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Saturday, March 28, 2009

Uninvited Guests!



I found this cute birdhouse at Goodwill a couple of weeks ago. My son and I finally got it up yesterday evening. It didn't take long for the starlings to discover it, and they were quite busy this morning with nesting activity. I really should have covered the large holes with something to make the openings smaller. I really don't want to be a contributor to the starling population. Oh well, if it wasn't starlings, it would probably be house sparrows, both are uninvited guests!

I'm loving this collage thing, it makes uploading pictures to Blogger so easy!

27 comments:

  1. Robin - the birdhouse is so cute. You get the good with the bad in nature, don't you? Veggies and rabbits, robins and sparrows, birds and squirrels, plants and weeds...I've given in on the birds and the squirrels, but I am still fighting the battle on the bunnies, the deer and the weeds...charge!

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  2. What a cute birdhouse! Thrift stores are my favorite sources for items for the garden. I'm loving the collage format too, so fun to play with isn't it? ;)

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  3. That is a cute birdhouse, but I feel your pain. I put out my very first bird feeder, and the starlings are hogging it! They chased away a cardinal, a house finch and a goldfinch today. Grrrr. As soon as the peanut treat I put out on one end is gone, it won't be refilled, because that's what they keep going after. Retail's tough work isn't it? It's not so bad for me, because my nest is empty. And hubby has gotten used to my odd hours. It gives us both some time to ourselves.

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  4. What a lovely birdhouse. I don't think I've ever seen a starling here, but we do have sparrows and I rather like them. They seem to be the brave scouts for the other birds. The sparrows come in to the feeders first, and when the other birds see from the sparrows that all is safe, the mockingbird comes out from the honeysuckle bush and starts to sing and all the rest of the birds fly in. Cracks me up. The sparrows will also be the last ones to fly away.

    It was 91 on Pollywog Creek today. 91!!!! My "seasonal affective disorder" is about to begin! =(

    Are you using Picassa for your collages?

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  5. Robin, That collage feature is wonderful! I am going to have to play with it more.
    I have just one bird house. It is supposed to be for bluebirds. Last year I had chickadees in there.
    Can you make the holes smaller (putting a cover with a smaller hole over the opening) and maybe the starlings will not be able to get in?

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  6. I need to check out my local Goodwill store! This is a great purchase. Happy spring to you dear garden friend.

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  7. I love the birdhouse! You could do like Janet suggested...or, let the starlings nest...either way, it will be fun watching! I love the photo with the starling dangling some nesting material! Those are some pretty shots. Good luck deciding what to do! My birdhouses have been occupied by tufted titmice, chickadees and sparrows...those darned sparrows will do anything to throw out other birds from their nests. I like what Diane said...we get the good with the bad. It's so true.

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  8. I am always fighting to keep the house sparrows out of the martin houses here. Thankfully the Starling haven't tried to move in...yet.

    I like the collage thing too. You can put so many more pictures into a small space.

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  9. I hadn't seen any starlings here in awhile, until this afternoon. A big flock of them came by for lunch!

    Carol, May Dreams Gardens

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  10. Robin, I often stop by our local Goodwill for books. I have found other things too like a really nice suitcase, a wine rack and a couple of outside decorations. It's amazing to me what people will donate.

    Your birdhouse is really cute and even though they are starlings, you will have fun watching the comings and goings.

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  11. The birdhouse is lovely! I always welcome birds (and other cute visitors as well) to my garden. They are such a joy.
    And, thanks to you, collages is my latest passion.

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  12. We hates starlings, too. And house sparrows and cowbirds. Ick. Love the birdhouse AND your collages. I need to learn how to do that.

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  13. Dang! Such a lovely house to be invaded by Starlings. I really like the collage.

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  14. Oh starlings. Gotta love them. . . jk. . . Fortunately I have not had to have any problems with starling!

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  15. Well, I do like that birdhouse! I was surprised a few weeks ago to see a family of chickadees nesting in a little decorative birdhouse I nailed up on the fence post on a whim. Apparently they like the tiny hole entrance!
    Brenda

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  16. What a cute birdhouse!! Yuck on the starlings!!

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  17. Starlings always manage to find the best places to stay. Perhaps you should put up a "no vacancy" sign just for them:)

    Just wanted you to know this post showed up on my sidebar;hope that means the RSS feed is fixed!

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  18. ugh on the starlings. I would be taking the birdhouse back down pronto until I could make the holes smaller. I guess I'm not a live and let live gardener! I definitely don't want to contribute to a population increase for those birds. It is a cute birdhouse tho and I'm enjoying your collages.

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  19. Oh yes, the pushy, greedy starlings. They're a pain...the only bird I don't like to see visiting the feeders. Thankfully we're only getting a few so far.
    That's a really cute birdhouse.

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  20. What a neat birdhouse, Robin! We don't have a huge problem with starlings here, but I sure wish the sparrows would stay out of the bluebird house!

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  21. Birdhouse is great! YOu must have a wonderful friendly yard since the birds found it so quickly! I'm going to look around you delightful blog home a little ~
    Blessings
    Robin Rane'
    All Things Heart and Home

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  22. It is good of you to let them have a home. Somehow they will repay you.

    Thanks for visiting and commenting on my birds blog.

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  23. Robin, I need to go out and find myself some birdhouses!

    I haven't had much luck trying the mosaic collage. I need to tinker with it. It was really slow for me, not sure why cuz my computer is pretty quick

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  24. Better in the house then having them try to climb in the attic vents...like I see them doing at my neighbor's house...I've warned them! It it a cool house! gail

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  25. Hi Robin, what a sweet bird condo! I suppose the smaller hole would at least keep out the starlings if not the sparrows. How small is the hole supposed to be for the little wrens and chickadees? I think when I make a birdhouse we use the one inch drill bit. What we want are bluebirds but are happy with anything. The blue backing board with the yellow daffs was eye popping!
    Frances

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  26. Hi again Robin :-)

    I love this birdhouse it looks like it will provide you with plenty of entertainment (and photo opps) over the coming months! I am guessing you could get birds that nest in communities which would include the house sparrows. Not sure if the Starlings nest in communal spots. If not you may only get one family to add to the population :-D

    Have a great weekend :-D

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  27. I am just getting into putting bird houses around, but don't know if birds will nest in them if they are hanging on a hook.

    I live yours, and it's too bad about the starlings. We have sparrows and starlings eating out of our feeders. I see other birds around, but, other than doves, they don't stay in our yard long.

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Thank you for stopping by! I love receiving your comments and appreciate each one.