A squirrel proof bird seed feeding station, A guide to a squirrel, rabbit and pest free sonbird feeding station.

You have spent money and time creating a bird feeding station that will attract a diverse variety of gorgeous wild birds to beautify your outdoor space and provide you with hours of pleasure watching the colorful and entertaining wild birds that inhabit your area. 

These feeding stations can also be essential for high metabolism, high energy birds to supplement their natural diet with and promote their good health and longevity for years of bird watching pleasure.

The bird feeders are in place, the seed, feed suet and other goodies are stored in the pantry and loaded into the various feeders stationed all around your prime bird watching area, but Where Are The Birds?

Unfortunately, the same seeds, suets, jellies and other assorted treats designed to attract the wild birds are also a favorite of backyard pests such as squirrels, voles, foxes, possums, raccoons and even rodents and enjoying a squirrel  free bird environment can be difficult.

These intruders not only eat valuable seed and can wreak havoc on your feeding areas, they also repel  most varieties of birds and these hungry pests can eat a seemingly unending amount of the seed and treats you have worked so hard to put into place for the cardinals, finches, orioles, blue birds, woodpeckers,

wrens and other winged species.

Wild birds can be easy to spook as they have many natural predators and squirrels, foxes and other intruders pose a threat not only to the birds making them hard to spot when they are in the area, but many of these opportunistic pests will not only eat the seeds and feeds, they will also invade nesting areas and damage nests and eggs and eat the fragile young nesting birds and can be very difficult to repel.

Once these pests find a steady source of food, (the seed, suet and jelly you provide them)  they will come back at will ruining your opportunity to view your favorite birds, they can also wreak havoc on flowers and backyard gardens, which also attract birds.

A few easy steps can avert this disaster and restore your bird feeding station

to a comfortable, safe haven where birds will delight and return.

Squirrel proof feeders are always a good start.  Divalo’s Gourmet Bird Feeds offers feeders such as

the Droll Yankee Whipper, which discourage crafty predators like squirrels

who are looking for an easy meal and will eventually move to an easier meal out of

your feeding station area.  This will protect your birds valuable food resource.

While these squirrel proof feeders are a great start, birds will naturally scatter seed and suet below

all of your feeding stations, and now you don’t just have the squirrels to contend with, other damaging scavengers will move in and many of these being nocturnal can cause unseen an immeasurable damage and once they take up residence in your area as they have a steady food supply, they will nest and cause problems not only with the birds, but also your beloved cats and dogs as meeting with some of these aggressive predators like raccoons and possums can be fatal to your pets.

A simple solution can solve all these woes.  Bird Seeds and Suets specially formulated to repel squirrels and other mammals yet still retain a flavor all of your birds will enjoy.

Our Cajun Cardinal, Hot Meats and Blazing Hot Bird Seed Blends combine natural ingredients birds crave such as sunflower meats, peanuts, whole grains and berries and premium energy giving suet, they are also infused with Habanero Oil and Chili Peppers.

This blend is naturally repulsive to most mammals and not only will they not bother any of your feeders

 filled with these seeds and suet cakes, but the seeds and suets the birds scatter on the ground will only

be enjoyed by the birds who are instinctive ground feeders.  This is a  non toxic, safe way to repel the

pests, these blends will also not harm your loved pets and are the safe easy way for you to disperse seeds without involving the potential danger to you of hand mixing irritating chili powders and oils into your feeds.

Another simple step is a liquid designed with the same principle and containing all the pest repelling ingredients.  Our Flaming Squirrel Sauce is a specially blended formula that you can spray onto any

 seeds, suets and treats you feed your birds you offer your backyard companions.

This easy to use liquid can also be sprayed on gardens and plants that will attract a variety of scavengers.  Flaming Squirrel will not harm your delicious vegetables, fruits and herbs or your outdoor plants and is of course non toxic to curious dogs and cats.  This helps create your perimeter of resistance.

The final piece to the puzzle is to attract the scavengers to another area away from bird habitat.  This solution is ideal for those who like the whole natural spectrum of wild animals in their viewing area and offering a way for all species to co-exist.

And let’s face it, squirrels, chipmunks and foxes can be amusing and entertaining and add a rustic

element to your outdoor area while providing a peaceful harmony and balance.

