase the little ones away.

As the weather changes, the cooler air is moving in. The birds in the garden are busy checking out possible roosting sites.

Although the Blue Birds had showed some interest in this nest box which last spring was claimed by the White Breasted Nuthatch couple. By the end of the day, the WBNH do reclaim their home. Here a Carolina Chickadee Wren also stopped by to to check it out.

This message was edited Dec 2, 2011 10:30 AM

Just now, the Carolina Chickadee checked out the BB's nest box.

For special treats for my birds over winter. I've set out meal worms to this red ceramic feeder. So far my BBs were the first to have found the treat. I don't mind if others finding this nutritious treats. I just need to learn how raise them--meal worms, so it won't be so expensive in the long haul.

I'm on a roll! LOL I've for quite some time wanted to tackle this project. Raising meal worms for my birds. So I booked marked helpful information in which many tips from DG's members. And so I went back and research some of them. Here is a fabulous one; http://www.sialis.org/raisingmealworms.htm

I also googled other visual-aid videos from youtube. You can too to get a 'feel' of what challenges are in stored. I hope to be a good BBs hostess in the near future.

In setting out the morning treats for my Blue Birds. I've noticed beside meal worms they also enjoyed various berries. So every morning when I bring out the meal worms. I passed by Nadina shrubs which have abundant of berries this time of year. I picked up a branch. ...

Here is the set up this morning. The colorful glass above the 'mushroom' feeder is a bit too deep for the birds to have access of the meal worms if I were to store them in there. I've tried it at first, it didn't work. Also it will collect rain water and drown the worms. So it's there for visual interest. The red berries at first was an "attention getter" lol. I thought I'd garnish the setting to attract the Blue Birds, and it worked.

Needless to say, the meal worms disappear much faster than the berries. So after a week or so, I replaced with fresh berries, where as meal worms treat are offered daily.

The berries do attract birds' attention when they flew by the area;

The last two days, the meal worms are left un-touched. No Blue Birds were seen but this Cooper Hawk has been hanging around.

So winter is officially here. 1st shortest day as far as day light is done, then each day, the day- light is lengthening--yes!!!. I'm pleased to find my wild ducks still enjoy hanging close in the garden. Misus. Mallard is grooming herself while her beau is hanging around near by.