Gord's New Yard Challenge

[Gord]

Well, Im on the move as well. Not going too far, actually just down the road from the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve.

I think we'll be happier in the country and away from the issues one encounters in sub-divisions. One of these issues included difficult wildlife attracting. Anything is possible and we could have done something, but we knew we would not be staying long and did not bother.

We're in the middle of a fairly open area. I imagine getting birds such as chickadees, finches and friends might be a little challenging as they dont have a corridor to travel to our yard. There are some trees on the property though. In a way, it might be a mixed blessing not having the temptation to budget for birdseeds. If I owned the 10 acres, Id be planting a couple of hedgerows leading to my yard!

We may try growing seeds such as millet and sunflowers in a part of the property. Ive never tried growing millet. Does it work? I wonder what a 1/2 acre of millet would attract in the way of sparrows! (should they feel comfortable to travel in the open for it)

However, I think it will be good for swallows and will be getting platforms for barn swallows and boxes for tree and violet-green swallow ready.

It should be good for gulls in the fields though! Maybe Thor's Lesser Black-backed Gull will show up! ;D If I had a Glaucous Gull on the roof of the place we're in now, that's not too much of a stretch! Ill have the coffee on for when this happens. ;D ;D ;D

Also, once the move is done, I want to get back to building the FVB website and expanding it. In a larger house, the computer will be downstairs so I can "Pound on the keyboard" to my heart's content and not wake up the family. ;D

Im not looking forward to the move, but it will be nice when we are settled in.

[Wetlander]

So many possibilities... So much work.
Congrats on the move. It's amazing what I see, now that I'm just a little further away from the traffic and neighbours.

[butterfly]

Sounds like a nice place to move Gord, we saw Sandhill Cranes in Sept. in a farmer's field not far from the GBHNR so you will get first looks eh?

[Gord]

Butterfly, good to hear about the cranes. They were reported in the area but never got to see them. Will keep an eye open!

Here's an update. I intended to share this earlier with pictures, but all things considered, I'll be content with what I have.

When I drove into the yard of our new place in late Oct to do some work on it, my eyes were eagerly scanning. The roof of my house, I noted with the steady gaze of someone familiar with shortcomings, lacked any exciting species of bird. However, the field surrounding the yard was alive with over a thousand gulls consisting of 7 species (Mew, Glaucous-winged, 1 Western, Ring-billed, Herring, Thayers and California) and a Great Blue Heron as well. From the 'computer room' and the children's bedrooms I can view this field very nicely. I admired it's contents frequently throughout the day and between painting strokes. The yard, even though sort of isolated, had several juncos, two House Finches and a White-crowned Sparrow. Perhaps with some planting and more cover provided on the 1 acre parcel, it could attract more.

Ill leave it at that, but since then we've had Red-Tailed Hawk, Black-capped Chickadee and a good sized flock of American Pipits (over 30) are out there every day.

Im eager to get the priorities done and get outside!

[Gord]

The priorities keep popping up here! I was sort of hoping for a little more free time between the children's bedtime and my bedtime! Boo Hoo.

Anyway, thought Id update quickly.

Somewhere among the hustle, I found time to put up three bird feeders in the back yard. While not feeders I would want to use for long, thought something was better than nothing. It was not long after the feeders went up that it got cold. The dozen or so Juncos, couple White-crowned Sparrows, handful of House Finches and House Sparrows were joined by another dozen White-crowned Sparrows and a Spotted Towhee. The kids love watching the feeder that I put close to the window. The window sill is also good to put a bit of seed on but it gets covered with blowing snow quite quickly. I've designed a feeder in my head to put there when I get a chance to build it.

We also viewed the birds feeding on the window sill to drink the drops of snow that melted on the window and ran down the pane. At first thought they were just pecking at the window for some reason but a closer look revealed that they were drinking. Wish I had the $ to set up a proper watering station that wont freeze in the cold.

Even though the yard is isolated from other trees, once the little birds make it here, they find enough to hide in and to keep happy. The row of hedging cedars are very popular and I know they sleep there at night. A bit more planting and a brush pile will no doubt help.

[Gord]

Added two and a half new species in the last couple days.

Near the end of the colder spell, we had a hybrid Northern x Yellow-shafted Flicker right next to the window (That's my 'half' species! )

And just today we had a big flock of Rock Doves fly over the house and there was a Golden-crowned Sparrow with the White-crowns at the feeders.

To date, no chance to do too much to the backyard yet!

[Gord]

Finally a chance to catch up after the holidays.

Some new species, all of the meat eating variety!

Bald Eagles were in the fields surrounding the house and flying over. There were over a dozen which entertained our guests from the city who had not seen such a thing before.

On Christmas Eve a check at the feeders showed no little birds even though it was busy just minutes before. I thought perhaps the children had been playing by the window but they were more or less in the same place as I saw them a few minutes before watching Toopee and Beenoo (or whatever...). Checking a different window confirmed my suspicions. A juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk was perched there.

Christmas Day had another Sharp-shinned. This time an adult. Yikes!

Boxing Day had a Merlin bomb in after the starlings perched in the top of the walnut tree.

Nothing exciting at the feeders but plenty of small birds. White-crowned Sparrows are easily the most common. I figure about 20 individuals. Juncos are a close second. House Finches number about a dozen. House Sparrows are currently mercifully small in numbers (about 5). The Golden-crowned Sparrow is still seen now and then. Two or three Black-capped Chickadees are daily visitors. A Spotted Towhee shows up daily as well.

[Gord]

Feeders are still active. Im hoping to bring a little brush to make a few hiding places soon. The little hawks have not been back that we've noticed.

Some new species:

Lots of Trumpeter Swans have been flying over the house regularly the last couple of days. I count them as I count my airspace habitat too. I could erect a skyscraper or cell phone tower and cause birds to go around. ;D ;D ;D

Also a Common Raven came by and almost landed in the walnut tree.

Still watching the feeders for something interesting! Have a suet feeder now ready for a warbler.

[Gord]

With all the excitement with gulls and falcons Ive forgot to share how things are going at the feeders.

Starlings have found the suet but dont monopolize it too badly. Will have to monitor to see if it needs to be turned upside down (but then the poor juncos will be unhappy!)

Two new visitors to the feeders too in the last two weeks. A pair of male Red-winged Blackbirds and just a couple days ago a Lincoln's Sparrow.