I'm usually a quiet viewer but I feel like I need to write a comment this time: Your work, all the videos, are absolutely amazing ❤ I got here through your other channel Plant One on Me and I enjoy the videos here even more. There is so much thought, passion and knowledge poured into them and they convey an overall feeling of love and care for our planet and the creatures on it. Every video (and especially this one! That's why I felt the need to comment) inspire to slow down, connect with the wildlife on our doorstep and take action to preserve and care for it. I am really grateful for your online presence. You are an inspiration and continue to show me how beautiful life here is. Thank you for that!!!

Here in the Netherlands I regularly see duck houses on rafts or on poles in the sitting on the water, away from the shore. They have little steps onto the platform and it's adorable to see the whole family living in a 'houseboat'. I suppose this is done to keep the predators away.

@FlockFingerLakes

Жыл бұрын

Lots of folks mention the island idea. Looks like a project for 2023 for sure! Thank you.

@diversitylove5460

Жыл бұрын

@@FlockFingerLakes Actually build a cat habitat. There are some beautiful open flight bird sanctuaries and they basically use nets to keep birds in sanctuary zone. You can do the same for cats. As some cats need to be outside. A cat habitats is an oversized version of a catio for feral cats. The distinction is important as the “wild small cats” population is now in Jeopardy as they are mistaken for strays and rounded up to protect birds. A cat habitat can have a small border fence with one way cat doors. So strays can come in and be selectively released if they are a small wild cat. The habitat is self sustaining as they prey like voles and things may still enter but not leave. They right plants and a small fish pond would also be helpful. I very deep sand pit, deep enough to allow for anaerobic composting will become a self cleaning litter area. smallcats.org/ wildcatconservation.org/ You may even be able to get a grant for a small habitat area

@earthzeroapothecary

Жыл бұрын

My heart grew three sizes reading this. Thank you for sharing.💚💚💚

@b.mariejarreau828

Жыл бұрын

Love this wonderful video and will look for more! So lovely and inspirational! BUT - I MUST comment as reminder that Martens, Foxes and others we label as “predators” are also a valuable part of the natural world. Yes they eat ducks and ducklings and eggs. That’s part of their natural diet. Saying that they “Like to eat Ducks” imparts an accusatory scenario of malice. Foxes gotta eat. What do they eat …? I do hope there’s a remedy so you can have all of Nature’s creatures in your landscape, from grubs that eat favorite flowers to Foxes that may eat some of the Ducks. Life in the wild is beautiful but that life is valued because of the natural dangers there. Nearing the age of 74 gives me leave to comment ftom the heart.❤ Much love and admiration for your efforts.

She is an inspiration!! I love how she took the time to explain how important it is to keep your cats indoors. This is one of the best videos I’ve seen.

@SKOLAH

Жыл бұрын

I 100% disagree. If you're going to keep cats inside, just do not get cats. People say yo keep cats inside because of birds, but pay no heed to how cats benefit from going outside, how strong their instincts are. It's selfishness. Human selfishness. I grew up with cats, all of whom came and went as they please. I currently have 2 cats aged 18 and 25-28 years old, and going outside to sit and lie in the Spring sunshine is SUCH a pleasure for them both. Make your choice- have cats who can go outside, or choose to prioritise birds (not that any of my cats killed or injured many birds in the last 10 years (I had 2 younger cats who are now dead - and not from accidents or anything linked to them going out). If you wear fast fashion, make-up, buy cheap things, drive vehicles and yet keep cats inside 'for the sake of birds', you're selfishness and delusional - restricting cats while contributing to environmental damage. It makes no sense. Indoor cats are about the human owners, end of story. Because those cats WILL stare out of windows, they WILL want to go out and exercise their instincts and you not letting them in cruelty. Misplaced control. I don't read replies. Said what I've said and you will never change my mind on this cat thing - busy caring about birds, bees, bugs...Keeps cats inside all their lives...It makes NO sense. Don't have cats.

