A Walk Around the Property – March 8th Update
Today was a great day for a property walk. The current conditions: 31°F with a high of 39°F, partly cloudy. It’s a good time to slow down, take in the sights, and observe what’s happening around the land.
A large loop trail runs around the perimeter of the pond, and most of this area now holds the new birdhouses. I installed them at various heights and locations to attract different bird species. Each entrance faces south, southeast, or east to provide optimal conditions. The birdhouses are spaced far enough apart to prevent territorial disputes, so I can’t wait to see what species move in.
More Birdhouses on the Way
The property still needs eight more birdhouses to reach the final goal of 16 total. I plan to build:
Open-style houses
Hanging finch homes
Ground-mounted open houses
For the ground-mounted birdhouses, I’ll drive rebar into the ground and slide metal conduit over it, allowing me to mount the houses 10 feet high in the open field. This setup should work well and be easy to maintain.
Once all 16 birdhouses are in place, that’s the limit. It’s enough for me to maintain annually, but more importantly, these birds will serve a purpose—spreading seeds throughout the property. That’s the plan, anyway.
Considering a Barn Owl House
I’ve also been thinking about building a Barn Owl house, measuring 18” x 18” x 24” deep. Barn owls are rare because humans have destroyed much of their habitat. I want to help change that.
Barn owls are incredibly beneficial for natural pest control—they can eat 1,000 to 1,500 rodents per year. Having them around would help keep the rodent population in check while restoring part of their lost habitat.
A Falcon Perch is Next
I’ll likely install a falcon perch somewhere on the property. I haven’t picked the exact spot yet, but a corner of the land seems like a good choice. The goal is to keep falcons, hawks, and kestrels away from the smaller birds near the nesting sites.
The perch will need to be mounted at least 15 feet high. Thankfully, this will be an easy job with the rock auger. Once the hole is dug, I’ll mount the perch on a solid post, and it should be good to go.
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