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More Ways to Attract Wild Birds with a Little More Style
Mini Blossom Aurora Table Top Set
Tired of clunky-looking birdhouses? Feeders that look like they're imprisoned behind a wire grid? Birdbaths that look like cheap plasticware or boring concrete?
Here are a few ideas for the more eye-pleasing ways to attract wildlife:
Winter is Ending... Are You Preparing for Spring? 7 Actions to Take Now
The temperatures are still cold here in North America, but spring will soon be here.
Are you ready?
Check out this list of actions to take now:
Want a Water Feature But Have No Way to Supply Water? 5 Cordless Water Feature Styles
Cast Iron Cranes Birdbath with Water Wiggler
Do you want a water feature to attract wild birds to your porch, patio, deck, or balcony?
Does where you live prevent you from a hooking up a water line or power line to your fountain, sprayer, or other water feature?
You still have plenty of choices when it comes to water features -- some solar, some battery-powered.
5 Flower Seeds for Spring
Need some ideas on flowers that will attract wildlife?
Check out the flower seeds I'm starting here at the Wildlife Porch.
10 Tips to Discouraging Visiting Rats
.jpg "Rattus norvegicus, the Brown Rat, National Park Service, public domain")
Frustrated because you attracted the detestable rat as well as the birds?
Here are a few tips to deter, discourage, and remove rats from your wildlife areas.
4 Tips: Keep Squirrels Away From My Containers
Like to have containers of flowers and other plants around your porch, patio, deck, or balcony? Tired of squirrels tearing up your plants and digging in the soil?
Here are a few tips to deter those pesky squirrels:
7 Fun and Attractive Ideas to Prepare for Spring
Spring is on its way. Have some fun planning, preparing, and shopping for the wildlife you want visiting this spring.
Before-and-After Looks at Wildlife Areas at Home: An Introduction
Wondering how your space could attract wildlife? Want specific ideas?
Well, our new digs here at the Wildlife Porch can help.
We're now fortunate enough to have most of the basic areas you can have to attract wildlife -- a porch, patio, balcony, stoop, and patio.
To hopefully help you in your own efforts, I'll be tracking our before-and-after efforts for these areas.
Today, it's a brief introduction, complete with "before" pictures.
5 Steps to Solving the Problem "Birdseed is Becoming Too Expensive"
Are birds and squirrels eating way too much of your birdseed? Have you almost given up on feeding birds because you can't afford it?
If birds are gobbling up your spare cash, try one or more of these tips to save some money:
A Look Back at 2008: Top Articles and In-House Awards
Before I dive in to news, profiles, and my new before-and-after series, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at 2008.
So, between stats from Google Analytics and my sole discretion, I've identified the best articles from 2008.
Enjoy the "award show"!
5 Last-Minute Online Gifts for the Wildlife Watcher in Your Life
Merry Christmas!
Wonder what gift to give to your special someone? The one who loves wildlife?
Here's a few ideas for you (and for me, if I'm lucky -- is the husband reading this?).
Order by Monday, and Amazon will ship it in time for Christmas.
Mammals and Your Outdoor Area
Raccoons in a tree, Quadzilla99
Perhaps you enjoy squirrels, or understand the healthy role bats play in an ecosystem. Or perhaps your small outdoor area borders on an open space such that raccoons or even foxes visit.
No matter the situation, think carefully before attracting mammals to your outdoor area.
"Feeders Aren't Allowed Where I Live" -- Problem Solving
Image: Per Palmkvist Knudsen
Are the powers that be preventing you from placing feeders around your balcony, deck, or patio?
Don't give up! You can still attract wildlife without feeders.
5 of The Splendid, The Surprising, and The Unusual: Migrating Wildlife
It's autumn in the United States. Birds, butterflies, and other wildlife are on the move to warmer regions. Here's 5 beautiful, surprising, and unusual critters you might see on your porch, patio, deck, balcony, or other outdoor space during fall migrations.
Make a Leaf Pile For Your Habitat
When leaves fall in autumn, many of us bag them up as trash and put them on the curb. Some of us with larger backyards might use the leaves to amend garden soil.