@conniewojahn6445

7 ай бұрын

@@SKOLAH Although I understand your point-of-view, I must disagree. Yes, kitties do benefit from going outside, as you said. However, the outside benefits can be duplicated inside by playing with your cat in ways which allow him/her to use hunting instincts such as stalking a toy-on-a-rope, catching it, playing with it as if it was caught prey, biting it, then releasing it. Also, climbing challenges can be constructed for movement around the house. For more detail, see Jackson Galaxy the "Cat Mojo Guy" videos. Keeping cats indoors is for a kitty's benefit because they're much safer from predators like coyotes and accidents from vehicles. I don't think this is selfish at all. I have six kitties, all of whom would be dead without my having adopted them.

@user-wg3gw3qk3t

26 күн бұрын

Great video. Dry informative and inspiring. It would be nice if the narrators of these videos would tell which plants are poisonous or harmful to dogs.

@user-do7es3lb5b

5 күн бұрын

@@SKOLAH i can leave my doors open and my cats will not go out. I do not want them out as i love the birds and my cats. outdoor cats live short lives in my area, most are killed due to cars, fishers and foxes. indoor cats are happy, healthy cats.

THANK YOU for spreading awareness about bird deaths from outdoor cats and window strikes. Such huge issues that are so often overlooked/ignored/minimized.

Very, very good video. A few things I would like to mention. If people do have outdoor cats, at least "Bell" the cats. Placing a bell on their collar can be a life saver for birds. The second the cat moves, the bell sounds and the bird flies away. Another thing is Salt. Butterflies, especially males, love salt. The males actually need it for flight performance. Using natural sea salt or kosher salt or even cattle salt licks or Himalayan salts are great in the yard. Best to have them shaded so rain doesn't wash them away. I hike a lot and I see hundreds of butterflies side by side in a moist but slightly dry creek bed. Sucking up the natural salts, called puddling. Humming birds, one specie stays all year round in certain areas, Anna's Hummingbird. I have snow on the ground right now. But I keep my humming bird feeders full and warm them each morning, (Set the entire feeder in very warm water to melt the frozen syrup). Or remember to bring the feeder in at night. The humming bird feeders are buzzing at first light until sunset. As soon as your first cold nights hit, remove the feeders for about a month. This helps force the other types of hummers to fly South for the Winter. If they stay to long, which many do, they freeze to death. Then put the feeder back up to help the Anna's hummingbird throughout the winter. I think most Anna's are West of the Rockies, all the way to Canada. Thistle plants and Milk Weed plants should be grown in every garden. Thistle has beautiful flowers and puts out many seeds. Perfect size seeds for goldfinch type birds. Expensive seeds in stores, so why not grow them? Monarchs used to be in the mega millions across the USA. There are still many. But their population has diminished significantly. People have done their best to get rid of any and all types of Milk Weed. Milk Weed is the only plant that Monarch caterpillars can eat. Milk Weed is actually quite a beautiful plant and flower. And used to be all over the USA. Try growing the Perennial, but the Annual is good too, though you need to reseed or buy new plants each Spring. Great video, Liked and Subbed and Saved!

@automotive1723

13 күн бұрын

Thank you so much for the information!

Kudos for having Bat houses. The homestead there is rapidly becoming a nature preserve. Some might say, Heaven on Earth.

Re: Duck houses, the conservation areas here in Ontario typically mount their duck houses to a sturdy vertical wooden beam located out in the water. I'm not sure how they anchor the beam, but I have enjoyed seeing many wood ducks use them. We probably have the same predatory pressures as you do, so I think mounting the boxes out in the water could work

@FlockFingerLakes

Жыл бұрын

Lots of folks mention the island idea. Looks like a project for 2023!

It’s mind boggling what you’ve done in such a short time. You’re lucky you still have water in your large pond. What you’re doing for wildlife and teaching about how to attract life is something I hope you are proud of. It’s wonderful.

I would LOVE if you'd put live cameras on the watering/feeding places! Love watching them :)

I'm shaking my head thinking about you narrating that entire episode without a script in front of you makes you amazingly brilliant and I enjoy listening to that.

@automotive1723

13 күн бұрын

Shaking my head, commonly abbreviated as SMH, is a type of chat and Internet slang for user expression. It often effectively signals someone's disappointment or disgust for something, or other similar negative emotional reactions.

Great work being done up there in New York. Might consider adding brush piles, I have done that at our place in Northeast Georgia and have seen an increase in wildlife.

I was born and raised in Seneca Falls, and now live in Maine. I've begun developing a native habitat on my six acres here. Can't begin to tell you how homesick, yet happy, it makes me to see all you are doing in my beloved Finger Lakes.

