My Pet Parrot

I think it is only fair to the parrot and you, if you are thinking of buying one, that you think long and hard about bringing a parrot into your household, as I have said before I love all parrots big and small and care very much for them.

I have had many other pets and will probably have them again in the future but if I do I will make sure that the introduced pet will compliment my friend I have now my pet parrot.

So on that basis when you decide to get a parrot think of all the requirements and adjustments your household will have to make and may need for your new pet.

Because Parrots come in sizes from the iconic red, blue and yellow macaw to small parakeets and many sizes in between but they are all in the same family; they have the same shape beak and generally have rich, bright plumage, and all require special care and accommodations and especially your love and personal care. more:

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

How To Build a Birdhouse some Tips

By Robert Randolph

Woodworking involves projects of all kinds. One of the most common projects that many hobby woodworkers get started with is the creation of a birdhouse or bird feeder. Even the most inexperienced person can make a birdhouse that will draw many feathered friends to your yard. There are a few things that you should keep in mind though before you start cutting and hammering. Some planning is required to execute the best birdhouse on the block.

The first thing that you need to consider is what kind of bird you wish to attract to your birdhouse. It's a good idea to dig up some information on that species of bird in order to research their nesting habits. It might play an important role in the proper construction to know certain points regarding different types of birds. Things like nesting and whether or not they are seasonal are good things to look at.

Knowing what kind of bird you want to design your house for makes it easier to know which measurements you need. Having a door that is too small will pose a problem. A door that is much too big can also be a problem because it allows other birds to fit inside. Some birds are very territorial and do not want to share their dwellings with others. Determine this type of thing before you go ahead with your building.

It's extremely crucial that you do not hang your finished birdhouse anywhere that a predator may reach it. Cats are very adept at climbing so the birdhouse should securely hang from a branch or post not easily accessible to that type of predator. People can be predators too. Take care not to post your birdhouse somewhere that it may come into contact with pesticide sprays or children that can access and disturb it.

Using the most durable wood possible is a must. Weak wood is prone to breaking down faster or becoming rotten due to rain. Select a tough wood and treat the outside of the house with a varnish to give it additional resistance to rain and weather damage. The last thing you want is for your birdhouse to develop mould on the interior. There is a chance baby birds may be hatched inside. All necessary precautions should be taken.

Always measure the wood out to the exact measurements. It's simply not enough to estimate distances like that. If a measurement falls short it could result in gaps where wind and water can leak in. Drainage holes should always be drilled into the bottom to prevent the birdhouse from flooding. That would be an unfortunate mishap which could result in baby birds drowning. Do not let this be a possibility.

Building a birdhouse allows you to get creative without being put under too much pressure. Take it slow and be sure not to overlook anything. Helpful guides can be purchased or found online. Join a woodworking group for added skill assistance as well as professional instruction if you feel it may be beneficial to you.

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Monday, February 23, 2009

How to Build Your Own Birdhouse

By Robert Randolph

Bird house making is really easy as long as you love what you are doing. It is also an effective way to make your house - as well as you - feel chirpy and bright in the morning. Believe it or not, nothing beats having birds outside your homes. The following are tips and advice to make the dream bird house that you always imagined you would have. Also included are the ways and methods of appropriately setting up the bird houses.

First things first, the point of bird houses is to bring in birds. Attracting them however is just half of the story, it is making them return as much as they possibly could, that is the challenge. Hopefully, the following guidelines will work.

Have a roof that is hinged

Providing a roof that is hinged on the sides is an effective way for you to make house cleaning a lot easier especially during the spring. Spring cleaning during the early weeks of March is a good idea. As much as possible, use hinges that are rust proof. Remember that animals such as raccoons are able to open an eye and a hook.

Place appropriate ventilation

Drill four drain holes that measure about one fourth inch in every bird house's bottom. Also, add two five eighth hole ventilations on the top of each house's side.

