should you want to attract birds in your yard if your main focus is attracting b'flys and hummers?
ok, another question
Our yard is a native plant habitat, so all kinds of wildlife find it attractive, however we have stopped putting out food for the birds, since we started concentrating on butterflies.
They still come and we do want them, just not in such large numbers, now we only provide water and let them find their own food.
I guess my answer is, birds will come if you have a garden, even if you don't provide food for them but water is very important.
Josephine.
Dear Josephine,
I started watching hummingbirds at the same time as I started watching butterflies. For me they seem to go together. Another thing that I am doing is feeding house finches and an occasional American Goldfinch. I think I am going to stop feeding the latter and let them forage for their own food.
My backyard garden is very small. I don't have the room for a bird bath but I was wondering if you could tell me how you get the birds watered? I have a puddle for butterflies but I need something that is reliable for hummingbirds and the other birds.
The bird vs butterfly issue sounds really interesting. I have never considered it before.
Thanks,
Chuck
Hello Chuck, I have one birdbath and two large plant saucers, the birds love them all the same, and the saucers allow the other little creatures to get water also.
I put the saucers where they are a little more hidden, and they like that too.
Josephine.
Sit out a deep dish or planter on a railing or hang it on a wall. Drop in a small pump, and it should shoot up just slightly above the water line. I took a part from an old table top one and put it inside a deep dish and put it on the deck railing. It gives them something to perch on while drinking. You can also put rocks in it for the same purpose.
Another idea is a small watering can and a dishpan. The pump would go in the dishpan under some rocks or behind a plant, then run a hose up through the bottom of the watering can. It will fill with water and pour into the pan. The can of course would need to have a tilt to it by sitting on a rock, or wired to something. The cutest one I saw was in a old straight back chair.