1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:04,080 Speaker 1: KFI AM six forty. You're listening to Dean Sharp, the 2 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:08,200 Speaker 1: house Whisper on demand on the iHeart Radio app. We 3 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:12,559 Speaker 1: are talking birds and bees today, No literally birds and bees, 4 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: not that other metaphorical stuff, just talking literally about bees 5 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 1: and about birds. We had a great first half of 6 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 1: the show talking to our be experts, and now sitting 7 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: across the table from me, Richard armording from wild Birds Unlimited, 8 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:34,160 Speaker 1: it's time to talk about backyard birds. Richard again, thanks 9 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 1: for being on. I love it every year that we 10 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 1: get to do this, pleasure and so and every year 11 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: we do this, I always ask you to kind of 12 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: give us the status of birds in North America. It's 13 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 1: not a happy story general, but just give us the 14 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 1: overview and any updates that you might have. 15 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 2: Well, yeah, it's a struggle for them. Since the seventies, 16 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 2: the bird PI population in the in North America has 17 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 2: declined about thirty percent. You know, billions and millions of 18 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:11,400 Speaker 2: birds fewer now than there were back then. Their primary 19 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:17,400 Speaker 2: challenge is loss of habitat as we expand, you know, 20 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 2: building houses and shopping centers and businesses and all that, 21 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:27,840 Speaker 2: that takes away habitat from our local birds. So things 22 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,960 Speaker 2: that we can do in our backyards to give back 23 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:33,680 Speaker 2: a little bit of habitat is going to really help 24 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 2: them a lot. 25 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: And that's the whole point. That's the whole point of 26 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:38,400 Speaker 1: what we're talking about today, is the fact that the 27 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 1: loss of habitat has created that dip, that major diss 28 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 1: in the bird population. And yet the typical homeowner has 29 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 1: a pretty good chunk of property. And when you add 30 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: up all the homeowners and all the lots and everywhere, 31 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 1: if we could imagine restoring all of those pieces of 32 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 1: property as bird habitat, we'd go a long way towards 33 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: solving that deficit. 34 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, millions and millions of acres are available to 35 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 2: be turned into native habitat. 36 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 1: So I looked up this little fact because I was 37 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: I was looking for Southern California has over six hundred 38 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: species of birds in our region. Is that is that 39 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: pretty close? That sounds pretty reasonable? Yeah? Uh uh. And 40 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 1: I also asked this and because I wanted to find 41 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: out how I was rating on this whole thing, because 42 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:32,920 Speaker 1: you always make me feel well, you don't make me 43 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 1: feel a shame. I'm just ashamed comparing the amount of 44 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: birds that we have on our life list here for 45 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 1: the yard that you guys have. But still I wanted 46 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:46,639 Speaker 1: to look and see the average bird friendly backyard. What then, 47 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 1: So this was an AI answer. So I don't know. 48 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 1: It may be a little suspect, but we'll see an 49 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:56,360 Speaker 1: average bird friendly backyard in southern California could expect visits 50 00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:00,799 Speaker 1: from at least twenty to thirty species of birds. Now 51 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:03,119 Speaker 1: that rang true for me because i think I've got 52 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 1: forty two on our list right now, and we have 53 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: a bird friendly backyard. So I would say, okay, an 54 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 1: average bird friend and hopefully that shocks a lot of people, like, what, 55 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 1: that's not twenty to thirty birds. That's twenty to thirty 56 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 1: species of birds. There are a lot of them out, yes, 57 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:23,960 Speaker 1: a lot. How many have you guys got on your 58 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:29,799 Speaker 1: list in our backyard? We're just shy of one hundred species. 59 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:32,640 Speaker 1: See gosh, dang it. I always feel so good about 60 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 1: what we're doing, and then you are doing great. All right. 61 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 2: Well, I come to your house and I'm jealous of 62 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 2: the ecosystem you have here with everything. 63 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: I might have to see the problem is that I'm 64 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: not as a committed birder as you guys are, so 65 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: they may be here and I just haven't recorded them. 66 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're constantly scouring our backyard and anytime a bird 67 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 2: that's even slightly different lands in the yard, get the 68 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 2: binoculars out, and there's like, is that something we've had before? 