A well places supply of our Critter Munchies provides these amusing little creatures nourishing foods they crave and provides a simple diversion to your feeding station.  They are looking for a stable food source

 for themselves and their young and this will establish their feeding patterns away from the bird sanctuaries enabling a delightful variety of wild outdoor viewing moments.

I hope this is helpful, and any comments or suggestions are always appreciated.

With best regards and happy bird watching

Anthony LoCascio

Divalo’s Gourmet Bird Foods

www.divalosgourmetbirdfood.com

Tony LoCascio- www.divalosgourmetbirdfood.com
 
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The spring is not only defined by the flowering of all sorts of plants from the wild ornamental and productive. It is also characterized by the arrival and breeding of many bird species and birds that nest or look for food in areas of agricultural productivity in food stores or processing and production areas. His arrival could cause problems to be sanitary hygienic potential carriers of pathogens that cause foodborne illnesses.

Currently there are well-defined mechanisms to address the problems caused by insects and rodents in facilities where food is stored or processed. Even the methods for the protection of the growing areas have experienced significant advances, allowing largely mitigate the detrimental effects they cause in crop pests. However, there are still difficulties to achieve the same effectiveness in controlling other pests affecting the food industry: poultry pests.

In controlling pest birds no single method is suitable for all cases. It depends on individual situations, the species to control, the number of individuals and their link to the place we want to protect. Therefore, before choosing any of the pigen bird control methods available, it is advisable to consult an expert to tell us what might be effective in each case, in order to use our time and money on those who actually have a chance of success.

In this sense, it is important to note that many wild birds are carriers of pathogenic microorganisms, especially bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter and Escherichia coli. In these circumstances, the risk of transmission of pathogens is high, especially if the birds have access to storage areas of raw materials or finished product.

How to limit access of the birds

Pest control bird depends on each particular situation, to control the species and its relationship to the scene to protect the main difficulty posed by birds to control is its ability to fly. Its high mobility, coupled with legal restrictions regarding the use of poisons, requires the use of control methods that have varying degrees of success, depending on each case. In any case, a wide variety of solutions that can be used in accordance with the facility to protect or preserve.

These solutions include, first, those that sought prevent access from birds to protect places of interest. And mesh networks are often very effective around specific areas or covering the gaps through which the birds enter buildings. Its main disadvantage is that trap leaves, pollen and other materials and can become a heap of dirt. As a complement, can be used spikes, which prevent the birds from alighting on specific points, but ultimately also accumulate dirt and nesting birds can reach him. Steel cables also prevent the birds are landing, but it loosens with time and lose effectiveness.

The counterpoint to the aforementioned devices are electrified systems. In general, are very effective, as they cause electric shock when the bird perches. But its cost, both installation and maintenance is higher than previous methods.

Another way to limit access of the birds is the use of repellent methods. These include gels and liquids. The first litter too and they adhere elements carried by the wind as pollen, leaves or insects. The latter emit strong odors and must be applied by authorized personnel in the handling of chemicals, on a monthly or so. A second possibility is ultrasound. Disturb the birds but runs the risk that they become accustomed and to lose all effectiveness.

Single mom with kids, love to explore, hobbyist and love to travel. Former Pigeon Extermination Consultant.
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Always start with a plan

We use CAD software to develop scale plans for our custom birdhouses. If that’s a bit too technical of an approach for you, we suggest making a simple measured drawing. Sketch out the details of your house including roof lines and angles, window and door positions and decorative moldings. Transform this sketch into a full-size drawing of the birdhouse. This plan will become a template for your bird house and will provide the scale and positioning of the architectural details of your replica bird house.

A cardboard mock-up of the replica bird house can be very helpful at this point, especially when working with roof lines. Shipping boxes and masking tape can be used to create three dimensional models to help visualize the completed bird house.

When determining the size of your bird house it’s important to consider not only the structure you are replicating, but also how the completed bird house will be mounted and displayed and how many nesting chambers your birdhouse will feature. Typically, our custom replica birdhouses are about 2′ wide x 3′ deep x 16″-18″ tall, and feature two nesting boxes.

