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Historically birds have always had a place in homes. They add beauty and charm whether in the form of a pet bird, framed prints from the Audubon collection, bronze or porcelain figurines, birds depicted in fabrics and wallpaper, or neighborhood birds enjoying a meal at a bird feeder in your backyard.
I was recently contacted by Audubon Park with a kind offer to provide me with a bird feeder and special seed to attract most varieties of birds in our neighborhood. An instruction book and journal was included. {Thank you, Audubon Park} You may remember our foray into feeding birds from my posts HERE and HERE.
I can share with you that it has been a relaxing and enjoyable experience and we have marveled at the visits by some of the most colorful birds, most we had no idea were in our neighborhood. Should you wish to embark on this peaceful pass time, and with winter fast approaching it’s a great time to feed birds, Audubon Park not only provides these Tips for feeding birds but their site has information on where to buy their premium food and more:
- Know your local birds. [We happen to have a Field Guide to California birds].
- Feed them their favorite food
- Make them feel at home with trees, shrubs, flowers and a bird house
- Give them bath and drinking water
- Keep them safe: Make sure your seed, suet or nectar is made-in-the-USA and place feeders away from windows and predators
Because I can’t pass up an opportunity to showcase a pretty room, here are some additional ways birds find their way into our hearts and homes.
A chandelier ready for autumn, complete with a pair of faux American Crow perched on attached moss-laden branches…
Love this wallpaper with birds in flight…
Hotel Van Zandt, Austin, Texas displays birds made from old LP vinyl records…
a favorite room by the talented Holly Mathis, dressed for Christmas, features some wonderful Audubon prints…
Love the needlework peacocks in this bedroom…
How sweet is this flamingo wallpaper for a baby girl’s room?…
Classic beauty in green and white…
I hope you’ve enjoyed this visit to the world of our feathered friends. I’ve definitely had fun bird watching from our kitchen window.
Garden, Home & Party 
debra @ 5th and state said:
of course you love birds, i do too!
we have had to take in our feeder a few years ago as it drew coyotes to the house, very disappointing, we and the cat were enthralled.
wonderful post karen, that bathroom has me thinking
xxx
debra
Karen B. said:
Debra,
I know what you mean, we have attracted a squirrel that loves the spill over. It drives our jack russell mix nuts! (no pun intended).
🙂
xo,
Karen
Linda Coble said:
Karen,
I always loved watching the birds in our California backyard – from tiny wrens and finches to doves and hawks. Now that I’m living in Washington, it’s an entire new set of feathered friends. My favorites are the owls. What wonderful creatures they are! I could watch them for hours. I still remember the little finches you and I used to keep as pets many years ago. You had zebra finches named Sherlock and Irene and mine were hooded nuns named Ozzie and Harriet. They were so entertaining! Thanks for a walk down memory lane.
trouverlesoleil said:
Wonderful post Karen! We reside in a forested area with lots of wildlife. Our bird population has dwindled a bit over the years sadly, so we have put up feeders with “special ” food to encourage repopulation. It’s fun so see them come back slowly:)
I love those sweet bird nests as well as the prints you show here:)
xo L
Karen B. said:
Leslie,
Why did the bird population dwindle? I do enjoy watching them on the feeder. We’ve had some visitors that are beautiful, almost as if they are pet birds.
xo,
Karen
Karen B. said:
Hi Linda,
Yes, I clearly remember our zebra finch. We had a pair of finch on our feeder outside and I wondered if they were escaped pets!
🙂
xo,
Karen
D'Arcy H said:
Hi Karen, how nice to look at birds after a distressing couple of days. I especially like the birds made out of old LPs! Have a great week! –D’Arcy
Karen B. said:
D’Arcy, The birds made from records are really cool in person. My photography doesn’t do them justice. If you and Eric ever visit Austin, stop in at Hotel Van Zandt, it’s really pretty. xo, Karen
On Wed, Nov 9, 2016 at 6:04 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Vicki said:
What a nice gift. That would be fun to discover new birds. After seeing Mark Sikes’ design with the Audubon prints, now I’m really appreciating them. You always find the prettiest rooms, too!