69 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 2: Is it something new? Is it something different? Is it 70 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 2: something exciting? And most of the time it isn't. But 71 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:10,960 Speaker 2: every once in a while we get something really cool. 72 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 2: We just love it. And so the way that our 73 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 2: yard is designed again design being an expression of intention. 74 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:20,599 Speaker 2: One of our intentions is to be more aware of 75 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 2: all of the wildlife that's in our yard. And so, 76 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 2: and I don't know if Tina explained this to you, 77 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,840 Speaker 2: but where our deck is, we will sit there in 78 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:31,600 Speaker 2: the early mornings or in the afternoons with our binoculars 79 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 2: right across and so underneath the wisteria arbor where our 80 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 2: three main feeders are, we call that our bird theater, 81 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:40,280 Speaker 2: and we just sit in the bird theater and we 82 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 2: sit over there, far enough away that we're not bugging them, 83 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 2: and we just get close up and we'll pull out 84 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 2: the Merlin bird app which I should again promote to everybody. 85 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 2: Get you turned me onto that years ago? 86 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:56,559 Speaker 1: Merlin. Yeah, like the Wizard is the name of the app. 87 00:04:56,600 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 1: You can find it for any phone system. You should 88 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 1: look it up. It's a free app. It's put out 89 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 1: by the Cornell Ornithological Labs Ornithology Lab, the Cornell Ornithology Lab. 90 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 1: It is it is like, I think it's the best 91 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 1: birding app out there. It is so much fun to 92 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:20,039 Speaker 1: play with. And you turn me onto the fact that 93 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 1: I was trying to do and it'll help you with 94 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 1: visual identities of birds. Take a picture and so on 95 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: and compare it to other pictures. But you turn me 96 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 1: onto the fact, Oh, Dean, you should be listening. My 97 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 1: list jumped up. You should be listening to the birds. 98 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 1: So there's a listening feature where you just turn the 99 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 1: app on and it listens and it has it's basically 100 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 1: the Chazam of the bird world. It has a sense 101 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:47,599 Speaker 1: tens of thousands of frequencies recorded and categorized, so the 102 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 1: app knows where you are location, it knows what birds 103 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 1: are in this area, and it's listening and boom it'll 104 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 1: identify and say, oh, well that's a nuthatch or that's 105 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 1: a you know, and then you get to add that 106 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:04,480 Speaker 1: to your list. In the coolest nerdiest thing you can 107 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: do and just absolutely loving it. Okay, so that's the 108 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: state of birds. By inviting more birds into our yard, 109 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:20,719 Speaker 1: we can start to solve and the population drop in 110 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:23,919 Speaker 1: North America solve that problem. So now the question is 111 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 1: what about all the objections, because you know, as the 112 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,160 Speaker 1: bird feeders are messy, here's some of the things I'm 113 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 1: gonna set up. These are gonna be slow pitches across 114 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 1: the plate for you. Number one, if we start to 115 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:38,160 Speaker 1: feed the birds, we're gonna make them dependent on us, 116 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:40,039 Speaker 1: and then if we ever stop, then we're gonna do 117 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:44,480 Speaker 1: them more damage than good. Is that true? I don't answer. Now, 118 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: as soon as I have bird feeders in my yard, 119 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:52,599 Speaker 1: I'm gonna have rats and rodents everywhere. They're just going 120 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 1: to overrun the place. So I don't want that. We'll 121 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 1: just start with those two because those are two real biggies. 122 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 1: But there are ways that to get around at all. 123 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 1: And you're the things that you instruct and teach and 124 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:12,559 Speaker 1: provide at wild Birds Unlimited. I just have not yet 125 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 1: to find any other place that you can get that 126 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: kind of quality stuff for the eventual effect, you know, 127 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: like our bird feeders, we have no rodents except for 128 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: one squirrel who has earned it. Well, tell that story. 129 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: One squirrel has earned the right to feed from our 130 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 1: bird feeders, but no one else does. And how do 131 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: you do that? How can you have so many bird 132 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 1: feeders up in the yard and not have a rodent problem. 133 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 1: We'll talk about that and more right after the break. 134 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: Don't go anywhere your Home with Dean Sharp the house whisper. 135 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 3: You're listening to Home with Dean Sharp on demand from 136 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 3: KFI Am sixty. 