Westerville Town Money Saver | June 2023

Father’s Day Bird Fun Facts:

FATHER-OF-THE-YEAR AWARD

The Father-of-the-Year Award goes to the Downy Woodpecker. Though they share daytime nest duties with their mate, only the fathers incubate and brood at night and they roost in the nest until their offspring fledge.

DAD’S FAVORITE DINER

Downy Woodpecker and American Goldfinch dads like to take the family out to eat. When the young brood fledges from the nest, Dad leads them to great food sources as well as teaches them how to use his favorite backyard bird feeders.

IT’S GOOD TO BE KING

The White-breasted Nuthatch male gets a special protection detail. His mate is the “watchdog,” protecting her man from trouble, leaving him more time to concentrate on hunting for food. She rarely strays far from him and stays in constant vocal contact when more than a few yards apart.

PROUD PROVIDER

Chickadee and nuthatch dads feed Mom while she incubates and broods the eggs. Dad also helps feed the young once they have hatched.

TOOL TIME

Dads dig tools. Nuthatches, males and females, are one of the few species of birds known to use “tools.” The White-breasted Nuthatch has been known to use certain beetles as a tool by crushing ones that are stinky and sweeping them in and around their nest site to deter squirrels from their eggs and young. The Brown-headed Nuthatch will take a loose flake of pine bark in its bill and use it to pry up other scales of bark in search of prey.

HE’S A ROCK STAR

Adult male Song Sparrows love to perform. They sing about six to twenty different melodies every eight seconds and may average over 2,300 songs during an entire day. The larger their repertoire of songs, the more successful they are in attracting a mate and in holding their territories.

Tips That Make SUMMER ENTERTAINING a Breeze!

Summer is almost here, which means it’s o cially time to kick back, relax and soak up the sun. Make sure you’re ready for any occasion with these tips to host the ultimate summer gathering.

FOCUS ON THE FOOD.

Keeping food at the proper temperature while serving an outdoor meal in the summer presents plenty of challenges. If you can’t serve inside, keep cold dishes on ice and distribute heated food right from the grill. Another option is to outsource the cooking by ordering individual or catered meals. Having your party catered is the perfect way to save you time and hassle so you can enjoy the party with your guests.

Remember to protect your food from ies and other pests with netted food covers and citronella candles on the tables. Also, skip the selfserve ice cream sundaes in favor of wrapped gourmet popsicles or pre-dipped cones.

MAKE IT FEEL LIKE HOME.

On especially humid days, you may nd your guests migrating toward your air-conditioned spaces no matter how you set up your outdoor

area, but there are a few easy additions you can make that’ll help combat excessive sunshine and high temperatures—and keep the party outside. Add pillows to chairs placed in sunny spots to prevent your guests from burning their legs and arrange relaxed lounge areas in shady areas. Add a co ee table or wooden crates so guests can easily eat while they lounge. Market umbrellas and shade sails can also help your guests stay cool. Also, make sure you have sunscreens, sunglasses and bug sprays readily available.

DON’T FORGET THE WATER.

While you’re stocking up on ingredients for margaritas, Champagne cocktails, and Aperol spritzes, don’t forget plenty of water. For summer parties, especially if outside, we recommend making sure guests stay hydrated. Make sure drinks are light and hydrating and that they’re balanced with a non-alcoholic option.

By following these few simple tips, planning your summer party will be a breeze and your friends and family will keep coming back for more.

LADIES NIGHTS’ OUT HELP MOMS TO RECHARGE

Caring for children requires dedication and patience. Even though infants and toddlers may exact the most attention from mom, each stage of childhood presents new challenges. Motherhood is a task that demands much from women, and those demands can certainly pack on the pressure.

Couple the pressure of raising children with the growing trend of women serving as primary caregivers to aging parents, and it’s no surprise many women feel as though they need a respite. at’s what makes nights out with friends so essential. Here are just some of the many reasons why caregivers need to make time for socialization.

• Caregiving can be alienating. No matter how well-meaning moms and caregivers may be, they may grow to resent the work involved because the only interactions they may have on a daily basis are care-related. Women should get out regularly so they can focus on themselves and enjoy their relationships with friends.

• Have a reason to get dolled up. When other responsibilities take priority, putting on makeup or wearing nice clothing can take a back seat. Girls’ night out provides a reason to

wear fancy clothes, do your hair and don a little mascara. Girlfriends tend to notice these beautifying changes and o er compliments - which can be a nice ego boost.

• Girls’ night out is a free therapy session. It won’t take the place of counseling provided by a licensed therapist, but a girls’ night out o ers a chance to get things o your chest and seek advice from friends who may be in similar situations.

• Discover a new hobby. Activities such as painting, writing, sculpting, knitting, etc. can provide you with the opportunity to have some “me” time, and gives you an outlet for releasing stress built up from the day. Hobbies help you focus on the present moment and not worry about tomorrow. ey also push you to take a break and unwind while being productive.

• You can indulge a little and laugh along the way. Loosening up with a glass of wine can help the conversation ow. Nights out with friends also will probably lead to a few laughs, which can certainly be helpful when life seems a tad overwhelming.

Regular nights out with friends can make it a bit easier for moms to juggle the responsibilities of being a mom, a caregiver or both.