Our lineup of Christmas birdhouse gifts that Steve made for our families. A project we are getting serious about this year on the farm is our birdhouses. Birdhouses have been a real tradition here on the Ziegler homestead. Steve’s grandfather was a real bird lover and...
Critters in the Garden
Hertzler Farm Going Down: The End of a Wildlife Era
The Hawk building his nest. Related story: Inviting Native Plant Border, courtesy Daily Press. The Hertzler farm is a 40 acre farm that was unintentionally developed into a native plant and wildlife refuge. Oliver Hertzler’s care and maintenance of the farm and...
“whoo, whoo-hoo, whooo, whooo”
Any of you speak that language? Well, it is Great Horned Owl love talk! The reply “whoo, whoo-hoo, whoo-oo, whoo-oo” seals the deal. This courting duet can be heard on our farm in the wee hours before sunrise, when—well, the normal folks are still sleeping… I’d been...
Smitten with Bluebirds
After years of hoping, we finally have permanent resident Eastern Bluebirds. For years they hung around on the fence line and visited our birdbaths, but they never set-up housekeeping. So, we decided hoping wasn’t enough, we rolled out the welcome mat several year...
Prevent damage from creatures
Today we are covering our fall planted spring beds for winter with Floating Row Cover. Most folks tend to think we are doing this for cold-weather protection but in fact the main reasons we cover is to prevent damage from creatures like deer, fox, squirrels and birds...
Red-Tailed Hawks Nest
As I sit at my new writing site for the winter I have a great view of our resident hawks nest. We discovered it 2 years ago and have watched their babies grow up. We have been entertained by their first flights, playing, hunting attempts and even wrestling in our...
It seems like paradise here- Bluebirds and Goldfinches
Today is a day to celebrate. All transplants have been planted as of yesterday. Libby and Bobo have planted over 15,000 seedlings and it is an impressive site. This coming week we start back up starting seeds for our second plantings of more zinnias, basil and...
Essential for Birds in Freezing Times
As I look out my backdoor this morning it warms my heart to see that obliviously race isn't a factor with birds. The lone winter birdbath that is equipped with a "birdbath heater" is lined with birds of all walks of life. Cardinals, Lark Sparrows,...
Enjoying the Fruits of my Labors– Birds in the Garden
Sometimes it takes getting the flu to make you slow down and enjoy the fruits of your labors. I am in day 7 of doing just that.The bird action around my home and out in the garden is entertaining, relaxing, fascinating and just plain fun. The spot that I have created...
Bluebirds, Robins and Frogs!
Those that get my newsletter may have been following the saga of Mr. and Mrs. B., the bluebirds nesting in my bluebird box. I had been feeding them mealy worms twice daily in anticipation of the arrival of the 4 blue eggs that would hatch any day. Well it has taken me...