Place a roof

Provide a bird house roof that has at least an overhang of two inches in the bird house's front in order to protect the hole's entrance from rain that is driven by wind as well as to prevent animals like cats from reaching inside. Also, the sides of the bird house should be enclosed towards the floor in order to keep the rain from having to seep inside the bird house nest.

Try to recess the bird house floor about one fourth of an inch from the bird house's bottom in order to prevent it from rotting as caused by the moisture.

Bird house perches

Believe it or not, putting perches on the bird house is a no-no. The birds that do appreciate and do perch are the starlings and the sparrows. For bird houses of song birds, keep the holes of the entrance about an inch and three eights inch small in order to keep the house sparrows and starlings out. Of course, the exception are the purple martins.

How should the bird houses be spaced?

If there are other bird houses or boxes near, they should therefore be spaced appropriately about twenty five feet far from each other. Houses for bluebirds meanwhile require about three hundred feet. The space is important in order to reduce any conflicts. Another reason for this is because a lot of birds are actually territorial and so protecting the area around the bird's nest is important. The exception to this are mergansers, wood ducks and goldeneye. Putting their bird houses close to each other is okay.

Purple martins meanwhile prefer to live in bird colonies and so apartment bird houses is their specific preference and not single family bird houses.

What kind of material is best for bird houses?

The best to use is wood. As much as possible, avoid lumber that is treated with pressure because once wet, it excretes vapors that poisons birds. Using preservatives like stain or paint could be used on the box's outside, especially the back. Using the chemical preservative creosote should also be avoided.

Try not to use cartons of milk, can tins, metal. These materials could overheat and destroy the bird eggs as well as the bird younglings. An exception however are the commercial martin aluminum bird houses.

Be careful with uninvited guests such as mice, wasps, bees or squirrels. Once found, remove them as soon as possible. Be careful though as such animals could sting and hurt you.

All in all, making a bird houses is not simply hammering and pasting one material to another. It requires as delicate a care as creating an actual house or room for a human being.

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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Bird Feeders Online

By Charlie Reese

Bird Feeder Plans

When I decided to make a bird feeder this spring, I ran into trouble. It wasn't that I had any problem making one, but that I had trouble deciding on the design to begin with. There were no shortage of designs, you see, and all the bird feeder plans looked quite useful. When I had first decided on finding plans for a bird feeder, I had thought that I would use the one that birds would find most attractive.

I figured that the most pragmatic design would be the best. When I talked to a few birdwatchers, however, I found that almost any bird feeder plan would work. It was a matter of finding something that I liked the look of. The birds would come no matter what.

The bird feeder plan than I first made was actually very simple. Physically, it was a tube with a small hole in it to dispense seeds. It was small enough that it would discourage squirrels and it was hung on a wire to make it more difficult for them to get to. Other than that, it was nothing more than a small grain silo for birds. It was unadorned and undecorated and, quite frankly, boring.

The reason that I picked out the bird feeder plans I did was quite simple: I'm practical. When I first try a project, I come up with the easiest version that is possible. Then, if it works well, I can try a more complicated project next time.

Rather than finding new bird feeder plans, however, I decided to revisit the old ones. I came back to my original birdseed feeder and worked it over. I added wooden decorations to it, a nice paint job, and a few extra holes so that multiple birds could feed at once. By the time I was done, it was looking good.

Since then, I have constructed many different bird feeders and birdhouses. Some of the birdhouses I have made have actually been quite pretty. One of them was so nice, in fact, that I couldn't bear to leave it outside. The weather is pretty harsh there and I figured that it would get battered and weatherworn within a season. Instead, I keep it in my house. Of course it doesn't get to shelter any birds in there, but I can still admire my own craftsmanship. Sometimes vanity is a good thing. It keeps me making new and interesting projects.

