Invasive species

[Solly Mack]

My Impatiens (in a hanging basket) has been invaded. I took the basket down to water and found it was now a house. So I put it back up. After really quick photos and no touching.

Only one so far.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. How wonderful, my dear Solly Mack!

I wonder what type of bird it is.

Beautiful photos!

[Solly Mack]

3. Thanks, CaliforniaPeggy

No idea what bird is the parent. I'll keep a look out for it though.

[MontanaMama]

2. Haha!

As I sit on my front porch, I have a Robin nesting in one of my hanging geraniums over my head. Two eggs so far.

[Solly Mack]

4. I had planned to transplant the flower but, oh well...

I love geraniums. Love birds, too.

Like them better nesting elsewhere though.

When we lived in Colorado, we had to stop using the back door because a protected bird opted to nest over the frame. It was the law and we complied, and while it was cool - I did curse that little bird. It was a flycatcher of some sort and we couldn't remove the nest once established. Not that I would have moved it but I didn't realize that meant not opening the door either. We went around to keep track of the nest - as did the wildlife manager.

[MontanaMama]

5. Wow!

That’s a great story. And, what a pain in the behind. I’m trying to figure out how to sneak water into this big geranium. I paid $45 for the darned thing.

[Solly Mack]

8. I called the local office - it's on the post anyway (army) and I was told to use one of those

watering bulbs - a small one and wait until it was completely empty to refill. To place it as far away from the nest as possible. The important thing they said was to not bother the nest if I want it to remain where it is now. They also said you can move the nest to another hanging basket filled with peat moss and the parents will find it. I was told to use gloves when moving it to be on the safe side.

Hope that helps!

[MontanaMama]

9. I have one of those h2o bulbs!

That’s a great idea. Thank you.

[Solly Mack]

10. I have one too so that's what I'm doing.

I don't want to move the nest if I can avoid it.

First time using it. Had it for years. Seemed too pretty to stick in a pot.

[Bob Loblaw]

6. The mallard we dubbed Gertie

ushered her ten ducklings the 30 yards from her nest in our back yard to the pond on Saturday. Now I can mow that side of the yard. We only counted five little ones this afternoon, the missing probably taken either by large catfish or snapping turtles.

[Solly Mack]

7. Poor ducklings. I've been researching ponds because of a house we've been looking into and

read where larger fish and turtles were a danger to ducklings.

There's a fairly large pond on the property, out front and to the left of the house. We were thinking about making it duck friendly should we buy the house.

It's good you're able to mow now. Lots of snakes here and would wince at not being able to cut the grass.

[Bob Loblaw]

11. Yes, poor ducklings

but ten might be too many for the mother to handle and predators gotta prey (and eat too). We've only ever seen garter snakes here thankfully, not much of a fan of snakes. The pond is about 2 acres and full of bluegill, bass and catfish.

[rsdsharp]

12. I had that happen several years in a row with robins.

Finally, I started cutting off lengths of 1/4 inch dowel, and shoving them into the middle of the basket before I hung it up. That caused the robins to nest elsewhere -- on top of a light fixture on my deck!

[Solly Mack]

13. I really don't mind. I plant for birds, butterflies, and bees. (and good bugs)

I would prefer they nest in the places provided but I guess from the bird's view the hanging basket qualified.

I keep broken pottery, arranged with soil and moss for the anoles to live in when they come out during the summer.

I don't exactly have a beautiful garden but it's teeming with life.

[alfredo]

16. I use bamboo skewers pointy side up. . Works for squirrels too.

Years ago we had an Asparagus fern on a bike shop porch. A cat decided he wanted to make it a resting place. Being a bike shop, we had a bunch of cut spokes. we planted them in the fern and waited for the cat to return.

He climbed up on the plant and commenced to make himself comfortable. He got halfway down and his belly made contact with the spokes. He stopped, then tried again with the same results. He learned his lesson in only two tries. Smart cat.

[mnhtnbb]

14. I had a robin make a nest in the tree by the front door last year

which made it really hard not to spook her from flying off the nest.

We had a nest under the overhang on the screen porch that a bird made some years ago. Every year since it would be used by new tenants. Those babies did hatch because they were very protected.

[Solly Mack]

15. I saw the momma finally. A house sparrow. She doesn't mind me near the plant.

She stayed put the entire time I was sanding and drilling. She did poke her head out and watch though. I put a watering bulb on the other side of the basket. Won't be much camouflage for her if the plant dies. I'm going to re-home the nest once everyone vacates.