Yellow Rumped Warbler?A new bird landed by me a little while ago. I think this pic is the same species. Little yellow mohawk, yellow on throat and chest. I've narrowed it down to some kind of warbler.
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A new bird landed by me a little while ago. I think this pic is the same species. Little yellow mohawk, yellow on throat and chest. I've narrowed it down to some kind of warbler.
View attachment 169333
Absolutely, it is cool.We put up a few birdhouses a year or so ago. It's so cool when you offer stuff up to wildlife, whether it be a birdhouse or a pond, and they take you up on it. Build it and they will come, right ? Although I did see a mouse nest in one of the birdhouses - not what we had in mind, but that's life !
Absolutely, it is cool.
I'm so happy with how it's all worked out so far. "Build it and they will come" for sure.
The pond is functioning beautifully, with fish and insect populations thriving, as it becomes an important part of the local ecosystem. I'm seeing new birds all the time and noticed a bat last night. (I want to build a bat house, have for a while).
I have a regular bird feeder and a hummingbird feeder to hang, just deciding on the best placement, so that should increase traffic further.
The trees and shrubs I've planted are all doing great, and as they grow they add more food and shelter.
Now I just need my border/privacy plants to grow faster.
I'm trying to shape things to encourage the species I want around and to not be invasive. I want to let a natural balance occur. For example, there are cowbirds around, which many bird fans hate due to their "brood parasite" reproduction strategy, but I'm leaving them alone.I did see a mouse nest in one of the birdhouses - not what we had in mind,
Chick a dee dee deeOnce a couple of these loudmouths find the pond, it'll be, "Katie, bar the door."
My neighbors to the immediate north and east have established feeders, so it's already pretty high traffic and pretty chirpy.
Have you added any beneficial bacteria? What filtration medium do you have?My pond is no longer crystal clear. My theory is that there is just too much going in for the still-establishing filter and small fish population to process. Between pollen, tree fuzz, smoke particles, and the waste of an endless stream of birds, it's just been too much. It still is healthy, but not quite as pretty beneath the surface. If things go well, the available food will kick-start the biofilter and equilibrium will be achieved. If not, I'll formulate Plan B.
A tiny trickle running up the under-side of the outlet and down the outside of the filter barrel is leading to some trouble. The berm in that spot is saturated and compacting. I think I've stopped the leak and will do a reroute of the outlet to either fix the trouble or bypass it if fixing doesn't work. I need to pick up some fittings from town.
The variety coming to drink and bathe is incredible. In five minutes I might see half a dozen or more species of birds.
I'll be standing right at the stream and this one little guy(same species each time it happened, no idea re individual bird) will land 2 or 3 feet away and have a casual drink. I'll say hello and he shows no concern at all.
Even the robins that were wary at first are relaxing around me.
Still learning, still completing, still adapting, completely loving, my pond and the entire experience.
Nope, everything is natural.Have you added any beneficial bacteria?
Nope, everything is natural.
See earlier in thread for more info on the biofilter. There's even a good video showing the concept and the process.
No visible accumulations but there has been smoke in the air for weeks, so there has absolutely been some ash landing across the vicinity.Are you getting any ashfall from the fires?