If you are a Bird Lover, you have certainly by now discovered the joys of attracting these lovely little creatures to your home with a bird feeder. Birds add life and color to our backyards, and fill them with song. But did you know that how you care for your bird feeder is just as important as what feed you use? You can use a variety of different foods to attract birds to your backyard. But regardless of with what you fill your feeders, make sure to follow these safety tips to keep your bird feeders clean, and your backyard free from avian illness.
Step 1: Remove Old or Rotten Seed
Bird seed gets spread around where birds congregate. So make sure to check the ground beneath your feeders. Remove any old, damp, or rotten bird food that you see. If the ground is contaminated with bird droppings, make sure to do some cleanup. This may mean re-mulching or re-graveling the area.
Step 2: Soak Your Feeders
Perch! Bird Feeder
You must clean your bird feeders at least once per month order to keep them free from bacteria, mold, and other contaminants. Glass and ceramic feeders, such as the gorgeous Perch! Bird Feeder, may be soaked with one part bleach to nine parts hot water. After soaking the feeder, rinse it with clean water for at least 10 seconds to remove any chemical residue.
Step 3: Use Proper Equipment to Give a Good Scrub
A stiff wire brush is a good tool to have for this task. Since we are big proponents of the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle mantra, we think that an old toothbrush works just as well for this task. Just make sure that you clean the toothbrush itself after using it on your bird feeder, and don’t use it for any other cleanup jobs around the house.
Step 4: Clean All Parts of the Feeder
Make sure to thoroughly clean all parts of your bird feeder. This means that if you have a feeder that is driven into the ground, such as the Glass Bird Feeding Table, you will need to clean the steel rod upon which it rests. Don’t worry, cleaning the rod is an easy task. Just fill a spray bottle with the bleach solution previously mentioned. Or, to protect grass beneath your bird feeder, fill a spray bottle with a mild solution of unscented dish detergent instead.
Eva Solo's Glass Bird Feeding Table
Step 5: Protect Yourself
Always wear rubber gloves when cleaning your bird feeders! This is very important because certain bird illnesses, such as West Nile Virus and Salmonella, can spread to humans. Wash your hands thoroughly after you remove your rubber gloves.
Step 6: Keep a Watchful Eye
Sick birds do not always exhibit outward symptoms. In the case that illness is manifesting itself symptomatically, you may notice birds with swollen eyes or membranes, poor reaction to human presence, trouble breathing, or erratic behavior. All birders will occasionally find a dead bird at or near the feeder. However, if you find more than one bird in a short period of time, or if you find several birds of the same species that have been affected, contact your local wildlife services office. Do not bring a sick or dead bird into your home under any circumstances.
aHa! Newsletter
We will be “growing” our Grow Category this February, so check back soon for new products! Or why not make it easier on yourself? You can receive updates on new products, special promotions, earn aHa! Customer Rewards, and unique content you won’t find on the blog, by subscribing to our new aHa! Modern Living E-letter. Take a peek at our December issue.
Appliances such as your coffee maker can continue to draw up to 25% off their electricity usage when they are switched off. To kill this extra energy consumption, make sure to unplug appliances when they are not in use. In the winter, this definitely goes for your space heater, as well as your electric tea kettle.
Try to keep your thermostat under 68 degrees. Each degree set below 68°F (20°C) during colder weather uses 3 to 5 percent less heating energy than each degree set above 68°F. How can you keep your house warm without cranking up the heat? Change out your breezy linen curtains for heavier draperies, and make sure to seal up all the cracks around your doors and windows. It will also help to make sure your attic is well insulated. Hot air rises, and cold air drops, so if the space above you isn’t well insulated, this cold is descending right down on you.
Here is some good news: exercising outdoors, even in freezing weather, is really good for you. In fact, studies show that moderate exercisers get 20 to 30 percent fewer colds than non-exercisers do. The idea that being out in the cold can make you sick is really just a myth. (You actually are more likely to get sick indoors, around other people who are ill.) All you need to exercise outdoors in the winter is a little bit of preparation and proper planning. Don’t forget to stay motivated- there’s no need to hit the couch when it’s cold out!
The most common places to get frostbite are on your face, fingers, and toes. Early warning signs include paleness, numbness, loss of feeling, and/or a stinging sensation. If you suspect that you have frostbite, get out of the cold as quickly as possible. Slowly and gently warm the affected area, but avoid rubbing it. If numbness persists, you will need to seek emergency care.
