• Bird Feeders,  Bluebird Feeders,  Fruit, Jelly & Mealworm Feeders,  Mealworm Feeder,  Uncategorized

    Keep that mealworm feeder filled

    May 6, 2011 /

    widowed mother bluebird at mealworm feederFor all the moms out there raising babies on their own… Happy Mothers Day!

    A Gilbertson nest box was their preference, and soon 5 Bluebird eggs sat in the nest. A pair of Eastern Bluebirds who braved a harsh winter in North Georgia found their perfect nest site. It wasn’t long at all before the eggs hatched and five babies slept comfortably in the pine straw nest. I’m not sure when the eggs were laid, but the next time the box was checked it contained the cutest naked babies.

    Then some trouble for our Bluebird pair 🙁 Nothing had gotten into the box or killed the babies, it’s dad who had disappeared. With babies fully feathered now and overflowing their nest, dad had been missing for two days, at this crucial fledge time too.

    The next box check revealed that mom had managed to fledge all five babies, so this gave me hope for at least a partially successfully brood. I supplemented  the the worms with calcium carbonate powder to help build strong bones, and doubled the number of worms being offered in the mealworm feeder.

    When raising bluebirds, both parents will feed the chicks for thirty days. Even second or third broods receive help from older siblings. Super mom was on her own, and the nasty storms during their first few nights out in the world didn’t help at all. I was like the worrisome mother. Sometimes another mate is found and the new male may or may not help to care for her brood. About two weeks after fledging, a new male was spotted gorging himself at the mealworm feeder. My only hope was that some of the worms were for the babies.

    Two days ago I spotted one of the babies perched on the pole above the mealworm feeder… yellow mouth wide open and screaming his little head off! It was truly a terrific site and gave me hope that more of the five are thriving.

    So, in honor of Mother’s Day… here’s to you Mrs. Bluebird! Raising babies on your own out in a tough and cold world, we wish you the best.

     

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  • Uncategorized

    “Pay It Forward” Community Launches to Sponsor Spay/Neuter for Pets

    May 3, 2011 /

    Website Connects Pet Owners with Pet Lovers to Help End Pet Overpopulation

    NORFOLK, VA – May 3, 2011 – Life challenges, such as those brought on by the recent recession, often prevent pet owners from spaying or neutering their pets. However, with the help of the FiXiT Foundation and its new initiative launching today, GetYourFix.org, pet owners in need are now able to find sponsors to fund their pets’ spay/neuter to help prevent overpopulation.

    “Every eight seconds, a dog or cat is euthanized in U.S. shelters because of overpopulation,” said Kellie Heckman, executive director, FiXiT Foundation. “With GetYourFix.org, we hope to put an end to this by helping those in need. Paying it forward is a common gesture in our society. This is an opportunity to do something for the greater good, as well as save the lives of millions of animals.”

    GetYourFix.org is a website where pet owners can post a need for a “fix,” and “funders,” who want to have a direct impact on ending animal overpopulation, can connect with them and sponsor their pet’s surgery. Funders can connect directly with a low cost spay/neuter clinic or veterinarian to donate the funds or have FiXiT coordinate the surgery on their behalf.

    “Many pet owners have already posted profiles to GetYourFix.org and shared their stories,” said Stephanie Downs, president of the board of directors, FiXiT Foundation. “Some of them note that they saved an animal from an abusive situation or abandonment and are unable to afford spay/neuter. Others mention that they recently lost their job or moved from poor living situations. Despite their economic status or how they became a pet owner, everyone should have the opportunity to spay or neuter their pets, and GetYourFix.org provides just that.”

    There are countless heartbreaking stories of pet owners who want to spay or neuter their pets, but need a little help. One profile story is of Squeaky. Her owner is a truck driver that never planned on being a pet owner, as he knew he did not have the resources, but rescued Squeaky from an abusive situation. Once spayed and housetrained, Squeaky will accompany him on his long treks. There is also the story of Mepurr Clyde, a seven-month old kitten who was adopted for his owner’s autistic son. However, Mepurr has just began spraying, and the owner is unable to afford the cost of the surgery because she recently lost her job.

    “The goal of GetYourFix.org is to close the affordability gap of spay and neuter,” said Downs. “With the increasing number of mandatory spay and neuter programs, and many without funding opportunities, GetYourFix.org is a way to connect needy pet owners with sponsors to ensure that they are able to comply with these programs while providing the best possible care for their pets.”

    The FiXiT Foundation launched a year ago to end euthanasia due to pet overpopulation. Recently, it implemented a spay/neuter case study on the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands to test various incentive programs to entice pet owners to spay or neuter their pets.

    For more information about GetYourFix.org, visit http://www.getyourfix.org or text “FIX” to 22122. For more information about the FiXiT Foundation, visit http://www.fixit-foundation.org.

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