Image: Tracy, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license
However, even those of use with small outdoor spaces can use them as part of a wildlife habitat. The number one way: build a leaf pile.
Retro Wildlife Porch #1: Squirrels, Birdhouses, and the Extraordinary
Trying to solve a problem? Interested in a particular way to attract wildlife?
This week, I'm revisiting several posts written here at the Porch, so check out the links below. I hope it helps you in your quest to attract wild birds, butterflies, and more to your small outdoor space.
Got Mosquitoes? How to Discourage and Destroy the Pesky Mosquito
Mosquitoes driving you nuts? Here are a few tips on how to deter and kill mosquitoes.
From National Geographic:
This summer scientists hope to finally crack the case of the mysterious ailment afflicting bats in the U.S. Northeast—before time runs out for the animals and the local environment.
Want to know why bats are important? See Attracting Helpful Bats Good for the Environment, You, and the Bats.
Scientists are seeking to determine why honeybees and bumblebees are dying off in the United States and in other countries, and the new study indicates that emissions from power plants and automobiles may play a part in the insects' demise.
Book Review: Attracting Butterflies and Hummingbirds to Your Backyard
Sally Roth's book, Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds to Your Backyard
Summary
Sally Roth covers not only nectar, water, and other butterfly edibles, but also plants -- host plants, nectar plants, and garden design.
She also offers a look not only into the behavior of hummingbirds and butterflies, but a very useful gallery of the common butterflies and hummingbirds in the United States.
Sprinkled through the pages are gorgeous pictures, useful sidebars of top 10 plants and tidbits, and instructions for small projects.
3 Great Deals on Plants to Attract Wildlife Simply and Inexpensively to Your Patio, Deck, or Balcony
Once a month I like to try to find a few quality products on sale. I search places like Duncraft.com or Wayside Gardens so you won't have to.
This month, it's plants on sale. Two of three attract butterflies, and the lovely columbine attracts hummingbirds.
Site Roundup: Top 3 Free Plant Databases
Want to identify a plant? Find out where it grows? Determine what kind of growing conditions it needs?
This week's roundup may help. I'm covering the top 3 free plant databases.
It's Spring -- What Will You Do to Attract Wildlife to Your Small Outdoor Area This Year?
It's springtime - what will you do to attract wildlife to your porch, patio, deck, or balcony this year?
If you've got a plan, let me know (see the contact link at the top of the page).
Otherwise, check out the following ideas:
10 Surprising Facts About Birds, Butterflies, and Squirrels
Here's a few things I didn't know about wildlife:
How Much of a Danger Do Cats Pose to Wild Birds and Other Wildlife?
Cats eat birds.
Yes, some cats will never kill a bird, like a cat kept entirely indoors, but outdoors cats - both domesticated and feral - hunt and kill birds.
But how much of an impact do these cats make?
Wednesday Link Roundup: Squirrels, Butterfly Container, Urban Native Birds, Orchard Bees, and Hummingbirds
This week's link roundup includes
- An article on how to attract squirrels
- The folks at the Backyard Bird Company also appreciate the friendly orchard bee
- How to Make a Butterfly Container Garden
- A clear description of hummingbirds
- An Aububon Society effort to help native birds in urban areas, including which birds you can target to help
A news report from last summer but still relevant:
The populations of nearly two dozen common American birds... are half what they were 40 years ago, a new analysis found.
What's My Dream Wildlife Porch? Part 7: Flowering Container Plants
This is the seventh in a series of ideas for a dream wildlife deck. This week, I'll be talking about flowering container plants that attract wildlife.
Looking for a Deal? Sale Products of the Month: Squirrel Food, Deck Bracket, Heated Birdbath, Coreopsis
Interested in a good deal on products for your wildlife porch, patio, deck, or balcony?
What's My Dream Wildlife Porch? Part 6: Vines and Shrubs to Shelter Wild Birds
This is the sixth in a series of ideas for a dream wildlife deck (or porch, or patio, or balcony... you get the idea). This week, I'll be talking about container vines and shrubs for wildlife, especially wild birds.
