Luna is a satisfied roommate. She helps me monitor new birds around our area everyday from the office. However, she does not like Ebird. Just bird. |
In the beginning, we moved into our home. There wasn't any bird feeder nor garden. To make matters worse for this nature lover, we moved into midtown Tucson.
I planted the plants. I created a living "TV" for my cats and watched it all come together. And so did our cats.
After everything settled, I began with one feeder. That feeder grew into two. Then a hummingbird feeder. A thistle feeder. Then another hummingbird feeder. A nut feeder. A suet feeder. And finally an Oriole feeder.
Rufous Hummingbird |
Anna's Hummingbird nesting in our Live Oaks |
Curve-billed Thrasher |
Then they became common at sunrise and sunset feeding around my newly placed suet.
My side garden continued to grow. But I had to deal with another situation.
Feral cats. I had seen Northern Cardinals in my neighborhood, but how could I get them to come to my feeders? Eliminate feral cats. One still remains. The other 3 were moved to the humane society.
Female Northern Cardinal |
Broad-billed Hummingbird |
Ladderback Woodpecker |
Northern Mockingbird |
Costa's Hummingbird |
The Verdin uses our tree tops and slides down for a quick drink from the hummingbird feeder.
Verdin |
While common at my feeders, I can't imagine a day without my sparrows or finches.
House Finch |
I see a Praying Mantis. It sits close to the hummingbird feeder......a hummer's nightmare.
And then.....a miracle. My first Northern Cardinal shows up. The world stops at my urban home. It happened! It really happened!
In the beginning after all the plants were placed into the ground, it looked like this.
And as time went on. Others began to notice. My cats ran for cover inside the house. The birds were silent outside replaced with strange calls. My yard gets real.
Cooper's Hawk |
Red-tailed Hawk |
The Gila Woodpecker comes and drinks from the hummingbird feeder.
And the Cooper's still randomly visits......
And I wanted warblers. So I added pineapple chunks and fruit.
On the top of our oak, I heard something rare during fall migration. Turns out this flycatcher was passing through the area.
Ash-throated Flycatcher |
And the Mourning and White-winged Doves continued by the feeders. I discover the White-winged Doves are the ones who are making a mess of everything. They are also the bullies of the bird world.
The House Sparrows navigate around the larger birds.
And then it really really happens. A Green-tailed Towhee stops by at my place for several days. I know that I have passed Mother Nature's test. I have officially been granted a desert oasis in the city. All the hard work has paid off.
The Verdins are nesting in our trees.
If you dream it, it will happen.
I thought the world ended when a Nashville Warbler plopped along the ground near our living room window. It was passing through our yard during migration.
And it hasn't stopped. This spring has been loaded with so many incredible birds.
I LOVE spring migration. It's the first Black-headed Grosbeak sighting on our property. This all just happened about a week ago!
Patience and planning are all that it takes. So when I can't bird on the road, I don't mind sipping on my coffee at home from my windows and seeing who will pop in for a visit. Anything is possible.
Western Tanagers love Mulberry Trees. It's one of the reasons I placed one on our property back in 2008. |
Cactus Wren |
You knew I'd love this post since I'm a Backyard Birder... I love my little birdies!!!!! You have really improved your area --and have attracted all kinds of birds. That is awesome.
ReplyDeleteDo you not have trouble with Squirrels???? They drive us crazy!!!! AND--we have to put everything away at nights due to the raccoons which are smart enough to STEAL the entire feeders!!!! Fun Fun...
Hugs,
Betsy
Wow, you have done an amazing job and are being rewarded with some beautiful birds. The world needs lots more people like you. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed! You live in a paradise and have made a paradise for the birds too! And also well photographed! Thanks for your visit and comment!
ReplyDelete/Pia
Chris, you have manage to turn your backyard into the place to be if your are a bird.. I love all your great backyard birds. The Verdin is one I missed on my trip and was so sorry. I am glad the birds have found a safe retreat.. Awesome photos.
ReplyDeletecute cats and birds
ReplyDeleteA wonderful post Chris :) Its lovely to see how all your hard work and planning in the gardens have paid dividends. You are attracting such a superb collection of species.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, oh my gosh, where do I begin. At first I thought this was going to be a post about the cats, and bird watching....but dear me,====what an incredible post of varied, beautiful birds. I'm so jealous of your Costa's hummer. I could spit. lol
ReplyDeleteBeautiful series, and great commentary.
All that work paid off!! I am learning the seed is key to attracting the right birds.
ReplyDeleteP.S. The kitties are beautiful!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cats. You have created a backyard paradise for birds, what a great story!
ReplyDeleteYou are an oasis! It's amazing what will come and live with you if you give it a few of the things it needs. Love this post!
ReplyDeleteYou've done such a spectacular job of inviting nature to your yard.
ReplyDeleteWow! Thats some collection of birds (and photographs) - I think I may have to visit your garden!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
You get so many more types of birds than we do, but I don't have the lovely oasis of a yard that you do. I have slowly added a few things, and was particularly happy when I finally set out a bird bath. I get Pyrrhuloxia sometimes but have yet to get a good picture. Same for the Gambril Quail. I have wire screens and the camera won't focus through that if I try to take a shot from the window, and I have no place to wait and watch outside without being in the open. Your cats are adorable! There is one feral cat that kills the occasional dove and decides to eat it right outside my glass door. Not a pleasant sight when I step outside! We also have had Coopers Hawks in the yard, but that happened more the first year. Have a wonderful week! We are headed to Madera Canyon for a couple of days, and I am really looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteI meant to say, how wonderful you have a Costas visit! I get my little Annas all the time and that's the only kind, I think. Love tyhe Western Tanager too...the only time I've seen one is at the Sonoran Desert Museum! :-)
ReplyDeleteChris, this is just wonderful! I love all the birds you are seeing! It does seem like magic, doesn't it! And it is! It's Mother Nature working her magic with a little help from an elf named Chris!
ReplyDeleteLove the pics! Seeing these makes me miss all those early mornings when I picked you up for our birding outings!
Your garden birds make my own look rather pathetic, Chris, and we now only have one cat to scare them away! Actually, at just turned 19 years old, he's no danger to any bird, and they seem to know this as they just turn to look at him when he walks past at about 3 feet distance!
ReplyDeleteAmazing post, and a well-deserved return for all your efforts in creating a bird-friendly garden.
Have a great weekend - - - Richard
It's great to create a garden where birds start to come, and even better when they stay. It's also interesting to see the different feeders as we don't have use them in Australia - mostly water is the thing to bring in the birds here.
ReplyDeleteOMG Chris, you said you would like to be in my backgarden.. are you mad! I would like to be in yours. I enjoyed this post so much and you have inspired me to do more. The big birds like the galahs, corellas and other parrots are so easy, they come every morning but the smaller birds are more shy.. since moving my birdbath I get many more but I definitely need more small bird feeders. I guess if you create an 'Eden' they will come, thanks Chris..I'm on it :)
ReplyDeletep.s. the pussy cat audience is hilarious :)
I can only imagine the little birds that might be hiding from you. It would be exciting to see who shows up. The bigger birds all congregate together while the smaller ones like to stay further away:) I think size matters in this case. Good luck and I hope you do put those feeders up. I think Oz is a magical place.
ReplyDelete