Karen B. said:
Hi Vicki, I’m hooked on the Audubon prints and would love to have one in a spot in my house…adding it to the list. 🙂 Karen
On Thu, Nov 10, 2016 at 1:09 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Chronica Domus said:
I take immense pleasure from feeding birds in our garden. It would not feel like home if I did not hear the sound of their singing on a daily basis.
Thanks for the feeding tips too.
Karen B. said:
The birds we’ve seen so far are definitely entertaining. There have been some real beauties, maybe on their way to vacation in the south? 🙂 Thank you for stopping by. Karen
On Fri, Nov 11, 2016 at 6:38 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Gretchen said:
Karen, the move to the new house has given us a special treat. We have about two dozen quail living in the bushes at the edge of our property. They are out on the grass multiple times a day. We love watching and listening to them. Our neighbor is a “birder” who puts out seed and nectar as well as having a birdbath and flowering shrubs. We get all the benefits with none of the maintainence!
Karen B. said:
That is awesome. We have been enjoying the birds as well as the squirrel that does clean up under the feeder. 🙂 Karen
On Fri, Nov 11, 2016 at 3:09 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Sharon said:
I am a real sucker for birds and I love all these ideas for including them into home decor. Hope you are well. x Sharon
Karen B. said:
The birds have been surprisingly entertaining. 😄
Sent from my iPad
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Katie Clooney said:
Karen… I love every one of these pics! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!
Karen B. said:
Thank you for stopping by, Katie. As you can tell by the date of my last post I’ve pretty much dropped out of blogging but I sure enjoy visiting others, such as your site, for inspiration and entertainment! Have a wonderful Christmas and may 2017 prove to be better than expected. 🙂
xo,
Karen
alison sherman said:
Gorgeous images, Karen!
I love birds too.
That little bronze bird by the nest on your books is fantastic! LOVE that.
Thanks for leaving a sweet comment on the blog today.
Hope you are enjoying the new year.
xoxox
Alison
Karen B. said:
Alison,
Thanks so much. I’ve hung up my blog skates for now. Life has gotten busy and I miss virtual visits with readers, but it was time for me. Your site has always been my favorite and even though we live in Southern California, I most relate to your style and have some similar equestrian accents. I will enjoy shopping your shop on Etsy.
Best of luck as you transition to a new home. I’ll be in touch. 🙂
xo,
Karen
Alison Sherman said:
Karen,
Please keep in touch! Not sure where you are relocating? Save my email so we can write back and forth, ok? xoxox
A
Indigo Lattice said:
I love feeding the birds but hate that it draws in the squirrels that eat all their food. My backyard is not the same without birds in it. It’s almost too quiet without them in it.
Jayne said:
A wonderful post! I love the birds. Watching the cardinals in our bird baths always brings a smile to my face. I empty the small one daily but use a wobbler in the large one to keep water moving…we have giant mosquitos here!
Karen B. said:
Jayne,
We love the birds as well. Thank you for visiting—this is an old post and I retired from blogging for a time. I’m getting ready to retire and begin blogging once again.
xo,
Karen
tara dillard said:
You make me realize how much ‘bird’ I’ve put into my house. In the garden, once the design was grown a bit, it was AMAZING to see the birds use my stone pathways as their flight ways around my home.
Plenty of windows, I could see a bird fly along the side of my house, into the backyard, and then off to the other side of my house, all above my stone paths and terraces. Miss that in my new ca. 1900 home. It was designed to not have a lot of ‘outside view’. Cooler in summer, conserve heat in winter. At least plenty of birds outside with my 5 acres, and neighbor’s dairy farm.
Fun topic, hadn’t thought about all the bird things my friends have too.
Garden & Be Well, XO Tara
Karen B. said:
Thanks, Tara. You may have noticed I’ve been absent from my blog site. I keep thinking I’ll convert it to cover more of my garden design inspiration and projects.
Karen
Jayne on Weed Street said:
Great photographs! I have one of the Audubon pictured. I love it and it is hanging next to the picture window that opens to the area where I have a bird feeder….keeps it fresh! Birds are indispensable! Thank you!
Jayne on Weed Street said:
I am semi-retired for 4 years…it has been great! Working at your own pace and not to someone or some company’s pace is strange at first. It it works for me!