@FlockFingerLakes

Жыл бұрын

Cool, where in Maine are you now based? Have family and friends there.

Thank you for your rich, informative content, without the usual youtube impromptu fluff. It is so great to watch you

For duck boxes, height is good... you can also put some metal around the pole, a height of about 18 inches should be good. The metal stops things like raccoons and other climbers from being able to get past it since they cannot sink their claws into it and keep climbing upward. You can also paint the metal to make it less of an eyesore and then you will actually be able to see the claw marks on the paint. Other ducks, like mallards, like to nest on the ground under deep brush and by landmarks. So they like to nest under bushes, trees, or in grass next to poles (as long as that pole does not have a lot of other activity around it). They will nest farther away from water than you would think!

@FlockFingerLakes

Жыл бұрын

Love those ideas. Others also mentioned the floating islands. Maybe that with a metal pole can work. Martens swim here, but the metal pole I'm imagining can help.

@LMLewis

Жыл бұрын

A nearby state park has a duck box on a pole with a metal cone, similar to the kind used to keep squirrels from raiding feeders. The pole was set offshore in a beaver pond with plenty of cattails to provide emerging ducklings with cover.

I love your yard and everything you guys did to attract critters and bugs. I'm slowly trying to implement a lot of the attractions in my yard.

I love watching these videos. I only have a small balcony that's providing some pollinators and my lemon tree (grew it myself out of a store bought lemon), but other than that there isn't much open nature here. There's agricultural fields and a forest, but no meadows or beautiful yards like the ones featured on this channel. I find it sad this isn't part of my culture.

This video is incredibly informative! You have given me so many ideas for my garden. I have seen where people anchor a floating duck island in their large pond. Some of them can be made to look quite natural.

@FlockFingerLakes

Жыл бұрын

Love that idea. Several folks have mentioned here. It's worth a shot! 2023 project!

The absolutely best and safest nest to built is a nesting tube. You'll probably find some info on English too, in Finnish it's called "sorsatuubi" or "putkipesä" and there's a lot of videos explaining on how to make one! I hope you'll try it out, they have given good results here in Finland!

Outstanding work. Yes, leave dead trees. Habitat for birds and insects.

Great ideas!! Thank you. I love the fallen trees/old roots idea in and around your plantings for habitat and shelter - functional and beautiful. One thing I'm noticing this summer are the number of dragonflies using the bamboo stakes, that I use to hold up tall plants, as hunting perches.

Thank you for giving nature a home

Creating a biodiversity..what a wonderful idea...thanks for beautiful video😊😊

Like your forest leftovers, I have taken my precious years’ Christmas trees and stripped them down to their structure and then stood them up in my yard. Birds use it as a place to sit and as the trees break down also a place to hunt for bugs. Might be an easy to divert waste stream and short project for middle winter to put a few dozen snags up in your landscape where you don’t have much tall stuff. Mine is in a meadow-ish context.

Thank you for sharing all this wonderful information. I used to live in Coastal Oregon for ( 12 yrs ) I also used to help a friend with her garden. One day on the weekends for mostly the summer season. One day I spotted a Lizard. She told me that was an Oregonian Alligator Lizard. I was fascinated with it as it looked like it had scales. She emailed me some links to information about them. I was over the moon that I had actually seen one. A few months later in the fall, I spotted something out of the corner of my eye at our house on the coast. I went inside and waited, & waited watched. I saw a fat little lizard go under a paving block under a step by our deck. A few days later I saw it sunning it'self. I was so stoked and found out it was a pregnant Oregonian Alligator Lizard. It stayed with us till it had had it's babies then it was gone. A memory I will have for the rest of my life. Don't live there anymore, but so many great memories from Oregon. Now reside in New Zealand. Lov your channel..

have you ever thought about adding more native pond plants or underwater plants as well as native fish to the pond to get more underwater biodiversity? if you have any plans for that then I'm sure other people watching would love to see a video about that.

