If you find your list of summer projects ever-growing and would appreciate a relaxing, stress-free activity to take the edge off of things, there’s one relatively relaxing and simple hobby that you can partake in: bird watching. Flagstaff, located in the middle of a ponderosa pine forest, is a great location for birds to flourish and flutter, and the summertime is the best time to take advantage of the opportunity to observe and enjoy wildlife behaviors. Though you can head into the forest and attempt to watch them in their native habitat, you can also enjoy the relaxation from home. HomCo Lumber and Hardware carries multiple bird-related items that you can peruse, select from, and set up so that you can enjoy mother nature’s songs from the comfort of your home.
Wildlife-Friendly Yard:
In HomCo Lumber and Hardware’s Lawn and Garden department, you can find many items that will help you welcome wildlife into your front and backyards. Some of the items we carry include:
Hummingbird feeders, with the related hummingbird food
Bird houses and bird feeders, with many different types of bird seed
Squirrel feeders and squirrel repellents for bird feeders
Hooks and hangers for bird houses, bird feeders, squirrel feeders, and other related products
We also carry bird baths and other bird treats.
We have many different brands and types to choose from for bird houses, bird feeders, and the food that you can fill them with. We have dedicated associates in our Lawn and Garden Department who can answer any questions you may have about the products you wish to decorate your lawn with. If you like what you see here, and the idea of bird watching sounds like a joy to you, head on over to HomCo Lumber and Hardware today.
Properly Observing the Wildlife:
Now that you’ve set up your front and/or backyards to properly attract birds (and more than likely a few squirrels), you can sit back and start the actual bird watching hobby. If you’re the sort of person who likes to take things a step at a time, you can just sit back and enjoy the chirping of the birds. If you want to take it a bit more seriously, there are some resources that you can consider.
Firstly is going over the list of birds native and available to bird watch in Arizona [link here]. This list organizes birds by species first, and then by location and availability later. Since we live in Flagstaff, we’ll only focus on birds available above the 5000 foot elevation marker. We also live in the middle of a ponderosa pine forest, so we can then focus on birds in location 5. After that, you can look up pictures of the birds you most want to see, and start scouting.
As for keeping those squirrels away from your bird seed, there are a few ways to get around that. It depends on how you are hanging and preparing your bird feeders. If you are hanging a birdhouse and feeder on a metal pole that you can stick just about anywhere, try oiling the metal. If the squirrel can’t climb up the pole, they can’t reach the bird seed. Just make sure to use an animal-friendly oil. Motor oil is not great for both the squirrel and the environment if they spread it around. If your bird feeder is suspended from a tree, keeping the squirrels away will prove to be a bit more difficult. Squirrel-proof bird feeders and feeder caps are available for sale. You can provide bird food that squirrels aren’t interested in, or you can make a squirrel feeder with food that squirrels just can’t resist. If you keep the squirrels away from your bird feeder, the birds will flock, and you can spend your afternoons simply watching and enjoying the wildlife.
In the Wild
Bird watching doesn’t just have to occur from the backyard, though. Flagstaff is located in the middle of a forest, which means there is a lot of land that you can explore to experience those birds in their native habitats. However, there are some rules that you need to stick to when making an excursion.- Don’t leave the trails;
- Don’t disturb the wildlife and landscape;
- Be safe
If you encroach upon a wild bird, you could stress them out and cause them to either leave the area permanently, or even attack. This is especially true with nesting females. Keep yourself safe, and make sure to leave the wildlife wild. Enjoy your bird watching, but remember to keep all involved parties, the plants included, safe.
Conclusion
You don’t have to be a scientist to bird watch, and you don’t need to go out on a hike to experience the Flagstaff wildlife. Head on over to HomCo Lumber and Hardware to our Lawn and Garden section. We have bird seeds, bird feeders, bird houses, and other bird-related products for you to choose from. You can enjoy the birds from the comfort of your home with your new bird feeders, or you can head out on one of Flagstaff’s iconic trails to engage with the birds in their natural habitats. Just remember to be safe and keep the wildlife safe; a disturbed bird is no fun for bird watching.
Enjoy the songs of summer with a bird feeder, and keep on with your bird watching!
