It has been two months since my father's passing so now that I find I have a lot of time on my hands, I want to keep my mind from dwelling on the years where age and time took a BIG toll on my father.

I am now relandscaping my yard and will be planting my parent's favorite flowers. I will then dedicate that portion of my garden as a Memorial Garden to them.

In a way, it will be like I am doing caregiving again in that I have to maintain the garden so that the plants will thrive.

Yes, ficus trees do grow outside. The grow very easily here in S. California. The little birdies have flown away . . . that was fast. But I hear Sparrows lay an average of 3-4 clutches per season.

Thos crows/ravens are a nuisance. One left a care package on my patio furniture! Grrrrrrrr!

quote:

Originally posted by OCSurfCity:
The nest is in a ficus tree ...

Hold on here a minute!!!!!!! You mean to tell me that ficus trees are REAL??? I thought they only grew in furniture stores and in the fake greenery area at WalMart!!!

OC, big, greedy, aggressive birds are the bane of every little bird fancier! There are special birdfeeders which address this issue. Mom has one that she bought years ago that has a weighted perch. If a little bird lights on it, it operates like a normal feeder. But if a big bird lights, it lowers the perch and closes the feeder so no food is available to them. Hee, hee.

For little birds, finch feeders (like closed stockings hung in branches) discourage big birds because they are too big and clumsy to handle the tiny perches or they are not attracted to "little bird" foods, such as thistle seed. Having a big, open feeder for the big guys can draw their attention away from smaller feeders where they cannot light (ones that they are too tall to fit under are great!).

Bird baths can be small or large - I use many small "basins" for little birds and the big guys can't be bothered with those.

The GOOD news is that I think the crows will move on... they are migratory and may only be passing through.

Our birds are kinda confused this year - the large migratory birds are having a tough time because so much of their nesting habitat was destroyed during the hurricanes last year... one of the effects that doesn't get much press, but is very important as coastal Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and panhandle Florida are all nurseries for waterfowl and aquatic life of all kinds...

Some of our hummers never left; big flocks have come through very early this season on the way to our northern neighbors, leaving only a few behind. The huge flocks of robins, crows, orchard orioles, and cedar waxwings which are regular as clockwork in the early spring did not show up in any numbers at all this year.

Try some different style feeders, particularly ones that the big guys cannot stand up underneath to feed from the perches. I get devilish delight from hanging a feeder with tiny perches and overhangs and watching the big boys give up trying to feed from them...

Squirrels are another whole chapter... I have given up trying to keep them out of the feeders and have started putting out treats for them away from the feeders.

My cats help out a lot - although they are delighted to catch ANY bird, the big ones are slower and easier for the cats to run off. The little birds fly away when cats approach, but will happily eat while one "hides" below the feeder because they know they can be long gone before a fat kitty could get to them.

Darn crows are intimidating the sparrows. Every time they come around the sparrows high tail it out of my backyard.

On a positive note, I notice the sparrows enjoy eating the aphids off my roses and hibiscus plants. Also they tend to stay away from the beneficial ladybugs!

Hey Gypsy I forgot about the "trickster"! My girlfriends MIL used to have that one up on the wall. They look simular to the ones from Canada Indian tribes. As for the dive bombing (tee hee) That is so amusing to watch considering the power of the hawks! Last year I actually had a hawk perch on my trampoline! that was a pretty awsome sight! I love all birds....except the mess they leave but hey cant have one without the other right?!

I like this crow legend better. (if the death one was true we wouldn't be here ) http://collections.ic.gc.ca/saskindian/a79mar34.htm There are legends about the raven too-he is known as Trickster. I get annoyed with the crows at times too they discovered how to knock down the birdfeeder(the one I have they can't perch on) so I changed the way I hang it. They bring crabs and shells to wash in Sandy's outdoor water as well as the birdbath and my new solar fountain. Over the years we rescued 2 babies-I think the one that learned to fly is still one that is so friendly-a few years ago he went in the open door and scared Mike,and himself took off and knock a ceramic whale off the room divider, flew out the door almost crashing into me. Before Mike had his stroke we used to feed them on the railing but after we had the whch ramp built I stopped as they were messing it. I haven't seen any nests this year they get very possessive of the area when they have babies. You always know when an eagle or cat is bothering their nest or babies as every crow in miles will come cawing, divebombing etc. Can you tell I have a soft spot for crows? Have to get to bed as it is after 2 am. Gypsy

Hmmmm Well I can say I believe they are the bringers of things to come....the crows if in threes tell of a death to come as well as a dove... As in the case of my father in law 1 month before his death a white dove landed on our stoop in the middle of the night (it was hot outside so we had the door open) she walked to the doorway and just sat there until I went to pick it up and take it outside where it flew away...Things to come??? Or was it a coincidence???
Things that make you go Hmmmmmmm

Bunny, I have a superstition that my grandmother told me. Crows (or Ravens) are evil spirits. She told me whenever a Raven or Crow was outside of a house or above it, that meant a death will occur soon.

