Backyard

THE BACKYARD CORNER
OF DEE'S YARD in East Islip, NY
(Things to know for backyard birding on Long Island)

Note From Dee:
I've been a hardcore backyard birdwatcher since 2004...and I really enjoy it all year round!! I love seeing the "visitors" that come in fall and winter...and always look forward to seeing the first robins of spring, signifying that the birds who left for winter, will be returning soon!!
I hope that my backyard birding experiences will inspire others to get out there and watch the birds!! Feeding them, taking care of them, creating little habitats for them....is only part of the fun!! The real reward is in the pure joy that they bring ...they bring such life to the backyard with their songs and their antics, all year round!!! I look forward to sharing my backyard with all of you!

Types of Feeders

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Dee's Backyard Feeding Area

Landscaping For Wild Birds
Benefits , Basic Principles , Types of Plants , Getting Started
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What's that bird?
Need ID help?
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bird identification!

A Site About Long Island Birds & Birdwatching

Birders Backyard -
Cleaning Tips and Techniques
I clean my bird feeders about once a month with a mixture of bleach and water. Since the feeders come apart, it is easy to get to all of the dirt. Read more...

*** Guest Photos Welcome ***
Have a good photo of a bird in your backyard? Send it to me and if I have the room, I'll post it.

***Guest Photos***

Unwelcome Guests?
We can't help it...when the birds come so do other visitors...here's some info on how to handle some of these other "guests".....Read More....

Bird Habitat Necessities
The needs of birds aren�t much different than our own. Food and water are absolute basics, but so is shelter or cover to serve as protection from the weather and a safe place to raise a family....Read more...

Tips on Birdbaths
Kindness is a birdbath. Your birdbath can be a stopping off place for migrating birds as well as your backyard favorites.
Read more...

CHIRPING WITH DEE:
May 9, 2008

April showers bring May flowers.....

however..the month of May always promises to bring back a few of my spring/summer visitors.

This week, our Northern Oriole male returned to the backyard, and was spotted on the ground checking out the blueberry bushes, along with the blackberries and blueberries that are scattered on the ground near those bushes!! I immediately put out 2 halves of an orange, spiked in a small stake to keep the orange halves in place on the ground!

The very next day, I heard the familiar MEW! MEW! of the Grey Catbird, and she took a bath in the birdbath and then flew into the dense brush in the neighbors yard. She made her characteristic MEW!
MEW! and I answered her..and this went on back and forth for about 5 minutes!

I have never had such a large number of Red Winged Blackbirds in the yard before. I've been seeing alot of males every day, but only one female.
The males are always clustered in branches, displaying their beautiful red shoulders ....throwing their heads forward, and doing that sound that I just LOVE...all in the hopes of attracting a mate!!!! I think I'm in loooooove...

I'm seeing alot of Male Brown Headed Cowbirds, as well as Male Common Grackles....but I've only seen on female Cowbird and one female Grackle!

The boys in the yard certainly have their work cut out for them, with what appears to be a shortage of females...and so many males. They are definitely working hard at attracting a mate, and it certainly fills my backyard with great nature sounds!!

Both birdhouses are taken by House Sparrows, who are still feverishly bringing nesting materials in. I have to laugh at the things they drag into that small hole, and even if it appears that the twigs and long sticks aren't going to fit? They do not give up. They will fly back and forth ...going into the birdhouse, and trying to drag in whatever it is, and eventually, they hit that magic BUTTON..and suddenly, the twig or branch just disappears from my view into that
small birdhouse hole. At the end of the season, when cleaning the
birdhouses out, it's always an amazing sight to see just what the nest LOOKS like. It's always packed very tight, so many different materials, from feathers, to animal hair, plastic wrappers, toilet paper...leaves........It's really a work of art!!

I found the remnants of an egg that hatched the other day! It was a light greyish green egg, with speckles of brown. Apparently someone hatched, and mama bird disposed of the empty egg! There are young'uns somewhere nearby!!

My best friend showed me something neat this week: A duck sitting on her nest! The nest is on the next block from me, right in front of someones house. The female at first was never seen that often, but now, she is sitting guard on her nest day in and day out. Apparently, Mrs. Mallard has laid all of her eggs! There is water nearby, so when her young are hatched, she will walk them to the water nearby.

I've been seeing many Mallards in the yard, males outnumbering the lone Female. I had 5 males the other day, 2 on the roof of the house,
3 on the neighbors rooftop. All quacking like mad while the lone Female ate very fast...perhaps this is the same female who has the nest, and isn't interested in the boys now that she's got a nest to care for. She'll be a mother soon.