Consider the safety of occupants

As you are planning and building your replica birdhouse, always consider the safety and well being of the birds that will occupy the house. The nesting chambers should be left unfinished and free of any paint, glue or chemicals. Any sharp points from exposed screws or nails should be filed smooth. The nesting chambers must have access for cleaning, a drainage and ventilation area and an appropriately sized entry hole. To attract most common cavity nesters use a hole no larger than 1 3/4″. To protect young nestlings, make sure that the entry hole is at least 4″-5″ from the floor of the birdhouse, so they cannot fall out. Do not include any perches, as they will function as a place for predators to harass the nestlings.

Constructing the birdhouse

Our custom replica birdhouses are made from milled 5/8″ eastern white pine, fastened and joined with exterior grade screws and glue. Pre-milled lumber can be found at lumber yards and big box hardware stores. Finished 3/4″ pine in 6′ or 8′ widths can be glued and joined to create walls and roofs. Always use long grain but joints and never try to glue end grain, because it is not a structural joint. An interior frame can be built to attach the walls and roof to. Make sure that the bottom of the birdhouse is reinforced to accept mounting hardware.

Details, details, details

Our architectural details are carved, burned and painted into our custom replica birdhouses using a variety of tools and artistic techniques. Artchitectural details commonly include shingle, siding, window, shutter, brick, door, molding and fascia board detail. Experiment with different techniques and materials to achieve a look that you feel comfortable with. Most architectural details can be created using a handheld rotary tool (like a dremel) outfitted with a circular carbide disc or sanding wheel, and an artist’s paintbrush.

Painting and finishing your birdhouse

Thoroughly sand the exterior of your replica bird house and remove any sawdust. Seal the exterior of the bird house with a water based paint sealer (like Kilz) and blend exterior grade latex paint to match the colors you desire. The blended exterior colors can be airbrushed or hand brushed onto the bird house. Finally two coats of non-yellowing marine urethane finish are sprayed onto the birdhouse.

Completing your birdhouse

Following these steps will yield a replica birdhouse that with proper placement and maintenance will provide years of enjoyment. We recommend that the houses be located in a shady, sheltered area to minimize weathering and that the birdhouses be moved inside during the winter months. With time, the replica birdhouse will need to be refinished.

By Bill Askenburg, Owner & Artisan – New England Birdhouse, www.newenglandbirdhouse.com. We specialize in architectural birdhouses, offering handcrafted custom and stock replica birdhouses and backyard birding supplies. For more articles visit our blog at blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com
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The most remarkable thing about this type of pigeon is the ability to return to their nest from anywhere, that’s why have been domesticated for carrying messages, which made them an excellent method of communication before the telegraph was invented. For people who raise pigeons in order to become messengers, are called “columbofilos”, a practice that has now become just a hobby due to the advent of new technologies. These animals feed on seeds, grains, legumes, fruits, grasses and almost any type of food. Urban pigeons come to live about 5 years but in captivity can reach up to 15. They are monogamous and breed throughout the year, being more likely to happen in spring or summer. 1 to 2 lay eggs that are mature after 20 days. The young are fed by their parents with a substance they produce, called “crop milk”, and 40 days, approximately, are ready to leave the nest.

The pigeons quickly have become accustomed to living in large urban centers, using the architectural layout of buildings to nest. As the doves always return to the place where born, and are sedentary and resident birds, it becomes complicated drive them away. This coupled with the lack of natural predators that control the amount of individuals, food scraps that allow them to feed easily, and the fact that they have a rapid reproduction (some studies say they come to double its annual amount), makes proliferate pigeons in the city and have become one of the most troubled urban pest.

Doves eat garbage, About half a kilo each day.

To aid digestion, pigeons, eat grains of sand or gravel in order to crush the food.

These birds have a great dependence on water because they can not eat solid food for days, but can not go without water.

Pigeons are monogamous, meaning that they have a steady partner. Once the rigging, the female lays one to two eggs at 12 days. At 4 to 6 days the young leave the nest.

In the spring and fall when they have more reproductive capacity. In the wild they can live about 15 years and in the cities rarely live more than 5 years.

According to sources in the prestigious magazine in Spain. Bird control ensures that the pigeon droppings can seriously damage buildings and infrastructure. Besides the already known risks HigeneMay be causing slips and origin of the presence of other pests. An extreme case was experienced Pest Control as last August, when a U.S. bridge collapse in Mississippi and come in low. 13 dead and 100 injured was the tragic balance. Experts say the reason for the collapse was a combination of several factors, high traffic, missing parts, cracks in the steel and … suffering from severe corrosion of materials by the action of pigeon droppings. The content of ammonia and acids, accelerated the oxidation of structural metals.