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Friday, February 13, 2009

The Sites with Decorative Birdhouses

By Robert Randolph

Decorative bird houses are for those who want more than just an A-frame wood structure with a hole in it. They are made with more than just run-of-the-mill in mind. Decorative bird houses are often painted bright colors using a variety of different designs, hence their name. As pretty as they are, remember that some birds avoid those bright colors because it makes them a target to predators. Decorative bird houses come in many different styles, shapes, and colors. Heck, if you make your own you can design and paint it any way you want.

Feeders are necessary, too. Hanging or free standing bird feeders ensure a steady source of food for birds, which makes your backyard bird house prime real estate for little birds flying about. Of course, it is possible for feeders to spread parasites and disease so you will want to occasionally remove nests after rearing and clean and spray nest boxes and feeders with a mix of 90% water and 10% chlorine bleach.

Birdhouses range in style from gazebo and Victorian styles to barns and space shuttles; really, just about anything you can imagine can serve as a resting place for birds. Birdhouses protect birds and when coupled with well-stocked feeders and a variety of seeds and insects from your garden, they will find a safe haven in your backyard. In return, they bring your garden to life with flashes of color, wonderful songs and comical antics.

Store bought decorative birdhouses are very affordable and you will be the talk of the neighbors if you choose an interesting theme. If you want to save money and you are creative then you can try to build your own. Decorative bird houses are a must for any garden or lawn irrespective of its size and are a wonderful way to enjoy wild birds and add color to your yard at the same time. Even if birds do not move in right away a decorative bird house can add a lot of visual interest in the yard as soon as you set it up.

Everyone should have at least one decorative birdhouse in their home. These are an attention grabber and start conversation.

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Buying A Parrot Cage

By Dominic

Buying a cage for your Parrot or large bird is not something you do, just off the top of your head. A cage is a very important part of the health and happiness of your parrot. Choosing the right one will mean all the difference between having a parrot that is happy and healthy and having a Parrot is not. The kind of cage you decide to buy will depend in part on the breed of your bird.

Breeds that are larger will need a much larger cage bird cage then those Parrots that are smaller in size. Our recommendation is that you buy a bird cage that will at least be double the size of the bird's wingspan. You won't go wrong with buying a bird cage that is large and bigger than what you think you need. Most bird lovers make the mistake of buying the Parrot cage that is too small because they think they will save themselves some money. In the long run, they will spend more money because they will eventually realize that the size of the cage they bought is too small and will need to buy a new one.

Parrot owners actually recommend that you buy a bird cage as large as you can find. Some bird shops will recommend a cage size that is too small, because they know that you are price shopping. Don't fall into that bird trap. If you want your bird be happy and comfortable then buy something that is bigger than what you think you will need. Knowing that you bought a large enough bird cage will give you some peace of mind.

One critical component to consider when buying a Parrot cage is to make sure that the bars are not spread out too far apart. If the bars are spread too far apart, the bird can get its head stuck between the bars. Also, make sure that the bars have no paint on them. Some large Parrots are capable of chipped the paint off and eating it.

What shape of Parrot Cage should you consider purchasing?

Most Parrot lovers think that the shape of the cage is for aesthetic purposes, it is not. The shape of the Parrot cage will depend on the kind of Parrot that you have. For example, if you have a small Parrot, they usually like to fly from side to side within the cage. So the length of the cage is more important than the height and needs to be a strong consideration. Larger Parrots tend to like to climb around, so having a taller bird cage would work better for them.

Finally, make sure you buy a cage that is easy to clean and has a slide out tray underneath. This will allow you to change the cage at least once or twice a week. A clean cage will leave you with a happy bird and a happy Parrot owner.

