Songbird Remix's Product Preview Thread

[Ken Gilliland]

We have a Quail Crossing sign (self-made) at our property because we have 100-200 crossing the street into our yard with it's 30,000 sq ft (9,144 sq meters) garden daily.

 

[Alisa]

Some of your California Quail find their way up to our area, Ken. Haven't seen them as much in the last few years, but at times we've had some around our area. They run from wherever it is they're nesting to the ground below our birdfeeder (where there's seed that the Stellar Jays sweep off). The babies are just the most adorable things -little fuzzballs! It's amazing to watch them move around - seems like a few of the adults keeps watch while others escort the fuzzballs to and fro.

 

[Miss B]

Ohhh, talk about cuteness.

 

[Ken Gilliland]

Great photo

I drag these out all the time, here's two short videos:

A shortUSC Film School documentary about our yard called "Raising Quail Hollow" and a YouTube video showing some of the birds found in our yard. I have additional photos of birds actually photograph in (or above) our yard here.

 

[Alisa]

Thanks

Love these!!

 

[Lorraine]

We have California Quail in NZ too. I call the babies bumlebees when they are tiny, such little balls of fluffy cute

 

[Szark]

We have California Quail in NZ too. I call the babies bumlebees when they are tiny, such little balls of fluffy cute

Yeah escapees that found a home. I remember seeing them all over the place up in North Auckland

 

[Ken Gilliland]

California Quail are native to the western coast of North America from Baja California to Washington state. They have been introduced into other areas as "game birds" including British Columbia, Hawaii, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, South Africa, New Zealand, and to Norfolk Island and King Island in Australia.

 

[Szark]

thanks Ken....cool info.

 

[CWRW]

Wow Ken! I think you have done amazing work with the trans and maps to create the feathery body look. I am impressed!!!

 

[Pendraia]

Thanks for the videos Ken....

 

[Ken Gilliland]

Here's something pretty cool... it shows the animated migration pattern for 118 different bird species over the Americas. Mesmerizing Migration: Watch 118 Bird Species Migrate Across a Map of the Western Hemisphere

 

[Szark]

now that is cool

 

[Alisa]

Very!

 

[Lyne]

ohhh enjoyed the youtube video SO SO SO MUCH!!!!!!! Like seeing all your poser birds come to life!! (that scrub jay seemed to be trying to tell you to OPEN the peanuts for him?! LOL!) You must have a LOT of work to keep all the specialized bird feed/feeders stocked up, Ken! I suppose doing that is what attracts specific birds? It's also reassuring that many of those birds still LIVE in areas like yours... at my Mom's house in Chatsworth (an OLD LARGE yard in the middle of housing developments) it's like most birds and butterflies have gone extinct in her area!

 

[Ken Gilliland]

ohhh enjoyed the youtube video SO SO SO MUCH!!!!!!! Like seeing all your poser birds come to life!! (that scrub jay seemed to be trying to tell you to OPEN the peanuts for him?! LOL!) You must have a LOT of work to keep all the specialized bird feed/feeders stocked up, Ken! I suppose doing that is what attracts specific birds? It's also reassuring that many of those birds still LIVE in areas like yours... at my Mom's house in Chatsworth (an OLD LARGE yard in the middle of housing developments) it's like most birds and butterflies have gone extinct in her area!

Thanks... we're fortunate in that we have still some partially "wild" areas, adjacent to us... but almost anyone can get "some" wildlife in their yards with a few simple changes. There are four things that attract wildlife (specifically birds):

• Water- anything from a birdbath to elaborate ponds and stream-systems. The sound of water (a fountain or waterfall) will attract even more.
• Cover- Wild creatures want a degree of safety... places they can hide from predators and those scary humans. Terraced vegetation (tree to shrub to ground cover) is the best for birds-- that way they can carefully check out the surroundings, dropping level to level, making sure the coast is clear.
• Food- This can range from providing seed (we use black oil sunflower seeds, Kaytee's "Wild finches" mix, suet, seed cakes and sugar water for hummingbirds) to natural sources (plants and trees provide nectar, seed, fruit and attract insects to eat).
  
• Nesting places- These can range from trees to ground cover. Birds might even make use of a hanging plant (Doves regularly nest in my Dad's hanging fern).

The best key is to plant flora native to your area. We have about 50 different species of birds visit our house but after redoing our garden in native California plants that number doubled. One of the reason is that only 10% of native insects are attracted to non-native plant species. When you plant native plants, you rebuild the symbiotic links of the ecosystem. More plants attract more native insects which in turn attracts more native birds which eat the insects and balance the eco-system. You'll find less invasive insects and no need for pesticides, too.

 

[Szark]

I totally agree with what Ken said. We built a pond, made log piles secreted around our very small Garden (36 x 40 feet), hung bird feeders and put up some nest boxes. But there is also one very important thing to do and that is not to use any pesticides or herbicides. I haven't used any for over 15 years and all my garden plants don't suffer as long as you keep the plants healthy they will survive if you have enough predators, like birds etc coming in. (didn't see Ken's bit about pesticides)

Oh we had a sparrow hawk come in the other day, 3 foot away from our back window feeding on a mouse. It was so cool seeing him eat and see all the gib jobs. LOL

 

[Ken Gilliland]

Well, I was going to take a break in-between projects but I found myself modeling yesterday and this morning a Kiwi burrow prop. I still need to add some ferns and other greens but it's coming along...

 

[Szark]

sweet

 

[Alisa]

Great! The kiwis will need a place to live