Darn it, spent the morning yesterday cleaning out the garden pond, trimming back the water lilies, adding clean and fresh water, re-introducing the fish to their clean and fresh home again then this morning I find the local birds have decided it is bath day and are all splashing around the water.
And not only that but the rose hip seed pods I've been keeping my eye on so as to try cross- breeding roses have almost all been removed from the bushes and chewed upon by the birds to get at the seeds inside.
oh well their needs must have been greater than mine.
I don't have a pond or fish, but I have squirrels that dig up the plants in pots. In the Spring, I get lots of volunteer pecan trees in places I don't want them thanks to these squirrels - in the garden as well as the pots. I stopped putting out bird seed. It was great fun watching all the different birds come around the feeder until these birds started attracting hawks and owls. With little dogs, I thought they might become targets if the birds of prey decided to try some red meat rather than poultry in their diet.
Our major birds of prey around area are the Wedge-tailed Eagle, the Nankeen Kestrel, what we call the Sparrow Hawk ( smaller version of the Nankeen Kestrel and the Swallow-tailed Black Kite.
As you can guess the BIGGEST of the is them Wedge-tailed Eagle wsith an average, normal wing span of approx. 1.8 - 2.0 metres, with females being slightly large and heavier built than the males, they hunt mostly out in open country-side and go after 'roos, young emus, feral foxes and feral cats, young feral pigs are often on their menu as we.
I have one that I rescued, cared for, rehabilitated and then released back into the wild she often comes back and cadges a free snack plus getting me to help her by removing ticks from her skin as well.
She ignores the other native birds around my home, ignores the chickens, loves my 8 year old nephew who will sit with her and pat her head and neck for as long she wants him to.
The ONLY predator/s that I need to be concerned with around here a the domestic cats that are let roam free 24/;7 and prey on EVERYTHING just for sake of killing and not much more imo.
My pond fish got cleaned out, mostly, the ones that hide the best from the heron don't show for me either. I buy a bunch of feeder goldfish every couple of years and when they get to 6 to 8 inches long big bird comes.
same, except it's that damned raccoon
No Herons or raccoons around here, just Wood-pigeons, sparrows, magpies, little corellas and galahs all now using the pond as their own private bathing facility...LOL.
Plus the fish in there are smart, they hide under the lilies and in a half of a broken earthen wear flower pot that I placed in there for them.
Ever thought of erecting a simple shade sail type of screen to keep the predating bird/s away from the pond and the fish as well?
Posted by FrostyJim...I have enough room for a few good people.
Posted by glennlabMy heavenly Blue Morning Glories have finally gotten their color.
Posted by glennlabMy heavenly Blue Morning Glories have finally gotten their color.
Posted by FernappleIts that season again, blue sky and golden leaves, nature is the greatest designer, a Ginkgo in my garden. Also posted in photography.
Posted by Diaco Black Sapote - The chocolate pudding tropical fruit! (2 videos) [youtube.com] [youtube.com]
Posted by Diaco Black Sapote - The chocolate pudding tropical fruit! (2 videos) [youtube.com] [youtube.com]
Posted by Diaco Black Sapote - The chocolate pudding tropical fruit! (2 videos) [youtube.com] [youtube.com]
Posted by Diaco Black Sapote - The chocolate pudding tropical fruit! (2 videos) [youtube.com] [youtube.com]
Posted by FrostyJimMaking my last batch of 2024 oven roasted tomato sauce on Oct. 10 ready to start filling jars.
Posted by FrostyJimMaking my last batch of 2024 oven roasted tomato sauce on Oct. 10 ready to start filling jars.
Posted by FrostyJimMaking my last batch of 2024 oven roasted tomato sauce on Oct. 10 ready to start filling jars.
Posted by FrostyJimI needed to preserve my bell peppers so I made Indian chutney last night.
Posted by FrostyJimI needed to preserve my bell peppers so I made Indian chutney last night.
Posted by FrostyJimMoose family munchin' on my Raspberries right now at about 8:30 on Tuesday night!
Posted by FrostyJim3 giants total over 3 lbs! Bush Early Girl hybrid grown in my Wasilla Alaska zone 4b greenhouse...
Posted by FrostyJim.