BIRDS & BLOOMS Newsletter

Can Always Count on You!

In the February newsletter and the Feb/Mar 2007 issue of Birds & Blooms, we invited you to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count.

According to the website (www.birdsource.org/gbbc), participants made history. In 2007, the records were broken for number of birds reported, number of species, and number of checklists. As of March 5, participants had submitted 80,744 checklists documenting 11,066,350 birds of 629 species.

Thanks to all of you who participated!

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Is Your Garden Ready for Spring?

Transform your yard into a bird-friendly, wildlife-rich paradise and, at the same time, have it officially certified through National Wildlife Federation’s Wildlife Habitat(tm) program. You can also help NWF reach its goal of 100,000 wildlife habitats by year-end.

Visit the NWF website for more information.

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Maintaining Soil Conditions

Soil conditioning is an ongoing process. Annual gardens can be improved yearly by working shredded leaves into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil each fall. These will break down over winter and add the necessary organic matter. Compost, peat moss and other organic products can do the same thing.

Perennial gardens need regular attention, too. Use organic materials such as mulch on top of the garden. This will enrich the underlying soil as it disintegrates. You should seize every opportunity to improve the soil in your flower beds. Whenever you dig, divide or move a plant, take time to add some organic matter before replanting.

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Purr-fectly Amusing

GRAY CATBIRDS SHARE more than just their unusual meow-like call with their feline namesake. They also emulate a cat’s cautious nature while becoming frisky once they feel secure. "The first time my husband, Bob, and I saw a gray catbird, it was splashing in our fountain pond," recalls Brenda Fitzgerald of Alabaster, Alabama. "The bird took several gulps of water before dunking its entire head, and then its entire body, into the pool.

"After frolicking for a few minutes, it beat a quick retreat to the safety of a nearby tree. Since then, a pair of them set up housekeeping in the back corner of our yard. Their cheerful antics have simply delighted us, even though their call has really confused our cats." While their meowing alarm cry is the most familiar, the true song of a male gray catbird is actually a babbling series of disjointed musical phrases. They can range from the croak of a tree frog to tunes stolen from other songbirds. Because these birds are relatively shy and don’t eat seed from backyard feeders, you’re more likely to hear than see a gray catbird.

But gray catbirds actually are quite common during summer in backyards with the proper habitat. If you’re lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one, you may be surprised to discover it’s a relatively plain-looking feathered friend.

Slightly smaller than an American robin, the only markings on its slate-gray body are a black cap and tail, punctuated by rust-red feathers under its tail. And males are no showier than females—their coloring is identical.

The talented mimic makes up for its lack of vibrancy by exuding an air of nervous energy as it quickly flits from place to place, head held high and long tail cocked upward. Almost half the diet of the gray catbird consists of insects, making it a wonderful ally for gardeners. Some of their favorites include grasshoppers, crickets, june bugs and, yes, even Japanese beetles! The rest of their menu is a variety of berries, from juniper and honeysuckle to grapes and cherries.

If you’d like to invite these cat-ivating birds into your backyard, just offer them what they like—dense shrubbery, plenty of berries and water. Then listen up. Soon your backyard may be the cat’s meow.

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Tolerant Neighbors

A KNOWN bird lover, Pamela Conley of Cazadero, California was visiting a friend in Tucson, Arizona. "Do I have a surprise for you," she said as they drove into the hills to her home.

When evening arrived, Pamela and her friend watched a family of acorn woodpeckers that had taken up residence in an old dead tree. They uttered harsh notes to each other as they rushed to get settled for the night.

Suddenly, two bright-yellow eyes peered out from a hole just below the woodpeckers. Slowly, a bird began to emerge as the woodpeckers quarreled with the downstairs tenant.

It was an elf owl, the smallest owl in the world, about the same size as a sparrow.

It flew out to a tree limb and looked around before deciding it was too early for hunting. So the owl flew back to its quarters under the protest of its noisy neighbors.

This disagreement continued for several minutes until the magic hour arrived. The woodpeckers settled in for the night, and the elf owl flew off in search of food.

"I was impressed with how harmoniously these birds lived together for most of the day," shares Pamela, "with the exception of a few chaotic minutes as the sun set."

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Picture This

WHEN IT CAME time to throw in the paddle on their canoes, these thrifty gardeners devised ways to preserve the life of their old boats.

Click here to see the results.

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Join our first-ever Taste of Home’s "Slice of California" tour!

You’ll get enjoy 5 days and 4 nights of gorgeous sightseeing in the Monterey Bay region, sample fresh-from-the-field fruits and vegetables and savor authentic Taste of Home recipes. Book your tour by June 30, 2007, and you’ll get a Taste of Home cookbook—FREE!

Click for the complete itinerary of our Taste of Home’s Slice of California Tour.