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Wednesday, February 11, 2009

How To Attract Birds to your Back Yard

By Robert Randolph

Birds can be attracted to your home simply by offering them food, water, shelter and a place to raise their young. Trees and shrubs that yield fruit, berries, seeds, nuts and cones will provide food. Native plants and dense undergrowth left to thrive in chosen areas of your property will provide shelter, protection and natural nesting and roosting sites. Nesting boxes can also be secured to trees and posts to attract several species of birds and give them a place to raise their young. Birdbaths, pools and water features can be built to supply water, and feeders strategically placed around the yard will furnish supplementary food for the birds when natural sources diminish.

The first thing you will want to do to attract birds to your yard is to find out which species of birds live in your area and which birds migrate through the area where you live. If you live in the Northwest and want to attract the Northern Cardinal to your yard you will find it an impossible task because this species of bird lives in the eastern part of the United States. You can begin to discover which birds live in your area by observing the birds you see around you everyday. These birds you are able to observe yourself is a start but don't assume that they are the extent of the local bird population. Check with your local Audubon Society or wildlife club for a rundown of birds you may attract and information on what dates they arrive from their seasonal migrations.

The next thing you will want to do is to supply the habitat necessary to support the birds you want to attract. This is critical if you want birds to not only visit your backyard but stay and breed in your area. Natural wildlife habitat is disappearing at an alarming rate in the world and is the number one threat to wildlife today. You can surround yourself with beautiful native plants that will attract wildlife and allow you to observe an amazing array of wildlife everyday. You will want to consult with your state's native plant society, natural resources agency or local county agriculture department to determine which species of plants naturally grow locally where you live.

These native plants provide the most natural source of food for your birds but you can also supplement these natural food sources with bird feeders. This is a great way to observe the birds up close. There are many different types of bird feeders you can build or purchase and I suggest you use a variety to attract the greatest variety of birds.

All wildlife species need water for drinking and in some cases bathing as well. If birds are unable to bathe, their feathers become dirty making flight difficult. Birdbaths are the easiest way to provide a water supply in your yard. The addition of a pond or water feature however is the best way to provide water for wildlife because it will create habitat not only for birds but for several other species as well. This could be anything from a container water garden to a pond covering several acres. Small water features designed for your backyard have become very popular lately and provide a great wildlife habitat.

Birdhouses or nest boxes are an important part of attracting birds to your yard. Birds need a safe place to breed and raise their young. If they find that safe place they will return year after year. It is important to provide proper birdhouses and locate them in the proper locations to attract each individual species. I find that building my own birdhouses is the best way to provide the best quality birdhouse at the most reasonable price.

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How to Find Decorative Birdhouses that Meet Your Requirements

By Robert Randolph

The nesting season is an important time for birds. Its springtime and birds must now turn to nesting. They turn their full attention and energy to nesting during springtime. It is a stressful experience for a bird to move to a new location. They need to adjust to new sights, sounds and foods. While birds are amazingly resilient, there are a number of things you can do to help minimize the stresses of a new home.

It is important that the birdhouse be set up even before you purchase your bird. No matter how simple, elaborate or decorative, the most important features are safety, the location of the birdhouse and the dimensions and shape of the birdhouse and entrance. A good birdhouse must have the following features:

Ventilation holes in the top and drainage holes in the bottom Absence of a perch by the entrance - perches encourage predators such as cats Easy to clean - birdhouses should be thoroughly cleaned once a year to remove last year's nest materials and to prevent nest parasites.

One of the great ways to bring your yard to life with flashes of color, nature's music and amusement is to provide your birds with their own private nesting area. You can add a birdhouse to your yard or garden where birds can nest safely without fearing natural predators. A birdhouse also provides shelter and warmth during heavy winds and at times of ferocious storms.

If we can have fancy houses, then why not birds? So, be creative, while choosing a birdhouse. Birdhouses range in style from gazebo and Victorian styles to barns and space shuttles. The design is your choice. You might like to build or purchase a birdhouse that will reflect your personal character. Birds aren't really interested in architectural design, but want a birdhouse that will provide safety, security and easy access.

