Stumped for something different this Valentine’s Day? Forget the flowers…they die in a few days. Chocolates are gone in a few days too, plus they make ya fat. Think of your feathered friends who visit daily and give those great little moments of escape when you take the time to wat
ch them. Their sweet songs and vibrant plumage allows some of life’s simple pleasures for nature lovers and birders.
Spring isn’t too far off and nesting season will start again, the cycle of life. Help out feathered friends by providing shelter for roosting and places to raise their young. Unique birdhouses make wonderful and long lasting gifts that will be used year after year. They give back to nature 
by providing real, and much needed nesting sites for wild birds.
Totally fun and functional, the designs are some of the most unusual you’ve ever seen, with clean outs and proper drainage, they’re nest sites your birds would be proud to call home!
Be Kind to Animals® Kid Contest
Contest Highlights Be Kind to Animals Week®, May 2-8, 2010
DENVER, Feb. 1, 2010 – The American Humane Association is already preparing to celebrate Be Kind to Animals Week®, which will take place May 2-8, 2010. A highlight of the event is American Humane’s Be Kind to Animals™ Kid Contest, which recognizes humane leaders of tomorrow by honoring kids who make a difference for animals today.
The Be Kind to Animals initiative began in 1915 to recognize and promote compassion, empathy and the bond between people and animals. The event is the oldest animal-related event in the nation that fosters humane principles by encouraging adults and children to maintain compassionate attitudes toward animals.
American Humane is seeking nominations of kids, ages 6 to 17, who are working hard in their communities to improve the welfare of animals. The 2010 winners will be announced during Be Kind to Animals Week®, May 2-8, 2010.
During the first week of May and always, American Humane urges people to be kind to animals. Suggested activities include:
· Volunteer at a local animal shelter or support a shelter financially.
· Get informed about policies and legislation that can impact the animals in your community and throughout the country.
· Register to receive legislative Action Alerts from American Humane at www.americanhumane.org — and speak out for animals with just the click of a mouse.
Anyone nominating a young person for the Be Kind to Animals™ Kid Contest must be 18 or older and the child’s legal guardian or have written permission from the child’s guardian. No purchase is necessary. Contest rules and nomination forms can be found at www.americanhumane.org/bkaw.. Nominations must either be submitted online or mailed and received between Feb. 1 and April 15, 2010. Nominees must be between the ages of 6 and 17 at the time of nomination and will be divided into two age groups: 6 to 12 and 13 to 17. One Grand Prize winner and one runner-up will be selected from each group. Grand Prize winners will each receive $1,000. All winners and runners-up will be featured in American Humane press materials and on American Humane’s website. Winners will be announced during Be Kind to Animals Week®, May 2-8, 2010. For more ideas about celebrating Be Kind to Animals Week® and for the complete contest rules, visit www.americanhumane.org/bkaw.
There are standard bird feeder poles found at garden centers and discount stores, you know the metal ones with ground stakes? They have an arm or two for hanging feeders or flower baskets, sometimes four arms. The problem with these poles when using bird feeders is squirrels…they shimmy right on up and raid the feeder!
This deluxe bird feeder pole actually has a built in squirrel baffle. 3 stainless steel springs enable the baffle to free float up and down and side to side. Squirrels cannot get past; guaranteed! It assembles in minutes without tools, and accommodates up to 8 feeders. Hang a bird bath, nesting material, flowers, suet, peanuts, and nectar feeders for hummingbirds and orioles. The choices are endless to create a birding oasis!
Don’t let squirrels ruin your backyard birding experience. You can stop them dead in their tracks with the Squirrel Stopper Bird Feeder Pole.
Whether the groundhog sees his shadow or not, you can sit back in the comfort of your living room or den and enjoy the promise of spring through feathered friends. With a platform type in window bird feeder, a whole new dimension to backyard birding is seen.
First, the birds come to you. Instead of heading to the window, or grabbing binoculars, birds head right into your room! One-way mirrors in most window feeders allow you to view birds without disturbing them too.
Second, the platform offers the advantage of variety. You’ll be able to attract more species by feeding different foods. Any seed mixes will work, as well as fruit, suet, peanuts, or meal worms. Peanuts and suet are sought during cold winter months as their fat and protein content are high. The extra calories help to keep birds warm.
Third, filling and cleaning in window bird feeders is simple….right from inside your home. Most have trays that lift right out for simple cleaning, and filling, well…you don’t even have to drag the seed out to the yard!
Most feeders fit windows from 24″ to 36″ wide, and side panels provide great insulation and security. For added security, they allow you to completely close and lock your window with the feeder in place. In window feeders make great gifts for seniors who love to watch birds…or for any birding enthusiast, a terrific one-time investment that will bring years or use and enjoyment.
Zebra Finches sure are adorable little birds! We don’t have them here in the US, but you can see great video of them here. One crafty little guy is practicing his nest building skills. Its an advertisement for music center in London, a possible conservatory? Check it out:
Tiny yard, or no yard at all?
Going from a house with a nice yard to an apartment can be tough, you start missing the “green” and nature that’s always been taken for granted. But you can still enjoy feeding and watching feathered friends with a window bird feeder.
