Concerns for Birds In America

I did a post on the importance of having birdbaths and providing water for the wildlife in your backyard. I submitted that post to Digg, a person left a comment about the problem of birds nesting early in the spring(detailed below). It got me thinking.

Below are several resources and postings about the concerns for Birds in America

"Early Birds & Springtime" is a post about the early nesting habits of many birds, ScienceCentral, by Joyce Gramza. See full details. In summary the key points are:

• Birds are nesting earlier due to global warming. Which means birds are laying their eggs much earlier.


• Baby birds then need to eat earlier. But is it too early for the large supply of insects that come out in the spring? Is the timing off ? Baby birds eat insects exclusively. There are many birds around our squirrel proof bird feeders but do not be fooled none of this seed goes to baby birds.


• A spring storm can wipe out a nest of birds. If they are coming back earlier there is higher chance of these storms affecting their existance. Their life cycle has developed over much time while the changes in our weather cycle has changed in just decades.

You can help. Citizen Science programs are for people with no formal training that want to help scientists track and record birds and other wildlife in their neighborhoods. This information helps scientists determine the effect of global warming. Scientists are eager to use anyone who is willing. See the full article "Citizen Scientists Watch for Signs of Climate Change" from the Christian Science Monitor. Nest Watch program at Cornell is one of the original programs. Here are some others:

• Society for Amateur Scientists


• Celebrate Urban Birds


• Great Backyard Count




• Christmas Bird Count: Citizen Science in Action


• EBirds


• Citizen Science at Cornell


• Cornell-Nest Cams & Camclickrs.. if you are unable to get outside..


• Various other wild life and plant life citizen science programs including Project BudBurst

According to an analysis of 40 years of data, bird populations in the United States are declining at an alarming rate due to climate change, habitat destruction, invasive species and other environmental forces.

The State of the Birds details more about these concerns. Includes a 2009 video and report on the State of the Birds, more information on endangered species & the various challenges that face birds. In addition it outlines other Citizen Science programs, some which require more expertise. The video gives you a quick overview of problem habitats and the concerns we should all have for all of our birds.

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar called the disturbing news a "clarion call" for action. "If we move forward with a new ethic of conservation, we will be able to restore bird populations. Included on this site is the press conference on March 19 2009 with Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar

If you are looking for decorative birdhouses, birdbaths or squirrel proof birdfeeders for your backyard, visit YourGardenRetreat.com website for a great selection

Some other articles that may interest you are:
Nesting and Birdhouse Dimension Chart
What you need to know about the 39 Most Common Birds in America
12 Winter Bird Myths You May or May Not Know Read more...

Fire Pits - Add Warmth and Style to Your Outdoor Space

Your backyard is now considered an extension of your home where you spend valuable time with family and friends. Fire pits are a great addition to your outdoor patio furniture as a focal point. They create warmth, add style, and provide a way to roast marshmallows on your patio or deck.

Fire pits come in many shapes and sizes, but the most popular designs feature a large, shallow bowl to build the fire in, supported by a stand. The fire pit bowl can sit close to the ground, for a real campfire feel or they are taller on stands. The latest craze is the fire table which provides place for a glass or to put your feet up. You can purchase outdoor sets that include a fire table instead of a dining or coffee table that are called chat groups. Moreover, fire pits often double up as a cooking device too.

Following are the most common types of fire pits to choose from for your backyard

• The Chimenea is a very attractive fire pit design which is generally meant to contain smaller fires. Chimenea is a very popular portable outdoor fireplace that is typically made of terra-cotta but is also being made in decorative finishes such as steel and copper. A Chimenea needs to be “cured” before use in order to insure a long life and safe burning. Spark screens and a fireproof mat are imperative if using the himenea on a wooden deck or patio. One thing to note, metal can get dangerously hot when the fire's burning.
  
  
• Wood-burning fireplaces and fire pits are generally the least expensive to buy and to operate. Check for zoning ordinances to be sure that you can burn wood on your property. Wood-burning units range from small collapsible units on wheels for easy portability to huge built-in concrete fireplaces.



Probably the most popular fire pits are made from natural copper with a wrought iron stand. Copper and wrought iron have a very attractive, antique look, and make magnificent outdoor sculptures in themselves. Some copper pits include an area to store wood logs beneath. Other popular materials for outdoor fire pits include stainless steel, clay, natural stone,
or lightweight concrete reinforced with glass fiber.

