Another thing that does my heart good to see? BIRDS! My son and I spotted some robins pecking around in the backyard today and it got me thinking about a cute little project I'd seen recently designed to help our fine-feathered friends to build their nests this spring!
Just add a couple of handfuls of yarn scraps to an inexpensive suet feeder and hang outside where the birds can find it. Then be on the lookout for birds nests in your neighborhood featuring your "building materials". I am definitely putting one of these up for my bird buddies this weekend!
Yarn Bird Feeder
by Juniper Moon Farm
“Birds fly over the rainbow, Why then - oh, why can't I? If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow why, oh why, can't I?”
--- E.Y. Harburg
And if you're still feeling crafty after that little project....here are a few more to help FEED the birds. (They're going to be HUNGRY after all that nest construction!)
Biodegradable Orange Birdfeeder
by Rhythm of the Home
Nearly two billion dollars a year are spent on birdhouses, birdfeeders, wild bird food, and related items. Feeding birds is both good for the birds and the soul.
Ornithology.com
Birdseed Biscuits
. . The beautiful vagabonds, endowed with every grace, masters of all climes, and knowing no bounds . . .
--- John Burroughs, Birds and Poets, 1887
Pinecone Feeder
by National Geographic for Kids
“In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence.”
--- Robert Lynd
Bird Bagels
“The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply that they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings”
--- James Matthew Barrie
Other ingredients that you can add to bird treats or just set out on your feeder are: Ground eggs shells, fine gravel or sand (for grit), cheese, dry cereal, coconut (raw), cornbread, cracker crumbs, dog biscuits (chopped fine), ears of sweet corn and watermelon pulp. Don't forget the seeds from all of your veggies!
Only 10 more days until SPRING officially arrives!
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Helping provide food and shelter to our bird buddies is today's.....
I love the idea of the "Bird Biscuits"
ReplyDeleteGreat photos btw!
Kay Johnson
andtheniateit.com
Great ideas and I would just love to put out food and nest material for the birds..... but what to do if we have a dog who chases the poor little birdies? :( I would feel so terribly guilty if I lured a bird here with treats and my fur kid traumatized them!
ReplyDeleteOkay, you have now become my favorite blog to visit. Thank you for the wonderful ideas!!! I plan on trying many of the "cleaning" ideas over my spring break this week and will probably try the bird feeder ones too!
ReplyDeleteFor Karen, my furry kids are confined to my back yard so I'll be putting the feeders in the front...and hoping the neighbor's cat doesn't get too close! Hmmmm, maybe if I put the feeders up high enough in the tree....
Donna
anotherbattlewon.blogspot.com
Living here in Central Texas, Spring is already here. I noticed my first Hummingbird on Wednesday afternoon so of course had to get the feeders up. More will come as time goes by and it's a riot to watch them buzzing around fighting over the feeder. My brother in law is a wildlife biologist and he said all you need for the other birds is Chicken Scratch and Sunflower seeds...none of that commercially packaged food that is ridiculously expensive. Happy Birding everybody.
ReplyDeleteVery spring I would clip my Maltipoo's fur back. I would take the clipping out behind the shed and put them in the bushes for the nesting birds.
ReplyDeleteKaren H....that IS a dilemma...lol. hmmmmmm.
ReplyDeleteThank you Donna! :-))
Anony...good info. Dumb question though...what exactly is Chicken Scratch? :-/
Anony....Ooooo...pet fur is another great idea! How soft would THOSE nests be!? :-)
Jill, I have a question ... you have an ad on your blog site for women with thyroid problems. Do you know anything about this company? Have you used their product? BTW, I truly enjoy reading your blog! I just found you a couple of weeks ago and I've gone back and read all your past posts. Some wonderful and amazing ideas! Thanks, Pam
ReplyDeleteI put out all the fur I trim off of my dog in a suet feeder. The birds just love it to feather their nests.
ReplyDeleteMy dad always put dog hair out in a suet cage (he had a long haired dog that required frequent brushing)... the birds loved it!
ReplyDeletedon't forget the lint from your dryer, they love that for there nests also.
ReplyDeleteSuch great ideas! Love it!
ReplyDeleteThat's such a good idea. Being a crafter I have loads of yarn and fabric snippets so will definitely putting one of these out for our birdies. Thank you. Shaz x (FYI - I saw your article via Pinterest)
ReplyDeleteHeads up though, baby birds can get their legs tangled in long pieces of hair/yarn/etc. These entrapped limbs can have their circulation cut off to the point the bird loses it.
ReplyDeleteKeep the yarn and stuff short to help prevent tangling. I used to leave my horses long mane/tale hair out for birds, but then I started cutting the hair up for them.
WOW! Never would have thought of this! THanks!!
ReplyDeleteYou've credited the wrong person on your "Over the Rainbow" lyrics. "The Wizard of Oz" WAS written by L. Frank Baum, but the song "Over the Rainbow" was not part of the book.
ReplyDeleteThe movie was made at a time when just about every single movie had a song in in somewhere. The lyrics were actually written by E. Y. Harburg, and it was composed by Harold Arlen.
Chicken Scratch is just Chicken Feed. You buy it at a feed store, it is cheap for such a large bag.....
ReplyDeleteThis idea makes me so happy! I can't wait until I don't live in the city (birds don't like it here!). Until then I will save my scraps :D
ReplyDeleteChanel Jones...thank you for that information...I will correct the post. :-)
ReplyDeleteTraci...thank you! Good to know.
urban flowerpot...I'm glad this made you happy! Made me happy too! I was finally able to track down one of those suet feeders today...can't wait to put mine up!
Great Idea! I added it to my pinterest board. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLori
I would not recommend using yarn.
ReplyDeleteMy boyfriend once saw a bird "hung" dead from a tree because it's foot got caught to a branch with some yarn it found.
The wild bird supply stores sell these and they have soft cotton-like stuffing in them instead.