What Happens When You Create a Bird Sanctuary in Your Backyard?

[@Biodiversity-Institute]

Nice work...quite the project. Always impressed with the diversity of wildlife on your property.

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

Thanks for the kind words; it was a fun project! Exciting to see how the birds and wildlife are using it.

[@flowerslt420]

water is life!!!

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

@@flowerslt420 Yes, I’d say so! It amazes me how much those trays got used. We have a 1-acre pond about 1/10 a mile from those trays but still that little bit of water got a lot of attention. Thanks for reaching out and welcome to the BBB community! Glad you found us.

[@eckmann88]

What a lovely channel to find! Such positive energy and a lovely project.

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

@@eckmann88 Thanks! Glad you found us and welcome to the BBB community! Are you generally interested in wildlife, birding, or outdoor adventures?

[@eckmann88]

@ All of the above! Though birding is my special passion :) We have a few feeders in our Texas backyard and the dream is to one day do something like a sanctuary on some land!

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

@@eckmann88 Awesome! Sounds like we have a few Texans in the community. That is the dream! Enjoy your feeders now and I hope you get that sanctuary built someday soon.

[@deelynn8611]

I already do have a sort of bird sanctuary. it's great. Lots of animals come into our city sized yard.

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

That’s awesome to hear, thanks for sharing! What’s been your favorite bird and/or animal to show up at your bird sanctuary? I love to learn more about it and any recommendations you might have from your experience! Thanks for reaching out.

[@richdunn5588]

I'm in a Dallas TX suburb, and yes, the Norway rats manage to pull their nighttime raids under the few bird feeders I've put in my small backyard. I figure that they'll always find a way to invade, so I tidy up the feeder areas and place paper plates of peanut butter sprinkled with baking soda in corners of my yard. Since rats can't burp or fart, they implode. I figured that I would just work through the problem while building a suburban bird happy place. I'm also reducing some of my grass with wildflower sections. Every little bit over time.

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

Glad to hear you have your happy bird place! What are some of your more frequent bird visitors in TX? Also, those sound like some creative solutions you’re working through! Nice work, and keep up the wildflower plantings. Sounds like you have a wise perspective about it!

[@CherrieMcKenzie]

I put out a feeder and have been surprised by the annual visitors I get. Last spring I got an invasion of over 30 robins. They stayed a few days then moved on after leaving plenty of droppings. Wild doves are permanent residents along with others. My brother gave me a blue bird house so we will see how that goes. It really is an adventure.

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

@@CherrieMcKenzie Hi Cherrie, thanks for sharing; it’s always fun to see what birds will show up on a given day or season. That blue bird house should be exciting too. Keep us posted on if it gets established. I’m excited to get a few nest boxes out here as well.

[@dianecernak7130]

CREATION: Life is better with wildlife

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

Could not say it better myself! Something feels great about making something with your hands and seeing it used. Thanks for reaching out!

[@arbuzzz7991]

Very nice place you made ! I would add bird housing space to it. Unless you live in a area with harsh ,snowy winters the feeders are not really needed for the birds to thrive . They are a good way to atract the birds to your place but they dont really help them much. While housing is often the limiting factor for many bird populations.

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

Thanks for the advice; that’s my exact sentiment as well. I’ll leave the feeder station up through winter but not after, and plan to put out nest boxes soon. Thanks for being a part of the BBB community!

[@TracyBirds]

Where do you live? Suet can go rancid in the heat (summer), be mindful of that. Plant native species too, that helps attracting pollinators which brings in the birds too. Love the video, new subbie from Alberta, 🇨🇦.

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

@@TracyBirds Awesome! Glad to have you as part of our BBB community, and representing Alberta. Great reminder regarding suit! We are in the Sierra Nevada foothill of California. You are right, in the summer it’s too hot, but our fall and winter allow for it. I’m curious if you have a favorite variety/type of suet that you use? We planted two native wildflower plots this fall and we’re super excited to see what become of the meadow this spring. Thanks for any additional insights or suggestions you might offer!

