Duck Houses

The Bufflehead, with its striking white sides and white patch on its head, is smaller than most cavity nesting ducks. They are dependent on nest boxes.
Breeds in Alaska east to western Quebec, and south in mountains to Washington and Montana. Winters in southern U.S., south to Mexico, Gulf Coast and northern Florida.

Fancy Birdhouses

Whether you have a fancy birdhouse or the natural rustic birdhouse, it's time to make sure that they are clean and in good repair. The cold weather is coming and our little feathered friends will appreciate a clean dry place to rest or stay over as they begin the long trip to a warmer climate.

Preparing For Winter

The birds are beginning to plan for winter. Are you? Birds have already begun to scout for food sources for the winter. As they flit about, they're watching for food, watch and shelter. When the cold weather begins, they will know exactly where to go, so now is the time to make sure that you have bird feeders are ful. And be sure to keep them filled, as they will come to depend on this source once they have begun to use it.
This is also a good time for you to prepare lodging (if you haven't already done so) for them.

Butterfy Houses

Who doesn't enjoy seeing a butterfly. They are so beautiful and graceful. They flit from flower to flower, to bushes and trees. Sometimes they land on other things. Yesterday while sitting on the front porch a butterfly appeared and landed on my husbands' hand. The moment was so surreal. Was it trying to communicate? I don't know. We know we just sat as still as could be so as not to scare it away, and we enjoyed the moment admiring one of God's creatures. What can you do to encourage butterflies to your yard? Do you have colorful plants or a butterfly house?

Attracting Birds to Your Backyard

With thoughtful planning you can encourage specific birds to your backyard. Do you have favorite types of birds? You can hang any birdfeeder in your backyard. Perhaps you like it because it is whimsical. Maybe the design follows a particular theme, be it color, shape or size.
But did you know that certain foods and seeds will attract specific birds? Be creative and see what you can attract with a variety of foods. Try popped popcorn (without salt or butter), hulled sunflower seeds, peanuts, soaked raisins, pieces of fruit (orioles like oranges), fruit seeds (melons, apples), grapes, or mealworms.

Bat Houses

Bats are in need of protection if they are to survive. They have proven themselves as valuable members of our ecosystem, and we must increase the awareness of people who have the ability to protect or to destroy these little creatures.
Bats are declining, world-wide, at an alarming rate, due to human misunderstanding. They have typically only one offspring per year, making their comeback slow and in need of our help.
Bats eat an amazing amount of mosquitos. Some experts estimated that one bat can eat between 600 to 1000 insects, mosquitoes included, within a period of one hour. An the guano is a great fertilizer for your garden.

Barn Swallow

Barn Swallows breed from Alaska across Canada, throughout the United States, and south through central Mexico. With the proliferation of human-provided nesting sites, the North American Barn Swallow population has increased in most places during the 20th century. Numbers are especially up in the central and eastern United States. Barn Swallows show strong fidelity to their natal site, most nesting within 20 miles of their birthplace and some much closer. Members of a pair typically stay together to raise a second brood and return in successive years to the same nest site. If you have the right habitat, barn swallows are easy to attract. A simple nesting perch may be placed under the eaves, inside a garage or barn, or on the side of a building.