I first created this site back in 1998 to document the wild plants that I encountered. But it has grown into a clearinghouse of information on landscaping, backyard birds, butterfly gardening, plant identification and making paper from plant fiber. After leaving Kansas, I thought of deleting the site. But realize it has a wealth of information that people rely upon.
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Birds
About Birds
The following topics are covered concerning backyard birds.
Cavity Nesting Birds
Learn about birds that nest in cavities.
- Cavity Nesting Birds describes birds that nest in bird houses/nest boxes, natural cavities, or cavities they excavate.
Feeding Birds
Learn about feeding birds.
- Homemade Suet has a recipe for making your own suet to feed a variety of birds
Nest Boxes
A nest box (birdhouse) can sometimes replicate a natural cavity.
- Nest Box Design describes nest boxes for each species of cavity nester as well as construction of nest boxes
- Nest Box Mounting describes methods of placing nestboxes to make them predator proof and easy to monitor
- Nest Box Monitoring describes the methods and importance of monitoring your nesting birds
- Nest Box Trap describes methods used to trap introduced house sparrows and European starlings that compete with our native birds
Invasive Birds
Lean about these two invasive birds that compete with native birds and methods of controlling them.
- European Starling Control describes methods to eliminate European Starlings.
- House Sparrow Control describes methods to eliminate House Sparrows.
- Euthanize Sparrow & Starlings describes humane methods of killing European Starlings and House Sparrows.
Birds in my Yard
A variety of birds are attracted to my yard because of the habitat and feeders, nestboxes, native plants, and pond.
- Yard Bird Videos has videos of the birds in my yard.
Birds of Prey
These birds are predators.
- Cooper's hawk often come to my yard because of all of the birds found feeding at my feeders
Nesting in Nest Boxes
These birds have nested in my nest boxes.
- Northern Flicker often nests in nest boxes
- Red-headed Woodpecker rarely nests in nest boxes
- Great crested flycatcher often nests in nest boxes
- Eastern Bluebird often nests in nest boxes
- Black-capped Chickadee occasionally nests in nest boxes
- Carolina Wren often will nest in slot nest boxes
- House Wren often nest in nest boxes
Roosting in Nest Boxes
These birds sometimes roost in nest boxes
- Downy woodpecker often roosts in nest boxes
- Red-bellied woodpecker rarely will nest in nest boxes
Feeder Birds
These birds are attracted to my feeders or plants
- Ruby throated hummingbird come to flowers and feeders
- Pine Siskin is an occassional species found at my sunflower feeders
- Common redpoll is a rare bird in Kansas
Invasive Bird Species
These species compete with our native birds and should be eliminated.
- House Sparrow competes with native birds especially bluebirds
- European Starling competes with native birds especially woodpeckers
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