137 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: We're talking birds and bees. Actually we talked bees first, 138 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: and now we're talking birds with my in studio guest 139 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 1: Richard armording from wild Birds Unlimited. All right, Richard, So 140 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: we want to invite birds into our yard, of course, 141 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: so feeders and the like, But that's not all there is. 142 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 1: If we really want to round out the picture, we 143 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 1: want to build an entire habitat. But let's kind of 144 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 1: tackle a couple of the myth and main objection that 145 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 1: people have. How First of all, the myth. The myth 146 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 1: is that if I start feeding birds like I'm giving 147 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 1: local handouts, like I'm putting birds on the welfare doles, 148 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 1: and then if I stop, they're all going to die. 149 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 1: And I'm really messing things up, so better not to 150 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 1: do it at all. 151 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a frequent thing that we hear. And the 152 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 2: truth is that when wild birds have access to a 153 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 2: bird feeder, they only get about twenty percent of their 154 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:43,320 Speaker 2: diet from that bird feeder. The rest of their diet 155 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 2: comes from natural sources. We're very fortunate here in Thousand Oaks. 156 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 2: We've got a lot of open space around us. There's 157 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 2: a lot of natural food available for the birds, so 158 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 2: they get the vast majority of their diet from natural sources. 159 00:08:57,559 --> 00:09:01,679 Speaker 2: And this is true anywhere. So if your feeder happens 160 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 2: to go empty, they'll come back and check it for 161 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 2: a day or two, but as long as it stays empty, 162 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:10,320 Speaker 2: they'll eventually stop checking it and they'll just go on 163 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 2: to one of their other food sources. So it's your 164 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:17,319 Speaker 2: benefit to keep the feeder, you know, at least some 165 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 2: food in it all the time, to make sure those 166 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 2: birds keep coming back to your yard so you can 167 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 2: enjoy them. But the birds are going to be just 168 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:28,200 Speaker 2: fine if your feeder does not have seed in it. 169 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 1: They're doing just fine. They were here long before we were. 170 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: They're doing just fine. As far as that they're finding 171 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 1: their way, so we're not hurting them at all. No, Okay, 172 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:41,720 Speaker 1: let's talk about the kind of seed to put in 173 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:44,719 Speaker 1: those feeders. What are we putting in the feeders? When 174 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:48,600 Speaker 1: I say that, let me what should we be putting 175 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: in the feeders versus what most people are putting in 176 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: the feeders. 177 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:55,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, you can go to the grocery store or the 178 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:57,440 Speaker 2: hardware store and buy a bag of bird seed and 179 00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 2: put in your bird feeder and the birds will come 180 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,960 Speaker 2: and eat some of it. A lot of times those 181 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 2: bags of bird seed are going to have filler seeds 182 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 2: in it that are very inexpensive seed to help bring 183 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:12,559 Speaker 2: the price of that bag of seed down. But the 184 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 2: birds aren't going to eat it. They'll probably just throw 185 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 2: that seed on the ground where it can either sprout 186 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:24,119 Speaker 2: into a weed or become a food source for gritters 187 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 2: that are on the ground that you don't want. So 188 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 2: you want to have your bird feed are filled with 189 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 2: seeds that the birds around here want to eat, like 190 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 2: sunflower seed, mill it, things like milo and wheat and oats. 191 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 2: You know, there's a lot of that in bargain brand 192 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 2: bird seed. But the birds are just gonna ignore it 193 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:50,320 Speaker 2: or throw it on the ground. 194 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 1: So when people think, oh, well, that bird seed there 195 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 1: is really expensive and this bird seed is so much 196 00:10:56,800 --> 00:11:00,679 Speaker 1: more affordable, well, it's not actually the case, because as 197 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 1: far as the birds are concerned, you're buying eighty percent. 198 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 1: Eighty percent of what you're paying for is not anything 199 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: anybody's going to use except the rodents, right. The rodents 200 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 1: will lead all of it. They will. The birds will 201 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: have none of that. Yeah, and that's part of what 202 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 1: contributes to attracting rodents into the yard when there's a 203 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 1: lot of stuff uneaten. So okay, I'll give you an 204 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:27,720 Speaker 1: example from my for everybody's listening from our seedar feet 205 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: our feeder seat setup is that again, we're using local seeds, 206 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:36,839 Speaker 1: all good quality seeds that the birds want. And so 207 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 1: the smaller songbirds that visit the feeder that will perch 208 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,319 Speaker 1: on the feeder, you know, they're doing their thing and 209 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:47,840 Speaker 1: they're eating most of it. It's a pretty clean scenario. 