Villadom Times Weekly Local Newspaper

May 5, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I & IV • Page 33 Spring Home Improvement (ARA) Your garden says a lot about who you are. By carefully choosing and arranging plants, tilling soil, and caring for your flowers and vegetables, you bring a part of nature into your life. In addition to the visual appeal of the plants, gardens attract wildlife. Rabbits and squirrels, butterflies and birds all enjoy your garden, adding to the beauty. Birds in particular bring great joy to a garden. The lovely melodies in the air and brightly colored plumage of birds bring your backyard habitats to life. With this natural cycle of life come changing needs for the fine feathered friends you welcome into your gardens each year. Taking note of these necessities will not only increase the number of birds who visit, but will make these guests happier and healthier. According to experts like John Robinson, chief ornithologist at Scotts, wild bird feeding is important all year, no matter where you live. “Feeding birds in extreme northerly climates may increase the survival rates of some birds during unusually cold winters,” he said. “Even if you live in the South, remember that many of the birds wintering in your yard must change into their breeding plumage, migrate back north in spring, find a mate, build a nest and lay eggs.” Essential elements for a great bird habitat include a source of fresh water, bushes and trees that offer birds a place to forage and/or nest while protecting birds from predators, a variety of feeders or feeding stations, a brush pile for extra shelter, and houses for birds that nest in cavities. Make sure that any bird houses or feeders are clean and in good repair to provide your avian friends with a safe, welcoming backyard habitat. If you want to continue to attract birds to your garden, make sure to offer fresh, high-quality foods on a regular basis. Once you establish your yard as a successful source of food, the birds will continue to return. A few bird feeding tips follow. Suet - Because of its high fat content, suet is a great source of high-energy nutrients for birds. It can be found in a wide array of flavors, ranging from plain suet to blocks enhanced with peanuts, seeds, and dried fruit. Suet is a favorite of many wild birds, including woodpeckers. Suet and suet cages are readily available, and can be easily hung from any tree branch. Thistle - This seed is perfect for attracting colorful, delicate finches to your yard. Because thistle seeds are so tiny, you will need a special feeder or “sock” designed specifically for this type of seed. Hang a thistle sock outside a window, or in full view of your garden sitting area to get a good look when birds inevitably swoop in to pull out the slender seeds that are among their favorite foods. If you have had a problem with squirrels stealing your bird seed in the past, you will be glad to know squirrels are not particularly attracted to thistle and will most likely not bother a thistle sock. Wild bird food mix - A healthy mixed food can be a bird watcher’s best friend. With greatly varied ingredients appealing to a multitude of birds, you never know just who will visit your feeder. Keep the binoculars and cameras handy to get a glimpse of unusual species. Scotts now offers a variety of other bird food blends that will attract specific species or types of birds (songbirds, colorful birds, finches, or cardinals for example) for enhanced bird watching. Keep in mind that if you do not have a feeder, you can How to care for your feathered friends year round Decorating & �� & FLOORING �� The birds are singing, the bees are buzzing…. And your paint is peeling. Don’t let peeling paint ruin the season. Call GSG Painting today and receive your next paint project! YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PAINTING AND WALL COVERING PROS 10% off easily make one or purchase an inexpensive pressed seed cake (often in the shape of a bell) to simply hang outside. Children may enjoy making their own pine cone feeders using just a pine cone coated in peanut butter and bird seed. This quick, easy bird feeder provides birds with the nutrition they need in colder temperatures. 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