Spring Is Here, So I Hung a Birdhouse

[mso489]

My wife got me a birdhouse for Christmas, which I fairly quickly assembled with the screws provided. It had a little latch for the hinged front, to clean it out after a brood hatches and fledges and leaves the nest, but the screws for that were so minuscule, I opted to just drill a hole and put in a screw to unscrew, for the same purpose. I kept eyeing the house, there on a side table, and yesterday for the first day of spring, I took it out and nailed it to a pine outside the table where we most often dine.

Consulting online info, I was told to mount it from 4 to 8 feet above the ground, which I did, though out the first floor window it looks lower. Hereabouts, the likely candidate species for such a house might include house wrens, Carolina wrens, titmouse, chickadees, or sparrows. I don't think we have enough "field" to our yard to attract bluebirds.

The online sources said mid- to late March are ideal for setting up a birdhouse, though down here, in N.C., earlier probably would have worked.

However, with birds you can never tell. In earlier years they have nested in a half empty bag of mulch, a watering can, and (at an earlier house) in a Christmas wreath delayed in removing. The house might be too conspicuous. I'll surely post if we get any "buyers." It is fun to watch the action if you have an active nest. Most birds take parenting seriously, providing an unending stream of food to the demanding chicks.

 

[Old_Newby]

Nice. We too have bird houses and hummingbird feeders. Just be aware the doves and blue jays will partake. People think BlueJays are bullies but they are actually shy and docile and will let smaller birds run them off. For blue birds they do prefer space and a nesting box approx 6 ft off ground.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

When I moved here part time last year I attached a blue bird house on the side of an aluminum utility building near a crepe Merle so the chicks have a place to land. I had a brood of blue birds followed by house wrens in later Summer .

I’ve seen a BB about already. The Hummingbird is also up. There were sightings 2 hours south three weeks ago.

 

[STP]

We have one off our deck… filled w/black oil sunflower seeds. On several days this past winter we’ve had up to 25+ cardinals . Awesome sight with a snowy backdrop… although the squirrels are a PITA ?

 

[anotherbob]

gotta love the birds. I just heard a study that one of the reasons bird songs are so appealing to people. Is they are inconsistent. They may wait a fraction of a second longer and while it's not highly noticeable. It's enough of a difference that it's always fresh. Just a neat little side note about an idea that may or may not be totally correct. Still interesting to think about.

 

[STP]

Nice. We too have bird houses and hummingbird feeders. Just be aware the doves and blue jays will partake. People think BlueJays are bullies but they are actually shy and docile and will let smaller birds run them off. For blue birds they do prefer space and a nesting box approx 6 ft off ground.

Not the Bluejays around here… they’re always bullying the cardinals.

 

[mso489]

My favorite bird call is the mourning dove. I first heard it through a window screen when I was put down for a nap in an upstairs bedroom at my grandparents' house at the age of four. It doesn't sound like it's mourning to me, just more like morning. If often enjoy hearing it when I go out to get the paper while the coffee pot heats up.

 

[Ahi Ka]

The dawn chorus here in Aotearoa is awe-inspiring. They say in the days of old, you could actually hear the chorus from sea before you could even see land. When you arrive at our main international airport, you are greeted by the songs of different birds as you walk down the corridor. Truly makes one feel home.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Today, we saw our first house finch of the season at our feeder. Prior to this, it's just been sparrows.

 

[Old_Newby]

Not the Bluejays around here… they’re always bullying the cardinals.

I love Cardinals but sometimes they are timid and leave because the jays are huge. Watch number 3 on this video.

 

[STP]

^^^ Nice vid, and yes, they’re a lot bigger, but I’ve seen them attacking cardinals, and other birds… They might be timid down South, or in Texas, but not up North, or maybe I just have a few psycho blue pterodactyls?

Why Are Blue Jays So Mean and Aggressive to Other Birds?

Blue jays are frequently misconceived as harmless and docile birds when they can be pretty problematic and assertive in reality.

www.birdwatchingusa.org

Blue Jays, The Surprisingly Aggressive Chicken Predator - https://homeinthefingerlakes.com/blue-jays-the-surprisingly-aggressive-chicken-predator/#:~:text=When%20blue%20jays%20do%20hunt%2C%20they%20are%20aggressive,an%20attack%20attempt%20at%20a%20full%20grown%20chicken.