210 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 1: But they are dropping things out of their mouths. I mean, 211 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 1: nobody's handing them napkins or anything. So some seeds are 212 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: falling to the ground, yes, but again, these are seeds 213 00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 1: that are viable seeds for our local birds. And so 214 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 1: here on our property. What we find most of the 215 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:05,680 Speaker 1: time when we're enjoying the bird theater is that the 216 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 1: songbirds are up above, and then the bigger birds, the 217 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 1: doves and sometimes jays, will come down underneath. Ground birds 218 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 1: like the doves, and they'll just clean up the bottom. 219 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:19,320 Speaker 1: They'll just be down there because they don't the doves 220 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 1: are too big to grab onto the perches on our feeder, 221 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 1: so they're just underneath and cleaning up the rest of 222 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:26,440 Speaker 1: the mess. 223 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, as long as you're putting good seed in the feeder, 224 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 2: even if it falls on the ground, it's going to 225 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:34,840 Speaker 2: get eaten by birds by birds, yes. 226 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:39,160 Speaker 1: Which means there's nothing left over for rodents, and which 227 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: means there's no reason for the rodents to show up 228 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: and therefore not rodents in the yard. Now, what about 229 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 1: rodents in the middle of the night that are plotting 230 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 1: to get into that feeder. 231 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:54,079 Speaker 2: Well, there's lots of things you can do to prevent 232 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:59,560 Speaker 2: critters like rats and squirrels from getting to the bird feeder. 233 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 2: Baffles that you can use to prevent them getting to 234 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 2: the feeder itself. There are hot pepper bird foods that 235 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:13,960 Speaker 2: squirrels don't like, and then there are squirrel proof bird feeders. 236 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: Okay, so we're going to talk about all three of those. 237 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:19,840 Speaker 1: Explain them so everybody will understand. Right on the other side, 238 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:23,160 Speaker 1: all right, hang tight your Home with Dean Sharp, the 239 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 1: house whisper. 240 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:27,960 Speaker 3: You're listening to Home with Dean Sharp on demand from 241 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 3: KFI Am. 242 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 1: Six forty talking about how to bring more birds into 243 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 1: your yard. It is springtime, and yes, we're gonna have 244 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 1: all sorts of conversations about bathroom remodels and windows and 245 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:42,960 Speaker 1: doors and decks and plants and landscaping. But of all 246 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 1: the things that I use as a litmus test for 247 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:51,199 Speaker 1: a home reintegrating itself into the natural world around it, 248 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:54,400 Speaker 1: at the top of my list is the presence of 249 00:13:54,600 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 1: wild birds in our yard and the beauty that they create, uh, 250 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:06,319 Speaker 1: the the solace that they create, just the absolutely it's irreplaceable. 251 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:09,240 Speaker 1: And I want more birds in your yard as well. 252 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:12,439 Speaker 1: But people have objections to that. They number one, we've 253 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:15,439 Speaker 1: already blown this myth out that if we start feeding, 254 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: the birds are going to be dependent on us like 255 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 1: a drug dealer, and then if we stop, we're going 256 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 1: to you know, birds are going to be on the 257 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 1: street corner you know, shaking, going through tremors and uh, 258 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 1: and it's just going to be a mess. Not true, 259 00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 1: not true at all, not true at all. My special 260 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: in studio has Richard armording. We already exploded that myth. Uh. 261 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: And then we're talking about, okay, how do we, you know, 262 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 1: effectively feed the birds but not anybody else meaning rodents, rats, squirrels, 263 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 1: those kinds of things in our yard. And you mentioned 264 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 1: three things right before the break, and I just want 265 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:54,680 Speaker 1: to kind of expand on the on these tools. We've 266 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 1: already talked about the quality of the seed, yes okay, 267 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 1: but expand on tools of kind of rodent proofing the area. Baffles, okay, 268 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 1: hot seed, and then especially designed feeders that are roadent proof. 269 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: So let's start with baffles. What are we talking about? 