Gonna Build a Little Pond

[Psychobilly]

You may know this version:

Of Mice and Men - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

If you haven't, read the book, then see the Sinese/Malkovitch version of the movie. Incredible performances, incredible story..

The Lennie reference is just taking the piss. 😈

It does kind of describe me seeing a Cat....Or a Catfish

 

[Jewels]

Wait until there is a fistfight over who gets to eat that juicy nightcrawler.
🤣

So far only competing with the vegan crowd

 

[Hugh Jass]

Billy: I've had "Murder presents" from Cats, but not Murder presents from a group of Crows. At least not yet anyway.
Hughie: Check your windshield...
Billy: I actually try not to harm animals driving. Unless a Turkey runs out in front of me heads first.....I do have a deep fryer after all LOL.
Hughie:

 

[Psychobilly]

Billy: I've had "Murder presents" from Cats, but not Murder presents from a group of Crows. At least not yet anyway.
Hughie: Check your windshield...
Billy: I actually try not to harm animals driving. Unless a Turkey runs out in front of me heads first.....I do have a deep fryer after all LOL.
Hughie: View attachment 171301

They taste good

 

[Amarok]

one of my crow friends lands 2 feet from me on the feeding platform, the closest one's ever come.

That's the chair I was in when he arrived.

 

[Psychobilly]

That's the chair I was in when he arrived.
View attachment 171320

What do you feed them? Wife wants to make a platform.

 

[Amarok]

What do you feed them? Wife wants to make a platform.

First, if you have outdoor cats, I STRONGLY recommend you don't try to interact with crows. Please don't. It's a recipe for disaster. Even if the cats don't kill one, even if you do make progress with the birds, at some point they will associate the enemy cats with you and you will also become an enemy. And their memory and enmity last across generations.

------------------------------

They love dry cat food. I read what I could find and it should be healthy for them. I bought a large bag of Whiskas last year and still have lots left. A lot of people suggest peanuts are their favorites, but when I gave them a choice they always took the cat food first.

Common wisdom is not to look at them when trying to initiate contact as they feel threatened by that. By the time I started reading though, I was already doing everything wrong and having too much success to change.

I started throwing the food out on the lawn when I saw them. I threw it in the open, where they had easy getaway routes and a good view all around them. I would talk to them when they showed up and look right at them. I always moved slowly, but never tried to be sneaky.
The platform came after a trust had been established. I had been feeding them on the lawn and been providing water and chasing cats away. It didn't just happen overnight.

Pay attention to their vocalizations. A lot is just them sharing neighborhood conditions among themselves, but the alarm call is pretty distinct. I go outside when I hear it close by and if I can identify the cause(cat, squirrel, etc) I will chase the 'bad guy' away. Do that a few times and you will go in their good books.

There is a special sound they make when they want to say they like you. I hope you get to hear it.

 

[Psychobilly]

First, if you have outdoor cats, I STRONGLY recommend you don't try to interact with crows. Please don't. It's a recipe for disaster. Even if the cats don't kill one, even if you do make progress with the birds, at some point they will associate the enemy cats with you and you will also become an enemy. And their memory and enmity last across generations.

------------------------------

They love dry cat food. I read what I could find and it should be healthy for them. I bought a large bag of Whiskas last year and still have lots left. A lot of people suggest peanuts are their favorites, but when I gave them a choice they always took the cat food first.

Common wisdom is not to look at them when trying to initiate contact as they feel threatened by that. By the time I started reading though, I was already doing everything wrong and having too much success to change.

I started throwing the food out on the lawn when I saw them. I threw it in the open, where they had easy getaway routes and a good view all around them. I would talk to them when they showed up and look right at them. I always moved slowly, but never tried to be sneaky.
The platform came after a trust had been established. I had been feeding them on the lawn and been providing water and chasing cats away. It didn't just happen overnight.

Pay attention to their vocalizations. A lot is just them sharing neighborhood conditions among themselves, but the alarm call is pretty distinct. I go outside when I hear it close by and if I can identify the cause(cat, squirrel, etc) I will chase the 'bad guy' away. Do that a few times and you will go in their good books.

There is a special sound they make when they want to say they like you. I hope you get to hear it.

