Bird Feeding Covered From A To Z
From acorns to zinnias, bird feeders to wrens, hundreds of aspects of feeding wild birds are covered in a new book from Rodale Press, “The Backyard Bird Feeder’s Bible” by Sally Roth (hardcover, 368 pages, $29.95).
Roth organized the topics alphabetically, ranging from flowers that birds feed on to recipes for bird food. Maps of migration routes and weather patterns, photos of birds and illustrations of homemade feeders fill the pages. Even experienced bird fans will find this book interesting. It’s available in the nature section of most bookstores.
* Nothing’s foolproof: After reading a recent Critter Watch note about deer repellent, a reader inquired about similar products for cats and dogs.
There are such products on the market, but effectiveness is not guaranteed. Gardening experts say that covering flower beds and vegetable gardens with chicken wire will deter cats from digging.
Some gardeners also report success with mousetraps, repelling both cats and squirrels. They set the mousetraps and cover them with a layer of loose newspaper. When the cat or squirrel walks on the newspaper, the mousetrap snaps, frightening the animal. Enough such interruptions, and the squirrels and cats become discouraged and go next door.
Be sure to cover the traps with newspaper and weight down the corners with rocks so that the paper doesn’t blow away.
This, of course, isn’t a problem this time of year. Those wanting to give this solution a try, though, might want to ask for dozens of mousetraps in their Christmas stockings, especially if they have large gardens.
* Stay alert to invasions: People with garages and basements that mice find cozy should be vigilant. It may seem like the mice have gone somewhere to sleep through the wintry months, but they do wake up from time to time to eat.
Keep the mousetraps set throughout the winter as a pre-emptive strike against a mouse population explosion in the spring.
* Backyard journal: The bedside clock said it was 4:44 a.m. Car tires screeched on the road, but there was no thump of car hitting deer. This time the deer dashed out of the way in time, but the driver got an early morning adrenaline rush. Before the car’s taillights were even out of sight, the doe was pawing in snow on the herb garden, looking for a pre-dawn breakfast of greens.