Posted by Mark Best
In the United Kingdom today the amphibian popuation is swiftly dwindling and faces long term survival challenges of almost overwhelming proportions. The key factors leading to this decline are habitat loss, pollution and disease. Many experts agree that unless something significant is done we could see the loss of these amazing animals in our life-time.
When i think myself back to my childhood days I remember many a fine day as a boy with my friends at the local pools or the brook, endless summertime days of catching toads and frogs and sticklebacks (we always let them go!). I was lucky, i had a terrific childhood.
I travelled back to visit the region i grew up in a few years ago, and there is now a car park where those wonderful old ponds were. Obviously severely polluted the brook appeared dead with all visible life wiped out. These days in our over-developed urban regions such habitats are growing rarer and rarer.
Habitat loss is the dark, hidden side of development, it is relentless and its final. The development of umpteen sites has been checked and stopped when discovered to be home to natterjack toads or great-crested newts, our 2 most rare & wonderful amphibians.
There was a well publicized example recently where a colony of great-crested newts was resettled, at a great expense, to make way for a new runway at Manchester Airport.
Still the amount of waterways and ponds that were not fortuitous enough to house either of these two species and have been developed total in the thousands, extraordinary numbers of Newts, toads and frogs eliminated and the tremendous biodiversity of plants, animals and insects that dwelled there exterminated too.
As if this is not enough to deal with, the peril of dangerous viral contagions wont go away. Already we have experienced critical epidemics of Ranavirus in our frog populations in the south east of England. A non-native amphibian species is thought to have brought Ranavirus into the United Kingdom, most likely from North America.There is no cure at present. All three species of newt and the common toad are likewise at risk from infection.
Fortuitously, the rising popularity of natural gardening techniques and practices proposes a glimmer of hope in the struggle for the future of these unreplaceable and charming animals. Although there is no defence against the Ranavirus, anyone could effectively and easily contribute to the amount of possible habitat they have. Simple to create and manage, a wildlife pool will fascinate and educate all ages and can look truly stunning.
Even a really little simple pond can become an oasis, plentiful in biodiversity and of interestingness all year round. Then dont you think its time to bring a little piece of nature into your life, your kids lives? Go in the garden in the clean air and start creating!
Mark Best writes articles that help people to design and build the Perfect garden Pond for them. And how to choose the right equipment, such as the right Garden Pond Filter for your needs.
categories: amphibians,animals,wildlife pond,garden pond,gardening,landscaping,home and family,family
Tags: amphibians, animals, family, garden pond, Gardening, Gardening Articles, home and family, landscaping, wildlife pond
Posted by Leslie Patton
by Leslie Patton
Deciding where you want to put your pond is very important. Your pond needs to be out of direct sunlight if possible. If this isn't not an option you can add a bridge to give your pond some shade. It is better if the pond isn't directly under trees because of falling debris. The pond should be close to electricity and also close enough that you can enjoy it!
The size of you pond depends on the space you have and the type of fish you want. If you are sure you want koi you need to have a larger pond. Koi can grow to be quite large. A koi pond needs to be at least 15 feet by 10 feet. If you were thinking about something smaller, you may have to go with goldfish.
There is several types of material you can use to build you pond. These are concrete, pre-molded liners, flexible liners, PVC, and rubber. Flexible liners are becoming more common because there is so many different things you can do with them.
Terraces should be added to your pond. These terraces look like shelves inside your pond. They give different depths of water for your fish and also provide a handy place to put your plants.
A waterfall or fountain is a great addition adds beauty and tranquility to your pond. They also add much needed aeration to your pond. This improves the water quality and the health of your fish.
Plants look nice in a pond. They give your fish a place to hide and they also help improve water quality. Fish can eat your plants. Be sure to add greens to your fish food.
Monitoring the water quality and adding filtration is very important. The pH and the hardness of the water needs to be tested. Biological filters are very popular and they only need to be cleaned once or twice a year. Your pump needs to be able to turn over the complete volume of the pond every three hours. A skimmer may also be helpful to get rid of extra debris. This will also help your pump last longer.
When you are ready to start digging your pond lay out a rope in the design you want. Start by adding your shelves. As a general guide the first shelf can be twelve inches deep and twelve inches wide and then you can go on to the next one. Remove sharp rocks that can tear your liner. Next you can add your plumbing for your filter, overflow pipe, and drain. Be sure to add a 1-2" layer of sand in the bottom and on the shelves of your pond.
