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Backyard Feeding
Ask Dr. Bird
The Headlines
Winner’s Circle
Wow! It’s been hot. We’ve seen record temperatures for the past week and even though the worst seems to be gone, we still have some hot weather on the horizon. Backyard Feeding this week is just a reminder that birds need to stay hydrated just like we do. I’ll show you my amazing collection of cheap and easy bird baths that I’ve got set up to help my birds keep cool.
David answers a question about Ornithophobia, or a fear of birds, and talks about different ways you can avoid being attacked by aggressive birds during nesting season. The best way, of course, is to stay far away from nests.
Malta is back in the headlines but with a nesting box project this time – I’m just hoping they aren’t making homes for the birds so they can trap them later. More new studies show just how smart birds can be, and if you are looking for an amazing birding destination, Colombia has 20% of the planet’s avian biodiversity. That’s a lot of different birds!
Have a great week everyone, and stay cool!
Your weather has been crazy. My daughter has been in Montreal visiting since June 25 and comes home in late August. She is always cold, but complaining about the heat. 🙂 We have had our share of high humidex values this past week.
After years talking about it I finally ordered a bird bath from my friends at Home Hardware. Also ordered one of these to see if the sound of moving water attracts more https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B013LCI5J6/ref=pe_3034960_236394800_TE_3p_dp_1
Stay cool.
Hi Warren, Montreal is always much hotter than here in the countryside. Being an island does have its disadvantages. We try to stay away from the city in the summer. How’s your daughter enjoying it? There are a lot of fun events happening there now. My husband is directing one of the festivals called Nuits d’Afrique so I might come out for one night to listen and watch some of the performers. The music is incredible!
She is enjoying her time, but originally went to work. Has found nothing yet and I said ‘so I guess this turned into an 8 week vacation.” 🙂 At least she is there for festival season. Arrives home in time for university.
We here in southeastern South Dakota are finally getting a break from quite a few Heat Index days over a 100*F. Last year at this time we were also hot and in severe drought. That is when I put out my first makeshift birdbath. A Rubbermaid garbage can lid.
This year has been very wet, over 3 inches just last night. The wet muggy days have affected our grasshopper population. Last year dry weather brought an infestation, this year all the rain caused the population to decline. There is some bad with the good because it does mean less easy protein meals for the birds. Have some feeders set out to help offset (jelly and seeds).
Thank you for sharing! I enjoyed reading your observations. It reminds me that we haven’t really seen any grasshoppers… We always look for butterflies, bees and caterpillars but grasshoppers are just as important!