It's time to start thinking of the garden
Dec. 25th, 2022 01:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
conulyMy parents always had a vegetable garden, even when that meant climbing down a fire escape ladder because that was their only access to the backyard. Consequently, I tend to think that any garden that's not mostly herbs and vegetables is a total waste of both space and effort.
However, in recent years it's been hard to keep the motivation going, which means our garden is ultimately overrun. And to be fair, the animals love it. We always have so many birds! Also snakes and so on. But I'm pretty sure our human neighbors find it annoying, and I think my mother did as well.
So I'm thinking maybe wildflowers? Native wildflowers? Hopefully something low-effort that the wildlife will still like? And to make up for them no longer having quite as much wild space to be wildlife in, a birdfeeder? (And a squirrelfeeder as well.)
What sort of birdfeeder would I like to get? I don't actually know that much about birds. I know we have all of what you'd expect from the northeast - chickadees, mourning doves, woodpeckers (I've never seen them, but you can hear them), sparrows, crows, bluejays, cardinals... also turkeys and pigeons and occasionally hummingbirds, and mockingbirds in recent years, the one good thing about climate change. (Well, I think so. They also annoy all the neighbors, but I like them.)
I'm more concerned about making sure that the cats can't catch the birds there than about keeping the squirrels out, though I guess my neighbors wouldn't thank me if I attracted rats and mice with a poorly kept birdfeeder either. The cats would, but nobody asked their opinion!
However, in recent years it's been hard to keep the motivation going, which means our garden is ultimately overrun. And to be fair, the animals love it. We always have so many birds! Also snakes and so on. But I'm pretty sure our human neighbors find it annoying, and I think my mother did as well.
So I'm thinking maybe wildflowers? Native wildflowers? Hopefully something low-effort that the wildlife will still like? And to make up for them no longer having quite as much wild space to be wildlife in, a birdfeeder? (And a squirrelfeeder as well.)
What sort of birdfeeder would I like to get? I don't actually know that much about birds. I know we have all of what you'd expect from the northeast - chickadees, mourning doves, woodpeckers (I've never seen them, but you can hear them), sparrows, crows, bluejays, cardinals... also turkeys and pigeons and occasionally hummingbirds, and mockingbirds in recent years, the one good thing about climate change. (Well, I think so. They also annoy all the neighbors, but I like them.)
I'm more concerned about making sure that the cats can't catch the birds there than about keeping the squirrels out, though I guess my neighbors wouldn't thank me if I attracted rats and mice with a poorly kept birdfeeder either. The cats would, but nobody asked their opinion!
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2022-12-27 10:33 pm (UTC)Mosquitoes can be prevented in a variety of ways, of which a very easy one is mosquito dunks. I find that I rarely need to dump the bird water because it doesn't often get mosquitoes. So I just tip it if I see wrigglers.
https://pestcontrolhacks.com/best-mosquito-dunks/
Alternatively there are fixtures such as drippers or misters that attract birds but not mosquitoes.
https://thebackyardnaturalist.com/wordpress/portfolio-items/drippers-misters-wigglers/
>> I'm already dubious about birdfeeders, tbh, but it's one step at a time. <<
In that case, start simple. A large hopper feeder full of mixed birdseed will attract a wide range of birds and not need to be refilled every day. A suet cage or thistle sock is also easy, and would attract different species. Sunflower seeds will run out a lot faster, and so will many small or specialty feeders.