They apparently enjoyed the Walleye Carcass that was outside... is the vocalization an almost purring or cooing sound?

They frequent the yard already, and don't pay much attention when we are in the garden. The Cat appears to not bother with them, and we did hear the alert vocals when that Raptor was near by... it was pretty distinct in sound.

The only Cat we have, goes out each day for a bit. We can't keep her inside all the time as she was born out there, and basically just showed up one day, and after some weeks, she literally walked into the house like "OK I guess I live here now".

She hasn't really bugged them yet, but does go after the smaller birds and butterflies lol.

I'm thinking wait to feed them until she's inside so they can eat in peace. We hear a few different vocalization sounds from them. We have bird feeders so a lot of birds and squirrels are around just normally. Deer too. They walk through the yard a lot. Foxes are a bit rare, but they come through the yard too.

It'll take some thought, as we do have Cat food, but I don't want the Cat to see them eat that. I feel like we can reach a balance with that though.

I've also heard Crows like spicy stuff, and that spicy keeps other birds from eating it, so that may be an option too.

 

[Amarok]

Pond is functioning as designed. Fish and bugs and birds are happy, as am I.

The grass and wildflower seed that I've been sowing around the yard is coming up and there is new greenery every day.
I've added a couple pond plants but still learning the best way to place them. I also took advantage of end of season sales and got another Saskatoon and another currant, both different varieties from what I had. Finally got my ground-nut vine as well. It's already climbing up the trellis.

Of the top of my head, my little yard now has the following that will produce food for critters:
Haskaps:

• Aurora
• Borealis
• Tundra
• Boreal Beauty
• Boreal Beast
• Boreal Blizzard
• Honey Bee
• Berry Blue

Dynamite goji x 2
2 varieties of currant
2 varieties of Saskatoon(serviceberry)
everbearing strawberry
raspberry
over 3 dozen sunflowers

That is in addition to the plums, rose hips, pinecones, crabapple, etc already available.

I also planted numerous shade/privacy trees, bushes, and vines and removed a bunch of dead stuff in the front and back yards(chainsaws are fun).

(the Aurora cut I took last month is still alive and sucking moisture. haven't seen any roots)

 

[Amarok]

I've been planting lots of stuff, but other than the strawberries, I wasn't expecting to see any fruit this year.

It may not be much, but I was still thrilled to see this on the Boreal Beast haskap today.

 

[Amarok]

^The above is one of the later blooming varieties. Today I decided to take a close look at the combined aurora/borealis planting(earlier flowering) and there are a bunch of wee honeyberries. I'm already so excited for next year and those to follow.

The newest haskaps, the viborums, and the apple tree, are already showing new growth. So far it's only the caraganas that never greened up. Some were briefly pulled up by the crows, but not all, so I'm calling it a bad batch of plugs.

 

[Jewels]

So far it's only the caraganas that never greened up.

Did not see that coming.
Thems are tough customers.
Once they get going, it will take more than a lawn mower to kill them.

What kind of temps are you seeing in the pond ?
My liner is earthed in all around, although the bottom sits barely below ground level.
There are times during the day where I will get a spackling of sunlight through the trees, otherwise it is full shade.
My water is half a tick below our current average seasonal ambient temperature, 16- 17 Celsius

 

[Amarok]

What kind of temps are you seeing in the pond ?

I honestly have no idea. I should find a thermometer and see, but since I don't plan on doing anything other than creating shade and circulation, it doesn't really concern me. It will be what it will be.

As long as the fish are thriving(they are) and the water stays clear(it is), I'm a happy guy.

Did not see that coming.
Thems are tough customers.
Once they get going, it will take more than a lawn mower to kill them.

Yeah, I was surprised. I contacted the supplier but haven't heard back yet. I planted three out in the open on the property line, the fourth under partial cover, and the last one in the back with different sun and soil conditions from the others, so I can't see it being environmental. The other plants in the same shipment are thriving, so it probably wasn't a transit issue. Not a big deal, they were cheap, but I still lost a year of growing out my privacy hedge.

-----------------
I actually did accidentally weed-wack one of the Virginia creepers, but it just kept on growing.

 

[Willie]

I've also heard Crows like spicy stuff, and that spicy keeps other birds from eating it, so that may be an option too.

