Backyard Birds (continued)

SW, well said!!! Hope this doesn't discourage you, we need you here!

Gee, I go away for a weekend and the fists start flying! (Just kidding.)

KaperC re: native anti-cat barrier plant. I have one native barrier plant which is very effective (fuchsia-flowering gooseberry), but it's not evergreen which is okay because it's in a spot where it doesn't need to be evergreen. However, in these spots where I put the darwinii, I need something evergreen because it's within 6 feet of a patio and very visible and a dormant hedgerow/bramble sort of thing (especially in the summer) would not be very attractive. I've searched every native plant book I can get my hands on, and I haven't found one yet that's both evergreen and not poisonous or toxic.

Surf, when we plant our natives, we really soak them. The rule we were given - only half-joking - was 30 gallons. Depends on how much clay you have, of course, you don't want water pooling. We always give them a companion rock, too. :-) Is that close to what you do? The only problem we have is that there are 'dead' spots in some of our soil - we think because it was cut and fill and severely compacted when we moved here. We don't amend the soil because the natives just don't want it rich.

I probably don't have anything special in the way of resources, but I'll have a look anyway. Did you try calling Tree of Life Nursery and asking for a suggestion?

KaperC . . . OK, dust baths and sparrows. Check this out from the Cornell Lab Ornithology at http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/House_Sparrow/lifehistory . I love this All About Birds web site.

So, then . . . dust baths divots and nests in manmade structures, eaves, etc. So, it's probably House Sparrows making those little divots in my front yard. And, it's probably House Sparrows nesting in my Star Jasmine over the garage door in the eaves.


So there you go. Thanks, girl! I'm glad I checked it out.

That is a great web site.



Edited to fix stupid typo. :-)

This message was edited Aug 5, 2009 1:35 PM

Aaaah, yes, House Sparrows! I just listened to the chirps on the web site after hearing me'mum in the morning sun. Yep, a House Sparrow.

Such fun, this discovery thing.

Linda (yes, a wonderful site, isn't it? Thx again for the advisement.)

LOL, love those little sound recordings, woke the pups up who looked around in bewilderment!

I did the same thing and my cat's were running all over the place looking for the birds.

That's really a great website !
Thanks Linda !

And...you should see my birds when I play those sounds. :-)

No doubt !

WOW, just got done reading this. I am.....I can't even find the words to describe how I am after reading this. Aye, aye aye.

These guys are showing up almost daily now. I counted 30 this afternoon, they sure work up the area under the feeders!!

And the finches had to come in and see if the quail had left anything behind.

How painful for you, having to watch all those quail! Waaaaaahhhhh!

Black-headed grosbeak! In May! (Usually see them in June, although this is the first time I've seen them in a couple of years.) House finches on the left.