270 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 2: So, if you've got your feeter hanging from a pole, 271 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:22,880 Speaker 2: like a shepherd's cirk pole, you can put what's called 272 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 2: a squirrel baffle or a rodent baffle on that. It's 273 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 2: like a cone shaped piece of metal that goes part 274 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 2: way up the pole and it prevents those critters from 275 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 2: climbing up that pole to get to the bird seed. Now, 276 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 2: squirrels are amazing little acrobats. They can climb really well, 277 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 2: they can jump really far, and they're very tenacious as 278 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 2: they are. So if you have your feet are on 279 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 2: a pole with a baffle, you do need to make 280 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 2: sure that that pole is far enough away from trees 281 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 2: and fences because they can jump and bypass that. Rats 282 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 2: are not as good acrobat They're just going to try 283 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 2: to climb up the pole if you have a baffle 284 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 2: on it, they are not going to be able to 285 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 2: get to the bird seed that's up there. 286 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: So in the in that's that rings completely true. Rats 287 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 1: are actually really easy to control any yard because they 288 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 1: just don't have that kind of Squirrels are incredible, Yes, incredible. 289 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 1: If you haven't actually, I mean, if you want to 290 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 1: explore the animal kingdom and you haven't learned all the 291 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 1: things there are to learn about squirrels, these things that 292 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:33,680 Speaker 1: are right in our neighborhoods, you should, I mean squirrels. 293 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 1: Squirrels can can survive a fall of virtually any height. 294 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 1: You can drop them from space and they can survive 295 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 1: the fall of virtually Squirrels are incredible. They're there. Horizontal 296 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 1: leap is like unbelievable, and they're incredibly smart. Yea. So, 297 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 1: like I said, we have controlled all the rodents in 298 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 1: our yard. But because of our bird theater being set 299 00:16:57,080 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: up underneath this arbor, there are are vertical surfaces that 300 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:04,239 Speaker 1: are just a few feet away from the feeder and 301 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:07,119 Speaker 1: one squirre that we have baffles on top. We have 302 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:10,120 Speaker 1: a baffle plate where if a rat tries to climb 303 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,680 Speaker 1: down or a squirrel tries to climb down the cable 304 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 1: the chain and then try you know, the baffle tips 305 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:17,880 Speaker 1: them off and they fall off and so they don't 306 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:21,360 Speaker 1: get to the feeder. So they work incredibly well. But 307 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:26,120 Speaker 1: we have one squirrel who has learned to to get 308 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:28,399 Speaker 1: in the right position and make the vertical or the 309 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:32,240 Speaker 1: horizontal leap across and grab onto the feeder. And we've 310 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:34,240 Speaker 1: seen this happen now and we're like, you know what, buddy, 311 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:39,359 Speaker 1: you've earned it. You get you know, free lunch. Honestly, 312 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 1: just go I mean he honestly. I mean it's tough 313 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:43,919 Speaker 1: for him to get the food out of the feeder anyway, 314 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 1: so he doesn't eat much, and so it's like, go 315 00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:49,399 Speaker 1: for it, buddy, I'm proud. I'm so proud of you. 316 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 1: You just go ahead. But the but the rats have 317 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 1: no chance. We just don't have rat We have rats 318 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 1: around the chickens because if you have chickens, you have 319 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 1: rats because there's messy birds. But we have no rodents 320 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:04,879 Speaker 1: that come and visit the bird feeders at all in 321 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: terms of mice or rats, because they just can't they 322 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:11,119 Speaker 1: can't access it. Okay, so that's baffles. Hot feed. 323 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, hot feed is very effective against squirrels. Honestly, it's 324 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 2: not that effective against rats, but it's a great option 325 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:23,360 Speaker 2: if you have a feeder that is in a perfect location. 326 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:27,159 Speaker 2: You can't really put a baffle on it for whatever reason. 327 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:31,200 Speaker 2: But using hot pepper bird food that has a really 328 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:36,640 Speaker 2: really hot cap sasan level in it, squirrels don't like it. 329 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 2: Birds don't have the sensitivity to get that burning sensation. 330 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:43,680 Speaker 1: So squirrels are mammals like us, and they sense cap 331 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:49,120 Speaker 1: sasan like ahh, But birds don't, right, they can't even 332 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:49,680 Speaker 1: tell it's there. 