Bird population is diminishing in today's world due to the use of chemicals that are polluting their natural habitat and food supply. Birdhouses protect birds and coupled with well-stocked feeders and a variety of seeds and insects from your garden, they will find a safe haven in your backyard. In return, they bring your garden to life with flashes of color, wonderful songs and comical antics.

A birdhouse should be well built, durable, waterproof, cool in summer, warm in winter and easily accessible to birds. Be sure you allow for cleaning when assembling your birdhouse. If you're planning to purchase one, look for cracks in the wood, knots and other defects that will allow water to get inside. If you're building the house, use your imagination to create a unique birdhouse that will add a touch of charm to your yard or garden. Nowadays, many varieties of birdhouses are available in the market ranging from plain and simple to the elaborate and decorative.

At Indipets, we look forward to sharing our yard with wildlife throughout the seasons particularly birds, who bring color, song, and life to our homes. Whether it's a family of Bluebirds, a group of Gold Finches or a scarlet red Cardinal nibbling on the sunflower seeds we've put out especially for him, birds delight and fascinate us all year long. Just put up a few houses, fill your feeders and soon you'll have a yard full of feathered friends.

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Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Finding the Right Materials for your Decorative Birdhouse

By Robert Randolph

If you have gone to your local pet store, you would have discovered that there really are a lot of different decorative bird house designs made up of a similarly dizzyingly variety of materials ranging from metal to colorful plastics to wood. However, if you would like to build your own birdhouse instead of buying a ready-made one, the best material to choose to construct your birdhouse is wood because it is easy to cut, it has naturally attractive designs, it is weather-proof and most importantly it doesn't stand out like a sore thumb in the middle of your backyard.

Let's dwell a little on the properties of wood as a material for your decorative bird house construction.

First, wood has good insulating properties. Choose wood that is at least three quarter inches thick to maximize its insulation benefits so that your nesting birds will be nesting in a comfortable temperature in your birdhouse.

Second, although wood is naturally durable, some woods are better then others at resisting decay. Since your birdhouse will be going through rain and shine everyday, you should pick a wood that is more decay resistant so that it will be longer lasting. Ideal material choices for wooden bird house will be cedar, redwood or bald cypress.

If you have an existing birdhouse that is made up of pine or plywood, you can coat it with a water-based exterior latex paint. Be sure to only coat the exterior of the birdhouse and not the interior or the birdhouse entrance. Usually, coating the exterior with a dull, earth-tone color will be sufficient to keep the boards from rotting.

Why do we recommend painting the birdhouse exterior with a dull, earth-tone color ? Well, a earth-tone color will not absorb heat as much as a darker or more striking color. Different colors absorbs different amounts of heat. Darker colors tend to absorb more heat and as a result, it becomes warmer. Light, earth-tone colors reflect more light and so the surface feels cooler. Another reason why we recommend painting your birdhouse a dull, earth-tone color because it is less likely to attract predators to your birdhouse.

Regardless of the colors that you chose for your birdhouse, you should never use paints that contain lead or use any harmful chemicals like varnish on the wood surfaces of the birdhouse. Wood surfaces, due to their inherent properties, will tend to break down and chip off after being exposed to the natural weather elements. If the birds accidentally ingest one of the wood chips that is covered with toxic paints or have been treated with harmful chemicals, the bird may die of poisoning. If you do need to treat the wood, use non-petroleum based, naturally occurring oils like linseed oil. Petroleum based liquids tend to stick on the bird's feathers, causing them to be wet and sticky and as a result, it will make it very difficult for the birds to make a quick escape when a predator is near.

Next, to put everything together, you can either glue the wood pieces together or you can nail them together. If you want the birdhouse to last longer, glue the wood pieces first then nail them. However, one thing to note is that, none of your nails should not be sticking out. Nails exposed to the rain will gradually become rusty. When birds accidentally cut themselves on the exposed nail, it will be seriously injured. Moreover, when humans accidentally get cut by the nails, they may also get an infection from the rust.