Outdoor fire pits are generally a bit bigger and can hold several logs at a time. They may also be portable. They also tend to be less of a focal point or a stylish piece of outdoor patio furniture. They offer a more functional role. These types of products tend to hold bigger fires and act as grills too.

Fire pit tables are literally large tables, usually circular with decorative legs and table surfaces. The fire pit is set deep
within the table and often comes with a lid as well. Fire tables allow for larger fires while remaining stylish like the copper fire pits. They can be a focal point of your deck even when a fire is not lit. You can create a wonderful conversation grouping with the fire table at the center.

• Fire pits fueled by natural gas or propane rather than wood is another option. Enjoy the comfort and ambience of the outdoor campfire without the smoke or messy ashes. A gas fire pit can also be a good choice if wood fires are not allowed in your neighborhood. Smaller, less expensive portable models can be easily transported on camping trips, to tailgate parties, or simply to your backyard deck

Natural gas fire pits most often will need to be permanent and connected to your natural gas lines. A built-in fireplace can be the centerpiece of an elaborate outdoor living area. These fireplaces are designed by landscape architects or designers.

Propane fuelled fire pit is a great choice if portability and cost is important to you. Propane fire pits are the best option for urban places. They are normally rated according to its efficiency. Fire pits with higher ratings will be able to produce ample heat while consuming less amount of fuel. Always go for the propane fire pits that have variable speeds and temperature controls.

• Portable outdoor fireplaces are designed to be lightweight and include features such as gas or wood burning options, grill attachments, spark screens, lids, and wheels and can come in many different materials: copper, steel and aluminum. Great to take camping, the beach, summer cabin, tail gate parties and many outdoor activities. Another reason to purchase a portable fireplace is if you prefer to store the unit during winter.



• Final option is to build one yourself. You can find plans for building a fire pit on line. Or have someone build a permanent fire pit for you.

Accessories should be considered when buying. Some enclosed fire pits have the option of adding a rotisserie bar, a flat grill for barbecuing and an ash pan that's easy to remove and clean. Many pits come with an added feature of a wire mesh that can be used as a barbeque. Make sure you get the necessary accessories to provide the safety of your fire pit.

A Fire pit should be a great addition to your outdoor patio furniture and upgrade any outdoor living space. Fire pits provide you with a warm and cozy feeling to your nights outdoors.

If you are looking for outdoor furniture to compliment your new fire pit, check out YourGardenRetreat.com for rockers, benches, chairs and much more. I also have outdoor candle lanterns, outdoor garden fountains, decorative birdhouses, squirrel proof bird feeders and much much more.

Read more...

Get Rid of those Bully birds- Stop Feeding them!!!

If you love birds in your backyard you may get frustrated when bigger birds sometimes referred to as Bully Birds takeover your feeders. They cause two problems. First they eat all of your seed. Second their aggressive behavior can discourage other birds from coming around.

Bully birds include blackbirds, grackles, pigeons, European starlings and house sparrows. Pigeons, European starlings and house sparrows are not native birds and are not protected by law.

If you are having problems specifically with House Sparrows or Eastern Starlings see my blog entry next week. This entry also will address the more serious problem of their aggressive seisure of cavity nest sites.

As a general guideline you want to feed birds from birdfeeders that allow fewer birds to access food and that generate less waste

Take Action with the Type of Feeders you use

• Bully birds are almost always larger birds. So enclose the feeder in large mesh hardware cloth or chicken wire with openings big enough to allow smaller birds
  to pass through (a 2-inch opening). You can also purchase a caged feeders which are often sold as squirrel proof birdfeeders and do a good job of keeping those pesky squirrels away too. Just be sure to get one with the feeder portion located several inches inside the cage so bully’s long bills cannot get in there.
  
• Feeders with the weighted perches are another great option. The weight of the heavier bird causes the bar to lower over the food slots not allowing them to get to the feed
  
  
• Another option is tube feeders that have perches above the feeding holes requiring the birds to lean down to feed, which bully birds are unable to do. Before I insert the plastic perches, I trim them to 1½ inches -- long enough for goldfinches but too small for House Sparrows.
  
