{"id":1428,"date":"2017-07-02T21:29:01","date_gmt":"2017-07-03T02:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.firepowerdesign.com\/kp\/?p=1428"},"modified":"2017-07-03T06:27:28","modified_gmt":"2017-07-03T11:27:28","slug":"backyard-sanctuary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dev.firepowerdesign.com\/kp\/backyard-sanctuary\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating a Backyard Sanctuary"},"content":{"rendered":"

This past year, I’ve been thinking about ways to make the yard a more appealing sanctuary for birds. I’d like to attract a greater variety — not that there is anything wrong with the usual cast of characters — by planting specialized plants and adding a water feature. I have a regular birdbath but last year I made a fountain to create some moving water, that is supposed to be more attractive to birds. Last fall, we planted a Serviceberry, also known as Juneberry, as there are many species of birds that feast on the fruits. Now I’m contemplating another water feature in the yard. Not a pond but a buried reservoir that will circulate water to the surface via a pond pump. Still working out the details. At any rate, things are looking pretty good back here. It helps that we’ve had plenty of rain and sunshine to make everything look spiffy.<\/p>\n

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The Robins are the most frequent visitors to the fountain. The Goldfinches like it also.<\/p><\/div>\n

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We hope that allowing a bit of wildness to overtake the yard\u2014no pesticides or herbicides\u2014and adding plantings attractive to birds will increase visitation rates.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Annette has started some rock and trough gardening. I love the mini alpine plants.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Here is where the trough garden will reside for now.<\/p><\/div>\n

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A closer look at the plantings.<\/p><\/div>\n

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I had no idea there were so many varieties of hen and chicks (Sempervivum) succulents.<\/p><\/div>\n

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The three currant bushes don’t seem to attract birds but someone else finds them tasty.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Squirrel snacks. They don’t know how lucky they are.<\/p><\/div>\n

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This is delicious.<\/p><\/div>\n

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This past week our wrens fledged 4 youngsters. The nest failed last year so we were happy to see the brood do so well this year. The variety of bugs that the parents provided was astounding\u2014moths, grubs, spiders and beetles.<\/p><\/div>\n

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It started getting crowded in the box and then, the leap happened. They now are living in the lilac bushes and mom and dad are starting to visit the nest box again. I think they’ll likely raise a second brood.<\/p><\/div>\n

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The woodpeckers are also bringing young to the feeder now. This is dad.<\/p><\/div>\n

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This juvenile House Finch still has some baby feathers.<\/p><\/div>\n