[BCNnet] A bird filled garden

[Robbie Hunsinger]

Thanks for the wonderful thread. I would dearly love to convert some of my
yard to these types of plantings. Was it a difficult proposition?

Did you guys use a landscaper or do the planning yourself? I am very
interested in trying to do something similar.


Thanks for the inspiring stories!

Robbbie Hunsinger

Coordinator, Chicago Bird Collision Monitors


> My experience is like Donald's. I'd add that it's much richer to my spirit
> to
> see the birds doing nature -- rather than feeder stuff.
> 
> The birds that fill my wild gardens are the goldfinches plus many species of
> sparrows, wrens, kinglets, thrushes, and the occasional
> Connecticut warbler or sora or whatever. Sometimes a red-shouldered hawk
> spends a long time pouncing into these wild gardens (catching
> grasshoppers?), and they
> also attract frogs, toads, 20 species of butterflies and all manner of other
> wonder.
> 
> Tree sparrows and junkos come by from time to time all winter.
> 
> Of course it's fun to watch the flowers too, and how the little ecosystem
> changes over time.
> 
> Even when I lived in apartments, I always negotiated a little spot from the
> landlord, or found some other property nearby where the owner was happy to
> have someone do a bit of "tasteful" wild gardening. I recommend it.
> 
> S.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Donald R. Dann <mailto:donniebird@yahoo.com>
> To: ILbirds (E-mail) <mailto:ILbirds@yahoogroups.com>  ; BCN (E-mail)
> <mailto:BCNnet@ece.iit.edu>
> Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 9:50 AM
> Subject: [BCNnet] A bird filled garden
> 
> My front perennial garden is currently being overwhelmed by American
> Goldfinches.
> 
> In a relatively small area I'm seeing between 75 to 100 birds gorging on the
> seeds of Coneflower, Northern Dropseed, Ironwood, Beebalm, Mountain Mint,
> Blazing Star, Anemone, Hyssop, and several species of Milkweed, Aster,
> Goldenrod, and other native plants I put in to replace my turf grass two
> years ago.
> 
> During this time my conventional feeders aren't getting half the attention
> the plants are.  Besides being this incredible bird magnet, the garden has
> required less watering, lower landscaping cost, no fertilizing, and many
> other cares which I had to give the old lawn; to say nothing of the fact
> that it's been far more beautiful.
> 
> Donald R. Dann
> 60 Ravinoaks Lane
> Highland Park, IL 60035
> Ph/Fx: 847-266-2222
> Cell: 847-997-1011
> Email: donniebird@yahoo.com <mailto:donniebird@yahoo.com>
> 
> 
> 
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