[@TracyBirds]

@ I actually make my own suet and the birds love it (beef fat suet, natural peanut butter, oatmeal for binder, and mix of seeds, nuts and mealworms for the birds). Temps are dipping here again, it will be -30°C tonight so I just refilled all the suet feeders.

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

Oh that’s awesome, thanks for sharing your recipe! Do you ever just use natural beef suet (like fat from a butcher)? Also, what birds are you seeing, chickadees and nuthatches?

[@TracyBirds]

@ yes I get the suet from a butcher (that’s what I melt down to make the suet), but I typically don’t put it out as I would have too many magpies and ravens around. My suet feeders are small and meant for clingers (woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees).

[@bethvanney1059]

Hello from southwest New Hampshire. We started a similar project 7 years ago on our forest edge property by establishing a ½ acre meadow, removing invasives, and creating patches of thicket using native shrubs. Next is tackling our barren understory. You have inspired me! The thicket/meadow combo has attracted so many insects, birds, pollinators, and mammals. You are going to love it! We feed the birds and squirrels in the winters but I’m reluctant to put out our heated bird bath due to avian flu. Do you have any tips on preventing it from spreading thru the birds?

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

@@bethvanney1059 sounds like an awesome project and the is very encouraging to hear. Thanks for the kind comment. Regarding avian influenza, I’ve been hearing it’s not as likely to be transmitted widely through songbirds as other birds. Still, being proactive is probably the best step to take, so maybe don’t put out the heated bird bath this year or just keep up on cleaning it and your feeders. Best to use a 10-percent bleach solution to clean them…your feeders weekly and your bath every few days. This article is good and provides more details that you might find helpful gadnr.org/dnr-clean-feeders-save-birds#:~:text=Clean%20feeders%20weekly%20using%20a,%2C%20and%20wash%20carefully%20afterward.)

[@bethvanney1059]

@ thank you.

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

@@bethvanney1059 yes, of course! Keep us posted on what you decide on for your heated birdbath. Do you have a heater recommendation? I’m deciding if I should put one out once we have a more consistent freeze. I’m also interested in learning more from your experience with your bird sanctuary; lessons learned… Thanks in advance for any additional insights!

[@gunyagrean4033]

Wonder if there are bigger water tray it will draw more wildlife😂, anyway your video is amazing please keep doing this ❤❤❤❤

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

Glad you liked it! Yeah, a bigger water tray is a great idea. I only intended for birds to use them, so shallower ones would work better for their needs. However, seeing all the wildlife using them, I think you are correct; bigger is better!

[@motleybadger1023]

In the southwest city of Phoenix, you get feral cats🤨😜

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

Haha, it sounds like we get a little bit of everything in the 3B community. Thanks for sharing and good luck 🐈

[@inorganicjoe]

Do you ever see an ouzel? They are songbirds that walk underwater- I didn't spot one when I was out west, but I've been curious ever since I read about them!

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

I’m not familiar with the Ouzel, but we do have American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus), which I think is maybe what you are referring to. And yes, we do have them in the area and they are so fun to observe! A favorite of John Muir’s, and I can see why! I’ve seen them in many streams in the area, often when fly fishing. Hope you spot one the next time you are out visiting.

[@inorganicjoe]

@@BackyardBiologyBoys Yes, they are one and the same! I first read about them in John Muir's essays.

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

@@inorganicjoe Okay, got it. You learn something new everyday. They are definitely a fun bird to observe.

[@JJLom777]

Some good ideas. Some... Not so much. But, its good to experiment to see what works best. Here we have to deal with hordes of squirrels and chipmunks. I've seen them hunt eggs and young birds, too. It's just not right.

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

Thanks for your honesty feedback! I like taking a adaptive management approach as well. We have gray squirrels and chipmunks too but they seem to be behaving themselves as of now. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time. Have a great one!

[@JJLom777]

@BackyardBiologyBoys I think the limited number of actual predator species is why the rodent behavior has gotten so... Weird. But, we're working on it. Same as you.

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

@@JJLom777 that makes sense! I’m curious what solutions you are using to deter squirrels at your feeders (e.g., squirrel baffles, changing feeder types)? Any insights you have on the subject would be much appreciated and helpful for the group. Thanks!