This Sunday is Mother's Day!! Enjoy the beautiful weather, and Happy Mother's Day!!!
Good Birding!!

SPRING IN THE GARDEN
Seasonal Hints from Denice -
SPRING

As spring tries hard to get here, a walk around the garden can prove to you that it is on its way. Crocus, daffodils and other spring bulbs are breaking through, and some of the early flowering shrubs are beginning to show signs of budding.

Most bulbs and rhizomes do not need to be fertilized but some, such as common tulips, can benefit from this; so do so before they flower in the spring and again in the fall.

Now is the time to do a little clean up. Dead and injured branches on trees and shrubs can be pruned as well as rosebush canes that show winterkill. The branches can be used to start a brush pile; but not the rose canes, these should be destroyed. Don't be too overly ambitious though; keep old mulch around perennials for a while longer since temps can still dip well below freezing especially at night.

This is also a good time to clean around your feeding stations and to clean bird feeders and birdbaths. One part bleach/ 9 parts water will disinfect them.

Soon our feathered friends will begin to establish territories and look for mates, as well as building and defending nests. Supplemental feeding can be very important since much of the winter foods are now exhausted, and insects and bugs are still not available. Try putting out as many different types of foods as possible in different areas around your yard.

This time of year the migrants are coming thru and you can be the �rest area� along the way. Try mealworms, grape jelly or oranges and by mid April be sure to get your hummingbird feeder out for any early arrivals.

Don't forget water! Birds need a constant clean supply of it and, in the suburbs especially, this can be hard to find.

Remember that birds look for food, shelter and water, so when planning the changes for your garden this year why not consider shrubs and flowers that will attract the birds like chokeberry, dogwoods, bee balm or coneflowers and evergreens. Or maybe a small pond; one can be as simple as a rubber liner laid in a shallow dug area. Place a few plants and rocks along the edges and you will be surprised at the activity that will take place. Also a mister or fine spray will attract hummingbirds that like to fly through it to help clean off sticky nectar from their feathers.

If you have not already done so, clean out any nest boxes from last year�s nests, and set out any new ones you plan on for this year. Nesting materials are another must; small twigs, hair, fur, yarn or string cut into small pieces up to about 6 inches, feathers, grasses etc. Do not use dryer lint though, as this dries hard after becoming wet and does not make for good nest lining. All this can be set out in different places around the yard to help the birds find what they need quicker.

Since it�s too early to �stop and smell the roses�, take a few minutes to just listen. This time of year you can hear the changes in the birds� calls and songs. As they begin to sing to each other, they will remind you that spring is really on its way.

OTHER BACKYARD HAPPENINGS
5/2/08
(Guest narratives from other backyard birders)

From Jody, Southold

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

I'm keeping my fingers crossed. A pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers are making holes in an old trunk of a Birch tree at the northwest corner of my house. A few years ago the tree was half dead and a windstorm brought down a still living limb. The tree guy thought I was a nut job. I wanted to leave most of the trunk and the remaining live branches. He did as I asked. I wanted the present scenario to occur.

Last year woodpeckers dug out one hole but abandoned it. This year the pair was industrious. They carved out three holes, one due west, one NSW and the newest SW. Wood chips surround the base of the trunk in every direction, with some chips several feet out. Right now both birds are sharing the chopping duties on the SW facing hole.

I have two views of the most recent construction, one from my 'perch', (a stool with the overview of my bird garden) and the other, if I peek my head and nose out my sliding glass door, off the back deck. The closest view is from my perch. From there I can hear the tapping and see the birds poking their beakes and heads out to eject bits of tree.

Don't know if they will stay and raise a family in my yard because it's hardly a secluded woodsy home with the three boys and all their friends next door and my own comings and goings. I can adjust my movements but controlling critical mass of young boy-dom is out of my league!

So, I'll keep you posted and keep your fingers crossed!

Update: I saw a pair mating. Fascinating! The male, while in the act, spread out his wings around her. Cool and beautiful as well. Guess I know the subject of my next report; seems that they are using the most recent tree hole.

Build a Dust Bath for Birds
You can improve the appeal of your backyard bird habitat by giving birds a dust bath where they can clean and condition their feathers....Read More....

Window and Balcony Bird Habitat
Birders who have only a window or a small apartment balcony may still be able to attract a few birds to their tiny habitat.....Read More....