 

[Old_Newby]

^^^ Nice vid, and yes, they’re a lot bigger, but I’ve seen them attacking cardinals, and other birds… They might be timid down South, or in Texas, but not up North, or maybe I just have a few psycho blue pterodactyls?

Why Are Blue Jays So Mean and Aggressive to Other Birds?

Blue jays are frequently misconceived as harmless and docile birds when they can be pretty problematic and assertive in reality.

www.birdwatchingusa.org

Blue Jays, The Surprisingly Aggressive Chicken Predator - https://homeinthefingerlakes.com/blue-jays-the-surprisingly-aggressive-chicken-predator/#:~:text=When%20blue%20jays%20do%20hunt%2C%20they%20are%20aggressive,an%20attack%20attempt%20at%20a%20full%20grown%20chicken.

I grew up hearing they were obnoxious and thought so I’m til I saw that video I shared. I bet that video was made by the same naturalist that said sharks only eat people because of mistaken identity.

 

[verporchting]

Great minds think alike and all that, I just nailed a birdhouse up this weekend also! Saw a YouTube video about how to make a simple easy birdhouse from a cedar fence picket and just happened to have one extra laying in the garage, so about 15 minutes later I had a nice little birdhouse. I’m watching it all the time now to see if we get any tenants. Fingers crossed!

 

[didimauw]

At our new home in the town we grew up in, there's a lot of crow activity. My wife has been saying that she wants to start feeding them. They sometimes bring gifts to those who feed them.

So for my wife's birthday last weekend, I ordered her a crow call. Didn't even know they existed. This should be fun.

A few weeks ago I was smoking in the garage late one afternoon. All of a sudden I could hear a raccoon (or a bear) in the attic. Loud. Banging methodically. Not only was it annoying but seriously loud. I had to do something to get this damn coon out of the attic. He sounded big, and strong. Like he was nailing boards together to make his new home.

I had to find out where the huge hole was that he found to make his way in the attic. I took a big stick with me, and As soon as I got outside, I looked up and saw the crow. Pecking at the peak of the garage roof.?

Glad I didn't have to fight off a bear, or worse a raccoon.....

We're going to make him our friend.

 

[trudger]

Hope you get two crows @didimauw, one is just inviting trouble. Do you guys have ravens? They are lots of fun to watch.

 

[didimauw]

Hope you get two crows @didimauw, one is just inviting trouble. Do you guys have ravens? They are lots of fun to watch.

Not that I've noticed unfortunately.

 

[Old_Newby]

Great minds think alike and all that, I just nailed a birdhouse up this weekend also! Saw a YouTube video about how to make a simple easy birdhouse from a cedar fence picket and just happened to have one extra laying in the garage, so about 15 minutes later I had a nice little birdhouse. I’m watching it all the time now to see if we get any tenants. Fingers crossed!

View attachment 135550

Nice!! I did that a few years back but yours looks much better. ?

 

[Peter Peachfuzz]

Great minds think alike and all that, I just nailed a birdhouse up this weekend also! Saw a YouTube video about how to make a simple easy birdhouse from a cedar fence picket and just happened to have one extra laying in the garage, so about 15 minutes later I had a nice little birdhouse. I’m watching it all the time now to see if we get any tenants. Fingers crossed!

View attachment 135550

Do the roof with a chunk of leftover shingle saves the wood but also gives the birds some grip

 

[Old_Newby]

Here in Texas the purple martins are arriving to nest. I always get about 8-10 of them in my nests. I am torn because on one hand I grew up hearing they eat a lot of mosquitos, but in past few years learned they eat a lot of dragonfly’s. I like dragonfly’s and have learned dragonfly’s eat more mosquitos than purple martins. So the dilemma. I just let nature do it’s thing.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I have about six feeders in the yard, and the bamboo next to our house is always full of singing birds. The cardinals rule the yard and the feeders, posting sentries that send out warnings when other birds infiltrate our yard.
But... I didn't keep the feeders full this winter. The birds are still here, but just not as vigilant. Crap, Tom, you've guilted me into stopping and picking up some sunflower seed today. ha ha.