Birds DunRite

If you’re finding that your garden or backyard looks a little empty, bird houses might be the way to counter that. By placing some great and decorative bird houses around your garden, you can bring a great amount of character to it. Luckily, bird houses have entered the modern world and you can find some unique ones out there that will compliment your garden really well. With careful selection and placement, you’ll find the beauty in your backyard soon enough.

Whereas there are a number of benefits to putting a bird feeder in your backyard, there’s also the issue of what to do when squirrels invade them, trying to get at the bird food you’ve set out. Obviously, squirrels have a size advantage over birds, as well as agile characteristics, so they can get to the food before our winged friends can.

Luckily, finding squirrel proof bird feeders isn’t too difficult; in fact, it’s downright easy. There are several birdfeeders on the market that range in protection, but all of them have the same results: keeping squirrels out. When you’re shopping for a bird feeder, squirrels might be something you’d want to consider.

What type of person likes to watch birds? Just like most hobbies, bird watching can be enjoyed by anyone, young or old. If you have an appreciation for nature, more specifically sitting outside watching the trees sway, the birds, chirping, etc., you may enjoy bird watching too. Now bird watching isn’t for everyone, but you will never know if you don’t give it a go. The great thing about bird watching is that it’s not an expensive hobby. All you really need is a pair of binoculars and a few other items.

Binoculars – The main item all bird watchers need is their own pair of binoculars. Sure you can share with a friend but you’ll get much more out of the experience if you have your own. Binoculars are very useful in that they allow you to see better angles of a bird, they provide excellent clarity and will make it easier for you to identify a bird and take notes if needed. If the thought of having a pair of “mini binoculars” which you can carry in your pocket and take everywhere you go sounds good, then you are in luck! They are available and have a sharp and clear image, so don’t let their small size stop you.

Field Guide - Essentially a book which is packed with bird information and is the ideal resource for your bird watching expeditions. Some of the information provided is general knowledge on each bird, interesting facts and they’re useful in identifying a particular bird.

Notebook – Very handy for taking notes on the birds you have seen. Most people take note of special details of the birds they have seen, the area which they were spotted and any other important details.

Attire – There are two main types of apparel bird watchers can invest in. First, is a hat (any hat will do) to protect yourself from the sun, but believe me, you won’t be complaining if a bird decides to poop on your hat instead of your head! The other item which is optional but very handy is a birding vest. You can place your binoculars and other equipment in the pockets.

The popularity of bird watching continues to rise and is definitely something worthwhile pursuing even if you have the smallest hint of interest. It’s inexpensive, interesting, good for your health and you don’t need to know anything about birds. It is such a thrill when you discover a new bird as well as seeing all your old feathered friends.

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One of the best ways to enjoy the company of your hummingbirds is with a hummingbird garden full of plants that will attract and delight them. It is an excellent way to attract them to your nearby hummingbird feeders as well as providing them with a natural diet. Did you know that over 160 native North American plants depend exclusively on hummingbirds for pollination? No wonder they are kept so busy!

Creating a hummingbird habitat can be as simple as setting out a feeder and having a container or two of plants that they like or as elaborate as creating a place that offers food, water, summer shade, winter refuge, nesting sites, perches and hiding places all at the same time. It is entirely up to you.

You can live in a high-rise apartment and attract hummingbirds if you have a balcony or an outside entryway. They will find you even in the middle of a city.

Backyard habitats can be a small, suburban backyard or a large country garden that will welcome and delight your hummingbird guests. Food is the primary purpose for your hummingbird habitat. Commercial feeders are a great source of food for the hummers but flowers and plant (especially those native to your area) provide high quality nectar. Water is the next element you want to include. They use it mostly for bathing since they satisfy most of their drinking needs from the sugar water in your feeders, or from the nectar itself from the flowers. Water can be provided with a birdbath, a pond or a sprinkler. Make sure the birdbath has a rough surface for good footing and no deeper that 1 ½ inch deep. If it is deeper, place some rocks in the bottom.

