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Feed the Birds!- February Is National Bird Feeding Month In January 1994, Illinois 10th District Congressman John Porter read a resolution in the Congressional Record making February National Bird Feeding Month. The resolution noted that one-third of the adult population feeds wild birds in their backyards. Providing food, water and shelter helps birds survive, benefits the environment and supplements wild birds' natural diet of weed seeds and harmful insects. Here are a few tips to consider when taking bird feeding to heart. 1. Provide water. Birds need water not only for drinking but also to bathe to keep their feathers clean for better insulation. 2. Provide food. Provide multiple feeding stations in different areas of your yard to disperse bird activity. Crowding at the feeder - which is a more common occurrence in winter months - can cause stress, which may make birds more vulnerable to disease. Clean your feeders regularly with hot water, and let them air dry completely. Use the proper food for the type of feeders you are using and for the types of birds that use your feeders. A good website to help determine what type of food to provide is http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com. Look for the “Backyard Bird Food Chart”. 3. Provide shelter. Birds spend most of the day foraging for food. At night, they need a safe, warm place to rest. This can be as simple as a dense pile of brush or put up nesting boxes. In addition, shelter is vital for birds to escape from predators. Place bird feeders in locations that do not provide hiding places for cats and other predators to wait to ambush the feeder. Place birdfeeders 5' to 12' from low shrubs or bushes that provide cover. Providing a brush pile or bushes and trees 5-12 feet from feeders can provide a place for birds to hide in the event of danger. Bird watching and feeding is a great family activity. For more information about local birding, go to the website of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at .http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/. There are many useful and fun publications to download for both kids and adults. To download a field checklist of birds for our area, go to http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_w7000_0760.pdf. Join in on celebrating National Bird Feeding Month this February. Go out, feed the birds, and enjoy the birds. The birds help keep Brownwood beautiful. |
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Contact Information:Keep Brownwood Beautiful PO Box 1105/114 Center Avenue Suite 201 Brownwood, TX 76804 325.641.0533 Executive Director: Cary Perrin
Last modified: 2-1-08 Designed by Nuovo Adventures copyright 2008 caryleigh@verizon.net
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