How to Attract House Finches

house finch Carpodacus mexcicanus

Intro: House finches are wild birds that can be found throughout the United States and Mexico, and they will regularly visit birdfeeders in balcony gardens. The females are gray-brown and striped, and while the males also have gray-brown stripes on their backs, wings and undersides, their heads, throats and lower backs can range from a light orange-yellow to a deep red color. The males’ red color intensifies with a good, varied diet (the color comes from berries and fruits eaten during molting season). The house finch’s diet consists mainly of seeds, but they will also eat insects and fruit. Their chirps and tweets are pleasing to the ear, and it is especially entertaining to watch male house finches sing, dance and display for females during springtime courtship.

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How to Build a Birdhouse for House Finches and Sparrows

birdhouse bird houseHouse finches are common birds in the United States that often visit balconies. If you put out birdseed, they are likely to be the first wild bird visitor to your birdfeeder. To offer these birds a place to nest and lay eggs, you can purchase a nestbox or build them one from scratch.

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Pests: Garden Snails and Slugs

Garden snail Helix aspertaThe garden snail (Helix asperta), as well as slugs, can even affect balcony container plants. Snails and slugs can climb from a garden below up the wall and onto your balcony. Once slugs and snails get into your garden, deal with them immediately.

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Cabbage Looper Caterpillar Pests

Cabbage looper caterpillarCabbage loopers (Trichoplusia ni) are caterpillars that will destroy plants in the cabbage family, including lettuce, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, collards, kale, etc. They move like inchworms do (hence the name looper), and after their metamorphosis, they become common-looking brown moths that are often found at outdoor safety lights.

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Light Green Caterpillars Are Cabbage Loopers

Cabbage looper caterpillarI noticed half of my radish leaves were gone, and I found about 30 light green worms or caterpillars all over the plant. They are about an inch long. What are these green worms in my garden, and how do I get rid of them?

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