333 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:54,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, they like the flavor. They in the wild, there's 334 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:58,080 Speaker 2: lots of birds that seek out hot peppers to eat, 335 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:01,520 Speaker 2: and so they're perfectly happy eating it. They don't get 336 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:03,399 Speaker 2: bothered by it, but squirrels do. 337 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:07,159 Speaker 1: So you are never going to win a pepper eating 338 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:10,240 Speaker 1: contest against any kind of bird. 339 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:10,200 Speaker 3: Bird. 340 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 1: If you see a bird enter a pepper eating contest, 341 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:15,920 Speaker 1: just give up. Just just don't even bother because they'll 342 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 1: they'll chow down those ghost peppers and not even they 343 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:20,840 Speaker 1: might as well be oreo cookies to them. 344 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 2: I did say a study recently that there is an 345 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 2: upper limit to how much OH is there. It is 346 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:29,200 Speaker 2: really really hot. 347 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:32,719 Speaker 1: It's way up there, way beyond us. Yes, okay, all right, 348 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:37,199 Speaker 1: so that's the hot. So just having feed with a 349 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:40,280 Speaker 1: high pepper content in it is in and of itself 350 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: a really good solution. And then finally, the actual feeders 351 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:49,440 Speaker 1: that are rodent proof what do we mean or roadent resistant. 352 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, there are feeders that will close off after a 353 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 2: certain weight gets on them. Most of our backyard birds, 354 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:01,679 Speaker 2: even though the ones that are big and bulky, are. 355 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:04,760 Speaker 1: Very very light because bird bones are hollow, yes, and 356 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:07,360 Speaker 1: they're mostly feathers. Yeah. You know, if you've ever seen 357 00:20:07,359 --> 00:20:10,480 Speaker 1: a featherless bird, you're like, wow, buddy, I'm really sorry. Left, 358 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: there's nice left. So birds are very light, yes, because 359 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 1: they fly. That's probably a good idea. 360 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 2: So the feeders if a bird or multiple birds get 361 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 2: on it, it's gonna the feed ports are going to 362 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 2: stay open. But if something heavier like a rat or 363 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 2: a squirrel gets on it, their extra weight is going 364 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:29,399 Speaker 2: to close off those feed ports. 365 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 1: Pulls down the outer shaft of it, which is on 366 00:20:32,359 --> 00:20:35,600 Speaker 1: a spring, and the door closes. Yes, so there's no 367 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:36,520 Speaker 1: point yep. 368 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 2: The squirrels learn real quickly, and the rats do too 369 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:42,119 Speaker 2: that even if they get up there, they're not going 370 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 2: to get anything out, and so they pretty much give 371 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:46,600 Speaker 2: up and go on and look for food elsewhere. 372 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 1: See and again our one squirrel who's doing the horizontal leap. 373 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:54,120 Speaker 1: If we were to change out those feeders, because when 374 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 1: we bought these feeders from you, we thought, yeah, I 375 00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:58,639 Speaker 1: can worry about the spring loaded ones. But if I 376 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 1: was to change those out to the spring loaded ones, 377 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:04,040 Speaker 1: then even George would be out of luck and he 378 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 1: would give up his name. At this point. Yeah, I've 379 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:10,040 Speaker 1: named him George. At this point, you know, we're keeping 380 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:11,159 Speaker 1: him around intentionally. 381 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, they're fun to watch, and as long as they're 382 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:18,000 Speaker 2: not monopolizing the bird feeder, most of our customers are 383 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:19,959 Speaker 2: pretty happy to have the squirrels in their garden. 384 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:24,400 Speaker 1: So there we go. There are solutions to every difficulty 385 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 1: when it comes to attracting birds into the yard. You 386 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:31,040 Speaker 1: guys sell hummingbird supplies as well. Absolutely, yes, let's talk 387 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 1: about a little bit of that after the break. Okay, 388 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:35,880 Speaker 1: all right, y'all your Home with Dean Sharp, the house 389 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:37,280 Speaker 1: Whisper go nowhere. 390 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 3: You're listening to Home with Dean Sharp on demand from 391 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:42,880 Speaker 3: KFI AM. 392 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:46,199 Speaker 1: Six forty man time flies by three hours can just 393 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:49,720 Speaker 1: go by in a blink when you're having such fun conversations. 394 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:54,439 Speaker 1: We've been talking about bees and birds today. Sitting across 395 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:58,120 Speaker 1: the table from me, Richard armording from wild Birds Unlimited Richer. 396 00:21:58,240 --> 00:21:59,919 Speaker 1: Here we are in the last segment. We still have 397 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 1: some things I want to cover. Two things I want 398 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:05,159 Speaker 1: to talk about before we let everybody know where you 399 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:07,760 Speaker 1: guys are at and how to find you or any 400 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 1: of the wild birds near them. One is a hummingbird 401 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:15,959 Speaker 1: and orioles. You would tell us something about those guys. 402 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:18,880 Speaker 1: And then two, I don't want to end today without 403 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:21,400 Speaker 1: talking about what not to do this time of year, 404 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:25,199 Speaker 1: which is major pruning of your trees and why. So 405 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:27,080 Speaker 1: let's talk about the hummingbirds first. 