Finches at the feeders


For many people who feed wild birds, the many finch varieties – American goldfinches, house finches, purple finches and rose-breasted grosbeaks – are the delight of the season. Take care to select one of their favourite foods.


T


here is no question that finches are among the most popular birds seen at feeders in summer.


Finches don't just look great but they sound amazing, too, with their sweet, melodic calls. Some the beautiful songs you hear early in the morning are finches as they awaken with the sun. For many people who feed wild birds, American goldfinches, house finches, purple finch- es and rose-breasted grosbeaks are the delight of the season at their feeders. There are different ways to attract them there by selecting appropriate foods and feeders.


Like canaries in colour American goldfinches are often re-


ferred to as wild canaries due to the brilliant yellow plumage of the males and olive shade of females. They are without a doubt the most desired bird to attract throughout the summer months. They are very com- mon in southern Manitoba and depending on where you live you may see only a pair or two or alternatively dozens at a time. New developments with limited habitat may not see


many finches, or other birds for that matter. I find the number I get does fluctuate each year, but there have been seasons where I have easily had 50 at a time! The most commonly selected food for goldfinches


is Nyjer seed. This tiny black seed is from the thistle family but is imported from Nigeria and India, then sterilized so that it will not grow.


Due to the seed’s small size, you should use it only in


a Nyjer feeder. These feeders have tiny slits so that the seed won't spill and only finches can access it. House


Sherrie Versluis Feathered Friends


sparrows also love Nyjer seed and will dominate the feeder if they can get at it. Be wary of flexible plastic feeders as sparrows will widen the feeder’s holes and ruin it. There is also an “upside- down” finch feeder available that is be- ing marketed as an enjoyable feeder, but it is not so enjoyable for finches! Finches are able to hang upside down, but gravity makes this a less than desir- able position for eating. Finch feeders should be hung three feet or more from other feeders. They can be close to your home as finches are quite tame. In fact, there are feeders that suction cup to windows which finches really love, and so do the people who


get to see them that closely. House finches and purple finches are a little larger


than goldfinches, with broader beaks, so Nyjer feeders are not the preferred type for them. Some birders find it a challenge to distinguish between the house and purple finch as they are similar in appearance. House finches have an orange-red colour and purple finches have more of a raspberry shade. Many people describe both birds as sparrows with red on them. Purple finch- es also have more coverage of colour on their body compared to the house finch. To attract these finches you will want to offer black


oil sunflower in either a window feeder or a tube-style feeder. You will also attract many other lovely wild birds at these feeders, like black-capped chickadees and white-breasted nuthatches. Rose-breasted grosbeaks are a spectacular finch that are almost the same size as a robin. The males are


Goldfinches enjoying lunch at a bird feeder.


black and white with a beautiful, crimson red breast. Females are very interesting looking: they appear to be a very large sparrow with a prominent white stripe over the eye.


Head for the windows The large size of these birds means some special fea-


tures are required to accommodate them. For food they, too, enjoy black sunflower but need a larger plat- form to land on. Many tube feeders allow you to at- tach a tray that is perfect for grosbeaks. You can even scatter extra food onto the tray. Sadly, grosbeaks have the terrible habit of hitting windows so window feed- ers can be used as a good deterrent. But you can also purchase static cling decals that will stop all birds from colliding with your windows. One other fact about finches that I have learned over


the years is that they really enjoy shelled sunflower seed. When I offer this seed all other foods are almost ignored. This is a more expensive choice, but it is very clean and the birds notably prefer it.


Try attracting some of these wonderful birds to your yard this season and add some colour and music to your life.


Sherrie Versluis owns The Preferred Perch; call her at 204-257-3724.


Keep a watch. ‘Lepto’ could be lying in wait for your dog!


Leptospira bacteria run free in summer, carried by squirrels, raccoons and other wildlife. Dogs can pick them up by contaminated water, or through a break in the skin.


ers look forward to spending doors


A


Robert Urano Furry Friends


time exploring


out- the


neighborhood, visit- ing parks and camp- grounds and traveling to various vacation spots. All this outdoor activity, while fun and healthful, leads to a greater susceptibility to many bacterial and viral infections.


Canine leptospiro-


sis, lepto for short, is a bacterial infection having over 20 different strains. Eight of these are harmful to dogs, people and some other animals and are ca- pable of producing varying degrees of illness. Obtained from wild life


Leptospira bacteria are carried by wildlife such as squirrels, raccoons, skunks and rats. These infected animals shed the bacteria in their urine; domestic pets can become infected by sniffing this urine or by drinking contaminated water. Dogs can also pick up the bacteria through a cut or break in the skin. The bacteria are most common in warm, humid weather when there are plenty of puddles and run-off water. Although these bacteria have been around since ancient times, the number of leptospirosis cases is increasing, not only because we have better diag- nostic techniques but also because our pets come


s summer ap- proaches, dogs and their own-


Frankie could be picking up more than he bargained for.


into closer contact with wildlife as we encroach upon their natural habitats. Once Leptospira bacteria enter the body, they spread to many types of tissues. Dogs with healthy immune systems may successfully battle the infection. They might manifest only mild symptoms such as a slight fever, decreased appetite and diarrhea, or show no symptoms at all. However, the bacteria remain in the kidneys for some time and can be released in the urine for many months. Thus, even if a pet does not appear ill it may still inadvertently infect other animals. If the bacteria aggressively multiply, damage to health can be severe. The three main forms of the dis- ease are renal failure caused by infection in the kidneys, jaundice caused by infection in the liver and hemor- rhaging caused by infection in the blood. While all three forms are treatable and curable they are also po- tentially fatal if left untreated. Since fever, loss of ap- petite, lethargy can be signs of any number of ailments, if these conditions persist for more than a couple of days, you should promptly take your dog for a check- up. Diagnosis is usually made by taking a urine sample


to confirm the presence of the bacteria or taking a blood sample to find increased levels of antibodies to Leptospira. Antibiotics are used to treat the infec- tion and usually urine samples are taken until the bacteria are completely flushed from the kidneys. You can reduce the risk of infection by controlling the rodent population around your home, keeping your pet away from ponds, slow moving or stagnant water and, of course, maintaining your dog’s health. However, if your healthy dog suddenly seems less healthy, you should keep a watchful eye. Since lepto is a totally treatable bacterial infection, if diagnosed early dogs need not suffer unnecessarily nor have any permanent damage.


Vaccine falls short


Although a vaccine for leptospirosis is available, there is some controversy over its use and effective- ness. Firstly, it protects against only a few of the various strains of Leptospira bacteria; secondly, it doesn’t offer long-lasting immunity; and lastly, it has the highest adverse reaction of any canine vac- cine. We do not live in an endemic area for this disease so the chances of your dog being infected are not great. However, the chances increase if your dog spends much time in rural areas, loves swim- ming in questionable water sources and travels to warm, humid climates.


Summer is a time when dogs should be happily playing in the great outdoors. It is the responsibil- ity of the pet owner to be alert for signs of illness since greater exposure allows for greater chances of infection from the many pathogens that lie in wait. Robert Urano is a former owner of a pet food store and an animal lover.


18 www.lifestyles55.net


MAY 2013


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