Bird's Haven in the Backyard

One of the many things I enjoy is watching the birds and butterfly fly around our  backyard.  So to attract more of them, I planted  butterfly bushes and  also put bird's feeder  under the trees.   we have a porch at the back so when we are sitting out there, it's nice to watch  the birds eat.

The birds that are usually  around are  finches, sparrows, robins, cardinals,  blue jays and sometimes wood pickers.  I don't like the crows that comes  because they are vicious towards other birds but I guess they have to eat too so they are also  welcome in our backyard.

We used to just put brick seeds but we thought  of adding a bird feeder that we could put a lot of seeds in so everyone can eat at the same time.  We chose this one with holes in it all the way to the top.

One full of birds seed  with this container  lasts for two days, these birds can really eat.  I am going to find  a bird seed that  doesn't have sunflowers in it because the small birds can't eat it and they fall on the ground then it grows in the yard.

Some birds stays in the winter so we will continue to put food in it for them to eat.

Most of these birds live in the bamboo forest  adjacent to our home so they always flock here in our backyard.

Another food they enjoy eating is bread.  We  give them the ends of  bread all the time.  It's funny seeing them  fight over it.

I feel bad for sparrows because they get bullied most of the times by other birds who are bigger than them.

I transfer the  hummingbirds feeder in the backyard but I did not see any  there.  I will have to transfer it in our front porch next year because that is where our hummingbird goes.  

The only thing issue I have putting the  feeder close to the fence is that,  they  love to  poop  on top of the fence.  Below are more pictures of the birds  having a blast in our  backyard.  Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

The colorful ones that I love watching are the cardinals and the  bluejays.  They are harder to take pictures though, they are always moving and not as trusting as the other birds.

The male birds are always more colorful than female birds.  I love how bright red the male cardinals are compared to the female ones.

Our backyard has many trees so it makes a great haven for the birds.  

We bought a big bag of bird seed so they would last until winter.  I hope that the bird are enjoying their free food.

Seagulls

During winter, the influx of seagulls in our   place is heavy.  They usually  stays where the  shopping plaza is located.  They are pretty smart to be there because a lot of people  is around and chances are, they will be given food, which is the case in our place. 

When they are back, we always drive bar and watch them  fly around.  My kids find joy in feeding them.  I don't think there is a rule or law that says we can't  feed them so we let the kids do it.  I know in  state parks, they prohibit  the feeding of wildlife.  

I think when they are starving, they are very aggressive.  They are not scared to land  near you when there's food.  I am kind of tempted to put food in my hand and not toss it to see if they will land on my hand but I am also  kind of scared  doing it lol.

I found some interesting facts about these beautiful creatures.  According to Steven P. Wickstrom

" the word “seagull” is an informal way that laymen refer to any of the species that belong to the family Laridae, or the gulls. In all actuality, there is no such thing as a seagull. There is not actually a single species called the seagull, but people all over the world refer to them as seagulls. They are actually, and correctly, referred to as “gulls.” Gull's are most closely related to the terns (family Sternidae) and only distantly related to auks, and skimmers, and more distantly to the waders. Most gulls however, belong to the large family named Laridae. The word Laridae is from the Greek word meaning “ravenous sea bird.” The term “Seagull” can be misleading because many species of gulls live, feed, and nest inland. Gulls can be found around the oceans worldwide with the exception of some central Pacific islands, and some areas in Southeast Asia. I never saw a single gull while I was living on Oahu. The gulls are relatively uniform in shape but do vary in size and coloration. Gulls are the acrobats of the sky, making the seemingly impossible antics appear effortless. They can float motionless in midair by catching wind currents with perfect timing and precision while positioning their bodies at just the right angle."

I wish I can be  like these birds who doesn't feel cold when it is freezing outside. 

I did not know this but the article I read said that Seagulls do not survive solely off scavenging and stealing food from other creatures. They eat insects, fish, and eggs and the fact that they consume insects keeps the insect population in check. So these seagulls are natural pest control for farmers and gardeners.  I would like them to come in the summer time when insects are heavy lol.

We like to give these seagulls some food when they come. We usually give them crackers or popcorn.

#Seagulls are back so my son is giving them some #popcorn. You may not see it in the photo but it's currently snowing, our first flurry this winter.

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Nov 19, 2017 at 11:14am PST

Four Exotic Birds That Make Fantastic Pets

Keeping a bird can brighten up your home. Whether in a large cage or allowed to fly free, exotic birds will add colour and birdsong. But it is important to know what you are getting yourself into before purchasing one. Exotic birds require a lot of care and need a specific environment to thrive in.