406 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, hummingbirds. We're really fortunate here in southern California that 407 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 2: we have hummingbirds all year, but during the summertime we 408 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:38,640 Speaker 2: start to see some migratory species that come up from Mexico. 409 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:45,800 Speaker 2: So keeping your feeders filled and clean, the fresh food 410 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:50,920 Speaker 2: in it is really important. Having lots of native plants, 411 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:54,320 Speaker 2: the native flowering plants in your yard. They love those. 412 00:22:54,760 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 2: You were talking about your Salvia's that they loved from that, 413 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:05,240 Speaker 2: that's great. Even if you don't have hummingbird feeders, having 414 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:10,400 Speaker 2: those plants, flowering plants available for them is an important food. 415 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:14,640 Speaker 1: Source for them. And then orioles want the same stuff. Yeah. 416 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 2: Orioles are a migratory species. They arrive here usually in 417 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:22,480 Speaker 2: March or April, they stay here for the summer. They 418 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:26,480 Speaker 2: eat the same sugar water that the hummingbirds do. They 419 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:30,720 Speaker 2: are larger birds, they have larger beaks, and some hummingbird 420 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:33,920 Speaker 2: feeders have really small feed ports that the orioles can't 421 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:37,199 Speaker 2: get their beaks into, but some hummingbird feeders do have 422 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 2: larger ports. 423 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 1: And then there are. 424 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:44,800 Speaker 2: Feeders that are made specifically for orioles that have larger 425 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:48,280 Speaker 2: feed ports. If you do get orioles in your yard, 426 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 2: they are absolutely beautiful birds. The males especially are this 427 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:57,359 Speaker 2: bright yellow orange with black and white markings on them. 428 00:23:57,800 --> 00:24:00,440 Speaker 2: They like to nest in palm trees. There's lots of 429 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:05,239 Speaker 2: palm trees in southern California, so it's an exciting time 430 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:06,440 Speaker 2: of year when they show up. 431 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:10,399 Speaker 1: Okay, so now let's transition. Speaking of nesting in trees. Yes, 432 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:13,959 Speaker 1: this is something I talk about year round that surprises 433 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 1: a lot of people. Every autumn. I talk about trees 434 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:21,880 Speaker 1: and pruning. I do our pruning show in autumn because 435 00:24:22,520 --> 00:24:26,680 Speaker 1: if you actually talk to tree experts arborus, they'll tell 436 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 1: you the major pruning should take place right before the 437 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:33,679 Speaker 1: tree starts to go dormant and fall asleep for the winter, 438 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 1: and that way it'll burst out in the springtime. It's 439 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:39,800 Speaker 1: got plenty of time to recover as it rests. The 440 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:43,399 Speaker 1: time not to do major pruning of trees for the 441 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:47,400 Speaker 1: sake of the tree itself and for whoever might be 442 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 1: making a nest in the tree is springtime, because you 443 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:55,480 Speaker 1: start lopping off big branches in the spring, guaranteed you're 444 00:24:55,520 --> 00:25:00,640 Speaker 1: going to miss the fact that you've just ruined a nest. Yeah. 445 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:05,159 Speaker 2: Hummingbird nests in particular are almost impossible to see. They're very, 446 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:08,800 Speaker 2: very small. They blend. And this is a survival mechanism 447 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:14,360 Speaker 2: that the hummingbirds have adapted. They make their nests impossible 448 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:16,880 Speaker 2: to see, are very very difficult to see. And if 449 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:20,680 Speaker 2: you're out there trimming trees, even if you look very carefully, 450 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:24,159 Speaker 2: you could easily miss a hummingbird nest with eggs or 451 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 2: chicks in it. And that's going to take away that 452 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:29,400 Speaker 2: opportunity for those birds to reproduce. 453 00:25:30,119 --> 00:25:34,160 Speaker 1: Birds do not advertise their nests generally speaking. I mean, 454 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 1: you know, why would they say, free eggs, everyone, free 455 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:40,679 Speaker 1: eggs here? So they are tucked away in places of 456 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:43,320 Speaker 1: the trees that we're just not supposed to see. Yeah, 457 00:25:43,359 --> 00:25:45,880 Speaker 1: and that's why the spring pruning is a dangerous time. 458 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:50,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's really not good for the trees and it's 459 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:55,120 Speaker 2: definitely not good for the birds. They need to They 460 00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 2: only have a limited amount of time in the spring 461 00:25:57,440 --> 00:26:01,600 Speaker 2: to do their reproduction and have their next generation of birds. 462 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:04,639 Speaker 2: And if their nest gets knocked down, or the eggs 463 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:10,480 Speaker 2: get damaged, or the babies are injured, that's one generation 464 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 2: of birds that isn't. 465 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 1: Able to go on exactly. Let's wrap up with this. 466 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:19,560 Speaker 1: The National Wildlife Federation, if you go on their website. 