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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1977-01-20, Page 20ti ' When one observes the pecking order among the Pecking Order birds; if is .easier -for us to understand how it operates• among people as well. The strongest and most agressive get . the food although they' may not' necessarily.., be 'the biggest. ,The bluejay is...often - intimidated by the somewhat smallergrosbeak and the agile chickadee. never misses his chance to dart in when he' can and grab a quick bite. Those who enjoy photography have a wonderful opportunity to get some good bird, shots. from the warmth of their home provided a tripcid is set up in the • window facing the feeder, and the necessary adjustments/are made for light and distance.- _ _ Bird_feeclers _are cpthinercially available at feedend---- hardware stores, can be orderecithrough supply.houses but many simple formS can be homemade. The builder of bird-feeders , has' to observe the habits and behaviours of his feathered friends. It is a pleasurable and educational activity.. Despite thefacfthat birds are, 'fitted by nature to find their. own foodS under normal circumstances, have a strong survival instinct and possess abundant energy, storms 'and excessive cold' threaten them with serious food .scarcities. • Mahe Yoni Own .-• . A•-very simple 'version may be constructed from a f"" couple of -pizza. plates and .a large' metal .can such":as fruit and vegetable juices„Come in. First Make, a hole the. centre' of each pizza plate and then,' in the one to be ,„... .used as the tray, small holes should be made at intervals to•let the.water drain titit following a day when the sun meltS the snow. This operation helps keep the seeds. from freezing ina block when the temperature, inevitably drops. With 'a can opener similar to that used to, open.soft.drink cans, pierce a numher of,triarigular cuts along the side of the can just next to the hottOrn. You will;_of course, .have. already removed the top with a can opener to remove the. contents. Set'the can with • the pierced side down on the pan in which you have made the holes.' On top of this put the other pan. Straighten a metal coat hanger leaving the hook at one end and run it 'through •theh.ole in the top pan, down through the middle of the can and,through the hole in thebottom pan. Bend the wire at the bottom to secure it. • • • 'Xou will see that the top •pan or roof will slide up and, down the wire to allow you to add seed 'to the can. As the birds take the seeds"from- the bottom pan, More • Seed will automatically flow 'out of the holes in small amounts. This feeder may be hung front the branch of ,a tree or *din the clothes line preferably ,in a 'sheltered place: ..„„ • of any feline predator.' Another trick is to take as stout piece of young tree trunk about 'three inches in diameter and afoot or so long. Screw a hook in one end and with a 'big hit. drill holes into-the wood at different -places. These, too, may be filled with fat or unsalted peanut butter of which the bluejays, are especially crazy. This is hung from -a branch's tip well within your line of vision. Of course you will have to- replenith 'The larder 'over and over again during the winter. Woodpeckers-, chickadees and nuthatches are quite adept at such feeding ;station. a - Woodpeckers ' 'Woodpeckers are regular visitors to any feeder that :provides sueteither in a chunk or as a mixture. Downy woodpeckers are much more sedate than--their larger • . cousins, the hairy. Downiest move quietly.around the trunks of the trees. whereas the hairies bounce 'about in a much more vigorous fashion pecking away for fobd hiddenunder the bark, hibernating.. grubS and insects.. These birds are 'very tame and are not easily frightened. They' may go around to 'the otherside of the tree if-alarmed but are soon back,. Woodpeckers are masterpieces of engineer ing, beautifully designed for their major role in life, that of pecking intohard wood. . Every P-art of their anatomy. is specially constructed • ...... for the 'sole purpose of drilling.„ The beak' is exceptionally hard and pciihted. Spongy tissue-connects the beak with the thick skull thus enabling the head to withstand the shock of rapid hammering estimated as high 'IS. one hundred times a minute. Strong-neck ...... •-.. muscles make this hammering possible. To enable the, • bird to maintain a 'firm stance on the tree, the toes are situated two in front and two behind in most woodpeckers. This gives a vice-like grip. l'he tail feathers are very rigid and act• as a brace. They do not fall out until others have grown to support the bird during the moult,. Their amazing tongue is very long,and barbed. It is also sticky to trap inse Cis and. when 'extended. can be loaf times the • length of the beak. These birds spend most of their wakihg hours pecking and chiselling and stripping the, bark from dead, trees, policing the forests for all kinds of injurious insects.