Tags: animals, building backyard koi pond, building fish pond, building pond, Gardening, Gardening Articles, how to build backyard koi pond, water garden
Posted by Leslie Patton
Before you start put careful consideration into where you want to put the pond. The pond needs to be out of direct sunlight during part of the day if possible. You also don't want your pond directly under trees because of falling debris. It needs to be close to electricity and also close enough to your house so that you can enjoy it!
The size of you pond depends on the space you have and the type of fish you want. If you are sure you want koi you need a larger pond. Koi will grow to be quite large. A koi pond needs to be at least 15 feet by 10 feet. If you want something smaller you may have to go with goldfish.
There is several types of material you can use to build you pond. These are concrete, pre-molded liners, flexible liners, PVC, and rubber. Flexible liners are becoming more common because there is so many different things you can do with them. It is fun to come up with your own design.
Adding terraces to your pond is a good idea. Terraces look like shelves inside your pond. They give different depths of water for your fish and also give you a convenient place to put your plants.
Consider adding a waterfall or a fountain to your pond. They help aerate your pond. This improves the water quality and increases the oxygen to your fish.
Plants are an important feature to add to your pond. They give your fish a place to hide and they also help improve water quality. Be sure to add greens to your fish food to keep your fish from eating all your plants.
Test the water quality and add some type of filtration. The pH and the hardness of the water is the most important to test for. Biological filters are very popular and they only need to be cleaned once or twice a year. When you buy your pump it needs to be able to turn over the complete volume of the pond every three hours. A skimmer may also be helpful to get rid of extra debris on top. This keeps your pump from doing so much work.
When you are ready to start digging your pond lay out a rope in the design you want. Start by adding your shelves. As a general guide the first shelf can be twelve inches deep and twelve inches wide and then you can go on to the next one. Remove sharp rocks that can tear your liner. Next you can add your plumbing for your filter, overflow pipe, and drain. Be sure to add a 1-2" layer of sand in the bottom and on the shelves of your pond.
Save Time and Money and Get Your Pond Right the First Time Visit Backyard Koi Pond!
Tags: animals, building backyard koi pond, building fish pond, building pond, Gardening, Gardening Articles, how to build backyard koi pond, water garden
Posted by Evander Darren
by Evander Darren
Even if you live in the middle of a town or a city, you can attract hummingbirds to your garden. Some simple steps and adjustments in your garden will make it more hummingbird friendly and you will be rewarded with their arrival year after year alongwith their young ones.
The diet of hummingbirds consists of insects, flower nectar or artificial sugar water. Thus, artificial sugar water solution can be kept in your garden to attract them. The hummingbirds do not have any sense of smell and they rely on sites to find their source of food. If you are making a first attempt to feed the birds, you can hang or plant some red flowers near the feeder. The hummingbirds will be attracted to these red flowers and will easily find the feeders.
When using your own hummingbird nectar for the feeders you must never add artificial red coloring to them. The red colors of the feeders are enough to attract them. Also, use of honey or artificial sweeteners has to be avoided. Artificial sweeteners do not have any food value and honey ferments easily which can cause sores in the mouth of the birds. The hummingbird feeders in your garden have to be cleaned every 3-4 days and the nectar changed to keep on attracting the birds.
You should use the standard sugar water solution for feeding the hummingbirds. Make this solution at home which you can store in the refrigerator for a week. Avoid using honey or sugar substitutes for feeding the birds which can harm them, as honey promotes a fatal fungal disease and sores in the mouth of hummingbirds. Placing the feeder in a shady and cool spot will prevent the nectar's spoilage.
Planting a hummingbird garden with their favorite plants will attract more and more of the birds. A few plants which you can consider planting are manzanita, butterfly busch, azalea, honeysuckle, bee balm, coral bells, columbine, cardinal flowers, petunia, shrimp plant, etc. You should note that none of these plants have to be red colored to attract the birds. Also, you can check with your local nursery if having any doubts, whether any of them will flourish in your garden area.
The feeder of the hummingbirds can be invaded by insects like bees and ants, driving away the birds. To avoid this you can use the feeders with built-in bee guards and use moats or nectar protectors to control ant invasion. When the moats are attached above the feeders filled with water, they block the ant's pathway.
Your garden and feeders can be invaded by insects like ants and bees which can drive away the hummingbirds. Using nectar protectors, moats and feeders with built-in bee guards will prevent this, and ensure the continued arrival of the hummingbirds.
Tags: animals, birds, Gardening, Gardening Articles, hobbies, Hummingbirds, pets
Posted by Jude Layton
by Jude Layton
You can do various things to your garden to make it hummingbird friendly and attract more of these birds. Even if you stay in the city's middle and didn't have any luck getting these birds in the past, you can soon have them around your garden by following some simple steps.