  
• Hanging suet feeder under a domed squirrel baffle will discourage European starlings. You can also purchase special starling proof suet feeders or any suet feeders that require birds to cling upside-down to eat. Bully birds don’t like to eat upset down
  
  
• Avoid feeding birds from flat surfaces, including the ground. Easy access to food on or below a platform feeder can quickly draw in those bully birds
  
  
• Most hopper feeders and feeders with lots of perches should only be used with the right kind of seed that do not interest these bully birds. More information below.

Be Very Selective in the Feed you Use

Bully birds LOVE the cheap wild bird seed mixes containing millet, milo and cracked corn. They also love bread and sunflower seeds.
Fancy blends are not necessary just buy single types of seeds, such as sunflower or safflower

• For finches, fill hanging tube feeders with only nyjer seed (thistle).
  
• For cardinals, chickadees and nuthatches fill hopper or tray feeders with safflower seed. Fill caged feeders with sunflower or safflower seeds or pieces of peanuts. Cardinals, chickadees, woodpeckers, and nuthatches are all happy to cling to them and extract the seeds.
  
• Finally, severely restrict or stop your feeding in the summer. Most birds are raising families, and even seed eaters will be feeding their young insects. Natural food is abundant. Your feeders will most likely be dominated by House Sparrows and Rock Pigeons.

Keep your Feeding Areas clean

• Sometimes the greatest problems can be the cast-off seeds below hanging and post feeders that draw the attention of the Bully birds. Pigeons are notorious for gathering in flocks underneath feeders for their meals.
  
• Collect the fallen seeds in a deep container, such as a plastic garbage can or pail, that the pest birds cannot or will not get into. You can make a hole in the center of the container and place it right on your feeder pole.

Blackbirds such as grackles, cowbirds, and red-winged blackbirds only use feeders
heavily during migration. If you can't tolerate them for a few weeks in spring and fall then take down your feeders for a while when the birds are abundance. A detailed article from birders magazine will provide more tips and will state some advantages to grackles in your backyard.

Most bird feeders are designed to appeal to people, not birds. But if you remember to think like a bird, you are much more likely to have a successful feeding station.

If you are interested in buying a decorative birdfeeder, squirrel proof birdfeeders, birdhouses, birdbaths or many other things for your backyard visit YourGardenRetreat.com

Some other articles that may interest you
Water will attract more birds to your Yard
Is your Birdhouse ready for the Nesting Season this Spring?
Nesting and Birdhouse Dimension Chart
Read more...

Early Spring Garden Chores

March is a great month for trimming and tidying. Get it done now because a month from now you'll be busy cleaning dirt from under your fingernails.

March is one of the most important months of the year for fertilizing because it is the start of the growing season. Feed (16-16-16) fruit and ornamental trees, groundcovers, shrubs, perennials and annuals that have been in the ground at least six weeks. Feed your container plants also

Don't forget to do your maintenance of your decorative birdhouses, birdfeeders, birdbaths, Outdoor Wooden Furniture.

Shrubs and Trees

• Remove the winter mulch from existing roses and prune as needed. Consult a good rose book for the best methods to trim your type of rose since timing and methods vary

• Prune your trees especially fruit trees (except walnut, maple and birch trees). Do not prune flowering shrubs.

• Fertilize deciduous and evergreen trees. Protect deciduous trees from mites, scale and aphids by treating with horticultural oil.

• Start watering trees and shrubs that you planted in the fall. Begin when you see new leaves appear. A slow, steady watering is best. Try using a hose on a slow trickle or a soaker hose to water deeply and well

• Plant new fruit trees, rose bushes, berries, spring flowering shrubs and other deciduous plants. Not the best time to transplant unless tree or shrub is still in dormant stage.


Flower and Bulb Beds


• Test the pH levels in planting beds. Adjusting the pH level of soil is the single most important garden task you can perform to get healthy plants. (Get more details)

• Cut back perennials that you left standing for winter

• This is a great time to buy and plant perennials as the soil is still cool. Also if you are ordering in bare root plants from mail order, this should be done early in month. When things arrive, bare-root woody plants will take priority in planting, so think ahead.

• Bulbs such as lilies and Canna should be planted now for summer and fall color.

• Annuals that enjoy the cooler weather March offers may be planted. These include pansies, snapdragons and calendulas.

