THE BIRDS ARE COMING!
Well, at least I hope they are! I love bird watching and I have a few feeders in our yard. I try to keep them full, but it seems that I attract not only birds, but squirrels and racoons, cats, stray dogs...red foxes..the occassional possum, you get the picture. Although I like to feed birds and enjoy the drama that unfolds, my husband is a more practical kind of person and of course is looking to see can we can eat these things?...we ARE feeding them! While I hope I never have to, figuring out how to attract different species is pretty interesting. I have a really cool book; it's from the Editors of Storey Books and it's called "Country Wisdom & Know-How--Everything you need to know to live off the Land.
Leafing through it, I came across Gourd Nesting Boxes and since fall is creeping in, I think I may try to make one and share the process with you! If you are anything like me---you have not grown any kind of Gourd-resembling vegetation yourself, so visit your local farmers market, craft or Grocery store and get a good sized one. The bigger the gourd, the bigger the bird, the bigger the drama!! Pick one with more body and less stem--makes for a bigger nesting area. Check the depth from the inside bottom of the gourd to the entrance opening. Birds need at least 5 1/2 inches of space for proper nesting.
Cut a hole to the dimension required by the desired species. Use a key hole saw or expansion bit to do this. Okay What is a key hole saw? It turns out, its just like the saw that comes in a pumpkin carving kit, but it has a chisel tip thing. Google it-I did!
Now, it gets real, people. You have to get the gunk out. Meaning, through that hole you just made; remove the insides. This sounds simple, but remember, GOURDS ARE DRY!! You can start out with a green gourd, do the same thing, but you have to dry it, which takes 3 to 4 weeks....I'm not that patient, I like most in my generation, want instant gratification!! So use a somewhat flexible knife with serrated edges to remove the internals.
Now, bore a small hole at the top (in one side, out the other) to attach a string or a wire to hang your gourd.
Lastly, you need a rain shield over the entry hole...gotta keep the birdies dry and happy!
Get an aluminum pop can and cut out a half moon shape and use silicone caulking or glue to affix thereto!
Lastly, when hanging the gourd, I like to face the entry East. This helps to protect from the prevailing winds here in Oklahoma.
You can place a feeder about 20 feet to lure your feathered friends. Lets hope the cats don't find them first!!
Love & Survival,
diyprepgirl
Well, at least I hope they are! I love bird watching and I have a few feeders in our yard. I try to keep them full, but it seems that I attract not only birds, but squirrels and racoons, cats, stray dogs...red foxes..the occassional possum, you get the picture. Although I like to feed birds and enjoy the drama that unfolds, my husband is a more practical kind of person and of course is looking to see can we can eat these things?...we ARE feeding them! While I hope I never have to, figuring out how to attract different species is pretty interesting. I have a really cool book; it's from the Editors of Storey Books and it's called "Country Wisdom & Know-How--Everything you need to know to live off the Land.
Leafing through it, I came across Gourd Nesting Boxes and since fall is creeping in, I think I may try to make one and share the process with you! If you are anything like me---you have not grown any kind of Gourd-resembling vegetation yourself, so visit your local farmers market, craft or Grocery store and get a good sized one. The bigger the gourd, the bigger the bird, the bigger the drama!! Pick one with more body and less stem--makes for a bigger nesting area. Check the depth from the inside bottom of the gourd to the entrance opening. Birds need at least 5 1/2 inches of space for proper nesting.
Cut a hole to the dimension required by the desired species. Use a key hole saw or expansion bit to do this. Okay What is a key hole saw? It turns out, its just like the saw that comes in a pumpkin carving kit, but it has a chisel tip thing. Google it-I did!
Now, it gets real, people. You have to get the gunk out. Meaning, through that hole you just made; remove the insides. This sounds simple, but remember, GOURDS ARE DRY!! You can start out with a green gourd, do the same thing, but you have to dry it, which takes 3 to 4 weeks....I'm not that patient, I like most in my generation, want instant gratification!! So use a somewhat flexible knife with serrated edges to remove the internals.
Now, bore a small hole at the top (in one side, out the other) to attach a string or a wire to hang your gourd.
Lastly, you need a rain shield over the entry hole...gotta keep the birdies dry and happy!
Get an aluminum pop can and cut out a half moon shape and use silicone caulking or glue to affix thereto!
Lastly, when hanging the gourd, I like to face the entry East. This helps to protect from the prevailing winds here in Oklahoma.
You can place a feeder about 20 feet to lure your feathered friends. Lets hope the cats don't find them first!!
Love & Survival,
diyprepgirl
