Search Results for: blog birds no cages required

Attracting Birds to Your Yard

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It doesn’t take a ton of effort to attract feathered visitors to your yard or patio. All you need to offer is food, water, and shelter. Providing food for your visiting birds doesn’t have to mean a bird feeder and a constant supply of seed. Flowering and fruit-bearing plants provide sustenance, as do plants that attract insects. Bugs are a good source of protein! When it comes to water, a traditional birdbath isn’t necessary, but can be an attractive addition to your outdoor space. A shallow dish filled with water (like a large plant saucer or even a snow disc) … Continue reading →

Too Many Dead Baby Birds

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I was out walking my two dogs this afternoon… and saw a weird lump on the sidewalk. As we got closer, my eyes and brain puzzled the lump into a shape. It was a dead baby bird. A few feet away, there was another sad little lump that turned out to be a baby bird. I looked in the landscaping nearby to see if I could find a nest, but I couldn’t. But we do have a LOT of cats roaming around the complex, both indoor/outdoor cats and feral cats. I fear that the baby birds (and the entire nest) … Continue reading →

Birds on the Brain: International Migratory Bird Day 2007

Tomorrow, May 12, is International Migratory Bird Day. The Environment for the Americas was born out of the success of the day and now has a website that promotes their cause year round. Each year they have a theme, and this year it’s “Birds in a Changing Climate.” The purpose of this year’s celebration is to raise awareness of how sensitive birds are to environmental changes. When we cut down forests, we cut down their homes. When we use pesticides to keep bugs at bay, we contaminate and/or kill a potential food source for birds. When we pollute the water, … Continue reading →

The Pets Blog Week in Review for Apr 30 – May 6

Good morning, Families.com! Last week we bid farewell to April and Hello! to May. As usual, here’s the recap of what Aimee and myself wrote about. Monday, April 30 “Aimee? Courtney? Where are you girls?” Day off! Aimee had lots of preps underway for her upcoming cross-country moving trek. (See under May 2 for more on that.) I had family in town leaving that day. We got back on track Tuesday, though… Tuesday, May 1 When I was growing up I was taught to leave a basket of flowers on a neighbor’s door to celebrate May Day. But I decided … Continue reading →

Birds: No Cages Required

When I was growing up, my family was very active and outdoor-oriented. They loved hiking in the mountains, visiting zoos, or trekking through state parks. My mom and grandma in particular, but even my sister, would often comment on birds we’d come across in the wild. I remember on more than one occasion pulling off to the side of the road so they could jump out and get a better gander at whatever large bird they may have spotted. (Usually falcons and hawks, but I do recall a buzzard or two causing a stir, I believe because they first mistook … Continue reading →

Bird Basics: Finches

If you love birds but don’t have much time for a pet, or prefer to watch birds over handling them, then finches are the perfect bird for you.  They’re not too affectionate and don’t like being handled very much, so they’re the perfect pet for an observer. First a note: as with all birds, it’s best to purchase your bird from a reputable breeder.  Before bringing one home, make sure you’ve located a vet in your area that can treat your bird. It’s important that you get more than one finch, as they are social birds and will need the … Continue reading →

Bird Basics: Canaries

Before bringing home a canary, it’s best to first ready its cage. Get a rectangular or square cage, not a circular one. Canaries find circular cages confusing and they might make the birds anxious or neurotic. The wider the cage the better, so canaries have some room to take short little flights. If your cage is previously used, clean it completely. Replace any materials previous birds might have pecked, such as the perches and the cuttlebone/mineral block. Cuttlebones and mineral blocks can be purchased from pet stores; they provide important nutrients like calcium for the bird. Make sure the perches … Continue reading →

Making a Safe Place for Wildlife

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Whether or not you have pets of your own doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the wildlife around you! You can turn your backyard into a mini-refuge for local wildlife who may be losing their regular habitats to development. First, ask yourself a few questions: What kind of wildlife do I want to attract? Are you interested in birds or butterflies? Do you want bug-eating guests like toads and bats? What kind of wildlife already lives in the area? What kind of plants can thrive in my yard? How will I provide food for the wildlife? How will I provide water … Continue reading →

Taking a Minute to Appreciate Squirrels for Squirrel Appreciation Week

Photo by MadMaven/T.S.Heisele We’re smack dab in the middle of Squirrel Appreciation Week, which runs from October 7th through 13th. Do you take squirrels for granted? It’s easy to, especially if you live in a place where you see them everyday. Unless you’re an avid gardener or backyard ornithologists, you may have no reason to pay the squirrels romping in the gardens and feasting at bird feeders any mind. I grew up in Denver and squirrels were a staple in our backyard. As a kid, I liked to watch Mackie watching them through the sliding glass doors. I liked it … Continue reading →

National Wildlife Day: Animals on My Mind

National Wildlife Day, which is today, is a day to celebrate wildlife. Which gives me the perfect excuse for writing about some animals I’ve had on my mind recently. Ones Close to Home At the beginning of the summer I went to Art Pancake’s Tusculum Feed Center. No, it’s not a pancake house. It sells animal and pet food of all kinds, and also rents out various equipment as well as fills propane tanks. That’s why I went. Our tank was empty but we were fixing to grill soon. As I waited in line, the people in front of me … Continue reading →