For the interior of the birdhouse, you should consider placing some rough sawn wood to act as a "ladder" to make it easier for the nesting birds to get in and out of your birdhouse. Most birdhouse are quite small in size and since wood has a smooth texture, sometimes it is hard for the birds to get out of the birdhouse. You can also consider making small notches on the inside of the front face of the birdhouse which can also make the birdhouse more bird-friendly.

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Monday, February 9, 2009

How To Buy The Perfect Parrot Cage

By Dominic

Buying a cage for your Parrot or large bird is not something you do, just off the top of your head. A cage is a very important part of the health and happiness of your parrot. Choosing the right one will mean all the difference between having a parrot that is happy and healthy and having a Parrot is not. The kind of cage you decide to buy will depend in part on the breed of your bird.

For instance, breeds that are larger will of course need a much larger cage then those Parrots that are smaller in size. Our recommendation to our customers is that you buy a cage that will at least be double the size of their wingspan. You can't go wrong with buying the cage that is too large or bigger than what you need. Most people make the mistake of buying the cage that is too small because they think they will save themselves some money. In the long run they will spend more money. After realizing that the cage is too small and will end up buying them much larger cage.

Parrot owners actually recommend that you buy a bird cage as large as you can find. Some bird shops will recommend a cage size that is too small, because they know that you are price shopping. Don't fall into that bird trap. If you want your bird be happy and comfortable then buy something that is bigger than what you think you will need. Knowing that you bought a large enough bird cage will give you some peace of mind.

One critical component to consider when buying a Parrot cage is to make sure that the bars are not spread out too far apart. If the bars are spread too far apart, the bird can get its head stuck between the bars. Also, make sure that the bars have no paint on them. Some large Parrots are capable of chipped the paint off and eating it.

What shape of Parrot Cage should you consider purchasing?

Although some people think that the shape of the cage is for aesthetic purposes, it is not. The shape of the cage will depend on the kind of parrot that you have. For instance, if you have a small Parrot, they usually like to fly from side to side. So the length of the cage is more important than the height. Larger Parrots tend to like to climb, so having a taller cage would work better for them.

Lastly, make sure you buy a Parrot cage that is easy to clean and has a slide out tray underneath. This will allow you to change and clean the cage at least twice a week and it won't be a hassle. A clean bird cage will leave you a happier and healthier Parrot couple.

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Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Is a Bat a Nocturnal Animal

By Richard Guzman

Andrew's class has an oral report due next week. They have been studying nocturnal animals. Nocturnal animals sleep during the day and stay awake at night. His assignment is to pick a nocturnal animal and share what he learned with the class. He is the only student in the class who hasn't picked one.

Andrew's friend "The Brain" slept over last night. After everyone was asleep, they snuck out to look for nocturnal animals. Andrew was bored. To entertain himself he thought it would be fun to hang upside down on a tree branch. That wasn't such a bright idea. The branch broke and so did his arm.

Although, he was restricted from some activities and even some chores he still had to do his oral report. I know it sounds unbelievable but his report is due Monday and he still hasn't picked a nocturnal animal.

He convinced his mother to let him go over to friends' house. His friend was going to help him pick a nocturnal animal and help him research it on the computer. The funniest thing happened as soon as he got to his friends' house. His friends' Mom was still puzzled. She wanted to know why he was hanging upside down in a tree at night like a bat. Andrew finally realized what nocturnal animal his report was going to be about! A bat!

Jake and Andrew looked for websites that had information about bats. Andrew learned many interesting and fascinating facts about them. He learned that a bat was a mammal, just like we are. He also found it cool how insect eating bats move around in the dark, a process called echolocation. This means when a bat sends out a high pitched sound a sound bounces off objects around them and comes back to their ears. Also, when a bat rests he hangs upside down. I bet he doesn't break very many branches and arms. Andrew is so excited that his report is really coming together. When he got home he practiced his oral report in front of the family. He decided to take his sisters' advice and add pictures. Today the reports were due. Andrew was picked to go first and he was fantastic!Looking back, he realized that he should have gone about picking a nocturnal animal differently. All the worrying was for nothing.

