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GARDENER'S
READING ROOM
More Gardening Topics
For
the Birds
 Many
of us enjoy the birds that visit our gardens and feeders all
summer long. During the fall and winter months, many birds
stay in our area, and others come to visit. As you prepare
your garden for the winter ahead, remember to include your
fine feathered friends
on the list of things to do! Even though natural foods are
plentiful in the fall for the birds, having the welcome mat
out early will tell them your yard is worth visiting during
the cold months. Put the food out, and they will come…maybe
not a lot at first, but as the days get shorter and the temperatures
colder, they will remember which yards have the best restaurants.
First
of all, check out your feeders. Fall is a good time to clean
them so they are ready to provide food supply for hungry birds.
Having different types of feeders
in your yard will attract more varieties of birds for your
viewing pleasure! Platform feeders are popular, as are the
tube feeders
and (a must for winter) the suet
feeders.
 During
the winter, we worry about too many calories as we hunker
down feeling guilt about the holiday goodies. Our feathered
friends are the opposite; their need for calories increases
during the cold weather. There are different seeds available;
the most popular for attracting a variety of birds is the
black oil sunflower seed.
The small size and thin shell makes it an easy meal for small
birds and its high fat content is a plus. Another entrée
for the smaller birds is Niger,
or thistle, seed, an oil rich seed that is offered to the
birds in a tube type feeder with small slots.
There
are mixes of bird seed that contain millet,
sunflower chips,
peanut chips,
black-oil sunflower seeds,
cracked corn
and other tasty ingredients that birds enjoy having on the
menu. The mixes bring a variety of different birds, each seeming
to have their favorite seed. Again, there are many feeders
in which to present this entrée to the birds, the best
being a table feeder.
 Suet….it’s
a big draw for the hungry crowds! Stock up to avoid running
out at the peak dinner times! The birds love it, it’s
good for them, and it comes in a variety of ‘flavors’…with
something to please every appetite! Suet
is full of fat and calories, and this is a must for survival
in winter. There are feeders to hold the suet, so check them
out and add one or more for your viewing pleasure.
Along
with providing food for the birds, don’t forget their
beverage of choice, water! During freezing weather, this can
be a challenge. There are birdbath heaters available to meet
this challenge, supplying the much needed water during the
cold times.
 We
have the ‘groceries’
for your bird feeding cafes, along with bird baths, feeders
and books full of good tips and information. Start now, and
the birds will reward you all winter long.
By
Deb Breazeale
Skylights Autumn 2004, Vol 18, No. 3
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articles on gardening
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