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This Aug. 16, 2015 photo taken near Langley, Wash., shows a Goldfinch perched on a seed-filled sunflower head just a few feet from a window bird feeder. Birds are more likely to come to bird feeders if there is some cover nearby. They'll be able to dodge back into the safety of the plants if predators show up. (AP photo)
When managing birdfeeders, think bird health and safety Feeding birds in winter is one of the nation’s most popular wildlife-watching activities, yet many ornithologists say it’s often more rewarding for people than for birds. And it might even put wild birds at risk. “Feeding birds is not necessary for their survival except in extreme weather conditions,” said Stephen Kress, vice president for bird conservation at the National Audubon Society. “Feeders can definitely help them get through that kind of weather.” Most birds are insect eaters and aren’t attracted to backyard feeders. “For those birds, I recommend planting natural habitat and native plants,” Kress said. Besides, birds who do eat seed “will be more likely to come to feeders if there is some cover nearby. They’ll be able to feed and dodge back into the safety of shrubbery.” The most common error people make when managing bird feeders is incorrect placement — putting them in locations where birds are frightened by foot traffic, vulnerable to predation by cats, or at risk of flying into windows. “If a feeder is within 3 feet of a window, it’s better,” Kress said. “If a bird is spooked, it won’t be killed when it strikes the glass. And keep your cats indoors so they can’t stalk vulnerable birds and animals.” Learn which bird species frequent your area so you can avoid feeder wars and understand the pecking order. “Some birds are more aggressive at feeders,” Kress said. “Their eating habits are such that they can consume a lot and not leave much for the others.” One answer to that is to feed at multiple locations using different kinds of seeds and feeders. Nyjer seeds, for instance, attract goldfinches, while tube feeders with wire covers prevent large birds from entering. Pay attention to seed quality and freshness. Unprotected seed left too long in feeders will turn moldy, and mold can kill foraging wildlife. Refresh your feeders every few days and clean them frequently by soaking in a solution of 10 percent bleach. “You can feed more effectively and efficiently by using black-oil sunflower seeds, as it is the preferred seed by most feeder birds,” said Adam Rohnke, a senior Extension associate at Mississippi State University. “An added benefit is reducing waste seed (on the ground) from seed mixes which can attract rodents.” “Boost the number and diversity of bird species by providing different types of feeders to resemble their natural feeding behaviors,” Rohnke said in an email. “For example, ground-dwelling birds such as doves, towhees and others prefer low platform feeders because they feed on the ground.”
See Birdfeeders p. 2D
This Oct. 4, 2014 photo taken near Langley, Wash., shows a Northern Flicker feeding at an oversized suet feeder built especially for woodpeckers. Some birds are more aggressive eaters than others so it's wise to feed at different locations using different kinds of seeds and feeders. (AP photo)
This photo shows the contrast of painted walls and tiled areas, as seen in this McLean, Va., master bathroom, which can make the tiles a more noticeable focal point. In assessing trends for the new year in bath design, interior designer Julia Walter says many homeowners are only tiling parts of their master bathrooms. (AP photo)
Small touches create a great master bathroom By MELISSA life.” RAYWORTH We’ve asked Anderson Associated Press and two specialists in bath It’s easy to design a gor- design — Julia Walter of geous master bathroom if Boffi Georgetown in Washyou have a huge budget. But ington, D.C., and Nadia with the right choices, says Subaran of Aidan Design in interior designer Gabriel Silver Spring, Maryland — Anderson, you can have an to tell us what those little exceptional master bath touches and smart strategies without overspending. might be. “Having huge expanses of marble is amazing and wonPLANNING A BETTER derful, but you don’t have to SHOWER have that to have an amazWhen you reach in and ing bathroom,” says Ander- turn on your shower, does son, co-founder of the New your hand get soaking wet? York design firm Dean and Wouldn’t it be nice if it didDahl. There are “little touch- n’t? es you can incorporate that really bring a master bath to See Baths p. 2D
Market Watch By JOSH BOAK AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON — Fewer Americans signed contracts to buy homes in December with affordability pressures causing interest from would-be buyers to fall. The National Association of Realtors said Wednesday that its pending home sales index fell 2.2 percent last month to 99, its lowest reading since April 2014. The index based on contract signings has plunged 9.8 percent over the past 12 months. Home sales declined in 2018 as the combination of higher mortgage rates, relatively low inventories and price gains consistently outpaced wage growth. Average mortgage rates have dropped from recent highs of nearly 5 percent. It’s unclear whether that will be enough to revitalize buyer demand because of a decrease in the sales listings of homes that median-income families can afford. Existing-home sales in
This photo shows a Bethesda, M.D., master bathroom. Interior designer Nadia Subaran says homeowners increasingly want glass-enclosed showers that they can walk directly into without any step or door, as seen in this design by Aidan Design. (AP photo)
US pending home sales fell 2.2 percent in December In this March 28 file photo, an under contract sign is shown outside a single-family home on the market in Denver. Late last month, the National Association of Realtors released its December report on pending home sales, which are seen as a barometer of future purchases. (AP photo)
2018 tumbled 3.1 percent from the previous year, to 5.34 million units, the worst showing since 2015. The outlook for homebuying was complicated in December by stock market self-offs and volatile changes in mortgage rates. Investors grappled with a slowdown in global economic growth. The decline in sales has caused price gains in housing to weaken, yet it remains to be seen whether that will produce a rebound
this year. “Even though house price appreciation is still strong, it’s been slowing,” said Doug Duncan, chief economist at the mortgage loan company Fannie Mae. “You had volatility in markets and rates--and there is no question that there has been a response to that by homebuyers.” The pending sales index fell in the Northeast, Midwest and South in December. But contract signings increased in the West re-
gion, which is among the priciest in the country and has witnessed a severe decline in sales over the past year as a result. Over the 12 months ended in December, the index declined in all four regions, including a 13.5 percent plunge in the South, which is generally the nation’s fastest growing region for housing. Pending sales are a barometer of home purchases that are completed a month or two later.