Summer shade and possibly winter refuge are design elements you’ll also want to add in, depending on where you live. Perches are an important component to include since most male hummingbirds prefer to have one large tree to use as a strategic lookout post. And females often look for nesting sites 6 to 20 feet above the ground, so keep that in mind during your planting stages.

The final two ingredients to consider are nesting sites and hiding places. Clearly, if you’re in an area where hummers don’t nest, you don’t need to consider nesting sites. Hiding places can be used at night as places to sleep, or as a safe refuge from predators or weather. Hummers will use tall, bushy trees and shrubs as hiding places, as well as structures such as barns and sheds and roof eaves. Peace and quiet is what they want here.

It is really fun and easy to lure these iridescent little charmers to your yard and you’ll be helping to ensure their survival by providing a safe haven for them to return to year after year

Hummingbirds are mystical and magical as they flutter, hover, dodge, dart and just simply seem to play. They decorate your garden like tiny, darting jewels dancing from blossom to blossom. Want to learn how to draw these little beauties to your garden? We’ll start out with some basic ideas and invite your questions to further help you.

Just a little history – there are more than 340 species of hummingbirds throughout the world, and they are all found in the western hemisphere. Affectionately called “hummers” by those who have adopted these mesmerizing creatures as their personal garden mascots, they are among the most fascinating of all birds, most of all because of their unique physical attributes. Ounce for ounce hummingbirds have the largest brain, heart, energy output and breast muscles in proportion to body size of any bird. They are the only bird that can fly backward, forward, sideways and hover in midair. They can accomplish this because their wings rotate completely at the shoulder; other birds have only limited rotation abilities in the shoulder joint. They are the only bird who gets flight power from the upstroke of their wing, as well as the down stroke.

Their wings beat an incredible 20 to 200 strokes per second, and their hearts beat 1,000 times a minute! They inhale 250 times a minute and their metabolic rate is so high it must be fed constantly. This astonishing metabolic rate is maintained almost entirely from flower nectar and the sugar water in hummingbird feeders, although for protein and other essential nutrients they also nibble on tiny insects and spiders. Read the rest of this entry »

In the eastern U.S. and Canada the Purple Martins have become totally dependent on humans to supply them housing for nesting. Studies have shown a decline of martins in some areas so this is one more reason we need to help this beautiful native bird species by supplying them “proper” Purple Martin housing in which to raise their young. These birds are also protected and, therefore, may not be harmed in any way. Unfortunately, many of the commercial houses are inadequate for martins. In many cases the house compartments are much too small and the materials used are much to flimsy. All housing should have a few minimum standard requirements. Briefly, here are a few starters.

All Purple Martin housing should be easily accessible for maintenance and nest checks. It should be easy to raise and lower vertically. The house should be sturdy enough to withstand high winds and predators. Nesting compartments should be a minimum of 6″W x 6″H x 10″ D. Anything less is too small for martins to properly raise a brood of young and keep well out of the reach of talons of flying predators.

Housing should be painted white to reflect sun rays, keeping the house cooler. Dark colored housing is a full 10-15 degrees hotter. The heat factor is often the cause of young jumping from the nest early, seeking relief from the heat.

An absolute must is good ventilation. A couple of 1\2 inch holes placed high in the front and rear walls of the compartments allows for air flow and the young birds will need this especially in the southern regions.

Do nest checks. It is very important to know what’s going on in your colony, and they are actually fun to do. Easy access into the compartments via hinged or removable panels is imperative. The landlord needs to have easy access to clean out old nests, remove unwanted pest bird nests, and do general maintenance.

Because of the introduction of European Starlings into this country, all housing should contain starling resistant entrance holes (SREH). The new l 3/16 high crescents have proven to effectively keep 99% of all starlings out of martin housing while at the same time, allowing martins easy access.

(More helpful hints to follow)

Backyard bird supplies are found at http://www.birdsdunrite.com