@FlockFingerLakes

Жыл бұрын

Our ponds are definitely a 2023 project, but the native plants around the ponds that naturally came in are really good. We should do a tour around the ponds to show the species. :)

It's like a miracle! ~ not too long ago a blanket of snow kept vast tracts of the landscape sleeping...and now an unbelievably verdant, vibrant & colourful abundance of diverse plants, birds, mammals & insects, all taking advantage of the land you have cleansed, and habitats you have preserved and created. After all that phenomenal work it must be so satisfying seeing nature take hold again.

Yes, keep your cats indoors! Thank you❣️

Here in the Tonawanda Valley area of Wyoming County I found that traditional natives that were found in the old grasslands of the Genesee Valley and Tonawanda Valley are really tried and true for pollinators and wildlife. Yarrow and newer coltivars of it like "Moonlite" and "Violet" along with Manarda and Prairie Smoke , Wild Geranium, Cardinal Flower, to name a few are what I have planted. Going to plant Blue Cardinal Flower next year only because they are so beautiful. Keep up the great plant vids and we in our own way will educate the public on how important it is to "plant native" along with pollinators.

I want to use these ideas in my small yard, such wonderful tips and ideas. Thanks for sharing.

I’m in love with your ideas 💡!!! I have a tiny little garden.. I get lots of insects and birds! I put a water bath as well but I think I need bird feeders 🤔.. wonderful channel 😍

@JulianOwens

Жыл бұрын

mine love mymulberry tree real tall and blooms brings a lot of songbirds

Absolutely stunning video. Your property, the plants, the wildlife and insects. You guys, fantastic captures. 👏 So very beautiful!!! Great job and thank you for sharing

I can attest to how many of these techniques do work... truly built it, and they will come. I see robins, blue jays, sparrows, chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, insects of all sorts, bees & butterflies swarm the sweep of Echinacea Purpurea I grew from seed I planted out front. I'm in SW Ontario, Canada, and rent a bachelor in an old farm house in this little village within a city. I take care of the north side front garden & down the north side, and another tenant takes care of the south side front garden. I have a small 11 x 20 foot mostly full shade woodland space just for me right out my door, with a little cement stoop, shaded by a Black Walnut and Slippery Elm. As I choose not to take out a loan to feed the squirrels, I instead a few years ago decided to create little wildlife zones. So have a couple areas with collection of sticks laying horizontal, I leave the leaf litter, also have a couple watering spots, with rustic decor pieces, bits of bark I've collected, and stands of fancier smooth sticks stacked vertically in spots. Creeping along my hedgerow scrambles a vigorous Virginia Creeper that was already here, that I snip and trim to tame. I have different varieties of Hostas, Ostrich Ferns, Sweet Woodruff, in the spring Grape Hyacinth & Lungwort, all of which don't mind growing under the Walnut. Sometimes, the critters almost make me feel like I'm intruding in their space, and so I have learned to sit very still, and to make smoother motions so as not to scare them as I sip my tea and enjoy my wee little oasis within the city.

Your best bet for a safe duck box is having it out in the water. So hope you have a small boat. I applaud you for creating all the great habitats on your new place.

@FlockFingerLakes

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. Several people here have mentioned that on this comment chat. We were a little reluctant because we know martens can swim as well, but we think putting in water is probably our best bet. And maybe on a metal pole or predator guard.

Hey! Looking for relaxation? Nothing can work better than this video! I'm telling you!

Wonderful! Thanks guys! This video is both educational and so inspiring! Great job!

another great video! enjoyed seeing all the different species on your property. a lot of the same ones we have here in the appalachians. this was our first year with baby wood ducks, we also had baby red shouldered hawks(very vocal) as well as all the same songbirds you featured. we make a point to leave some dead branches in the walnut grove and the smaller woodpeckers nest in these every year. we also leave some brush piles around the property, this year we created a couple at the edge of the pond and they are just full of wildlife. i'm afraid i am a bit of an enabler by feeding peanuts to the blue jays and squirrels every morning while sitting on the porch so now we have screaming hoards of both who insist on getting their peanut. it's so nice to see others enjoying the wildlife.

@FlockFingerLakes

Жыл бұрын

I too am an enabler michael. I think by the winter, I'll have the chipmunks sitting on my lap. eep!

Nature’s got many exceptional beautiful and amazing colourful views. Thanks. Love the country❤❤.