If you find your list of summer projects ever-growing and would appreciate a relaxing, stress-free activity to take the edge off of things, there’s one relatively relaxing and simple hobby that you can partake in: bird watching. Flagstaff, located in the middle of a ponderosa pine forest, is a great location for birds to flourish and flutter, and the summertime is the best time to take advantage of the opportunity to observe and enjoy wildlife behaviors. Though you can head into the forest and attempt to watch them in their native habitat, you can also enjoy the relaxation from home. HomCo Lumber and Hardware carries multiple bird-related items that you can peruse, select from, and set up so that you can enjoy mother nature’s songs from the comfort of your home.
Wildlife-Friendly Yard:
In HomCo Lumber and Hardware’s Lawn and Garden department, you can find many items that will help you welcome wildlife into your front and backyards. Some of the items we carry include:
Hummingbird feeders, with the related hummingbird food
Bird houses and bird feeders, with many different types of bird seed
Squirrel feeders and squirrel repellents for bird feeders
Hooks and hangers for bird houses, bird feeders, squirrel feeders, and other related products
We also carry bird baths and other bird treats.
We have many different brands and types to choose from for bird houses, bird feeders, and the food that you can fill them with. We have dedicated associates in our Lawn and Garden Department who can answer any questions you may have about the products you wish to decorate your lawn with. If you like what you see here, and the idea of bird watching sounds like a joy to you, head on over to HomCo Lumber and Hardware today.
Properly Observing the Wildlife:
Now that you’ve set up your front and/or backyards to properly attract birds (and more than likely a few squirrels), you can sit back and start the actual bird watching hobby. If you’re the sort of person who likes to take things a step at a time, you can just sit back and enjoy the chirping of the birds. If you want to take it a bit more seriously, there are some resources that you can consider.
Firstly is going over the list of birds native and available to bird watch in Arizona [link here]. This list organizes birds by species first, and then by location and availability later. Since we live in Flagstaff, we’ll only focus on birds available above the 5000 foot elevation marker. We also live in the middle of a ponderosa pine forest, so we can then focus on birds in location 5. After that, you can look up pictures of the birds you most want to see, and start scouting.
As for keeping those squirrels away from your bird seed, there are a few ways to get around that. It depends on how you are hanging and preparing your bird feeders. If you are hanging a birdhouse and feeder on a metal pole that you can stick just about anywhere, try oiling the metal. If the squirrel can’t climb up the pole, they can’t reach the bird seed. Just make sure to use an animal-friendly oil. Motor oil is not great for both the squirrel and the environment if they spread it around. If your bird feeder is suspended from a tree, keeping the squirrels away will prove to be a bit more difficult. Squirrel-proof bird feeders and feeder caps are available for sale. You can provide bird food that squirrels aren’t interested in, or you can make a squirrel feeder with food that squirrels just can’t resist. If you keep the squirrels away from your bird feeder, the birds will flock, and you can spend your afternoons simply watching and enjoying the wildlife.
In the Wild
Bird watching doesn’t just have to occur from the backyard, though. Flagstaff is located in the middle of a forest, which means there is a lot of land that you can explore to experience those birds in their native habitats. However, there are some rules that you need to stick to when making an excursion.- Don’t leave the trails;
- Don’t disturb the wildlife and landscape;
- Be safe
If you encroach upon a wild bird, you could stress them out and cause them to either leave the area permanently, or even attack. This is especially true with nesting females. Keep yourself safe, and make sure to leave the wildlife wild. Enjoy your bird watching, but remember to keep all involved parties, the plants included, safe.
Conclusion
You don’t have to be a scientist to bird watch, and you don’t need to go out on a hike to experience the Flagstaff wildlife. Head on over to HomCo Lumber and Hardware to our Lawn and Garden section. We have bird seeds, bird feeders, bird houses, and other bird-related products for you to choose from. You can enjoy the birds from the comfort of your home with your new bird feeders, or you can head out on one of Flagstaff’s iconic trails to engage with the birds in their natural habitats. Just remember to be safe and keep the wildlife safe; a disturbed bird is no fun for bird watching.
Enjoy the songs of summer with a bird feeder, and keep on with your bird watching!