Spicy has no effect on birds. They can still distinguish tastes but the "heat" or "spice" does not register.

 

[Willie]

Pond is functioning as designed. Fish and bugs and birds are happy, as am I.

The grass and wildflower seed that I've been sowing around the yard is coming up and there is new greenery every day.
I've added a couple pond plants but still learning the best way to place them. I also took advantage of end of season sales and got another Saskatoon and another currant, both different varieties from what I had. Finally got my ground-nut vine as well. It's already climbing up the trellis.

Of the top of my head, my little yard now has the following that will produce food for critters:
Haskaps:

• Aurora
• Borealis
• Tundra
• Boreal Beauty
• Boreal Beast
• Boreal Blizzard
• Honey Bee
• Berry Blue

Dynamite goji x 2
2 varieties of currant
2 varieties of Saskatoon(serviceberry)
everbearing strawberry
raspberry
over 3 dozen sunflowers

That is in addition to the plums, rose hips, pinecones, crabapple, etc already available.

I also planted numerous shade/privacy trees, bushes, and vines and removed a bunch of dead stuff in the front and back yards(chainsaws are fun).

(the Aurora cut I took last month is still alive and sucking moisture. haven't seen any roots)

I didn't see highbush blueberries on your list. I have had one for 30+ years and I never eat them......the birds get them all. Acid loving plant that is basically maintenance free, forever.

I have to plant sunflowers in pots to set out later. Anything in the ground sprouts but then gets eaten pretty quick. Bunnies, birds, chipmonks, groundhogs.......they all love the sprouts. Once they get a little bigger the survivability is better........I lost a few handfuls of seeds already. Just keep planting them....lol

 

[Amarok]

I didn't see highbush blueberries on your list.

I've looked at them, even had one in the cart a few times, but haven't pulled the trigger.
The area I've been planting isn't acidic, but I did just recently reclaim a previously unfenced area and have been clearing out dead stuff and thick grass. It's under a couple big evergreens, so lots of needles acidifying the ground. I am deciding on letting the wild roses take it over, or cleaning it up a bit more and adding a blueberry or two.

----------------
I also bought a discounted Japanese spirea, on a whim. I still have to figure out where it goes.

I have to fight fantasies of buying the vacant lot next-door so I can have MORE trees and MORE bushes and BIGGER ponds.

 

[Amarok]

(the Aurora cut I took last month is still alive and sucking moisture. haven't seen any roots)

Day 50 since it was cut and there is a little root on the outside of the clone cup. It's just a little white thread, but I was pretty happy to see it. It would appear haskaps can be cloned just like weed, at least during the growing months.
I'll give it a few more days and then take a photo.

 

[Amarok]

The young apple tree is unfurling leaves all along its length, everything else is growing well, pond is producing some algae in the bright sun but skimming it is working, all the newly seeded areas are sprouting. Life is good out in the boondocks. 🤠

Had a suicidal young squirrel that wanted to play hide and seek around the trunk of a big oak. After a dozen clean misses with the crappy little CO2 BB pistol, I grabbed the ol' pump-up, long-barreled, pellet pistol. Ten pumps and one shot later and my rodent problem was solved. 😵

 

[Psychobilly]

The young apple tree is unfurling leaves all along its length, everything else is growing well, pond is producing some algae in the bright sun but skimming it is working, all the newly seeded areas are sprouting. Life is good out in the boondocks. 🤠

Had a suicidal young squirrel that wanted to play hide and seek around the trunk of a big oak. After a dozen clean misses with the crappy little CO2 BB pistol, I grabbed the ol' pump-up, long-barreled, pellet pistol. Ten pumps and one shot later and my rodent problem was solved. 😵

And you had Pike bait! Or Lake Trout if you have those.

 

[Amarok]

I get a kick out of my crow friends. I dig a 800 gallon pond and they still only drink from the containers I put out.

"What, did you expect me to drink pond water, like some common sparrow?" 🧐

They also seem to leave the other birds in the yard alone, unlike the jays and magpies that would try to take over. I'll see a crow checking out the ground at the base of the bird feeder while little guys happily chow down above him. I don't know how they interact elsewhere, but they seem to understand that here is a neutral zone.