[@JJLom777]

@BackyardBiologyBoys Sure. But, I'll be answering your one question in several different comments. As, I could probably write a book on the life lessons I've learned while trying to facilitate a healthy local ecosystem. For continuity's sake, I probably won't respond to any comments made while I'm in the process of jotting all this down. (I'll start with the property's environment when I first got here twenty-five years ago. That will be my next post.) Be well, JJ

[@JJLom777]

@@BackyardBiologyBoys Starting conditions here: The piece of property is very close to a major throughway. This keeps most mammalian predators from doing a decent job here. On the plus side, deer also tend to not cross the road. So, my orchard doesn't need to deal with that potential problem. It's not a huge piece of land. (3/4 of an acre) So, it's suburban. When we first moved here every house on the street had squirrels destroying their house's eaves and roofs to build nests. The population was so out of control that squirrels had become the top of the immediate food chain. One morning my wife and I were looking out our back windows during breakfast. There was a rabbit in the yard. We watched in horror as six squirrels came rushing it like a city gang against a pedestrian in an alley. (Next up: physical conditions of the rodents and the kinds in the area.) (I'm explaining all this because my actions would seem drastic, even to me, if the background isn't understood.)

[@beverlybelcher3423]

I have a question. What do you feed your squirrels? I was feeding mine peanuts. I recently watched a video that stated that peanuts were lethal to squirrels because the peanuts are susceptible to mold and fungi. Is that true? My squirrels do enjoy the sunflower seeds I put bc in my feeder for the birds. I put plenty of seed for all to enjoy. What type of nuts?

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

Thanks for reaching out, and great question! I don’t feed them anything currently. The pine and oak trees did well for them this summer and fall and they seem to be very content and have left my feeders altogether alone. That being said, yes they would like your black oil sunflower seeds and any nut-based blends you offer. I’ve never heard peanuts (or corn for that matter) being lethal; just not as heathy as an option for the squirrels dietary needs as other options you could feed them, like unshelled nuts of various kinds. Similarly to your bird feeders, you would want to keep any squirrel feeder cleaned regularly and not over filled with food as this could cause feed to go rancid (probably what the other video was speaking towards). Hope that helps and here is a good article on squirrel feeding that you might find helpful www.perkypet.com/articles/what-to-feed-squirrels#:~:text=Of%20course%2C%20bird%20seed%20can%20double%20as,them%20with%20in%2Dthe%2Dshell%20nuts.%20SQUIRREL%20FEEDING%20GUIDE.

[@beverlybelcher3423]

@ Thank you so much for your informative answer. I forgot to tell you that I live in an apartment. Last year, I created a pollinator garden around my patio with my land lady’s approval. I just have one platform feeder and a birdbath. I created a low “bee “ bath like you showed in your video. I think I shall try getting the squirrels some unshelled nuts like you suggest. I shall watch the video you sent to get some other ideas. Thank you again so much.

[@beverlybelcher3423]

@@BackyardBiologyBoys I just read the article you sent me. Maybe I shall get them some shelled walnuts or pecans. I bought a pumpkin and cut it open at Halloween for them. Maybe I shall try some other varieties of squash. Thank you so much. The article was a great help.

[@madeleinehayes4100]

How in the world do you keep the raccoons and bears from tearing your feeders down? When we first moved to the country us city slickers put up $300 of feeders that were torn down by a bear the first night. Now we keep them all on our 2nd story deck and bring them in at night. We've seen the numbers of birds increase dramatically over the years since we started feeding them all year round. This spring we are planting wildflowers everywhere for the bees, birds, and butterflies. One friendly suggestion - time to lose that gas powered saw - we went to all battery powered gear and it is quieter with no fumes and no trips to the gas station!

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

Oh, I’m sorry! Glad you found a solution where you can still keep up your feeders without the trouble. I think I’ve been lucky for the most part. The only trouble I was have was deer eating black oil sunflower seeds. I switched those out from my hopper feeder with some safflower seeds and that has done the trick. That is awesome you’ll be planting wildflowers! I just planted two large wildflower plots this fall in the hopes of establishing two wildflower meadows on are property for pollinators. Great minds think alike! I’ll take note on the chainsaw and when that one dies, will look into other options! Thanks for reaching out, and keep up those wildlife projects! It will be fun hearing how they work out.

