Bird Feeder WebCam

About the size of a magpie. As fast as a Ferrari. And mad as hell.

Butterfly Nectar Recipe

Mix twenty (20) parts water to one (1) part white cane sugar. Boil the water for several minutes before adding sugar. Let water cool before filling feeder. Be sure to clean the feeder with hot tap water and change nectar mix every three to four days.

You can store excess nectar mix in the refrigerator for about two weeks.

Watch out for those Racoons!

Now if you think that little hands can't open heavy snap lids,........... think again! We keep a large 5 kilo bucket (11 lbs) of seed on the doorstep. Now to keep the old stray tomcats from attacking the birds, we feed them dry cat food. What a mess the toms are in now that it is mating season. Holes patches of fur missing, anyways I digress. The point is that racoons also like cat food. I think that is where the problem started. Twice now, we have had the feeders raided. They take the top off of the tube feeders and gently remove the cover and eat from the tube like a pixie stick! Not a seed is wasted, the next day the seed is gone and the feeder is in tack. But, when they pried the top of of a heavy guage snap lid top!! That was the decision maker, now the seed and feeders come indoors at night. No other way, now that they see our house as an easy mark.

Don't rely full time on just the bird feeder.

There is lots to learn about attracting birds to your backyard. The good news is that not only is it fun trying out different ideas, but your pleasure with sucess grows with each sucess.

At Birdfeeders

I am Blue Jay
On this cold and wintry day.
Dark skies, cold sleet, so gray; so gay.

I am Chick a Dee
I have given Thee
Hope of spring, so soon to be; you see?

You are kind
Bird feeders so sublime
Happy birds are we who rhyme.

At birdfeeders wintertime.

Morning Dove fends off flock of bluejays

They may be the symbol of peace, but they are fiesty too! All the smaller birds cower to the bully bluejay but the dove is non-perplexed by thier antics. Doves just shrug and continue eating. This just irks the bluejay more.

But don't get me wrong, the jays are a necessary evil. As they spill most of the seed, the ground feeders profit below.

On thanksgiving day, we were visited by a ring-neked pheasant. One squack from him and all the other birds flew, 31 morning doves, 4-6 jays, a half douzen black capped chickadees, several male and female junkoes.

I know I know, next time use a dictionary!

Cheers

Platterpuss

Ladybugs nurtured at home

Just how does a Ladybug survive in -31 deg C temperatures in Canada? Well we have had one in our home that we keep moving from plant to plant. She sometimes likes the bathroom wall after there was a shower. We just pick her up an place her back in an Aloevera plant. So far she has lived through 3 months of snow. We hope to release the ladybug in early May.

Trip-Report - The Hummer House

The Hummer House is located in Christoval about 15 miles south of San Angelo in west Texas.

Wow, I have never seen so many humming birds at once. The Hummer House is located near the natural breeding area of the Black-chinned hummingbird.

Bird House Specifications

Here are the Bird House Specifications for many cavity dwelling birds that will nest in a bird box.

Great Backyard Bird Count - 2003

Just a reminder:

Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count February 15 through 18.

See the BirdSource Website for more details.