The diet of hummingbirds consists of insects, flower nectar or artificial sugar water. Thus, artificial sugar water solution can be kept in your garden to attract them. The hummingbirds do not have any sense of smell and they rely on sites to find their source of food. If you are making a first attempt to feed the birds, you can hang or plant some red flowers near the feeder. The hummingbirds will be attracted to these red flowers and will easily find the feeders.
You should remember that none of the above mentioned plants needs to be red colored, though red color is attractive to the hummingbirds. After growing the plants, avoid using pesticides for killing the insects as the insects can serve as good sources of protein to the birds. The pesticides if ingested by the hummers can kill or sicken them.
Setting up hummingbird feeders is a very popular method to attract hummingbirds to the garden. You can use the homemade nectar solution of sugar water in the feeders to feed the birds. Hanging some red flowers or planting them near the feeders will make the hummingbirds easily find the feeders.
Using red colored hummingbird feeders in your garden will attract more of these birds. An artificial red flower or band can be tied to the feeder if you feel the feeder doesn't have enough red in it. But, using of red food colors in the nectar solution should be avoided as they are found to be harmful to the birds. Sometimes, the male hummingbirds try to exert their dominance and drive away the other hummers if you have fewer feeders in your garden. You can prevent this by adding several other feeders around the garden and bring more hummingbirds to your garden.
Avoid using pesticides in your hummingbird garden as they can kill or sicken the birds if consumed. Also, the insects you want to kill off can serve as good protein source to the birds. Sometimes, the male hummingbirds may try to chase away the other hummers from the feeders. To prevent this you can add several other feeders to your garden.
Planting some of the favorite plants of hummingbirds will also attract them to your garden. Some of these plants include honeysuckles, petunias, trumpet vine, fuchsias, lilacs, bee balm, geraniums, manzanita, azaleas, butterfly busch, mimosa, columbine, salvia and Indian paintbrush. You can ask your local nursery or garden store for the other plants which grow well in your area. Do not use pesticides on these plants as they can sicken or kill the hummers, if ingested.
Tags: animals, birds, Gardening, Gardening Articles, hobbies, Hummingbirds, pets
Posted by Theobald Jarvis
by Theobald Jarvis
You can do various things to your garden to make it hummingbird friendly and attract more of these birds. Even if you stay in the city's middle and didn't have any luck getting these birds in the past, you can soon have them around your garden by following some simple steps.
Setting up hummingbird feeders is a great way to attract them. The feeders should be filled with artificial sugar water solution made at home. Some red flowers can be hanged on a basket or planted near the feeders. This will make it easier for the birds to find the feeders, as they will be attracted to the red flowers. It should be remembered that these birds only rely on sites to find their food source as they do not have any sense of smell.
When using your own hummingbird nectar for the feeders you must never add artificial red coloring to them. The red colors of the feeders are enough to attract them. Also, use of honey or artificial sweeteners has to be avoided. Artificial sweeteners do not have any food value and honey ferments easily which can cause sores in the mouth of the birds. The hummingbird feeders in your garden have to be cleaned every 3-4 days and the nectar changed to keep on attracting the birds.
Setting up hummingbird feeders is a very popular method to attract hummingbirds to the garden. You can use the homemade nectar solution of sugar water in the feeders to feed the birds. Hanging some red flowers or planting them near the feeders will make the hummingbirds easily find the feeders.
Hummingbirds are habitual creatures and will be discouraged from returning to the feeders in your garden if the nectar is bad. Thus, it is important to keep the feeders clean as sugar water ferments in hot weather. The feeders have to be cleaned every 2-3 days using hot water with a little amount of white vinegar instead of soap. The hummingbirds don't like soap traces left in the nectar. You should also remember to clean not only the bottle, but also the bottom and ports of the feeder.
Never try using artificial sweeteners or honey for feeding the hummingbirds. The quick fermentation of honey in the feeder can cause sores in the birds' mouth or promote a fatal fungal disease. You have to clean the feeders and change the nectar solution every 3-4 days, or more frequently if the weather is hot. Use a good bottle brush to clean the inside of your feeder if any mold formation occurs. Some sand and water can also be added inside the feeder and shaken to remove these molds. Instead of using soaps and detergents, you can use hot water with little white vinegar to wash and rinse the feeders, as the birds do not like any traces of soap.
Insects like ants and bees may invade your garden and feeders and drive away the hummingbirds. You have to use the feeders with built-in bee guards and attach moats or nectar protectors on the feeders to control their invasion. These steps will ensure that your garden continues attracting the hummingbirds.
Tags: animals, birds, Gardening, Gardening Articles, hobbies, Hummingbirds, pets
