Gardening and Landscaping Stack Exchange
Gardening and Landscaping Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [birds]

Winged warm-blooded creatures, family Aves.

Birds are popular warm blooded flying creatures that have wings, are feathered, bipedal, warm-blooded, egg-laying and vertebrate. Classed as family Aves, they are closely related to dinosaurs and some authors class birds as "living dinosaurs".

Birds are important with regards to plants because plants often utilize them to spread their seeds using mechanisms such as . Plants provide habitat for most birds - e.g. roosts and shelter.

Use this tag for all questions about birds that are specific to gardens and gardening. These are questions such as how to encourage birds into your garden, and how to deter birds eating fruit. Questions such as "What is this bird I saw on my tree?" are off topic.

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How can I predict the best time to put a hummingbird feeder outside in the spring?

I live in Illinois (Zone 6) where I'm sure the hummingbirds still migrate south to overwinter since they stopped visiting my hummingbird feeder sometime late last fall. Now that spring is here, the temperatures are rising, and it's seeming like…
The Flash
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What birdseed can I use to attract native birds in Houston, TX, that won't attract squirrels?

I'd like to know what kind of bird seed would be good for the birds in the Houston area without attracting pests or creating a harmful environment for my garden. I've tried going to the local pet store, but they usually have very specialized bird…
ton.yeung
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Can woodpeckers damage a pecan tree enough that it won't produce?

A couple of Red-bellied woodpeckers have been paying regular visitors to my pecan tree this winter. Is this an indication of possible insect infestation on the tree? Is it possible they could damage the tree themselves? I have bird feeders there too…
user19997
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Keeping Pests out of Hummingbird Feeders

Is there an effective way to keep bees and wasps out of hummingbird feeders? I have a problem where these stinging insects are preventing hummingbirds from feeding?
Arrowkill
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How can I grow sunflowers that will produce seeds in the shells, for my pet bird?

I grow sunflower plants where the flower is not pollinated, and they produce empty seed shells. How do I get the plant to produce seeds shells with a seed inside?
Galah
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How do I get rid of mice without hurting the birds that might feed on them?

I live in the country, so I've got mice that like to come into the house when the weather gets cold. The mice have learned to avoid the traps that I put inside the house, so I need to step up to something stronger. My first thought is to get some…
David Yaw
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Is there a way to discourage blackbirds, but not other birds, from visiting my yard?

I have a couple bird feeders set up in my yard. I enjoy almost all of the birds that visit, cardinals, finches, even the occasional bluebird. But about every other day I'll walk outside to be greeted by an entire flock of blackbirds. They'll not…
The Flash
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Nesting box cleaning

I was building a nesting box to encourage birds in my garden. It worked, a week ago a family of Blue Tit moved out after a stressful time. I'm curious so I got up to box to check what they left. I was surprised by the size of the nest and would like…
Patrick B.
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What is the value of magnolias for birds?

I am building a bird-friendly garden. It is going to contain serviceberries, mountain ashes, hawthorns and dogwoods, as these plants are known to attract birds. I love magnolias, however, I've read some opinions that they do not have enough value…
VividD
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Is Prunus padus really so toxic?

I am amending my yard with plants attractive for birds, and I noticed Prunus padus as one of such plants. However, on multiple sites I found info that it is poisonous for humans if the fruit is consumed and have sour taste, to such extent that it…
VividD
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Recommendations for climbers that'll climb by a walnut tree

I've got a large walnut tree (Juglans regia), and I am happy with it, I just want to improve further that part of my garden to be more attractive to birds and butterflies. My idea is to plant a climber that will climb up the walnut, and hopefully…
VividD
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Do ravens or crows cause damage to your garden?

Yesterday evening I came home from work, and I saw what happened to my small garden: At first, I was very angry. I mean, who could do that. So I asked around my neighbors if they noticed something. The neighbor from above said, he noticed 3 big…
Ragnarsson
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Is it harmful for birds to have a house hanging on a walnut tree?

There is a belief in my area that it is not healthy for humans to sleep under a walnut tree. Is this valid for birds too? Is it harmful for birds to live in a bird house hanging on a walnut tree?
VividD
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How to attract white stork (Ciconia ciconia) to a garden?

Is there any way to attract white stork (Ciconia ciconia) to a garden? I found this on the internet, but without much further info: A wikimedia photo of a man-made structure for stork's nest: (is it necessary to construct this to attract storks? is…
VividD
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Should I assist or deter birds from a popular yet problematic location?

For three years in a row a nest has fallen from this tree in my backyard the last weekend of April. The prior 2 years were robins but this year it was something new. Not knowing birds well but generally being a fan what is the best way to end this…
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