Use code BL35 when you reserve your trip to claim your free Taste of Home cookbook. Hurry! Offer expires June 30, 2007!

Offer cannot be combined with any other offers.

Exclusive Tour Operator of Reiman Publications

1-800/344-6918
5939 Country Lane, Greendale WI 53129-1429

Strings Attached

"IN SPRING, my husband, Bruce, diligently plants our garden after work and on the weekends," shares Jeanne Byrer of Bicknell, Indiana. To remind himself where he left off, Bruce marks the last row he plants with stakes and twine. One day, Jeanne noticed a robin gathering nesting materials when it discovered the end of the twine. The bird grabbed it and flew off. Immediately, it was pulled back to the ground. The bird tried several times before it fled the scene when a neighbor boy rode past on his bike. "This gave me a chance to slip out to the garden with my scissors to help out," says Jeanne.

A few minutes latter, the robin returned. This time, thinking it was still attached, the robin tried to jerk the twine free with all its might. To its surprise, the bird fell backward onto its tail feathers. It was quite a humorous sight.

The triumphant robin simply straightened its feathers and carried away its well-earned treasure to a nearby tree.

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This Planter is Tops

GET ready to grow red, juicy tomatoes the easiest way possible! The Topsy Turvy Planter eliminates all the stooping, bending and hard work, and makes the picking a cinch. Hang it on a deck, porch, balcony or tree. Order yours today from our Country Store.

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To learn more about Reiman Media Group’s use of personal information, please read our Privacy Policy.

