February 1, 2008
Backyard tip of the week:A stick pile is an interesting and easy way to attract songbirds to your yard. Different than a brush pile, which also can benefit our feathered friends by providing shelter, a stick pile can be made to be functional and artistic.
First, choose a suitable location in your yard, mine is nestled under the branches of a Norway Spruce to add a bit of protection from the hawks. Begin laying sticks in a pattern that affords different openings on various levels, perhaps some crevices to retain any black oil sunflower seed you might find yourself spreading on the stick pile, especially on those snowy days. Start out small with the seed until the birds figure out what you're up to. Be careful to put out only as much as you think will be consumed before nightfall.
Be artistic and have fun creating your stick pile. Use sticks or logs which you find to be appealing, or those which you think the birds will, and see what happens. You'll be surprised at the variety of visitors to your stick pile and the birds are sure to love it!
Backyard sightings for last week:
Included northern cardinals and dark-eyed juncos, white-throated sparrows, eastern goldfinches, house finches and purple finches. Red-bellied woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, white-breasted and red-breasted nuthatches, tufted titmice, black-capped chickadees, blue-jays, the occasional pair of crows, a couple of grey squirrels, several pairs of European Starlings, and many mourning doves, probably a few of them in the pear tree!
Cool sighting of the week:
Was a bird that was heard, but not seen. while on a job site in a wooded area Wednesday, a strange bird call was heard. Strange, because it was unusual and unfamiliar. The bird called several times and then disappeared high into the tree branches before it could be seen. Oh well, either way, it was cool!
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