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This page is for The Birds!

WELCOME!

Well, it's spring. Or so they say. It has brought rain, wind, and a chill to Ohio. But there is some greenery, and the birds are wearing their spring outfits! Lovely red, red cardinals, and handsome yellow finches!

It's time to clean out the feeders and keep them filled to welcome the new migrants. Put up the hummingbird feeder, too. Start with a flashy one, so they'll know they are welcome. Then later, if you like, you can put up a more subtle one. Check Duncraft for what's available.

Here are some tips for feeding our backyard visitors

Set aside an area of your yard or property where you have birdfeeders set up. Ideally, it should be close to a window or the deck so your family can enjoy all the birds that will visit.

Use a variety of different types of feeders to attract the greatest number of types of birds. Fruit, suet, peanut butter mixtures, nectar, and mealworms can be offered in addition to various bird seeds.

Place your feeding station near brush or bushes or trees so that birds can take cover from would-be predators.

Have a water source for your birds. It shouldn't be too close to the feeders. Birds will stay away from a pond or birdbath that is too busy. They like some privacy and quiet as they are bathing and preening.

Prepare your yard for Hummingbirds by cleaning existing hummingbird feeders and filling with a solution of four parts water to one part sugar. Use only table sugar and never honey or artificial sugars. There is no need to add the artificial red color you see in some feeders. Clean your feeder every three to four days. Use only warm or hot water and a soft brush to clean the feeder.

COME IN
by Robert Frost

As I came to the edge of the woods,

Thrush music--hark!
Now if it was dusk outside,
Inside it was dark.

Too dark in the woods for a bird
By sleight of wing
To better its perch for the night,
Though it still could sing.

The last of the light of the sun
That had died in the west
Still lived for one song more
In a thrush's breast.

Far in the pillared dark
Thrush music went--
Almost like a call to come in
To the dark and lament.

But no, I was out for stars:
I would not come in.
I meant not even if asked,
And I hadn't been.

FEED THE BIRDS

A Project for the Kids

Birdwatching and feeding is something we should share with our children. Here's a fun project to get them involved.

Let's make a birdhouse!

You'll need an empty paper half gallon milk carton. Open up the top and wash and rinse it really well. Let it dry. Re-close the milk carton and staple it shut.

Cover the whole milk carton with small pieces of masking tape. Overlap the pieces so that none of the carton shows.

Now, you'll need some brown shoe polish. Rub it all over the tape and then wipe if with a cloth. It should start to look like bark. When you like the way it looks, let it dry.

Now, what kind of bird do you want to live in your house? If you want a chickadee, make a hole Chickadee 6-8 inches up from the floor and 1 1/8 inches wide. For a Downy Woodpecker, the hole needs to be 6-8 inches from the floor and 1 1/4 inches wide. Or for a wren, 4-6 inches up and 1 1/2 wide. Get book on birdhouses or find a web site to find out sizes for other kinds of birds.

With a pencil, make several holes in the bottom of the carton for any rain to drain out. Also make several hole in the top of the carton to let heat and moisture escape.

Make a hole through the top of the house near the staples. Put a short piece of wire through the hole to make a loop. Hang the birdhouse on a tree branch

Now, sit back and watch your new friends move into their house!

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