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seed catchers and white doves
What might seed catchers have to do with white doves? Absolutely nothing, except this post was going to be about the benefits of seed catchers… until I received a strange phone call from a customer this morning.A request was made for an 8 x 8 birdhouse for white doves. Now from a past experience I told the person that doves aren’t likely to use birdhouses. He proceeded to tell me he was purchasing fourteen white doves from a rental company. This piqued my curiosity, so I asked him “why would you do that?” His answer was to keep his niece happy. So I asked “how old is your niece?” “she’s two years old” he said. My suggestion was that he purchase some stuffed animal white doves for her instead.
It turned out he needed an eight foot by eight foot enclosure to keep the doves housed. I asked him to look-up bird aviary on the web to get an idea of what he would need. He proceeded to tell me “four grand a pop”. So I reminded him this would be an expensive, and time consuming endeavor, besides the fact doves are not pets. I can only hope I deterred him in his final decision.
Oh yeah… and here’s a great seed catcher that’s adjustable for hanging or pole-mounted feeders.
The SeedHoop is a large, 30-inch diameter tray that is very effective at catching spilled seed… and even doves (mourning doves that is ) will rest and eat on the large open surface. Maybe seed catchers and doves do have something to do with each other after all? -
make ant moat water last longer
If the current outdoor temperatures are any indication of the season ahead… it’s going to be a brutal one! Early June in the Southeast and my car said it was 99 degrees outside 🙁 Please be kind to wildlife by simply providing a fresh water source to help them thrive in this miserable heat. Aside from birdbaths, a leaf misters’ gentle spray is extremely popular with hummingbirds, butterflies, and most songbirds too!Speaking of miserable, if you feed hummingbirds (or Orioles, or Butterflies) you’re likely well aware of the attraction of the sweet, sticky nectar to pesky ants. The simplest and most effective way to keep ants from nectar is to use an ant moat. This inexpensive, one-t
ime investment will save many a headache and lots of nectar from ants. For staked hummingbird feeders, ant baffles are recommended to ward off the uninvited guests.Some hummingbird feeders do feature built-in ant moats, but even they must still contain water at all times to properly function. Ant Baffles simply use a coating of petroleum jelly on their underside to deter ants, whereas Ant Moats must have water inside for them to work. Ants can’t swim and will not cross water. During the dog days of summer with the extreme heat, you can actually help slow the evaporation process inside the moat by adding a drop of salad oil to the water. It will mean less time filling and more time watching.
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butterfly houses and more will entice them to your place
Although I can’t say for sure that butterflies actually use butterfly houses, there sure are some beauties to adorn your garden. This pole-mounted butterfly house features rich redwood with hand-etched glass panels. I can say with certainty that butterflies absolutely adore the gentle spray from leaf misters! We use two during the summer months and see daily activity throughout the season.Over ripened fruit is also a butterfly favorite. Bananas, melon, pears and oranges that are just a tad past their prime are a sweet treat for these winged wonders. The fruit also attracts fruit flies and these provide butterflies with additional protein. Molded fruit is not advised, so it must be monitored to assure this doesn’t happen. Set fruit out on a plate, on a deck or porch rail, even an up-turned pot will work. But the butterfly garden must be part of the equation too.
Native plants to provide nectar are necessary in creating a butterfly garden. Wild Columbine, Rose Verbena, Button Bush, Blue Lobelia, Cardinal Flower, Asters, and Milkweed are a few favorites. Besides nectar plants, host plants are needed for the metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly. These plants will likely be “munched” in the process, but they’ll come back again next year, and you’re providing critical butterfly habitat by letting them go. Some of the more popular host plants include Parsley, Dill, Fennel, Carrot and Milkweed. Trees include Wild Cherry, Willow, Plum and Poplar.Adding a place to “warm in the sun” is also quite attractive to butterflies. You can easily arrange heat-absorbing rocks in a sunny area, add some sand and salts and keep the area moist to further entice butterflies. It’s recommended to first line the area with plastic to keep the salts from leaking into the soil. Definitely stop using any pesticides, chemicals or fertilizers in the area as well, most people tend to overlook this important factor when creating a butterfly habitat.
So… although I can’t say for sure that butterflies use butterfly houses… these are some good ideas on creating an enticing butterfly habitat at your home.
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