Surfing photos at flickr.com and came across this one of two little hummingbirds. What a beautiful little nest…
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I added a new bird bath to the back yard. I found a really nice plant saucer, red even, in hopes of attracting hummingbirds to it, since they like the color red. It’s nearing the end of May and I have yet to see even one. I thought I took a few pictures of it, but I can’t find any. I need new batteries or I would check the camera. Is it considered camera abuse when you use it to the point the batteries are so dead, it won’t even turn on?
Last week, I saw the cat drinking out it. Lovely. It is low, sitting on a cut tree stump. Can’t imagine that’s very encouraging to the birds. I won’t have another outdoor cat again.
The other day, I saw Abbey, the Dog, drinking out of it. Unlike the cat, she didn’t have to reach up to get her licks.
Finally, the other morning, a few starlings were playing in it. Starlings are not my favorite birds, as they tend to be bullies and rather messy and piggish in their feeding habits. Because of them, I’ve taken to only feeding safflower seed - starlings don’t care for it and leave it alone. The regular cheap mix, they would hog and make a huge mess with it.. presumably because they don’t like to share. But, hey, where were having fun in the bird bath.
All the birds love the bird bath water dripper. I see them play in it daily. I also added an oriole feeder to my collection, filled it with oriole nectar, jelly and orange halves… so far nothing. I’ll keep holding out hope. :)
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Similar to other homemade wild bird and butterfly nectar recipes, Oriole nectar requires only two main ingredients; water and white sugar.
Oriole nectar feeders are available through wild bird retail shops. Feeders are similar in look to a hummingbird feeder, but are orange rather than red and have larger feeding holes. Designs vary, but some include an area to put fresh fruit (oranges, mashed bananas, grapes, etc). Or, if you prefer, skip the nectar altogether and just feed fresh fruits - there are other more specific feeders for fruit.
Oriole nectar is made in a ratio of 1 part white sugar to 6 parts water.
1. Bring your water to a boil.
2. Add sugar.
3. Stir and remove from heat.
4. Let cool.
I like to let fresh nectar cool in the feeder, but I don’t put the feeder outside until it’s completely cool.
Nectar storage: it stores up to 2 weeks in the fridge or several months if frozen. I put my nectar in a clean 1/2 gallon (obviously empty!) milk jug, which clearly I write Oriole Juice on the side.
(Tip: Use an ice cube tray. Once frozen remove and store in a freezer safe baggy.)
Beyond nectar, Orioles like to munch on a variety of bugs (caterpillars, beetles, wasp, etc.) and are particularly fond of grape jelly. I have read they are fond of cherries (maybe some cherry jelly next to that grape?) and blackberries (some jam, perhaps?). They also like fresh ripe fruit, such as oranges, raspberries, cherries, mashed bananas, apples, pears, …. etc.
Enjoy! Have fun attracting wildlife and happy bird watching!
Homemade Hummingbird Nectar Recipe
[http://www.mommamuse.com/2006/04/23/homemade-hummingbird-nectar/]
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Judi Cox is a wife and mother of 4 children. Her hobbies include making handmade soap from scratch, gardening, crafts, web design and maintaining Mom’s Little Garden ( http://www.momslittlegarden.com/ ), an online resource for pregnant mothers, as well as her personal website, Momma Muse (http://www.mommamuse.com/ ).
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Copyright (c) 2006 Judi Cox
Permission is granted to copy and reprint this article keeping author byline in tact.
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I’m not sure if it’s a Fowler’s Toad or an American Toad. I didn’t get any closer than to take a few blurry photos. I was pretty excited to see this little guy. He was hanging out right between the toad abode and the shallow water dish I set up under the water dripper.Â
We had a really nice rain the night and morning before he was visiting (though, more likely just out eating and having fun). I saw another toad across the yard too. They both seemed a little small, only about 2 inches or so. But, maybe that’s normal. The last toad that took up residence in the abode was much bigger - closer to maybe 3.5 inches.
I did a search for ohio toads and came across Ohio’s Toads and Frogs.  One thing caught my attention right away:
“Toads eat slugs, earthworms, sowbugs, and a wide variety of insects and larvae. One report estimated that an average toad eats almost 10,000 insects during a three-month period.”
I wonder how many toads I can coax into coming to live in my yard. If they would just each the mosquitos…… all of them.
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