That little Robin is having a blessing that little feeder I mean a bath while hes just going to count on that thing isn't he

Your videos are impeccable! I can watch them for hours. Thank you 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

This is a spectacular video! Thank you for covering this. Learned some new things for my garden. Thank you

What an absolute pleasure this has been! Your enthusiasm, knowledge, and ability to communicate your joy in all things wildlife, has both inspired me and motivated me to get back out in my lakefront yard. Thank you for sharing, and kudos to your videographer ❤

Fantastic video! Beautiful garden and you are doing soooo much for nature, well done to you. I am in the UK and loved your video. 👍👍👍

This was a really fantastic, comprehensive list and guide. What a wonderful refuge you have created there. I think if more people implemented even 5 of these tips to their yards we could see some important turnarounds to biodiversity. Please keep up the educational content. lots of great tidbits- I had no idea the connection between coral bells and cellophane bees. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you Ms. Summer. When we lived up north in Wisconsin we had a plethora of many different bird species . Especially loved the rose breasted gross breaks. We used to call the regular gross beaks skid doos. Nut hatches we’re hilarious and we also had a colony of bats living under some siding on our house. I wasn’t crazy about the bats, they used to like to dive bomb us and occasionally made their way into my house to terrify me. 🌸💚🙃

@user-do7es3lb5b

5 күн бұрын

they dive bomb you because of the mosquitos around you. personal insect protection!

I love tree swallows so much! Same here, I love birds so much. Their song alone adds value to the garden.

Your gardens are very beautiful.

You are a Beautiful and Blessed Soul... Great Work 👍

your property is amazing! the hard work is paying off 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 looks beautiful 👍🏾😉

Great video, I'll be returning to it often. The photography in your videos is stunning! I know how busy you are so I am hesitant to suggest more work for you. However, if you were to make a calendar with photos from your land, I'd be first in line to buy one.

I felt like I m in heaven while going through the video. I 💕 birds butterflies n all spices. So 💕💕💕 this video specifically n all others in general. Lot's of love 💕 from India

I’ve been making homemade hummingbird food for years that they just love. 1/4 c organic cane sugar 1 c water Boil. Cool. Serve. :)

@francesrichards3492

Ай бұрын

I make my own, too, and have better success than with the store bought nectar.

So much hope when u think about the birdies spreading these seeds

Omg the mown paths!

I LOVE THIS VIDEO! The only thing I’ve done this year is plant Velvet Queen, Lemon Queen and Vincent sunflowers. They’re coming by and feasting 🐦 when I sell this suburban house someday I’ll move back to upstate NY and have acreage like you. You’re great at narrating and editing these vids. Talented

What a magical place you have built

I always learn so much from your videos and always impressed that you know all the Latin names of your plants.

For the duck houses wrap specialized metal sheets around the tree leading up to the duck box. They make them specifically for ducks and it is very effective.

I L💗VE everything you all are doing for plant and animal life on your wonderful piece of land! I learn so much from you and enjoy your process!

Quite exceptional cinematography!!

Wonderful video, thank you for sharing your home! I especially appreciate the mentions of cleaning feeders regularly, cleaning out nest boxes every year, keeping cats indoors, and the benefits of snakes-- one more thing I feel is important to mention is sanitizing the solitary bee home as well! So many horror stories of parasites and diseases being spread by well-meaning nature lovers who don't realize the danger of concentrating nesting sites together. :'( Maintenance on these animal structures is just as important as putting them out!

Somehow I missed this episode when it came out. Really outstanding episode.

Oh my goodness Summer. I just realized what a great educator you are.

Thank you for such inspirational, educational, and beautiful videos. I'm binge watching your channel now.

Maybe create a small "island" in the middle of your pond. I noticed that ducks will often nest on them. Although raccoons and other predators can swim, they usually won't bother to cross the pond. The island can be built with rocks at the bottom and then planed with wild grasses and such.

❤❤absolutely my faveourite garden growing and creatures satisfying on KZread. Thankful

Just what i needed! Such inspiration. You guys are doing such a good job! Luv!

One of your best yet!

Most Interesting video and live commentary. I believe this would be great for the older children who love observing wildlife that live on land and water. Also teach everyone how they can help with conservation. We owe it to the creatures that we share this world with. Too much distruction and natural occuring damage is happening. Thank you.👌

Excellent video.