• Tulip and daffodil bulbs require a light application of fertilizer (a high- nitrogen, quick-release fertilizer)

• Cut smooth hydrangeas all the way to the ground. Thin last year's growth on peegee hydrangeas, and remove dead wood at the base of oak-leaf hydrangeas

• Get a step ahead by edging and weeding your beds. Dig them, roots and all, before they set seed which will lessen their numbers later

• Now is when you should cut back your ornamental grasses. Hold or tie the old growth with twine and cut the grass 4-6 inches from the ground. New growth will appear in a few weeks

Other stuff

• Check garden tools. Fix, sharpen or replace them as necessary.

• Take the mower in for a tune-up.

• Broken or weak arbors, fences and trellis should be repaired this month

• Cleaning and repairing drip irrigation lines

• Remove leaves from the bottom of ponds or other water features

• Start over seeding bare spots in the lawn. Seed once a week and water lightly twice a day until spots fill in. But don't fertilize until Memorial Day. Apply pre-emergent crabgrass control to your lawn


"Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush." - Doug Larson

Take look at my website-YourGardenRetreat.com for decorative birdhouses, squirrel proof birdfeeders, bird baths, windchimes, Outdoor furniture, and more

Read more...

Water will Attract more Birds to your Yard

Many birds won't visit your squirrel proof bird feeders but will come to your bird bath .

It can be a simple as a plant saucer or a garbage can lid turned upside down with a few rocks in the center or a decorative birdbath that can also add style to your backyard

Why a birdbath?

• Birds must drink and love to bathe and preen.
• Water helps keep a bird’s body cool. Drinking and wading helps regulate their body temperatures
• Water baths can also remove dust, loose feathers, parasites and other debris from a bird’s plumage
• Will increase the number & variety of birds coming to your yard, since birds that would not normally visit feeders will be tempted by water feature
• Once birds find a reliable source of water, they will return.

What type of birdbath?

Your water source could be as simple as a plant saucer, garbage can lid or an old pie pan

When purchasing a birdbath the following should be considered:

• Be sure your bath is not too deep -- If the bath slopes, it should be no deeper than 3 inches. . If the bath is flat, it should be no deeper than 1-1/2".
• Helpful if the texture is slightly rough to ensure good footing especially if the bath slopes. Stay away from shinny glazes.
• Should be of a neutral or earthy tone. Bright colors can attract predators so birds tend to avoid them.
• A lip or perch at the edge will provide space for them to land before entering the water.
• You should have more than one source of water.

Where to Put your Birdbath?

Several baths in various locations in your yard will attract the most wildlife to your backyard. Some flat on the ground and others several feet off the ground is a good idea

To accustom your birds to a new bath the following should be considered:

• Placing a bird feeder within five feet of the bath. Birds will notice the water in the bath as they go to the feeder.
• Best to locate the bath in an open area (never under overhanging limbs) that is about 10-12 feet from a tree or tall shrub. Not so close that predators will be able to sneak up on the birds but close enough for birds to retreat. They cannot fly well with wet feathers and a branch gives them a place to preen after a bath.
• A sunny spot in the winter is better while some shade during the summer is a good idea

How to care for your birdbath?

Bath water should be changed every few days, no matter what the season, to insure a fresh, clear supply.

Some other things you can do to keep your water clean:

• Bath should be washed every couple of days. Washing with water and white vinegar will help prevent algae growth and keep the bath fresh.
• Bath brushes, special fountain protection solutions & cleaners are useful. Algaecides and enzyme cleaners that can reduce the instance of green algae and the growth of mosquito larvae
• A capful of chlorine can be added to the bath water at night. This is safe because it will oxidize before morning
• Water wigglers create water movement thus keeping mosquitoes from being a problem in your birdbath.

Some Other thoughts

Backyard birds have limited scent glands thus having a heightened sense of hearing. Moving water fascinates and attracts birds. Add a dripper, mister or wiggler to create small drips, tinkles, and bubbles that birds like.

Get creative and make your own dripper. An old enamel pitcher mounted to a pole that hangs over your birdbath, or a plastic milk with a small hole creating a drip. A hose dripping into a dish or pond can have a similar effect and will attract more birds. Or check out this dripper you could make..go here

Add a few stones that emerge from the water for smaller birds, and butterflies, to land on

Visit YourGardenRetreat.com to buy your bird bath this season.

Some other articles that might interest you:
Is Your Birdhouse Ready for Nesting Season this Spring?
Birdhouse and Nesting Box Dimensions Chart
What You Need to Know about the 39 Most Common Birds in America
Read more...