„ There, is an increasing awareness now iu the fact that happiness can be' ound in the simple things of life and • that mankind needs to remember that-he is 'but one of nature's creatures. Bird-watching and .bird-feeding allows one time to contemplate on some of the higher ' values inolife, to -rest and relax from the strain' and • pressure" of modern life. May our New Year be filled with that warmth that reaches Out in loving care for bird-life. , • • "Grant me to know, IP- seek, to, find,, In some small measure though it be. Emerging .from the waste and blind, The clearer self, the grander Me." (By W.G. String) January bird-watching is quite limited and is centre mainly around the feeders. A well.established station in a gopd location may attract many of the regular species but, from time to' time, these hay be . augmented by _ occasional visitors still wandering around for a place that appeals to them. Here in Ontario where. the winter climate is harsh ' - and seeds' scarce, bird-feeding is an even more rewarding pastime, Even in the towns and cities. there are unique opportunities for-observing birds other than ,sparrows and starlings which seem to survive -the 'rigours of winter. ' •- • With the exeeption of those "rare sunny days; the ',Otter landscape seems drab and dead hilt those who have bird-feeders installed outside their kitchen and livitigroom windows can see, from dawn till dark, the flashing yellow bodies of the evening grosbeaks,, the colourful and noisy bluejays, the comic and acrobatic chickadees, hairy and downy woodpeckers and the rare_ tanager. All this life and colour make it hard, to stay away from the 'window.' Cats delight to 'watch from inside and make strange guttural noises as the birds fly about. ' • Bird breakfasts can be made• from the fat collected- .froM• roasts and bacon 'or by rendering fat that your butcher can spare or that ,you can scrounge from your neighbour. Save that nylon net onion saek and several • inches of butcher's twine at least twice the lengthCif -the- -- - sack plus a few inches more. Cut the twin e in half and weave each of these down one side, across the bottom.: and up the other-Side leaving plenty of string hanging out of the top. Place the sack firmly down into an empty cardboard milk container. Melt the farand let it Cool - until. it is still liquid when bird seed should be added, ' stirred and poured into the container. '`• . After .the cooling process is complete-and the fat quite firm, run hot water over the- outside of the container to loosen the cake of fat. Grasp the top of the plastic net and'gently remove it. You may wish to have a piece of wax paper at hand on which to put the_ bag while you tie the strings together and make a loop. This may then be hung from a:branch well beyond the reach Remembering 1.••••••' To feed the birds (Lamprnali) .,.,... • 20 THE HURON. EXPOSITOR, JANUARY 20, 197 Give yourself a break. Take a walk. .44 '0.144NWMM Walk a blOck,14.1.0, •.• Huron Board of Education borrowin The.Murori County Enitid of Education chairman • or vice-chairman, and the treasurer of the 'Beard were authorized tinder , terms of a borrowing hy-law passed by the Board at its meeting on Monday afternoon to borrow up to $15 million to meet expenditures, until current revenue has been received.' The by -law authorizes the officials to borrow "from time to time from the Bank of Montreal, by way of a proniissory note, a sum not exceeding in the aggregate of $15 million to meet, until the current revenue has been received, the said current expenditures of the Board." The ,by-law" specifies that the borrowing is to be. made "with interest at the rate of nine and • one quarter per cent per annum and/or prime. rate which may be paid in advance or otherwise." Acting 'on the recommendaticiti of its Superintendent of Business Affairs -R.D. Dunlop, the Board alsO approved group insurance co stage for board trustee's and apPinted committee members bile on Board business for the year 197.7. .Cost of that coverage will' be $18 per • trustee, supplied by- the, and will be' Reliable Life The $18 rate remains the same as same benefits. Insurance Cellapan,Y of Hamilton, in 1976 and the poliey.offets the 'final inter learance Ar-...lkiaikraroperigro rawelrie, % to. 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