On a cool note, an American Indian friend told me how the Mourning Dove got its name! Here's the story:

A man and his wife were deeply in love and happily living on a farm. One day the wife was terminally ill and she told her husband not to fear for she will return in the form of a dove. The wife passed away shortly thereafter.

A white dove appeared on a window sill every morning but the man did not think nothing of it.
In due time, the husband remarried.

The man and his new bride began a new life. One morning a white dove appeared in the window again. But this time it was pestering the couple.

After a few weeks of being pestered by this dove, the man got out his shotgun and fired at the dove. A loud piercing woman's scream was heard as the dove flew away.

In time, the husband and his new wife becaem old and passed passed away. But every spring, a bright white with red breasted dove would appear near the old homestead letting out a mourning warble of a love that once was.

That is how the Mounring Dove got its name!

Ok lets try this again (havin a lil problem posting today for some reason) Sparrows fledge in the nest for 15-17 days and then they tend to stay close to it (they also refer to and maybe you dont want to hear this OC) But.... The male of the species is the one that actually picks the nesting site and is very loyal to it (Ok you might not want to chop that tree just yet?!) As for the crows and pigeons well I feel ya there Dear I fed, they came, I couldnt get rid of those loud creatures so instead I gave in and embraced them! I even had a "pet" crow that would just sit and watch me garden all the time! Hey I got to like crows in the end...Maybe you will too

Hey, how soon does the birds take flight? I am having a hell of time with crows and pigeons knocking over the bird feeder to get at the bird seeds. They are also hogging up the bird bath too so that the other birds do not have a chance to bathe and drink.

quote:

Originally posted by OCSurfCity:
The nest is in a ficus tree and I can't get a good shot at the nest. Three little birds - they are from the Sparrow species .. I was watching the parents yesterday and they were feeding the chicks all the time.

I turned on my small water fountain this past week to provide water for the birds. But the birds rather use my pool for a bath.

OC the one thing I noticed in the sparrows is they like the calm waters of a regular bird bath (no sprinkles) Doves like a little sprinkle though they come into my back yard and will sit under the sprinklers while stretching their wings up in the air...Quite an amazing sight. Kinda beauteeeful if ya ask me

The nest is in a ficus tree and I can't get a good shot at the nest. Three little birds - they are from the Sparrow species .. I was watching the parents yesterday and they were feeding the chicks all the time.

I turned on my small water fountain this past week to provide water for the birds. But the birds rather use my pool for a bath.

Steve, do we hear any little chirping sounds yet?

Awww Did ya take pictures OC? Take Pics lots of them!!

Oh we have one chick that hatched!!!!!

The beef suet I put out is being eating very quickly. Good news!

OC I think you might have the little sparrows they would come in droves into my backyard when I lived down there! I would keep them fat by feeding them all the time and had a water bath for them also. Armstrong Garden centers has the best plants down there and there was also a very helpful nursery over by where I was in Glendora/Covina (I cant remember the name of it but it was directly under the big power lines by Alosta/route 66) Sago palms are going to be expensive because they are slow growers. Gardeners are always on the lookout for those as they became popular about 20 years ago for their slow growing habits.

Val, what a great site!!!! I have already joined and have begun populating my list!!!

THANKS!!

Oh, and I put the lint from the dryer vent out onto the back porch. (Cotton lint only, or at least I try to keep it cotton only.) I've seen many of our birds grabbing little pieces of it. Also, the SQUIRRELS have stripped the bark from our cedar trees and are eating our house!

Mother Nature sometimes has a weird sense of humor.

Love going to garden shops, hate the prices. Just found this bird ID site-there are alot out there but this one seems to have picts and descriptions. Hope it is helpful. I love the birds too. Watched 2 chickadees taking hair out of the dog's brush the other day. When I brushed her I left the hair outside for the birds-don't know if they came back for more or the wind blew it away. Happy Birding and Gardening. Looking forward to picts if you get some. http://www.wildlifemanagement.info/bird_identification.htm Gypsy

I am trying to find a picture book on birds to determine what species they are. After work today, I went to the Nursery to get pricing on various plants I want:

Sago Palm - 20 gallon pot - $399.00
Gardenia - 10 gallon pot - $19.00
Star Jasmine - 5 gallon pot - $16.00

Dang, plant prices are expensive!!