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

@@madeleinehayes4100 I was thinking about your comment this morning and was curious what brand electric chainsaw you use and are you happy with its performance for small to medium jobs? Thanks for any insights!

[@madeleinehayes4100]

@@BackyardBiologyBoys We have the Ryobi saw - bought this one only because we already had other tools from Ryobi like the weed eater and lawn mower so we didn't have to buy a battery. In most cases the battery is interchangeable among their tools so you don't have to buy a new one for each tool. When we bought the lawn mower they sent us a free charger that is a lot quicker than the one that came with it. Their customer service has been really great too so we decided to stick with them. The saw has been wonderful for cutting firewood - it is quieter and much lighter than a gas-powered saw which means I can use it easily and don't have to ask for help as I did with the gas-powered which I could not even get started. The only drawback to battery powered tools is if you have a big project you may have to wait to recharge the battery if you don't have multiple batteries ready to go. Hope this helps!

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

@ thanks for taking the time to let me know your thoughts and experience with the saw. I purchased a used Ryobi pole saw this summer and it’s been extremely useful. I guess maybe any future transition to a different chainsaw would not be too difficult given the shared battery option. Thanks again for the information!

[@lightgiver7311]

I made one, got tired of hawks killing the birds I was attracting, took everything down

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

That’s too bad about the hawks but a responsible decision on your part. I had to do the same at a former house when a Sharp-shinned Hawk started targeting our feeder station. So far no issues here 🤞🏼

[@dankeener3307]

Was your feeder near a brush pile, shrub, hedge or some type of shelter for birds to escape to?

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

@@dankeener3307 great suggestion! A brush pile or nearby shrub could help provide cover for songbirds.

[@amyJFH]

Some of your feeders look extraordinarily dirty. I hope you’re cleaning and sterilizing them on a regular basis? Disease can spread quickly across an entire population. A bird sanctuary can (and eventually will) turn into a disease pit if you’re not cleaning those feeders. AND the ground under them. It doesn’t appear that you are. I also hope you’re scrubbing those water bowls too.

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

Thank you for your concern! Keeping our bird sanctuary safe and healthy for the wildlife is a top priority for me. I clean and sanitize our feeders regularly with a 10% bleach solution and ensure the ground beneath them is raked of seed hulls and waste a least once a week. The feeder stations will only be up in the fall and winter and I periodically rotate them around our property. The water trays are also scrubbed and refreshed every few days, especially during heavy use. Feedback like yours helps us and the 3B community learn and improve our wildlife friendly practices -thank you for reminding us how important hygiene is for the birds’ well-being!

[@christophe3281]

You get a rodent infestation. That’s what happens

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

Hahah! Fortunately, I have ample amount of coyotes, fox, bobcat, owls and other raptors, gopher snakes, and King snakes to keep any rodents honest around here. Time will tell.

[@FYMASMD]

You get rats. That’s what happens.

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

Haha, that sounds like it’s spoken for experience!?! I’m counting on the coyotes, foxes, bobcats, hawks, owls, gopher snakes and kingsnakes to keep our wood rats honest around here.

[@SummerSun-sg3wf]

Squirrels

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

@ haha, that’s a possibility! I’ve had more trouble with deer, but after switching to safflower seeds in my lower feeders , they’ve seemed to leave them alone.

[@thompson121]

22 take care of bushy tail rats 😂😂​@@BackyardBiologyBoys

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

@ I just picked up a Ruger 10/22 anniversary addition. We recently started going squirrel hunting in the forest service property just up the road. My oldest has been expressing an interest in hunting so that seemed like an easy intermediate step for the both of us.

[@robertaolson6847]

Had to stop feeding seeds, now only use hot peppered suet

[@BackyardBiologyBoys]

Oh wow! How do you like the hot peppered suet? I'd be interested to hear your experience with it. I only have berry and peanut butter suet out in our yard.