The type and extent of the care you need to give depends on the bird you get. Parrots aren’t the only exotic birds out there; you will find you have quite a large choice to pick from. Want some help making a decision? Here are three birds that make fantastic pets.

Source

Budgerigar

A very popular family pet, budgerigars are more commonly known as budgies. Most of the time, caring for exotic birds can be quite time-consuming. However, Budgies are one of the easiest to look after, making them popular family pets. These inexpensive birds love to chatter and will delight children with their singing. On the whole, they are gentle pets and rarely bite. They will need to be let out of their cage a few times a week so they can stretch their wings. Very flighty birds, they could be difficult for young children to handle.

Cockatiels

These colourful birds are extremely cuddly and love to be petted. Not as active as budgies, cockatiels are excellent company and will love to sit and preen in your presence. They are also very clever and learn tricks very easily. When you are preparing your bird’s cage, you need to include lots of perches for it. Be careful not to put any Oak or Prunus wood, as they can harm your bird. Cockatiels are happy in pairs, so it’s a good idea to think about buying two birds together. This way, they can keep each other company!

Macaw

Many people are put off from owning a Macaw Parrot as they need a very large cage and need lots of attention. Once a macaw is used to a social environment, they will be very gentle and loving birds. They are extremely boisterous, which can sometimes be mistaken for aggression. This is especially the case when they lunge at people. Many people are intimidated by this, however, to the Macaw this is just a game. Your bird will need lots of toys to keep it busy.

Conure

Often mistaken for Macaws, Conures are a smaller parrot. But they are distantly related to the each other and, therefore, share many personality traits with the large birds. You will be able to teach your Conure many tricks, including lifting a claw and whistling on request. These birds may not be as chatty as cockatiels or budgies, but when they do vocalize their thoughts they will do so much louder than the smaller birds! Each Conure will squawk at its own unique pitch. When choosing a bird, look for one that has a pitch you will be able to tolerate!

Both kids and adults will enjoy the addition of an exotic bird to your home! If you want more information on different species, speak to your local pet shop.

Critters Death: Rest in Peace Wubzy

I just posted an article about our bunny, Wubzy, being house trained just a month ago.  We are so proud of him of how quickly he learned  to use the litter box we have  prepared for him when he was staying inside during the Winter season.  The day after the Easter, we went outside and did some gardening.  My daughter  let him out of his house so they could play with him on the yard.  She took these photos of him relaxing.

We did not know that it was the last  day we were going to spend time alive with him.  He died that night and the kids were so devastated.  I have never heard my kids cried  so pitiful  like they were mourning for a person they love who died.  I wanted to cry while they were crying but I controlled myself.  That night however, I lost it, I cried myself to sleep.  I was very much affected  because I was basically the one that cared for him everyday when my kids are in school.  This is the part of having pets that I don't like, when they die, especially  when it's  unexpected.  We laid him to rest in our backyard as the kids requested.  We buried him to his favorite spot.  As you can see, my kids are crying.  Wubzy was a great pet, he was with us for four years.

#RIP Bunbun! We laid Wubzy to rest. The kids shed tears again. This is one part of having pets that I don't like, when they die..

A photo posted by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Apr 7, 2015 at 3:25pm PDT

The next day after we lost Wubzy, I wanted to shake off  the sorrow feeling I had for  him so I went for a long walk after I dropped off my kids to school.  I felt sick seeing this  dead deer on the side of the road.  It was awful.  I had to go home and and laid down as I did not feel good after seeing it, it reminded me of Wubzy's death again.

I am telling you, death is something  I don't  take very well even on pets/animals.This morning, we took our daughter for a walk while our son was attending his Experience day.  When we came back, I saw a bunch of  dove feathers laying in our backyard and I immediately looked on the dove's nest at our back porch.  I felt  horrible seeing it as I know, she just hatched her egg/s on the nest.  

A black hawk has been terrorizing the  birds at our backyard recently  and he managed to swept off  the dove  that was always sitting in her nest.  I am not sure if the  little dove will survive without the Mom.

Hubby believe that things happen in threes so hopefully,  this is the end of it.  The first two weeks of  April for me was really awful seeing these living things dying.  I was telling my husband that it feels weird that I am feeling this way because when I was younger, all I care about is our dog, our pig, and our carabao but now, it seems like I am affected with  everything that does.  It might be because I am now a Mom that I am feeling this way.  How about you, do you get affected with  things like this?