West Newsmagazine 4-19-17

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The benefits of bird feeders
Having bird feeders around your yard is a
great way to attract a multitude of local and
migratory birds. That’s good news for the
environment, but humans are the real winners
in the backyard way station equation.
It goes without saying that avid bird
watchers benefit when birds are provided
with a food source, but birds of a feather
flock together and eat more than what helpful
homeowners put on the menu.
Homeowners who set up
bird feeding stations and
bird shelters are rewarded
with closeup views of their
feathered friends and, often,
far fewer insects, reducing
the need for chemical pesticides.
Less pesticides also means
more pollinators, which is
good news for gardens and
fruit trees.
Backyard feeders and houses also can add
color and visual interest to your landscape.
Within a day after you hang a cylindrical
finch feeder, you’ll start noticing finches
appear on its colorful perches. Cylindrical
feeders, depending on the size, can hold a
sufficient amount of thistle to last a full day
and are designed for easy hanging, which
is good because frequent refilling is key to
keeping your yard on the layover list.
Glass hummingbird feeders come in a
variety of shapes and colors. While red is
noted as the color for attracting hummingbirds,
red nectar is not necessary. You can
easily make and serve a fresh, clear nectar
made from simple sugar and water [recipe
below]. Hummingbirds, as well as their
feeders, add a whimsical touch to any backyard.
Here are a few helpful hints:
• Glass feeders last longer and work better
than plastic models.
• For easy cleaning, choose a style that separates
into two pieces – top and basin.
• Ants also love nectar, so hanging a simple
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plastic ant guard on the chain above the
feeder is a wise idea.
Ants are pesky, but mosquitoes are downright
mean. If your home is near a water
supply [a.k.a. mosquito breeding ground],
you may want to call in the martins – purple
martins, that is.
Purple martins are beautiful songbirds
and beneficial to have near a home because
they eat insects. In Missouri, purple martins
have become dependent
on nesting sites provided
by artificial nest boxes or
gourds. Martins nest in
communities and prefer
boxes located in open
spaces, near water and in
sight of human activity.
Martin nests can be purchased
in most home and
garden shops.
Tray feeders, also universally
available, are perfect for most back
yards and come in all sizes and styles. They
are easy to fill, provide an ample supply of
feed and can accommodate several birds
and bird varieties at once.
Cardinals, jays, bluebirds and blackbirds
are among the types of birds that prefer an
open tray feeder. But a word of caution, so
do squirrels. If squirrels and other creatures
have a habit of raiding your tray feeder, you
might want to consider a “weather dome.”
Domed feeders protect against sun, wind,
rain and snow as well as serving as a deterrent
to squirrels and other predators.
CLASSIC HUMMINGBIRD NECTAR
To make hummingbird nectar:
• Combine one part plain white table sugar
and four parts tap or distilled water.
• Slowly heat the solution for 1-2 minutes to
help the sugar dissolve and slow fermentation.
• Allow solution to cool completely before
filling feeders.
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April 19, 2017
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
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and developmental disabilities. One hundred percent of the shop’s net profits go directly to the
people Bethesda supports.