Wasteful Birds

[Susannah]

We have a few bird baths around our yard that some birds seem to be enjoying through our hot summer at the moment...

 

[digitS']

plant bird food types of plants for winter forage. seems to be going ok. my main bird problem is actually the grackles which will crowd out and abuse all the other birds.

Remembering my first experience with growing millet and how that only partly fits with my idea of Dad not wanting it because of the attraction for English sparrows. Feeding multiple bird species is a little complicated, isn't it?

I bought a foxtail millet from Johnny's and planted a nice row in the garden. The house finches began to get into it. I ignored them just a day or two, too long! They wrecked any chance DW had for using it for dry arrangements. I didn't make that mistake in later years.

Okay, my garden with the millet wasn't where there were many sparrows. So, the finches got the seed. Dad' problem in his yard was that the English sparrows would crowd out and abuse the finches if there was millet to be had. Millet is too popular!

The quail weren't around yesterday nor yet today. It's late and snowing hard. They had better hurry if they want the hardboiled egg I set out for them. Shoot. it will probably attract their enemy, the neighbor's cat!

Steve

 

[flowerbug]

if you want a large seeded plant that makes goldfinches very happy that isn't a thistle plant the tall phlox (purple, white, pink variety often found wild which is where i got the seeds for the plants we have).

the first season they ignored the plants entirely and i was able to harvest seeds. the second year they shredded the plants.

i like that they are somewhat tolerant of shade along some edges and in a lightly thinned hedge. and, well, purple...