January 8, 2010 - 1
Visitors to the backyard this week may enjoy spending time at the official BackyardTV ice skating area. Well, not really, but watch your step anyway, because at least an inch of ice has appeared on the concrete slab between the buildings during our recent cold weather. Meanwhile, we've reached the time of the season when the nights are getting shorter and the days are growing longer. Sunrise occurred in the backyard this morning at 7:24. Sunset will arrive at 4:50 this afternoon. Having gained just 8 minutes this week, we're up to 9 hours and 26 minutes of spectacular sunlight each day! Hang in there, things are getting better.Backyard Tip of the week:
Winter weather can sometimes make it hard for us to get outside to clean the bird feeders. Here are a few tips to make it easier for you to take care of your feathered friends, even during the cold. You can use a small portable bucket or tub, just fill it with nice warm water then head outside. A nine to one water-bleach solution is recommended to keep pathogens at bay. Protective gloves and eyewear should be worn and your gloves can also help to keep the water off of your hands which is good. And, using brushes with long handles is an easy way to clean your feeders without having to get wet at all. Go ahead and try it, a clean bird feeder is something that you and your backyard friends are sure to love.
Backyard sightings for last week:
Including northern cardinals, dark-eyed juncos, blue-jays, brown creepers, song sparrows, tree sparrows, white-throated sparrows. Carolina wrens, Carolina chickadees, catbirds, mockingbirds, house finches, goldfinches, purple finches. Red-bellied and downy woodpeckers, yellow-bellied sapsuckers. Northern flickers, white-breasted nuthatches, tufted titmice, European starlings, mourning doves, crows, skunks, bunnies, deer, the occasional squirrel, and a neighborhood hawk.
Continued on next page...
January 8, 2010 Part 2 - Cool Sightings
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