Using any seed mix, or even nectar to attract hummingbirds, close up viewing of wild birds is still possible with no backyard. The platform window feeder shown here is great for offering a variety of treats along with birdseed. Feed fruit, suet, peanuts or meal worms to attract even more species of birds. Hummingbird window feeders are available in basin and tube styles, while standard suet cages are also now available in window mount models. Keep suction cups and window clean for best feeder adhesion, and remember to keep a handy bird guide close by to identify new visitors.
Just because you don’t have the yard…you can still have your birds with a window bird feeder!
On the checkout page, there’s an option for a message if the item is a gift. So I was delighted and a bit astounded to actually see the note “Happy 100th Birthday!”
Yes, Roland is turning 100, and it seems he likes window bird feeders. A gift from five women friends - now I’m thinking this guy must be cool! They say he loves to sit and watch his birds.
For seniors, a great gift idea indeed! Do they really need more stuff to clutter their spaces? Or more clothes just to sit around the house? Bird watching keeps the mind active, and the interaction with nature has an amazingly positive effect on whatever ails the mind. More and more senior centers and assisted living residences realize this fact and have started using bird feeders to enhance the lives of their residents.
Happy 100th Roland…and many more!
Environmental non-profit seeks to honor youth activists & environmentalists
(San Francisco, January 28, 2010) — Action For Nature, a San-Francisco-based non-profit, is now taking applications for the 2010 International Young Eco-Hero Awards, which honor youth ages 8 to 16 for their outstanding accomplishments in environmental advocacy, environmental health, research and protection of the natural world.
Award recipients will receive up to $500 cash, an award certificate, and other forms of recognition. The application deadline is February 28, 2010.
Action For Nature’s mission is to encourage young people to take personal action to nurture and protect a healthy environment on which all life depends. Now in its eighth year of the International Young Eco-Hero Awards, the organization has honored 90 young people from 13 countries and 24 states in America..
Previous award winners have continued to receive other prestigious leadership, environmental and science awards, such as the Brower Youth and Intel Science awards. They’ve also taken part in local, national and international media interviews.
Alec Loorz, a 2008 award winner, has continued to educate youth and adults about global warming and has spoken to more than 20,000 people. Alec, who is now 15, is the youngest member of Al Gore’s speaking panel, and was recently asked to assist with a presentation before the U.S. Senate.
Former award winner Otana Jakpor, 16, researched air purifiers and ozone emissions and successfully advocated for change in California. Her findings resulted in the first-ever state regulation of ozone-generators. She has since been honored by the Environmental Protection Agency and has become an official spokesperson for the American Lung Association. She has also had her work published by several science journals.
For more information about the International Young Eco-Hero Awards, as well as to view the guidelines and application forms, visit www.actionfornature.org.
Guidelines and applications are available at:
http://www.actionfornature.org/eco-hero/ecoheroawards.html
Please help spread word of this award opportunity by sending this press release to friends, family and organizations you know, and/or publishing this announcement in your listservs or publications..
Additional information available upon request.
Contact: Lauren LaPage, 415-513-2421
When we feed birds it’s almost a catch 22 situation as far as their health in a natural setting. We attract many birds locally, populating our yards in an almost unnatural setting. It is our responsibility then, as backyard birders, to be concerned for the health and welfare of our feathered friends.
For example, if you have a bird bath and allow the water to stagnate and become nasty, are you doing the birds any favors? Of course not! Baths must be maintained with fresh water to be of use to birds. Same goes with feeders. If the seed becomes moldy or rancid, birds won’t eat it. They’ll stop visiting your feeders (there’s even a scientific name for this phenomenon too). When spilled seed is allowed to sit on the ground, it too becomes moldy. Capable of spreading mold spores, this is one way respiratory problems arise in wild birds. They then share the same feeders and diseases are spread rapidly. This is why feeders need to be cleaned with a 10% bleach solution, preferably scrubbed, and then rinsed well at least twice a month. The newer recycled feeders with non-porous surfaces are easier to clean than wood, and less likely to absorb contaminates and germs.
Using bird seed catchers is an obvious strategy for ground waste. They’re available in hanging, pole, or post-mount models, fitting virtually any type of bird feeder. The SeedHoop shown above is a large 30-inch diameter tray, that adjusts to any feeder. The tray actually serves as a platform to offer birds additional feeding space. Use Bird Seed Catchers to eliminate ground waste and unsightly weeds…for the health and well being of your birds.
Good reasons for adding seed trays to your bird feeders:
Ground mess - spilled seed not only looks unsightly, it creates weeds…yuk!
Disease - When wasted seed sits on the ground, it also becomes moldy and nasty. Hungry ground feeding birds like sparrows and others will forage through nasty seeds. This makes them ill with respiratory problems and diseases are spread quickly among the bird population in your yard. Seed trays prevent the spilled seed from reaching the ground in the first place.
You can attract different species and actually see more birds as many seed trays also act as a platform, allowing additional feeding space. Birds who never perch at your feeder may likely drop by and land on the platform for a snack. So seed trays can also act as a whole new feeder below your existing hopper or tube style bird feeder.
Whether it’s a hanging, or pole-mounted feeder, seed trays are available to fit it. The SeedHoop pictured above is an adjustable seed tray that works with any tube feeder. It’s also available with in a 30-inch diameter for larger bird feeders. By saving wasted seed, you’ll save money too in the long run