Callaway Farm is my (Eddie’s) rural backyard in northern Illinois. In 2012, the 2.5 acres were a corn field and since 2013, I’ve been working on turning it into our backyard bird sanctuary. To get a baseline of what wildlife is using it in its current state, I decided to do a May bioblitz. I
Category: Backyard Farming Bird Conservation
Birdscaping With Wild Columbine
If you live in the eastern half of the United States, native Wild Columbine might be a good choice for birdscaping. The Callaway Garden planted just a couple plants three years ago. We looked for a native plant nursery to find this variety and found Naturally Native Nursery in Bowling Green, Ohio. These plants spread
Why Use Native Plants for Birdscaping
While plotting and planning our backyard birdscaping project, a discussion arose on whether native plants are really that important, especially when a comparable “ornamental” can be used and still enjoyed by wildlife. I have been hearing the phrase “use native plants” for at least as long as I’ve been interested in birdscaping (before I was
Planting an Orchard
In the hopes to produce some of our own food, we decided this year we would be planting an orchard at Callaway Farm. After a ton of research, we found a place in Michigan that ships bare root trees and purchased seven fruit trees including 5 apple, one peach, and one pear. We meant to
Gardening is for the Birds
Gardening is for the birds and can be fun and satisfying on many levels. It’s a way to get outdoors, involve the family in a project and is for all skill levels. But how does it help the birds? FOOD MILES Some of our food travels really far before it reaches us. I have had
Birdscaping – Landscaping for Birds
Birdscaping is a portmanteau of birds and landscaping. It is the intentional effort to provide a natural setting to attract wildlife, especially birds, to an area, most typically your own backyard. And there are many different ways you can provide a bird-friendly landscape. Part 1 – Planting for Birds 1.1 Trees Trees provide nesting, shelter/cover,
Grass Lawns – Less is More
Grass lawns are the most common landscape in many places. They are durable, easy to grow and just what is considered normal. Since we are a family full of dogs and sports players, we don’t discount the use of grass entirely, but there are a lot of reasons why we could start changing the amount
Composting is for the Birds
Composting is for the birds! Okay, that might not be your first thought when you think of composting. But two main benefits of composting, soil health and reducing waste, are important keys to helping the birds and all wildlife. Reduce Waste Waste that can be composted such as vegetable scraps, newspaper, egg shells, coffee grounds