Thank you for this amazing information and video! Such a fan of your channel and love seeing all the footage of the plants and wildlife on your property. Will you be doing an update on your wildflower meadow anytime soon? Really looking forward to that :)

Beautiful footage and so true about cats predating birds... it's not something that's talked about enough when the topic is how to attract birds in our gardens.

Great timing! Im in the process of buying some bird feeders and wasn't sure what types of food attracts which types of birds.

Beautiful video😍 except the snake and the bats 😂 I am terrified by snakes. Thank God for the flock team ❤️ who protects wild life.

Beautiful!

Love your spirit 🙏🏼 wonderful ideas to attract all the beautiful wildlife, birds and herps to the garden ❤ Love snakes too! They provide such important vermin control and are so unique and interesting

Love your efforts to restore wildlife-friendly, native habitat. Wood Ducks will nest in trees, using old woodpecker holes, so having nest boxes isn't critical. But, when the ducklings hatch, they need water with good vegetative cover--dense reeds, cattails, pond lilies and other aquatic plants where they can safely feed and hide from predators. Having the right depth of water is critical to the growth of such plants (so you may need to add some fill if the pond is too deep). Trunks of fallen trees provide places for turtles to sun themselves and for fish and frogs to hide.

Well made... I see LOTS of work in the making.

Love all the tips and the footage is gorgeous 🥰. Sharing this online

All the drinking/bathing holes you have are great; flowing water from birdbath to the rocks are perfect for so many critters. Will add some of these to the land here. A cool plant that birds like to drink out of is cup plant, Silphium perfoliatum + one of the top ranked pollinator plants. For wood ducks you need a good guard. I've had the same problem with predators getting around cheap guards on wood duck boxes. Check out Maryland Wood Duck Initiative for more.

@FlockFingerLakes

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for all the recommendations!

This is the best video I've seen in a long time. I am moving to the Finger Lakes region soon and I will be reviewing all of your other videos as I hope to purchase a home with enough property to create a scaled-down version of what you have here. Excellent work

Beautiful space😍😍😍 wow

Everything is so unique

Add native waterlilies to your pond./ also add native reeds and ruches, and native irises, and ad milkweeds!

@FlockFingerLakes

Жыл бұрын

Do you have concerns that the water lilies take over? Would you keep them in containers?

Just wanted to say, I can’t be fatter from you - southeast Texas - but I appreciate and have learned a lot from your work. Great job. Keep it up. Also (as a married man not being creepy) lobe your outfit, cool pants and top - looks great.

Thank you for sharing!

Probably mentioned below, but I have Wood Duck boxes mounted on metal poles set into at least 2' of water, away from trees, but along the edge of wooded areas (Across the pond from your house) are a good method. Poles must be sturdy, so use 1-1/2" metal pole and mount box at least 5' off the water. You'll want to be able to clean and remove/add debris by ladder or canoe. Make sure Squirrels cannot get to the houses, because they will jump to them and use them too. They will kill a Wood Duck. I have first hand witness to this. Squirrels nest before the Wood Duck and will have their babies in the houses and leave to forage regularly. They cover their babies when they leave and the ducks do not know it is occupied. If the female wood duck is in the house when the squirrel returns there will be a fight as the squirrelly defends the nest. Trim branches so squirrel's are not tempted to use them. Love your shows! You're doing so much good. :) James

In the Spring, my native winterberry is very attractive to squirrels and mockingbirds. They seem to leave the berries to the end of the season

Thank you so much for this wealth of knowledge!

@FlockFingerLakes

Жыл бұрын

You're most welcome!

Thanks! I get so many tips and I am always learning. Be well.

@FlockFingerLakes

5 ай бұрын

Thank you!

what a marvelous job you do ....

Tolle Inspirationen 🐿🐝🕊 Zum BeeHome ....Ich mache immer ein Gitter als Schutz davor sonst ist es wie ein Buffett für den Specht,der sich dann an den Larven bedient. Liebe Grüße

#ilovesnakes Everything plays a role in nature. ❤️

I've seen ducks walk along wide branches in the trees. Great balance!

This was awesome!

another wonderful video....thank you Summer

Thanks for the knowledge

Great ideas!

Wonderful. So motivational. Great tips. Thanks for sharing!

Appreciate the inspiration/knowledge

This is Amazing❤💞They are All Happy