467 00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:24,360 Speaker 1: They will give you an outline for and they'll they'll 468 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:27,960 Speaker 1: they'll lure you in like they lured me in. I 469 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 1: want Once I realize this, I'm like, Babe, I want 470 00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:34,240 Speaker 1: to get this certification. The National Wildlife Certification will happily 471 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:38,640 Speaker 1: certify your garden as a habitat. I have a plaque 472 00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:40,960 Speaker 1: out there at the front of right in front of 473 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:44,520 Speaker 1: the bird theater that we've been certified as a habitat 474 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:50,320 Speaker 1: our garden area. But it's not just something you ask for. There. 475 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 1: There are some things that have to happen and the 476 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:59,160 Speaker 1: conditions are as I understand them. Food, yes, water, shelter, 477 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:06,040 Speaker 1: places to rear young meaning nesting areas, and sustainable gardening 478 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:08,960 Speaker 1: practices meaning that we're not spraying the yard with all 479 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 1: sorts of toxins and things like that. But if you 480 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:15,720 Speaker 1: can integrate those five things and get them all going, 481 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 1: then you too can be certified by the National Wildlife 482 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:23,680 Speaker 1: Federation as a habitat for birds and other critters. 483 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:26,440 Speaker 2: Yep, we have it in our yard as well, and 484 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:29,639 Speaker 2: it's a lot of fun just seeing all that activity 485 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:32,520 Speaker 2: out there because we provide those things. 486 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:35,360 Speaker 1: And again, for those of you who are concerned, one 487 00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:39,879 Speaker 1: more thing about standing water for bird baths and the 488 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:43,280 Speaker 1: way that they attract mosquitoes. All we have to do 489 00:27:43,359 --> 00:27:46,320 Speaker 1: is disrupt the surface of the water, and that could 490 00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:49,879 Speaker 1: be a little, tiny, very inexpensive, little solar bubbler, solar 491 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:52,639 Speaker 1: powered bubbler floating on the surface of the water. The 492 00:27:53,040 --> 00:27:56,920 Speaker 1: female mosquito she will not lay eggs in turbulent water 493 00:27:57,080 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 1: of any kind whatsoever. And so even if it's just little, 494 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:03,120 Speaker 1: just tiny little ripples, no, it's a no go. She's 495 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:07,479 Speaker 1: looking for still stagnant water in order to lay her eggs, 496 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:11,200 Speaker 1: and so all it takes is a little bit of disruption. 497 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:13,240 Speaker 1: So if the if the bird bath has a little 498 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 1: fountain attached to it, great, If not, you can just 499 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:18,439 Speaker 1: PLoP one of these in it, and you can get 500 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:20,399 Speaker 1: them on Amazon. You can get them from wild Birds, 501 00:28:20,680 --> 00:28:23,760 Speaker 1: these little solar powered bubblers, just to keep the water 502 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:28,320 Speaker 1: disrupted on the surface. All right, everybody needs to know 503 00:28:28,960 --> 00:28:31,000 Speaker 1: where wild Birds is and how to get a hold 504 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:31,280 Speaker 1: of You. 505 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:35,000 Speaker 2: Are wildbirds on limited stores and Thousand Oaks. We're on 506 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:38,280 Speaker 2: more Park Road right by Whole Foods. But there are 507 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:41,440 Speaker 2: Wildbirds on limited stores all over southern California and all 508 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:44,400 Speaker 2: over the United States and bunching Canada as well. 509 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:46,440 Speaker 1: So if you're. 510 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:49,520 Speaker 2: Interested in feeding the birds and creating wildlife habitat in 511 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:52,120 Speaker 2: your yard, just look us up at WBU dot com. 512 00:28:52,320 --> 00:28:55,880 Speaker 1: WBU dot com. There you go, Richard, Thanks for being 513 00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:58,800 Speaker 1: on the show again today. Pleasure, always, always a pleasure 514 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:02,000 Speaker 1: to have you all right, Thank y'all. Uh. We packed 515 00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:04,680 Speaker 1: it full from a corner to corner today. So I'm 516 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:07,600 Speaker 1: just gonna leave you with this thought. Don't forget what 517 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:12,480 Speaker 1: I said about displacement. It's all about the fact that 518 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:15,760 Speaker 1: you know, we will displace nature when we move through 519 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:18,920 Speaker 1: this world. But once we've done, let's do our best 520 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:21,600 Speaker 1: to put it back, not just for nature's sake, but 521 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:25,760 Speaker 1: for ours as well. I hope it becomes another link 522 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:29,120 Speaker 1: in the chain of you getting out there and building 523 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 1: yourself a beautiful life. We'll see you right back here 524 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:36,320 Speaker 1: next weekend. This has been Home with Dean Sharp the 525 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:39,520 Speaker 1: House Whisper. Tune into the live broadcast on KFI AM 526 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:43,120 Speaker 1: six forty every Saturday morning from six to eight Pacific time, 527 00:29:43,320 --> 00:29:46,400 Speaker 1: and every Sunday morning from nine to noon Pacific time, 528 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:50,200 Speaker 1: or anytime on demand on the iHeartRadio app.