I am a former pigeon extermination experts..
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The ostrich is mentioned 10 times in the Bible.  In Micah 1:8, the Lord God says: I will make lamentation like the ostriches, mourning like the ostriches.

On the other hand, the ostrich is not mentioned therein in the Quran. Yet, the Quran says that the birds in general live in societies like human beings.

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The ostrich in the Bible (2)

In the Bible, Micah 1:8, the Lord God says that because of this (the sin of Samaria and Jerusalem), I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl.

In the verse Micah 1:8, the Lord God will perform many different amazing acts; also, the Lord God is like two animals and two birds.

The Lord God will make these amazing acts; He will:

Be naked
Be stripped
Be spoiled
Go barefoot
Make lamentation
Mourn
Weep
Wail
Howl
Moan

The Lord God is like to two animals and two birds; He is like:

Dragon
Jackal
Ostrich
Owl

In reference to five different Biblical versions which are given in this article, the smart reader may observe that these five versions give different translation for the ostrich and the jackal.  The ostrich is translated to the owl; and the jackal is translated to the dragon!

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The ostrich in the Quran (2)

Let us first discuss the point of the attributes of the Lord God, the Almighty Creator in the Quran.

Is there anything like Him?

Verse 42:11 says:

Naught is as Allah likeness in attribute, knowledge, power and providence, exalted is He. He is the Hearer, of what is said, the Seer, of what is done.

Verse 37:159 says:

Exaltations to Allah above what they describe.

Glory to Allah! He is free from what they describe and/or from the things they ascribe (to him)!  Allah exonerates Himself from that which they attribute unto Him.

According to Quranic teachings, anyone who believes that the Lord God, the Almighty Creator will perform such acts that are mentioned in the Bible (in Micah 1:8) and He is like to two animals and two birds is categorized as disbeliever and he will dwell Eternally in the Hell. This is because he is insulting his Almighty Creator.

Back to the ostrich,

The ostrich is not mentioned therein in the Quran; yet the birds in general are mentioned 12 times in the Quran.  The Quran says that the Birds as well as the Animals and are but societies like human beings.

Verse 6:38 says:  

There is not an animal in the earth, or a flying creature flying on two wings between the earth and sky, but they are societies like unto you.  They resemble you in eating, copulation, understanding one another, just as you understand one another: this is a sign for you.  Allah has neglected nothing in the Quran. Allah has mentioned everything in the Quran. And unto their Lord, all the created beings will be gathered on the Day of Judgment.

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The Bible, Micah 1:8 in five different Biblical versions

New International Version

Because of this I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl.

American Standard Version

For this will I lament and wail; I will go stripped and naked; I will make a wailing like the jackals, and a lamentation like the ostriches.

English Standard Version

For this I will lament and wail; I will go stripped and naked; I will make lamentation like the jackals, and mourning like the ostriches.

King James Version

Therefore I will wail and howl I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.

Young’s Literal Translation

For this I lament and howl, I go spoiled and naked, I make a lamentation like dragons, and mourning like daughters of an ostrich.

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The Quran, Pickthal Translation:

Verse 42:11 … Naught is as his likeness; and He is the Hearer, the Seer.

Verse 37:159 Glorified be Allah from that which they attribute (unto him),

Verse 6:38 “there is not an animal in the earth, nor a flying creature flying on two wings, but they are peoples like unto you. We have neglected nothing in the book (of our decrees). Then unto their lord they will be gathered”.

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Back to my question to the smart and interested reader:

Are the Scholars truthful when they claim that the Quran quoted from the Bible?

Professor Dr. Ibrahim Khalil, Prof. of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Head (ex-) of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control Unit, Ain-Shams University. Cairo, Egypt President of the Egyptian Society of Inventors, Honorary President of SPIC-Egypt (The Society of Practitioners of Infection Control – Egypt), Co-Chief Editor of the Egyptian Journal of Lab. Medicine Member of the Egyptian union of Writers, Published 5 Books and some 60 Medical Articles, Supervisors for 79 PhD theses and111 Master Degree theses.
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