2D The Mining Journal
Thursday, February 7, 2019
House to Home
Mortgage Index 30-YEAR Rate-Fee/Pts.
15-YEAR Rate-Fee/Pt.
High rate
4.750
1
5.250
1
Low rate
4.375
1
3.750
1
Average rate
4.500
1
4.219
1
This graphic represents a Tuesday survey of regional lending institutions. Figures are based on rates at Range Bank, mBank, First Bank of Upper Michigan and Marquette Community Federal Credit Union.
Birdfeeders from 1D Along with black-oil sunflower and nyjer seeds, feeder-friendly birds like suet (woodpeckers, jays, songbirds), fruit (orioles, bluebirds, waxwings) and mealworms (robins, chickadees, wrens). Do not feed wild birds anything salty (whole peanuts, crackers, potato chips) or food that could choke them (plain bread, fats). Provide a steady supply of clean water but shop around for shallow birdbath designs. Most are too deep for birds, Kress said.
Placing a few large stones in a birdbath can provide perches. “Hummingbirds like to bathe in leaves, so spray large leaves to attract them,” Kress said. Online: For more about feeding birds, see this Stanford University fact sheet: http://web.stanford.edu/group/stanfordbirds/text/essays/Feeding_Birds.html You can contact Dean Fosdick at deanfosdick@netscape.net
This photo shows a freestanding bathtub, as seen in this Chevy Chase, M.D., master bathroom by Aidan Design, is much more popular than the built-in bathtubs that have been used in residential bath design for decades, says designer Nadia Subaran. Beyond their practical use, tubs like this serve as sculptural design pieces in a beautiful master bathroom. (AP photo)
Baths from 1D
“One of the things that I always do now is installing the handles for the shower in a place that’s not directly below the shower head,” Anderson says. That will require the pipes to be extended a bit further, so “the plumber will be bugged by it. But in the end, it doesn’t really cost a lot more.” Another impactful adjustment: Design a shower that’s enclosed by a partial glass wall, with an open space but no door and no step where you enter. The floor needs to be pitched downward just slightly near the drain so that water doesn’t run out of the shower area. This is easier to do in a larger bathroom, especially if you’re doing new construction rather than just remodeling, Subaran says, but it’s worth considering. “Folks are thinking about wanting the ability to just kind of walk into a shower,”
rather than stepping over something to get in, she says. Another option is to make room for a larger shower by skipping the tub. Some realestate agents advise that having a tub in a master bathroom is important for a home’s resale value, and you might find that a tub is a necessity for your family. “Designing is all about the user,” says Anderson, who has two young kids. “We bring them into the master bathroom and have them take baths in there. For us, it’s an absolute necessity.” But, he says, “if space is at a premium, sometimes it’s worth taking that space and having a more luxurious shower.” RECONSIDERING THE DOUBLE SINK When designing a master bath for a couple, Walter often asks how often they actually use the sink at the same time. It tends to be pretty rare. So for clients
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seeking a change of pace, she suggests a 4-foot-long wash basin within a vanity. “Instead of two sinks,” she says, you have one sink with two faucets. So you can be next to each other when you want to, but when one person is alone they have a large sink all to themselves without taking up extra space in the room. “You can save a little bit of money there,” Walter says, and still have “a beautiful, big, master-bath vanity.” ADDING FURNITURE AND SPECIAL PIECES “You always need a place to sit down to take your slippers off, or whatever the case may be,” Anderson says. This is something often shown in design magazines, and many homeowners do have a bit of space for it. One tip is to buy an attractive chair or bench meant for outdoor use, because it
will be moisture-resistant and upholstered with outdoor fabric. Anderson says many outdoor styles in teak or metal can look great in a master bathroom. And seating isn’t the only detail you might get creative with: Try hunting for a vintage mirror in a distinctive frame, or a unique light fixture, he says. “This is something that just takes the time of going to estate sales or antique stores or whatnot,” Anderson says. “Taking the time to go and find that special piece ... can really elevate your bathroom,” and doesn’t have to cost much. INCREASING YOUR COMFORT No one wants to feel chilly when they step out of the shower. So many people are adding heated floors to master bathrooms. “Radiant floor heat is no longer a trend — it’s like the norm for master-bath
heat,” says Subraman. A heated floor can be expensive depending on the bathroom’s size, but for a heating splurge that isn’t costly, consider heated towel racks.
