Tag: Donna Lewis

Summer Friends

Sue Ann (Suna) Kendall2 Comments

by Donna Lewis

Today I went out to my garden to fill all the bird baths and containers I have with fresh water for all the birds, bunnies, and assorted little creatures that call our place their home.  After all, we are in their hood.  I have to fill everything twice a day.

I have tried to get a photo of all the Cardinals. I must have 80 to 100 of them, by far more than I have ever had at one time. We have feeders out for them, so I am thinking that the weather was not kind to insects this year (or anyone else) and that the birds are hungry and thirsty.  I can understand that.  They cannot run over to the store and pick something up like we do. Asking them to sit still while I take a picture of them has not been easy. They fly up as soon as I approach them.

They are at Mother Natures and humans’ whim.

There are lots of first years in the garden. You can always tell the new babies because their feathers are not as beautiful, not as colorful, and pretty ruffled up. They look like they are having a bad hair day!

I was able to get one photo with several first-year Cardinals and two first-year Blue Birds. I bet they will remember sitting next to their bird pals during a drought year and sharing a cool drink. There are always good times if you look for them.

Remember who we garden for.

Mosquitoes in the Birdbaths

Sue Ann (Suna) Kendall2 Comments

by Donna Lewis

Lately, I keep hearing on the news about West Nile Disease and that you should dump out any standing water. While there is some merit to this statement, it also makes people think they should not have bird baths out. Wrong…

Bird baths also add beauty to the garden

Many items that hold standing water like old tires or things laying around in junk yards that can hold water probably should be addressed.

Please do not include bird baths in this category! We are in a severe hot weather event and birds could use our help. Putting out as many containers that hold water as possible could save the life of a bird, a bunny, or any living creature. I am also including your pets if they must be outside.

I have many different types of bird baths on our property.  Some sit directly on the ground for bunnies and the birds.

Different kinds of bird baths

It is simple to keep the water safe for humans and the wild things. Note that it takes about 10 days or so for mosquitoes to hatch from a standing water source. Running water does not generally pose a threat, because the larvae or eggs are washed away if the water is running.

Of course, bird baths, which don’t have running water, CAN be a target for mosquitoes. BUT it is so easy to keep that from happening.

First, in this heat, shallow water will evaporate long before 10 days is up. But we probably don’t want to let our water for our friends dry up.

The easiest thing to do to stop mosquitoes is to just dump the water out every day and fill it with fresh water. Problem solved. How hard can that be? Fresh water is good for the birds and animals, anyway.

Rinsing

You also buy mosquito dunks at the hardware store. These work well but can cost a lot.

Other Birdbath Maintenance Recommendations

If you have a lot of algae, you can easily clean it with a plastic putty knife. No cleaners are needed. Or you can just rinse it out, the animals don’t care. if there’s algae in their water. Think of it from their perspective.   

Scraping excess algae

The water is safer for the smaller birds when it is no deeper than four inches.

If you can put the water container under a tree or have some shade over it, that will be better, and the water won’t get as hot.

A shady bird bath

Yes, cats can be a problem for the birds if the container is near a tree or bush. They love to hide and then pounce. It’s their nature.  Cats need water also, and love to get a drink and a snack at the same time. So be cautious where you put your containers.

A bird bath with plenty of space around it

With just a small effort on your part, our wild things can be helped during this extreme weather. All things need water.

Tree Frog

Sue Ann (Suna) KendallLeave a comment

by Donna Lewis

There are still really neat little creatures to see, even though there is no rain and it is very hot outside.  You really have to look.

Right by some of my birdbaths and a large vine, I found a tiny Common Gray Tree Frog.

It was in the shade and sitting on a frog tube I made just for tree frogs. There is an inch of water in the bottom of the tube.  It was so little it was hard to get a good photo of it.

It turned its back to me just as I took the photo.  I guess it was camera shy.

The Gray Tree Frogs are a little bit smaller than the green ones. I don’t see these often, because they have a camouflage pattern on them.  That’s great for hiding.

Anyway, it was neat to see it.

There is always something if you look.

Stopped for a Visit…the End of Purple Martin Season

Sue Ann (Suna) KendallLeave a comment

by Donna Lewis

All my Purple Martins have fledged. The last baby left the house on July 9th.  It’s a good thing because it is way too hot in the martin houses. I actually had a few deaths related to the extreme heat. I was happy and sad when they got out and up into the air where the breeze could cool them and lift them up.  It’s where they do their magic.

So, after they leave the nest, they visit their house occasionally. They will live in the trees now like other birds. This is when they learn to fly and catch their food in the air. Learning to drink on the fly is also a skill they will have to master.

Right now, they are honing all their new skills and getting stronger every day.

When it’s time, they will head South to Brazil. Only they know when it’s time. Some have never been there, but the older ones will return to the forests they know.

Then next February they will return here again and start breeding all over again.

A long trip with many dangers lies ahead.

But, what an adventure!!!

Goodbye my friends; I hope to see you next year.

There Are Still Birds Nesting Right Now

Sue Ann (Suna) KendallLeave a comment

by Donna Lewis

Yes, I thought most of our local birds had finished with having babies still in the nest. It is way too hot to tend to them. I was very surprised when my Linda cut a branch off that she kept heading her head on, to find a Cardinal nest about ten inches from the cut.

Now the nest is pretty much open to the elements. I cannot move it; it is too fragile.

There is one baby in it. I have been watching it with my binoculars for three days now, and thankfully the baby is still safe. The mother is still feeding it. I pray every night that a predator doesn’t find it.

So, keep in mind while you trim branches, there are still babies in their nests now in late July.

Be watchful.