SAFELY ATTRACTING & FEEDING OUR WILD BIRDS

DID YOU KNOW that Harmony incorporates natural and humanbuilt environments that blend in ways designed to enhance the relationships between humans and animals and maximize the benefits of their peaceful coexistence. While retaining natural areas, Harmony is part of a human-dominated landscape where our actions profoundly affect the welfare of wild animals.

There are many ways each of us can help maintain that wonderful balance. Over the past 9+ years this column has covered a number of them. Let’s start with some of the most easily seen wildlife: birds! If you’re out and about it’s not uncommon to see our wild Turkeys, Sand Hill Cranes, Barred Owls, and Red-shouldered Hawks. It’s pretty easy to see our smaller birds like Northern Cardinals, Mourning Doves, Northern Mockingbirds in your own yard.

Want to attract birds? Put out a shallow (up to 1½” deep) pan of water, but make sure to change it every day or two as our weather and temperatures make water putrid quickly. Put a small rock in it so the birds know the water isn’t deep. Bird feeding is another way to attract birds. Do a web search for “feeding birds in Central Florida” for lots of info about feeder types, foods you can offer, feeder locations, feeder hygience (very important if you don’t want to poison the birds!), and more. This time of year birds are raising their young, and it’s a hoot to see the babies begging their parents for snacks.

Did you know that the plants and products you use in your yard affect the health of these birds and other animals, we well as butterflies and bees? Planting native plants like Butterfly Week (a native type of Milkweed), Scarlet Salvia, Firebush, Coreopsis (also known as Tickseed) and Coral Honeysuckle attract both birds and lots of pollinators. One of the smallest birds they attract is the Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds, which are amazing to watch and are here at this time of year.

Traditional pest control practices are changing because of growing concerns about health, the environment and pesticide resistance. Regular preventive pesticide applications are often unnecessary. Healthy trees and shrubs can usually defend against pest attacks, while beneficial insects, birds and other natural controls often suppress undesirable insects — which makes casual use of pesticides unnecessary.

Better than throwing pesticides and herbicides, an alternative approach to managing pests is to correctly “diagnose” the problem and be given information on how to treat it. The IFAS website has good resources on this subject, just do a web search for “alternatives to pesticides in Central Florida” or email Osceola County Extension Service to ask what is wrong and how to treat problems when they occur. Take some photos and email epabon5@ufl.edu with a description.

Their Facebook page is Gardening in Central Florida – UF IFAS Extension in Osceola County (website: http://osceola.ifas.ufl.edu/fyn.shtml) and their phone number is 321-697-3000. You can bring samples into their office near Silver Spurs Arena. The UF IFAS Extension service offers many programs, from family nutrition to vegetable gardening, to 4H support, and more.

It’s a great time of year to look out your windows, sit on your front or back porch and watch nature, or go for a walk in one of our parks or on our miles of trails. Get out, have fun, and enjoy the abundant flora and fauna that Harmony has to offer. n