Welcome to our inaugural issue of WPNR.ORG's NATURE@HOME, a weekly email that contains fun educational information and activities you can enjoy from home during this unique time. I came across this quote yesterday and wanted to share it with all of you.
"In an age when we experience so much of our world through glass—screens, windows, windshields—birds are a vital connection to the wild. They reach across any barrier, flitting, surprising, and dazzling, always there to refresh my sense of wonder."
—
Thor Hanson
We hope you enjoy our first issue of Nature @ Home on birds.
Yours in appreciation, nature, and wellness,
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Executive Director, Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve
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Wild Privet
We're often asked about this shrub we see all over Western PA. It has pretty white flowers (that smell amazing!), glossy green leaves in the summer, and matte-black berries in the winter. The berries are extremely poisonous to humans but the birds eat the berries and distribute their seeds through their droppings...which explains why these invasive shrubs are so prevalent all over PA. Privet is highly invasive, choking out many native species, but it does provide shelter for birds and other small mammals, Though it's not a good idea to plant it, it is a good place to look for birds.
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Backyard Birding
Some of our favorite native plants and trees well known for attracting birds include Scarlet Bee Balm, Purple Coneflower, Elderberry, and Silky Dogwood. If you venture into the woods or a park, you'll likely see some of these PA native species.
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Of course, planting annual flowers lifts our mood and brightens our outdoor spaces, but choosing varieties that also feed the birds is a win-win. Go for plants like large sunflower varieties if you have space, or more compact varieties like dwarf sunflowers if you don't have a yard but do have a balcony or patio. Since we are all practicing safe distancing, local shopping isn't an option; however, many online companies are still shipping for now.
www.johnnyseeds.com
, is just one of the many great resources out there.
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We realize that while some of us already have seeds, others don't. And while not everyone can shop online for seeds, there are some ways to get creative. Maybe you have birdseed! If so, pick out a handful of sunflower seeds and try your hand at sprouting those. Not all will germinate, but its worth a try and might be a fun experiment - especially with kids.
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Please feel free to share your ideas with us if you've come up with a creative way to sprout a seed, or feed a bird. It's the little things that bring us joy!
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Bird Nests
Bird nesting
periods varies by latitude; in the Northeast it begins with courtship and nest building in late mid-December and ends when the young fledge by late June. Birds of different sizes and shapes make elaborate and intricate nests in many ways. Check this website out to
learn how to spot nest types!
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Make a Bird Nest Dispenser
1. Use an old mesh onion or orange bag, or blueberry/strawberry plastic container
2. Collect bird nesting material around your house, such as, hair from a hairbrush, scraps of ribbon, cut up pieces of old rag, from outside – twigs, moss, strips of bark, pine needles, and leaves. Don't forget some mud balls, very useful for nest making.
3. Stuff the bag or other container with your materials
4. Tie the top tight with a loop for hanging
5. Use a toothpick to pull out some of the material
6. Hang in a tree or from your porch or deck
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Some things to remember are below:
Material scraps
- It's a good idea to make sure that the material is cut thinly, and not too long, as short pieces can be more easily transported and woven into the nests.
Feathers
- Birds use their own feathers to insulate their nests, so give them a helping hand by collecting any small feathers you can find and adding them to your dispenser?
Twigs
- This may sound obvious, but twigs provide the basic structure of the nest. Short, thin twigs are best, strong enough not to snap but with some flexibility.
Some small birds apparently use spider silk in their nests, so making your garden a safe habitat for spiders can help attract birds of that kind. Many birds also use mud in the construction of their nests, so you might consider keeping a muddy puddle in your garden for them.
Some people use the fluff from tumble or spin dryers in their dispensers. It is not recommended because the lint dries out and crumbles once it's been rained on, meaning that nests built with it become unstable, and residues from detergents and fabric softeners can prove harmful.
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Calvin Can't Fly
Allie reads one of her favorite books about a bird
who loves books more than flying.
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As Allie mentions at the end of Story Time, bird behavior bingo is one of our favorite activities.
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BIRD BEHAVIOR HIKE
Spend an hour outside and become a bird behavior observer with this well-respected guide from the National Wildlife Federation.
Bird behavior is generally dictated by different needs, including protection from predators and the elements, feather and wing maintenance, mating habits, and obtaining food and water.
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WHY DO WOODPECKERS PECK WOOD?
In this Mystery, students observe animal behaviors and work to discover a pattern: all animals seek food in order to survive. The activity, Eat Like an Animal, includes physical movement in which students act out animal behaviors, pretending to be quail scratching in the dirt, raccoons wading in the water, and woodpeckers pecking a log.
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Spend Time in Nature to Reduce Stress & Anxiety
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The American Heart Association Recommends Keeping Outside in Mind for Less Stress
Spending time in nature can help relieve stress and anxiety, improve your mood, and boost feelings of happiness and wellbeing. Whatever you call it – forest bathing, ecotherapy, mindfulness in nature, green time or the wilderness cure -- humans evolved in the great outdoors, and your brain benefits from a journey back to nature.
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You could win one of these awesome Get Outside t-shirts FREE! All you have to do is sign-up on our website and we'll be drawing five (5) random winners. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited.
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(724) 537-5284
744 Walzer Way Latrobe, PA 15650
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Barn Hours: Closed until May 25
Trail Hours: Daily Dawn to Dusk
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