Last week, I told you about the huge flocks of geese that I saw flying north. So, the next day I decided it was time to get things ready for spring.
I went up to the two blue bird houses that we have on the edge of our lawn. I was surprised by the amount of small sticks and dried grasses that half-filled each of the houses. It’s not because the blue birds took up residency in the houses last year. Each of the houses was occupied by a pair of barn swallows. Those birds were there because a few years ago we tore down the old dairy barn where numerous pairs of swallows had their nests. They just had to find a place to live.
I had read on the internet that blue birds like their houses facing south. I did that. They should be facing an open meadow or lawn. Check! Mine did, but there were blackberry stalks and other bits of brush around the supporting poles, so I cut everything, hoping the bluebirds would get to the houses first. I read that they like things rather open.
After doing the bird houses, I made my way to the upper pond where I had a wood duck house. It too wasn’t occupied last year by the intended ducks. A merganser had taken over the nest and reared seven ducklings. I cleaned it out and added a layer of wood shavings. I decided that if there were no woodies this year, I’d change its location.
I figured the hummingbirds would be arriving soon, so I got out their feeders and made sure they were clean. I read that if the hummingbirds arrive before the food is out, they may not stay around, so when I went the grocery store, I got a ten-pound bag of plain white sugar.
For those who haven’t fed hummingbirds before, do not use any food coloring to attract the birds. It will kill them. Bring four cups of water and a cup of sugar to a boil. Let it cool and then add it to your feeders. If it get cloudy, change it immediately.
I was going to cut the tall grass that had grown up around the pond in front of our house, but a pair of Canada geese had already arrived. I assume they are the ones that like to nest every year on the edge of the pond. Last year they hatched four little goslings, which we watched all last summer. The only problem with having geese near the house is what they leave behind. If you have geese on your lawn, you know what I’m talking about. They constantly eat grass and fertilize your lawn.
I guess you just have to watch where you walk.
And the crows … they are my buddies They come every morning for breakfast. They are here year round.
There’s not much else I have to do as far as the birds are concerned. There’s a doe that raises a pair of fawns out in the meadow each year. I assume she’ll be back in a few weeks. They have learned to accept us. We don’t bother them, but they keep their distance,
I saw a small flock of turkeys in the field the other day. They will soon mate and start their families. It’s fun watching them feed back and forth across the hillside.
We’re lucky. We live on the hill overlooking the pond and have a constant parade of wildlife. We see foxes and coyotes on a regular basis. They are my woodchuck control, so I don’t bother them either.
Truthfully, life can’t get any better.