Just Plain Old Bird Talk
Well, whether you like it or not its summer and it’s hot. During these hot days you drink more water or other beverages to keep you cool. Remember birds like cool water too. I put a birdbath/water fountain in my front yard, right outside our office window. It’s a joy to sit here and watch the juncos swim and splash in the fountain. They love it. During the heat of the day, there’s a conga line of birds waiting to get a drink or get the other birds wet with their splashing. Truly folks, if you don’t have a bath/fountain you’re missing on of the joys of bird watching. And you don’t have to go out and spend money to give your birds a bath. Turn a garbage can lid upside down, or a big planter drain dish with a few rocks works well. Anything you have that is shallow and wide – add some water and watch the birds enjoy their new hot tub. You might have to give them a couple of days to warm up to the idea. They likely will not jump right in, but don’t give up – they will find it and appreciate it on these warm summer days. Please remember to keep your new fountain/bath clean. This heat will form mold/algae in the bottom really fast. I change the water daily and clean with a stiff brush weekly.
Are you feeding your birds? When you go to the store to buy seed for your birds, watch out for the bags that have junk food that the birds don’t want and it only makes weeds for you to pull later. Buy good healthy food for them. I’m not saying buy birdie prime rib for them. A lot of what you buy will come from what kind of birds you have or want to have. I for an example, have Blue Jays, Juncos, Scrub Jays, Mourning Doves, Grosbeaks, Spotted Towhee and finches. We even get an occasional Quail to the yard. They love the cracked corn I spread out for them. My only problem is my dogs (Bob & Sara). They scare the quail away. So the quail wait for the dogs to fall asleep or head out on a run before they come in to eat. My birds get Sunflower seed and cracked corn only. I don’t go out and buy the fancy seed mixes that are out there. Will they like the fancy stuff? Sure, who wouldn’t like prime rib everyday? What I’m saying is, you don’t have to buy the fancy stuff to keep your birds happy. I do give them treats once in a while. I give them unsalted peanuts in the shell or I buy a bag of mixed nut pieces. I love watching the Blue Jays trying to pick up the shelled nuts. Most take one at a time, but you’ll see an enterprising Jay try to pick up two or even three at a time. You will laugh at that sight.
While I’m talking about the birds that use the ground feeders, I can’t forget the beautiful Hummingbirds. We have 4 feeders hanging around the house. During the heat we have to clean and fill all 4 every other day. We have two kinds here in O’Brien at the Johnson household. We see Anna’s and Rufous hummers here. Again it’s important to keep those feeders clean. You really need to clean each feeder before you refill it. With this heat and all that sugar water you use in the feeders, sets you up with all kinds of problems that can be taken care with a good cleaning before each filling.
I hope you’re enjoying the birds that come to visit you and your feeders. If you make it safe for them with good food, they will come. I’m sitting here typing and looking out at least a dozen birds in the feeders or splashing or just sitting in the trees singing. Did I say singing? The summer is the time for the Grosbeaks and in the morning they love to sing. It’s a beautiful sound and one I hope you get a chance to enjoy.
I know I’ve told you about this in the past, but I have breakfast at “My Place” every Saturday morning around 8:30am. I hope you come by and say “Hi” and have a great breakfast and talk to me about your birds.
Recently I came across a file of columns written by Harry Johnson. Harry along with his wife Cheryl, lived in O’Brien. Harry wrote a weekly series for the paper about birds. Harry was an avid volunteer, involved in all areas of the Valley.
Cheryl is still working hard to do her part in serving the community.