vanity with it, then leave the other walls painted. It’s a practical choice that’s also timely, Walter says: “The trend is going toward not having the whole bathroom tiled.”
USING STONE All three designers are fans of stone on walls and vanity surfaces. It offers natural beauty that won’t go out of style and can be combined with a range of color palettes. “Stone is always a trend,” Anderson says, “but I think right now people are wanting to use large amounts of stone as opposed to porcelain.” If you want high-quality stone but are concerned about cost, one option is to cover just one wall and your
Online: https://www.deananddahl.com/ https://aidandesign.com/ http://www.boffi.com/enww/stores/boffi-georgetown
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The Mining Journal 3D
Thursday, February 7, 2019
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4D The Mining Journal
Northern
Thursday, February 7, 2019
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8338 W Swanson Road, Iron Mountain
875 Brookton Road, Marquette
$899,000 ROB SULLIVAN
Premium building site just minutes from town with county road frontage and electric roadside. Adjoining land also available if you desire more acreage. MLS#: 1109014 $49,500 BOB SULLIVAN
8520 Old K10. 17th Rd, Rapid River
N4950 Manistique Lakes (aka H-33) Road, Curtis
FOR SALE OR LEASE. Commercial building in Marquette Township near US 41 zoned in a Development District. This space is low maintenance, clean, and ready for your new business venture. Call today for more information. MLS#: 1107388
NEW PRICE
Chamberlin’s Ole Forest Inn in Curtis is well known and an extremely popular bed and breakfast, restaurant, bar, and gift shop on the shore of Big Manistique Lake MLS#: 1099205 $749,900 SUE FELDHAUSER
NEW PRICE! 40 acre hobby farm located on the Stonington Peninsula in Southern Delta County MLS#: 1111091 $175,000 ROB SULLIVAN
23 Acres, Co Rd KCB, Big Bay
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23 acre parcel just across the road from Lake Independence near Big Bay. It lies on a County Road that is paved with power and maintained year round. MLS#: 1107617 $33,500 BOB SULLIVAN
TBD US2 Highway, Naubinway
34851 M95, Republic
NEW LISTING! Nearly 40 acres located on M95 with a scenic overlook of the area that could make it a very nice site for your home or recreational building MLS#: 1112675 $37,000 DON WILLSON / BOB ANDERSON
14490 Taylor Dam Road, Seney
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NEW LISTING! Secluded cabin 12 miles North of Seney overlooking a semi private lake with 90 acres for year around outdoor enjoyment MLS#: 1112622 $199,000 DON WILLSON / BOB ANDERSON
Nice wooded parcel approximately five miles east of Naubinway in Mackinac County with 93+ feet of frontage on the Black River MLS#: 1112037 $22,500 SUE FELDHAUSER
1168 N Winters Road, Trenary
TBD Silver Creek Road, Marquette
TBD Yellow Dog 550, Marquette
20 Acres, Co Rd 478, Ishpeming
Trout Stream near Marquette with year round access and easy building site MLS#: 1106565 $70,000 BOB SULLIVAN
Certified organic sugar bush / country farm with a spacious log home on 110 acres! MLS#: 1110497 $519,000 BRIAN OLSON
The best of peacefulness! Cabin tucked among the towering maples on a beautiful 24 acre parcel of paradise on the legendary Yellow Dog River MLS#: 1108456 $65,000 BRIAN OLSON
Great Camp site. Close to Golf Course. Year round access MLS#: 1110912 $19,900 BOB SULLIVAN
1008 S. Helen Lake Road, Ishpeming
39 Acres, Schultz Rd, Ralph
Waterfront cottage/cabin that is clean and ready to go with two lots and 200 feet of frontage on Helen Lake MLS#: 1111189 $139,900 ROB SULLIVAN
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Good camp site in a great hunting area. Year round access MLS#: 1105367 $35,900 BOB SULLIVAN
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