In the future Andrew will relax! Andrew admits he gets overwhelmed easily. The teacher doesn't even finish her sentence and he becomes nervous. As soon as he hears the word "project" his stomach does flip flops and whatever she says after that is "blocked out". Andrew agrees this sounds pretty accurate. Perhaps, it would be in his best interest to research the topic on the computer first. Andrew agrees 100%. He said utilizing the computer should never be his last priority. He was really surprised how many websites were just a few clicks away from the topic he needed information on. For example; Google, Yahoo, and Ask.com are very helpful and simple to use to find out information. Andrew, realizes that on any of the above websites, he simply has to type a sentence or the main words of your topic. It is unbelievable how fast the results are displayed...in seconds.

Andrew, thought about it and using a computer is so much easier than sneaking out and getting injured. Andrew said he did not look at the big picture when he made his careless decision. He also believes that this experience has taught him to stop and think before making any hasty decisions in the future. Andrew, knows if he has any other questions to just ask a family member someone will be more than happy to help him with his dilemma.

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Sunday, February 1, 2009

The bird

By Robet Jay

Living in the country we have come to expect seeing different species of animals. Deer occasionally grace our presence. Of course, once we are seen by them they quickly disappear. One day as I was looking out a back window there were 7 or so wild turkey. After flying away, they have not returned. Many different birds come to our three feeders. Sunflower seed is spread on the ground for the doves and squirrels. Cardinals and smaller birds also search for food on the ground but the smaller ones mostly enjoy the feeders with their perches. We started throwing it on the ground to keep squirrels from eating the plastic off our original bird feeders. Now we have "squirrel proof" feeders that do a good job of keeping them from the food contained within.

Living in the country there is plenty of land for all God's creatures. A wooded area begins within thirty feet of the rear of our house providing food and protection for wildlife living there.

What we didn't expect happened early one morning in the summer. With me being a sound sleeper, I could not imagine what my wife was saying at 2 in the morning. My glasses with thick lenses were on a table beside the bed, where I had left them before I laid down to sleep. A ceiling fan was on chasing the heat away. Barely awake I could see something attached to the fan, circling with the fan blades. Once, the object made oblong path around the fan. Soon, by wife had turned on the light, my glasses were on and we saw a bird following the path of the fan blades. I quickly closed the bedroom door to keep the critter from the rest of the house.

With the light on we realized it was a bat! Why didn't our cats alert us? The first task was to get rid of the bat. It was indeed following the path of the fan blades. Taking the screen off the windows we tried, lamely I might add, to divert its course with pillows and out the window. This was not working. I had folded the curtains over the top. Once, when the bat landed on the top of the curtains, he "walked" up the inside of the folds of the curtain. A fascinating site this would have been under different circumstances.

Obviously, this method was not working. A towel might work. My wife opened the door with the bat still following the flight of the fan blades. Returning with old towels, my wife and I started making attempts to again divert the bat outside the window, his freedom and ours. I didn't realize how high our ceiling was, although they are only 8 feet or so. The bat was evading our feeble attempts. I jumped, with the length of the towel spread out, and missed. Another attempt, nothing! Finally, my wife said, "you caught him." Now what do I do? Do I take him, still wrapped up, to the outside? Do I open the towel and hope he flies away? I opted for throwing the towel out the window and hoping he flew away.

With the windows now closed we opened the bedroom door to our two cats' right there wondering why we had locked them out! Lying back down, it was difficult to return to slumber land.

The next morning I went outside to retrieve the towel, wondering what I would do if the bat was still wrapped inside. Fortunately, he was gone. We are still wondering how he came into the house and chose our bedroom.

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