5400 S. 60th St., P.O. Box 991, Greendale WI 53129-0991
1-800/344-6913

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Denim-Look Birdhouse Visit The Country Store For More Information SEARCH one of our web sites: THIS NEWSLETTER is from the editors of some of your favorite magazines, including… FREE ISSUE! Claim Your FREE issue of the only magazine for bird and flower lovers! Click here for details FREE ISSUE! Claim Your FREE issue of America’s Favorite Backyard “How-To” Magazine! Click here for details FREE ISSUE! Treat yourself to a FREE issue of our newest backyard birding and gardening magazine! Click here for details	Dear $$firstname$$, Greetings from Birds & Blooms magazine! First of all, thank you for your participation in the Great Backyard Bird Count! You can read more about its success in this month’s newsletter, which also shares ideas and stories from fellow gardeners and birders. HAVE A FRIEND who enjoys bird-watching, bird feeding or backyard gardening? Feel free to forward this newsletter! If this newsletter was forwarded to you, please use this link to sign up for yourself. Photo: Sarah E. Lenz READ ON TO DISCOVER... Can Always Count on You! Is Your Garden Ready for Spring? Maintaining Soil Conditions Purr-fectly Amusing Tolerant Neighbors Picture This Strings Attached This Planter is Tops Can Always Count on You! In the February newsletter and the Feb/Mar 2007 issue of Birds & Blooms, we invited you to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. According to the website (www.birdsource.org/gbbc), participants made history. In 2007, the records were broken for number of birds reported, number of species, and number of checklists. As of March 5, participants had submitted 80,744 checklists documenting 11,066,350 birds of 629 species. Thanks to all of you who participated! top Is Your Garden Ready for Spring? Transform your yard into a bird-friendly, wildlife-rich paradise and, at the same time, have it officially certified through National Wildlife Federation’s Wildlife Habitat(tm) program. You can also help NWF reach its goal of 100,000 wildlife habitats by year-end. Visit the NWF website for more information. top Maintaining Soil Conditions Soil conditioning is an ongoing process. Annual gardens can be improved yearly by working shredded leaves into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil each fall. These will break down over winter and add the necessary organic matter. Compost, peat moss and other organic products can do the same thing. Perennial gardens need regular attention, too. Use organic materials such as mulch on top of the garden. This will enrich the underlying soil as it disintegrates. You should seize every opportunity to improve the soil in your flower beds. Whenever you dig, divide or move a plant, take time to add some organic matter before replanting. top Purr-fectly Amusing GRAY CATBIRDS SHARE more than just their unusual meow-like call with their feline namesake. They also emulate a cat’s cautious nature while becoming frisky once they feel secure. "The first time my husband, Bob, and I saw a gray catbird, it was splashing in our fountain pond," recalls Brenda Fitzgerald of Alabaster, Alabama. "The bird took several gulps of water before dunking its entire head, and then its entire body, into the pool. "After frolicking for a few minutes, it beat a quick retreat to the safety of a nearby tree. Since then, a pair of them set up housekeeping in the back corner of our yard. Their cheerful antics have simply delighted us, even though their call has really confused our cats." While their meowing alarm cry is the most familiar, the true song of a male gray catbird is actually a babbling series of disjointed musical phrases. They can range from the croak of a tree frog to tunes stolen from other songbirds. Because these birds are relatively shy and don’t eat seed from backyard feeders, you’re more likely to hear than see a gray catbird. But gray catbirds actually are quite common during summer in backyards with the proper habitat. If you’re lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one, you may be surprised to discover it’s a relatively plain-looking feathered friend. Slightly smaller than an American robin, the only markings on its slate-gray body are a black cap and tail, punctuated by rust-red feathers under its tail. And males are no showier than females—their coloring is identical. The talented mimic makes up for its lack of vibrancy by exuding an air of nervous energy as it quickly flits from place to place, head held high and long tail cocked upward. Almost half the diet of the gray catbird consists of insects, making it a wonderful ally for gardeners. Some of their favorites include grasshoppers, crickets, june bugs and, yes, even Japanese beetles! The rest of their menu is a variety of berries, from juniper and honeysuckle to grapes and cherries. If you’d like to invite these cat-ivating birds into your backyard, just offer them what they like—dense shrubbery, plenty of berries and water. Then listen up. Soon your backyard may be the cat’s meow. top Tolerant Neighbors A KNOWN bird lover, Pamela Conley of Cazadero, California was visiting a friend in Tucson, Arizona. "Do I have a surprise for you," she said as they drove into the hills to her home. When evening arrived, Pamela and her friend watched a family of acorn woodpeckers that had taken up residence in an old dead tree. They uttered harsh notes to each other as they rushed to get settled for the night. Suddenly, two bright-yellow eyes peered out from a hole just below the woodpeckers. Slowly, a bird began to emerge as the woodpeckers quarreled with the downstairs tenant. It was an elf owl, the smallest owl in the world, about the same size as a sparrow. It flew out to a tree limb and looked around before deciding it was too early for hunting. So the owl flew back to its quarters under the protest of its noisy neighbors. This disagreement continued for several minutes until the magic hour arrived. The woodpeckers settled in for the night, and the elf owl flew off in search of food. "I was impressed with how harmoniously these birds lived together for most of the day," shares Pamela, "with the exception of a few chaotic minutes as the sun set." top Picture This WHEN IT CAME time to throw in the paddle on their canoes, these thrifty gardeners devised ways to preserve the life of their old boats. Click here to see the results. top Join our first-ever Taste of Home’s "Slice of California" tour! You’ll get enjoy 5 days and 4 nights of gorgeous sightseeing in the Monterey Bay region, sample fresh-from-the-field fruits and vegetables and savor authentic Taste of Home recipes. Book your tour by June 30, 2007, and you’ll get a Taste of Home cookbook—FREE! Click for the complete itinerary of our Taste of Home’s Slice of California Tour. Use code BL35 when you reserve your trip to claim your free Taste of Home cookbook. Hurry! Offer expires June 30, 2007! Offer cannot be combined with any other offers. Exclusive Tour Operator of Reiman Publications 1-800/344-6918 5939 Country Lane, Greendale WI 53129-1429 Strings Attached "IN SPRING, my husband, Bruce, diligently plants our garden after work and on the weekends," shares Jeanne Byrer of Bicknell, Indiana. To remind himself where he left off, Bruce marks the last row he plants with stakes and twine. One day, Jeanne noticed a robin gathering nesting materials when it discovered the end of the twine. The bird grabbed it and flew off. Immediately, it was pulled back to the ground. The bird tried several times before it fled the scene when a neighbor boy rode past on his bike. "This gave me a chance to slip out to the garden with my scissors to help out," says Jeanne. A few minutes latter, the robin returned. This time, thinking it was still attached, the robin tried to jerk the twine free with all its might. To its surprise, the bird fell backward onto its tail feathers. It was quite a humorous sight. The triumphant robin simply straightened its feathers and carried away its well-earned treasure to a nearby tree. top This Planter is Tops GET ready to grow red, juicy tomatoes the easiest way possible! The Topsy Turvy Planter eliminates all the stooping, bending and hard work, and makes the picking a cinch. Hang it on a deck, porch, balcony or tree. Order yours today from our Country Store. top This email was sent to: $$email$$ HAVE A FRIEND who enjoys bird-watching, bird feeding or backyard gardening? Feel free to forward this newsletter! If this newsletter was forwarded to you, please use this link to sign up for yourself. If you do not want to receive further editions of this newsletter, please use this link to unsubscribe. If you would like to change or edit your email preferences, please visit your Personal Preferences page. To learn more about Reiman Media Group’s use of personal information, please read our Privacy Policy. Copyright 2007 Reiman Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. 5400 S. 60th St., P.O. Box 991, Greendale WI 53129-0991 1-800/344-6913
© Copyright 2007 Reiman Media Group, Inc.

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