well now that your in the seed addiction business ya need to fill out your page! Yes, I do! I have a plan for that sorta. lol. I'm researching all the great seeds that I've acquired and I'm trying to figure out where to put them all. (OH DANG! lol. Guess I 'll have to start a new bed.haha) And, I've summer sown a few. I want to see what I end up with after winter sowing too. And then, you all are welcomed to the leftovers. I'm sure there will be many. Smile

Aww look at them! So exciting. :)

I'm glad your bird problem turned out to be seasonal but just in case you ever face this problem again (or any bird infestation problem) I thought it might be helpful to just mention a different angle on this. The problem is not that the birds are pooping (or whatever they're doing) in your pool. That is simply a symptom of your real problem: that your environment is attractive to birds. If you really want to keep birds from being destructive to your property you have to make it so that your land is a place they don't want to hang out on in the first place. There are a lot of different approaches to this but yes, stopping the food supply is one of them. Another would be the mylar balloons someone else mentioned up above. There are also specialized bird scare balloons with 'eyes' that follow the birds wherever they fly as well as holographic tape. These incorporate movement so they are usually more affective than static decoys. There are other senses to attack as well: taste/smell, touch, and hearing. Birds hate methyl anthranilate (a chemical derived from concord grapes that has long been used for grape flavoring)--it gives them a similar sensation to what we feel when we encounter bleach. This comes in commercially available sprays. Also, there are sticky gels, netting, or spike strips that keep birds from roosting on certain surfaces. Lastly, there are sound devices that utilize recordings of predators/distress calls that scare birds away. For a partially or fully enclosed area you could use an ultrasonic device as well (one that can't be heard by humans but is annoying to birds and bats). Make sure that you switch up whatever you use from time to time. If you use balloons, move the location (but always keep it near where the birds are nesting). If you're using a sound device change the interval between effects, try to randomize the effects being used. Also, using the products together in a synergistic way will create a more effective and longer-lasting reaction. I'm glad to hear that no one has mentioned killing or injuring the birds...don't do that. As mentioned before that would be reacting to the symptoms rather than truly solving the problem. Furthermore, it would be very easy to accidentally tamper with one of the MANY birds protected by the Migratory Bird Act of 1918 (and then you'd be in big trouble). Just a side note: be careful when cleaning up the bird poop. Birds can transmit over 60 diseases to humans. Some of them are fatal. Bird dropping particles can be unknowingly inhaled and lead to serious health problems. Good luck in your future bird encounters! Here is a link that might be useful: click for examples, case studies and FAQs about bird pest control

it's been really cold the past few days but the usual winter suspects are all here. I have a feeder full of sunflower seeds that a mockingbird has claimed. there are around 30 cardinals around & sunflower seeds are there favorite. every time they try for the feeder the mockingbird swoops in & chases them off. I finally put some seeds at a second location & he hasn't claimed that one...yet. I have 2 hawks again. either they were only coming one at a time or a new mate was found. i have a platform on my back fence where i put moles, squirrels, 7 road kill to feed them. My Jack Russle/Corgi mix caught her first squirrel & was very proud of herself. she's been trying for 2 years & has come close. I worry about her catching them cuz a squirrel can put a real hurt on a dog. she is smart. she knows they'll head for my Linden tree so instead of chasing them she head for the tree. there's a clump of ditch lilies not far from the tree. she hides behind that trying to ambush them.